Treating Acne Without a Prescription

While acne medications prescribed by your dermatologist are usually highly effective, they are also expensive and not always fully covered by medical insurance. 

If you are not able to treat your acne with prescriptions, it is still possible to achieve a blemish-free complexion using regular drug store products. Following this simple skincare routine two times per day will help to clear your skin in a few weeks.

The first step in your skincare routine should be washing your face with a gentle cleanser, such as Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. 

• To cleanse your face, first wash your hands. This step is often forgotten but is essential for those who suffer from acne. 
• When you wet your face, use your hands, or if you're in the shower, stand directly under the water flow. 
• Do not use a washcloth, as these can contain bacteria that will worsen your acne. Then apply a small amount of cleanser and gently massage into your face. 
• Do not scrub vigorously. It may feel tempting to scrub your acne; however, this can aggravate your symptoms, so it is best to keep your touch gentle and spend no more than about 10 seconds in one area. 
• Then rinse your face with your hands or directly under the shower head. 
• Finally, dry by tapping your face gently with a clean towel. 

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam

Once your face has dried completely, apply a pea-size amount of a topical treatment containing Benzoyl Peroxide, such as Clean & Clear Persa Gel 10. 

• Benzoyl Peroxide may irritate your skin for the first few days of use. However, unless you experience a severe reaction, you should continue to use it. The irritation will cease after a few days. 
• You can reduce irritation by using Benzoyl Peroxide only once per day. 
• It is important to note that Benzoyl Peroxide can bleach fabrics, so be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying. 

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Booster

Finally, after the Benzoyl Peroxide treatment has completely dried, apply a gentle, oil-free moisturizer such as Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with clean hands. 

• It can seem counter intuitive to apply a moisturizer to oily or acne-prone skin. However, Benzoyl Peroxide can dry your skin, and a gentle moisturizer can help prevent natural overcompensation by reducing sebum production. 
• Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer also contains SPF 15 to help protect your skin from sun damage.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Compensating Soothing Moisturizer

In addition to this skincare routine, there are additional steps you can take to improve your complexion.

• You should wash your pillowcase frequently using a gentle detergent. 
• Replace your hand lotion and hand soap with products that are fragrance-free and designed for sensitive skin. 
• Watch your diet closely to see if you break out after eating certain foods. 
• Replace your cosmetics with those that are designed for sensitive skin. 
• Use your facial cleanser to wash your makeup brushes weekly. 
• Switch to a gentle, fragrance- and dye-free shampoo and conditioner. 
• Wash your face after you exercise. 
• Finally, refrain from touching your face as much as possible. 

As your skin clears, continue following your skincare routine to keep blemishes at bay. Following these simple steps make it possible to successfully treat acne in teens and adults without expensive medications.

Post-Party Skincare Tips

The festive season involves a lot of partying, drinking and lack of sleep – all which can take their tolls on your skin. Now it’s time to get your skin back in shape. We’ve compiled 4 tips to help you regain soft, refreshed skin.

Tip 1: Purify Your Skin
We understand that you just want to flop into bed after a night out partying. However, wearing makeup while you are asleep can cause irritation and block pores. Use a mild cleansing milk product to cleanse your face, or if you just want your bed after a few drinks, face wipes come in handy too.

Tip 2: Hydrate Your Skin
Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on your body and skin. A lack of moisture will make your skin look parched and lifeless. Drink lots and lots of water for several days after a party and if possible, right before bed, and keep your skin moisturized with hydrating cream or anti-oxidant face oil. 

Tip 3: Use a Targeted Mask
Masks are a great tool to get your complexion back to its pre-party state. Start with a hydrating mask to replenish moisture. If you're dealing with breakouts (which can result from too many indulgences), opt instead for a blemish-busting mask.

Tip 4: Stay natural
If you have to attend an event after partying, try to avoid heavy makeup. Instead, apply a tinted moisturizer that would give a toned and refreshed look to your face. Also, avoid eye makeup as it would further deteriorate the condition of the skin around the eyes.

So there we go – 4 simple after-party tricks to keep you in good shape for the next holiday season!

Dermalogica - An unforgettable first encounter

I have been using Dermalogica Daily Microexfoliant for quite some time now, like a year already, but I still can't forget the first time of our "encounter".

When I first poured them out, they are dry, white powder, and very fine textured. In order to start the process, I just needed to mix it with water, then they started become slightly foamy to the level which I think it's just right for face cleansing. I normally apply it to a dry face since it feels more effective if the foam doesn't get too watery, after massaging on the face for like a minute or two, just wash it off like you do with any other face cleanser. Sounds just like another face cleansing foam? You are totally wrong if you think so!

I think just from the name of the product - Microexfoliant - you know that this is a product different from any other, it's not exfoliant, which usually contains coarse particles for rubbing the dirt on your face away, and it could potentially enlarge your pores, that's why they are not meant to be used daily. However, this is Daily, and it's Micro? Why? The reason is that the powder is so fine that it won't over-stimilate your skin, and the result is just amazing! After cleansing, my skin feels very smooth and supple, and most importantly, it feels very clean. Honestly, I was and still am amazed by the result it brings, never in my life (so far) I have used an exfoliant so fine and effective.

Does it sound like an exaggeration? Go buy and try it yourself, I am sure you will agree with me.