Acne: Avoiding Irritants

Acne is annoying. When flareups becoming overbearing it can be tempting to try each and every product under the sun to stop it in its tracks. There are plenty of products on the market that claim to fight acne. Sadly, many are formulated with irritants that cause the vicious circle of dryness, irritation and acne breakouts to persist. Take back control by avoiding aggravating astringents and becoming more educated regarding the ingredients listed on the product label. This week's edit lists 4 major ingredients that should be avoided at all costs:

Detergents

The most popular acne-targeted skincare lines are filled with foaming face cleansing agents. These foaming agents, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAMS) for instance are known to strip away the skin's natural protective oils. The skin automatically produces more sebum to compensate for the loss in natural oils which in turn clogs the pores and leads to new breakouts. Furthermore, the foaming agents are high in alkaline which disturbs the natural pH balance of the skin and weakens its acid mantel.

Tip: We recommended opting for a detergent-free cream cleanser which is best used in conjunction with a muslin face cloth that gently exfoliates the skin to buff away dead skin cells.

Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol, often listed on the label as alcohol denat. or ethanol, is the second culprit to look out for when selecting cleansing products to target acne breakouts. Alcohol has the tendency to dehydrate the skin which can lead to irritations and skin imbalance.

Tip: Natural plant water is a fantastic alternative to alcohol-laden cleansers. The najel Organic Lemon & Aloe Vera Toner is a fantastic pick. It not only cleanses the skin in a gentle manner but also soothes and tones it.

Benzoyl Peroxide & Salicylic Acid

If your skin tends to be more temperamental and has a tendency to become irritated easily it is best to stay clear of any acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. The formulas are laden with chemical components that dehydrate the skin which causes even more irritation and in turn causes the skin to spin out of balance entirely.

Tip: Another Pai Skincare hero that we would recommend using is their All Becomes Clear Blemish Serum. It has the effectiveness of a conventional acne-fighting serum but without aggravating the skin. The serum is ideal for treating skin irritations and supports the healing process of damaged skin.

Coarse-grained Exfoliants

Vigorous cleansing methods used on sensitive, impurity-prone skin types lead to only one result: irritation that aggravates acne breakouts. The same goes for coarse-grained facial scrubs and exfoliants. Not only do these risk unwanted skin reactions, but also damage the skin's natural acid mantel.

Tip: To buff away dead skin cells without causing irritations or skin damage it is advised to use facial scrubs that contain spherical beads like the Lady Green Gentle Face & Neck Scrub