Clear Start By Dermalogica

The first skin care system aimed at helping teens cut through the hype to get their healthiest skin ever, you may be surprised to find Clear Start is rooted in skin health legacy! These teen products are free of artificial fragrance or colours, mineral oil, S.D. alcohol, comedogenic and allergy-causing ingredients, never tested on animals.

Designed exclusively for teens, rather than a system customised to specific skin conditions such as ageing, sensitivity, or oily-prone. The eight, dual-action products help get skin clean, take on issues, and protect skin to help bring it into balance.

The teenagers skin care brand and how it can help teens to build a better relationship with their skin for a healthy future.

As the first skin care system aimed at helping teens cut through the hype to get their healthiest skin ever, you may be surprised to find that this skincare for young skin is rooted in skin health legacy!

It was created by the skin health experts at Dermalogica, the brand that’s been changing the face of skin care for more than 25 years. It became clear that no one was addressing the needs of teens – not only with products that get results, but also with the education they need – when Dermalogica Founder Jane Wurwand’s own daughters entered their teenage years.

Skin care product choices available to teens may be ample, but they aren’t good choices. Products for teens often contain harsh and inexpensive ingredients to strip the skin of oil, and are filled with artificial fragrances and colours – all things that can irritate and strip oil from skin, causing more problems than you started with!

And so we began to develop CS, but not without knowing that we needed real skin care situations from the teens we were trying to help! Instead of creating a focus group (too formal, and quite simply, not fun), we invited a council of young adults to work with us on the naming of the products, the labelling, packaging copy, and what worked – and what didn’t.

The result is clear start, a system of eight dual-action, fun, fresh, skin-healthy products that feel and smell great without being full of stuff that’s bad for skin – such as artificial fragrances, colours, mineral oil, and S.D. alcohol. Another thing you might like: we don’t test on animals.

We invite you to explore this site to learn more about your skin, and how CS can help you build a better relationship with your skin for a healthy future.

FAQs

Q: How are they related?
A: clear start was researched and developed by the skin health experts at Dermalogica. This means your clear start products are backed by over 25 years of skin health results, are held to the same standard, and backed by the same research as Dermalogica products. CS products are free of artificial fragrance or colours, mineral oil, S.D. alcohol, comedogenic and allergy-causing ingredients.

Q: Does CS test on animals?
A: clear start was never tested on animals – because it’s just not nice and it’s not something we believe in.

Q: How is CS different from Dermalogica?
A: CS is a brand designed exclusively for teens, rather than a system customised to specific skin conditions such as ageing, sensitivity, or oily-prone. The eight, dual-action products help get skin clean, take on issues, and protect skin to help bring it into balance.

Skin care issues first arise as you enter your teen years, and clear start is your exclusive system for taking on these skin issues, while developing good habits of skin care that will last a lifetime.

Q: Where are CS products made?
A: It is native to Southern California, and we are proud to make all our products in Southern California. Having our manufacturing facilities so close to our headquarters allows us to maintain a superior quality standard and level of oversight, and also support the local economy. We ship from Southern California to over 50 countries around the world.

Q: Why does CS not have professional products, or a professional treatment regimen?

A: It is a retail-based brand, meaning it’s simple to self-select. This positioning will help make clear start the most visible and accessible brand for teens.

Q: What are CS’s philanthropic efforts?
A: As part of Dermalogica, CS believes in giving back to the community. In 1999, the Dermalogica Foundation was established to provide charitable contributions to local, "grass roots" organisations that primarily benefit women and children in need with emergent supplies of medical care, shelter, food and clothing. Charities chosen by the Clear Start Dermalogica Foundation are non-denominational and not supported by any other major sources of funding.

Your Questions

Q: What's going on with my skin?
A: As you transition from child to teen to adult, puberty will trigger the movement of new chemicals in your body. Depending upon whether you're a guy or girl, these hormones will go to work on different parts of the body, and of course, impact your skin.

Sebaceous (oil) gland activity is stimulated by androgen hormones, these hormones act like a switch and increase oil production and hair growth, and are responsible for the triggers that lead to oily skin and breakouts. These so-called "male" hormones are present in both males and females.

Your pores (follicles) may become enlarged, your skin texture changes and may not feel as smooth, your skin looks and feels shiny, your cheeks may feel more sensitive and look pink, and your once flawless skin may now have evident pimples, blackheads and white-heads.

Your scalp and hair may also be oilier and you start to grow hair in new places! We haven’t even touched on your mood swings, ability to sleep all day and body changes, deeper voice if you are male and lovely new body odour!

This all sounds very frightening but the good news is that these androgens that tend to be present in relatively large amounts during adolescence become stabilised as you reach adulthood. Meaning the oily skin and breakouts will lessen and clear for most people.

Q: Am I too young for a skin care routine?
A: It's never too early (or too late!) to start a skin care routine. A good skin care regimen is as important as brushing your teeth, keeping up good hygiene, and maintaining a healthy diet!

While you may not be concerned about them now, skin issues like adult acne, age spots and fine lines caused by sun damage, and dry, dehydrated skin can start as early as your 20s. The more you take care of your skin now, the easier it will be to maintain healthy skin now and into your future.

Q: Why should I choose CS?
A: You should choose clear start because you want your healthiest skin now, and in the future!

Too often, the product choices available to your generation aren’t the best choices, as they contain harsh, and inexpensive, ingredients that merely strip skin of oil.

clear start was created by the skin health experts at Dermalogica, meaning you can count on our products to give your skin the best ingredients while leaving out the bad stuff (such as artificial colours and fragrances, drying S.D. alcohol, and mineral oil).

clear start products are also non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog your pores. And, our products were developed in conjunction with a council of teens who told us what worked – and what didn’t – when it came to their needs.

The most important thing is clear start is your resource for learning about your skin – because understanding what’s happening to the skin is the most important step in solving the problem.

Q: Can exfoliation help control oiliness?
A: Exfoliation can be especially helpful to those with oily skin.

In addition to smoothing, improving skin tone and enhancing skin's receptiveness of oil-controlling ingredients, exfoliation helps rid oily skin of dulling and pore-blocking skin cells to help keep skin clear.

Q: Why do I need SPF?
A: Skin is the ultimate record keeper: every moment of sunlight exposure adds up like money in the bank! But the pay-off is less desirable...

Statistics show that one in six individuals will develop skin cancer, and 90% of these cancers are the direct results of UV light radiation from the sun. A severe sunburn before the age of 18 exponentially increases your skin cancer risk.

Q: What's my best skin regimen?
A: The clear start regimen has been broken down into three simple categories to help you get your best-looking skin now and in the future.

It all starts with getting skin clean. Skin must be properly cleansed for two reasons: it rids skin of dirt, oils and pollution that make skin look dull, and it helps prep skin, making it more receptive to treatment and moisturiser benefits.

When it’s time to take on issues like oily skin and breakouts a scrub/masque, spot treatment, and all-over overnight treatment will help you face every day with a clean slate.

The last step of your clear start regimen is to protect skin. Smooth, shield, and hydrate without a greasy after-feel or clogged pores.

This simple approach will help ensure your best-looking skin now… and in the future! Here’s another tip – stick with it for at least 4 weeks to start seeing results. Why? Because when something new is introduced to skin, skin must have time to adjust to the active ingredients. As skin adjusts, more breakouts may arise: this simply indicates the purging of toxins and represents the effectiveness of the ingredients.

What's Your Skin Condition?

Follow the steps and answer the questions to determine your skin condition! Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser (don’t apply make-up or moisturiser). Look in the mirror as you answer these questions.

1 Where do you see your pores?
A) Only on my T-zone (forehead, nose and chin)
B) They are so tiny I can’t see them or just a few on or near my nose
C) They’re scattered all over and large on my nose and cheeks

2 Run your fingers across your face. How would you describe its texture?
A) Soft and smooth except for my dry cheeks
B) Dry and a little rough especially my cheeks
C) Greasy and oily

3 How does your skin look?
A) Pretty good—not too dull or too shiny
B) Dull and a little flaky, and some pink areas on my cheeks
C) Shiny, not clear with some pimples and blackheads

4 What is your must-have product?
A) Cleanser
B) Face cream
C) Breakout treatment

5 How does your scalp feel?
A) Fine—no dandruff or grease
B) It sometimes gets dry and flaky
C) It’s pretty oily

6 How does your make-up hold up throughout the day?
A) The foundation on my T-zone fades by lunchtime, but my blush stays put
B) The only thing I need to re-apply is my lipstick
C) By lunchtime, my make-up is gone and I have to touch-up

If you answered...

Mostly As
Your skin is normal/combination. Typically, your skin produces just enough oil to keep your skin hydrated. Girls: you may spot a pimple or two during your cycle. Even though you can get away with less attention to skin care than other skin conditions, you’ve got to keep it in good shape with a daily regimen.

Mostly Bs
Your skin is dry, and can be sensitive The outer layer of skin is made up of lipids, or fats, that keep moisture in and irritating chemicals out. Dry skin has fewer of these protective compounds and in the winter can become red, itchy and irritated. Your skin needs to be nourished and protected, or it will begin to experience greater sensitivity.

Mostly Cs
Your skin is oily and possibly acne-prone. Shine and mild breakouts are the norm for you all year long. You need a thorough routine that includes keeping your skin clean and clear to help control breakouts.

What's going on with my skin?

As you transition from child to teen to adult, puberty will trigger the movement of new chemicals in your body. Depending upon whether you’re a guy or girl, these hormones will go to work on different parts of the body, and of course, impact your skin.

Sebaceous (oil) gland activity is stimulated by androgen hormones. These hormones act like a switch and increase oil production and hair growth, and are responsible for the triggers that lead to oily skin and breakouts. These so-called "male" hormones are present in both males and females.

Your pores (follicles) may become enlarged, your skin texture changes and may not feel as smooth, your skin looks and feels shiny, your cheeks may feel more sensitive and look pink, and your once flawless skin may now have evident pimples, blackheads and whiteheads .

Your scalp and hair may also be oilier and you start to grow hair in new places! We haven’t even touched on your mood swings, ability to sleep all day and body changes, deeper voice if you are male and lovely new body odour!

This all sounds very frightening, but the good news is that these androgens that tend to be present in relatively large amounts during adolescence become stabilised as you reach adulthood. Meaning the oily skin and breakouts will lessen and clear for most people.

What's My Best Skin Regimen?

The clear start regimen has been broken down into three simple categories to help you get your best-looking skin now and in the future. It all starts with getting skin clean. Skin must be properly cleansed for two reasons: it rids skin of dirt, oils, and pollution that make skin look dull, and it helps prep skin, making it more receptive to treatment and moisturiser benefits.

When it’s time to take on issues like oily skin and breakouts, a scrub/masque, spot treatment, and all-over overnight treatment will help you face every day with a clean slate.

The last step of your clear start regimen is to protect skin. Smooth, shield, and hydrate without a greasy after-feel or clogged pores.

This simple approach will help ensure your best-looking skin now…and in the future! Here’s another tip – stick with it for at least 4 weeks to start seeing results. Why? Because when something new is introduced to skin, skin must have time to adjust to the active ingredients. As skin adjusts, more breakouts may arise: this simply indicates the purging of toxins and represents the effectiveness of the ingredients.

What's My Shampoo Say About My Skin?

The most overlooked breakout- and acne-causing products are hair care products. Conditioners, hair sprays, and hair gels almost all contain plastics, which can block pores and trigger the process that leads breakouts.

Ingredients to be aware of include PVP, CVP, and any copolymer ingredient.

Scalp breakouts and chin acne (it is very common for people to touch hair then touch their chin) are good indications that hair care products are the offenders. Many waterproof, sweat-proof, or smudge-proof cosmetics and sunscreens also contain these plastics.

Many shampoos and styling products are artificially coloured with D&C dyes to make them look pretty. D&C dyes are another major culprit in hair care products, as well as make-up products, as they can be comedogenic (cause pore-clogging) in some individuals, resulting in blackheads on the skin.

How Can I Stop My Skin From Being Shiny Midday?

Making a few adjustments to your skin care regimen can help control oil production from morning until night.

Try creating a “matte kit” that fits conveniently in your purse or backpack for mid-day touch-ups. Keep Welcome Matte SPF15 handy. Also, look for skin wipes loaded with Salicylic Acid (not alcohol!) to help dis-grease skin, help prohibit acne bacteria, and keep skin feeling fresh.

The Make-Up of Makeup.

It’s up to you to stay in-the-know as ingredient advances enter your make-up (and skin care) products. If you’re going to wear make-up, observe these simple rules:

• Never go to bed with make-up on.
• Whether you wear make-up or not, you should always cleanse at night, following with products that help take on issues and protect skin.

Here’s a reliable list of ingredients to watch out for.

Several ingredients have a comedogenic (pore-clogging) or sensitising effect on the skin and should be avoided:

• D&C Dyes are comedogenic (pore-clogging)
• Isopropyl Myristate (pore-clogging)
• SD Alcohol (drying and stripping)
• Lanolin (can trigger skin sensitivity)
• Artificial fragrance (irritating)

How Can I Treat Back Acne?

Back acne or “Backne” is very common among teens and young adults – especially in boys. Athletic clothing which may trap sweat and dead skin cells (such as abrasive gear like football shoulder pads) and a general over-secretion of the oil glands in this area can cause breakouts.

1. You can treat back acne the same way you treat it on your face – with clear start products! Don’t over-cleanse the skin with harsh soap, vigorous scrubbing movements, or rough loofahs or back brushes, as this will exacerbate the situation. Wash with Wash Off, a soap-free cleanser designed for your face and wherever you get breakouts.

2. Don’t reach for a mentholated astringent, which can have a drying S.D. Alcohol base (which over-strips skin). Instead, grab All Over Clear, an all-over refreshing skin toner that helps control oil and bacteria. Convenient spray bottle helps you spritz hard-to-reach areas effectively!

3. Gentle exfoliation can really help breakouts – so reach for Ready, Set, Scrub! This gentle breakout-fighting, pore-refining scrub and masque contains purifying clays to pull excess oil from skin, while Silica scrubs away dulling surface cells.

4. Treat the affected area while you sleep with Bedtime for Breakouts.

I Want That Award-Winning Glow!

Celebrities are radiant when walking the red carpet. How do they do it?

“Long before make-up is applied, they start with a consistent skin care regimen,” says clear start skin care expert Annet King. “And, the regimen is as simple as daily cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturising night and day.”

Another way to keep skin looking fresh? Staying out of the sun. “Celebrities like Scarlett Johansson have fair skin and flaunt it! She’s shifted the overly-bronzed, fake-bake red carpet look and inspired younger stars like Emma Watson to embrace natural skin colour.” Use an oil-free moisturiser like Welcome Matte SPF15 to shield skin from the damaging, drying sun.

And to punch up the glow factor, try Brighten Up SPF15 for sun protection and shimmer! Don’t stop at the neckline – apply all down your neck, collarbone, shoulders and arms for all-over star-like shimmer.

Why Is My Skin Greasier When It's Warm?

If you feel like you blot, wipe, and try to wash away greasiness more during warm days and hot months, don’t blame your skin care routine: blame sweat!

Studies show sweat contributes to the appearance of increased oiliness, or “greasiness,” during warm days and seasons. This really applies to those of you who have above average oil production in skin.

If you’ve been sweating or have been in a high humidity environment that triggers sweating, the skin will visually look oilier – and greasier. Even sweating triggered by emotional stress or nerves can contribute to an oilier appearance!

Now you know: it’s the emulsification (mixing) of sweat and oil that’s really causing your skin to look greasy. Stress less about skin during warmer days with your daily clear start routine, designed to help control oil production at the source, and leave your blotting hands free for warm weather activities!

Are Fabric Softeners Triggering My Breakouts?

The coating on those Fabric softener sheets are made of animal fat (namely beef lard), not to mention artificial fragrance. This means your pillowcase (while extremely soft!) now has an added coating of this fatty mixture on it. Press your cheek to it every night and your skin will pick up this comedogenic coating and could become irritated.

Can Exfoliation Help Control Oiliness?

Exfoliation can be especially helpful to those with oily skin: in addition to smoothing, improving skin tone, and enhancing skin’s receptiveness of oil-controlling ingredients, exfoliation helps rid oily skin of dulling and pore-blocking skin cells to help keep skin clear.

Myth: Blackheads are dirt inside my pores

Busted: Blackheads are merely white-heads that have undergone the process of oxidation. (So no, blackheads aren't dirt!)

Oxidation is merely a chemical reaction happening in your skin. Think of what happens to an apple when you cut it open and it darkens: this is oxidation.

When the follicle (pore) opens up, oxygen enters, causing the oil and dead skin cells within the follicle to undergo oxidation. This leads to the dark colour you see.

White-heads are follicles that are filled with the same material, but have only a microscopic opening to the skin surface. Since the air cannot reach the follicle, the material is not oxidised, and remains white.

Myth: Wanna clear your skin quick? Go tanning!

Busted: Whether under the sun or under the tanning bed, baking in the sun to clear breakouts can worsen breakouts and is never an option. All this may do is intensify your chances of long-term scarring and hyper-pigmentation (dark spots). While you may experience temporary drying up of breakouts after a day in the sun, you’re actually triggering future incidences of breakouts: there’s an increase in skin cells when skin is exposed to UV light, and this further clogs follicle openings, which leads to the development of breakout bacteria. Don’t forget tanning also puts you at an increased risk of skin cancer.

If you think your sun exposure is minimum, or just seasonal, SPF should be as much a part of your routine as cleansing. Leaving SPF out of your skin care routine now means premature skin issues in the future, including wrinkles and dark spots. Reach for Welcome Matte SPF15 or Brighten Up SPF15 for your daily dose of SPF.

Myth: SPF Makes Me Break Out.

Busted: While some sunscreen ingredients can make skin feel greasier and can be comedogenic (clog pores), there are new, more sophisticated formulations available that provide sun protection with skin care benefits. (By the way, those “new, more sophisticated” SPF ingredients are found in Welcome Matte SPF15 and Brighten Up SPF15!)

Does Stress Cause Breakouts?

This question is similar to another popular question, “Do greasy foods and chocolate trigger breakouts?” Both questions are misinterpretations. Stress doesn’t directly cause acne or breakouts, but it does act as a trigger for the factors that contribute to acne development (excess oiliness).

The balance of school, work, friends and relationships can contribute to chronic stress. This constant, continued and heightened level of stress throws adrenal glands into overdrive. Adrenal glands are in charge of regulating stress, and when stressful situations arise, adrenal glands stimulate sebaceous (oil) glands to secrete more sebum (oil). This excess oil sets the stage for acne development.

Stress also causes increased blood flow and expansion of capillaries, which makes skin appear more red and inflamed. Stress can also cause poor assimilation of nutrients in the diet and can lead to slower healing because of a lowered immune system.

Yoga, deep breathing, exercise, sleep, aromatherapy… even a quick walk with a friend or co-worker during the day can help de-stress your life and help manage adrenal spikes. Cutting back on caffeine and sugar (which also spike adrenal gland activity) can also help manage breakouts.

Myth: Tanning Beds Are Safer Than The Sun

Busted: If you’re under 30 and use a tanning bed, your risk of skin cancer jumps by 30%.

A 2009 study* revealed this statistic alongside another dramatic finding: tanning beds are a definite cause of cancer. In fact, they’re so dangerous they’ve been moved to the top classification of the cancer risk category – deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas.

Unfortunately, despite these findings and previous warnings from the World Health Organisation, the use of tanning beds has increased amongst those under 30, and some areas of the United States boast more tanning salons than Starbucks or McDonald’s! In Britain, melanoma is the leading cancer diagnosed in women in their twenties. This is quite a dramatic finding, as traditionally, skin cancer rates are highest in people over the age of 75.

Tanning beds, or sunbeds, give of ultraviolet radiation, which cause skin and eye cancer. Ultraviolet radiation is not healthy on any level, whether it comes from tanning beds or the sun.

This doesn’t mean you have to hide out under umbrellas! Take a smart approach to skin care – wear Welcome Matte SPF15 or Brighten Up SPF15 starting today. These dual-action products combine your daily moisturiser with critical SPF. And, if you really want that all-over bronzed glow, reach for self-tanning cream to build your colour year-round.

Myth: Breakouts Mean My Skin Isn't Clean

Busted: The belief that a blackhead is dirt feeds another myth about breakouts – that it’s not clean, or is not being properly cleaned.

Over-cleansing skin with the hopes that you’ll clear breakouts may only trigger more breakouts, thanks to stimulating an over-production of oil. Moreover, over-cleansing causes dryness which can lead to sensitivity, as dry skin has fewer protective lipids that keep skin healthy.

To get skin clean without over-stripping, reach for Wash Off. This foaming wash features Salicylic Acid, which dives deep into pores to help thoroughly clean skin. Refreshing Orange Oil Peel revives and energises so you know skin is clean because it feels clean!

Myth: Toothpaste Dries Up Breakouts!

Busted: Quite the contrary: new information actually reveals that toothpaste can stimulate breakouts on your chin and around the mouth. Dermatologists say that heavily flavoured toothpaste, or toothpaste with high levels of fluoride, can cause breakouts to arise.

Toothpaste is for teeth – Hit the Spot is for breakouts! This concentrated spot treatment helps banish breakouts while controlling future breakout activity. And the clear formula absorbs without a trace – quite the opposite of chalky toothpaste that’s been dotted on skin!

Myth: Use Rubbing Alcohol To Remove Oil

Busted: Stripping the skin of moisture and oil with alcohol can actually cause skin to produce more oil than before. How? When the sebaceous glands sense a loss of moisture and oil (which is there between cells to protect your skin), they kick into overdrive to replace what has been lost! For those who self-treat with these harsh, drying ingredients like alcohol, skin is often left dehydrated, irritated and sensitised, and oilier than before.

Myth: Does Sex Cause Breakouts?

Busted: Sex does not cause breakouts – what you’re seeing in your skin is the effects of puberty brought on by sex hormones. There is no correlation between having sex and causing (or clearing) breakouts.

Myth: Milk Causes Acne

Busted: This is another misinterpretation: milk doesn’t trigger acne or breakouts. It’s the hormones produced by cows that are found in milk that can actually overstimulate oil glands and cause overproduction of oil. As cows that give milk are pregnant most of their lives, the natural hormones that occur during pregnancy are found in the milk you drink. The reason that milk products cause acne is because milk contains hormones that "turn on" oil glands.

It is not yet known if hormones injected into cows cause any difference in the level of natural hormones in milk.

Myth: Food Triggers My Breakouts!

Busted: Many people accept the myth that what they're eating is causing their skin condition. This is actually a misinterpretation -- these foods don't directly cause acne, but they may feed the breeding ground for acne by exasperating sebum production. Speak to a skin health expert to find out if your oil production is being triggered by specific food intake.

Am I Too Young For A Skin Care Routine?

It is never too early (or too late!) to start a skin care routine. A good skin care regimen is as important as brushing your teeth, keeping up good hygiene, and maintaining a healthy diet!

While you may not be concerned about them now, skin issues like adult acne, age spots and fine lines caused by sun damage, and dry, dehydrated skin can start as early as your 20's. The more you take care of your skin now, the easier it will be to maintain healthy skin now and into your future.

Why Do I Need SPF?

Skin is the ultimate record keeper: every moment of sunlight exposure adds up like money in the bank! But the payoff is less desirable….

Statistics show that one in six individuals will develop skin cancer, and 90% of these cancers are the direct result of UV light radiation from the sun. A severe sunburn before the age of 18 exponentially increases your skin cancer risk.

If that isn’t enough of a reason, think of it this way: remember the last time you saw someone with really wrinkly, spotted skin? That is the result of years of skin exposure to UV light without protection. If you want to look your best in the future, it’s time to start wearing SPF now.

UVA rays are responsible for skin damage that leads to skin ageing, and are recognised as the primary cause of skin cancer. When skin tans or burns, UVB rays are responsible. This is why SPF that shields against UVA and UVB is so important.

How Does SPF Work?

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) represents the ability of a product to delay sun-induced burning or erythema.

There are two forms of sunscreens: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens such as Titanium Dioxide (technologically-advanced, ultra-fine porcelain particles) work to reflect and scatter the sun’s rays, and chemical sunscreens such as Octinoxate, Octisalate, and Oxybenzone (to name a few) absorb the sun’s rays and convert them into less harmful heat energy.

Breakout Freak Out

You know what you’d like to do – pick, poke, prod, push, and even plaster that pesky pimple with an arsenal of toothpaste, rubbing alcohol, and quite possibly expired zit cream. No, we don’t have a camera in your bathroom. We just know all about breakout freak out.

Instead of losing control, take charge of the chaos with clear start.

1. You’ve had your hands all over that pimple, so before you do anything, clean your entire face thoroughly with Wash Off to remove excess dirt and oils.
2. Apply Ready, Set, Scrub! as a masque directly to the breakout, and slightly around the area surrounding the breakout. This time, we’re going to tell you not to scrub, and to just let the masque set for ten minutes. Rinse with warm water and blot dry.
3. Now that you have the shiniest, cleanest pimple on the block (which we know was not your goal) you think covering it up is the best thing to do? No way, especially because some concealer ingredients are the cause of breakouts! Avoid heavy oil-based concealers or cover-ups, especially those that contain lanolin, artificial color and fragrance. Benzoyl Peroxide stops pimples in their tracks – apply a little Hit the Spot every 6 to 8 hours until that bad breakout is gone.
4. If time really isn’t on your side, make an appointment ASAP with a skin care professional, as only they are qualified to extract a breakout that won’t scar or spread to other pores.

Gross But True

The use of fabric softeners and dryer sheets can trigger the events that lead to acne. Why? Because beef lard and fragrance are the main ingredients and they’ll coat your skin!