You may have outgrown your race car bed and razor scooter, but unfortunately, there’s one aspect of adolescence that can be hard to shake. And it’s not frosted tips. It’s acne.
Acne commonly occurs during puberty, lasts about five years, and tends to be worse in people with oily skin. It typically goes away during the early 20s, but for a lot of us, it needs a helpful kick out the door.
If you have particularly stubborn acne, you should see a dermatologist to begin an attack acne action plan. They most likely don’t call it that, but they should. In the meantime, here’s what you can do for your own personal attack acne action plan.
Washing schedule
You’ve gotta gotta gotta wash your face. If you don’t already, establish an easy schedule of using a face wash every night before bed. This is the perfect time to wash away the dirt and grime from the day.
Get a routine, and stick to it. Got a busy schedule that makes it hard? Take your skincare products with you and boom, no excuses.
Look for ingredients like grape seed oil that help to minimise the appearance of pores. Chamomile extract is great for its anti-inflammatory properties—soothed and clean are two adjectives your face definitely wants.
Washing and moisturising go together like Hot Wheels and that car city carpet every teen had—perfectly. Breakouts can actually be caused by dry skin, so after washing use a moisturiser. If your skin leans to oily, go oil-free!
Exfoli-acne blast
Are the dermatologists taking note of these names?
Twice a week, you should use a face scrub to slough away the dead skin cells and keep your skin clear. Lactic acid is a mild chemical exfoliant that encourages cell turnover, and witch hazel helps to soothe your skin.
Shaving secrets
Shaving can be painful with acne, so minimise irritation with a pre-shave oil. Be very careful when shaving not to nick the skin, and use a shave gel with maximum slip.
Also, consider your beard situation—a well-styled beard combined with a slick haircut can elevate your whole look from Michael Cera to Robert Downey Jr.
Don’t pick!
It is very tempting to scratch, pick and squeeze, but this only adds to the inflammation and redness, making the blemishes more obvious.
Here’s a tip: when you go to pick, clench your fists as hard as you can for ten seconds.
Be patient, it can take a bit of time for acne to improve, but sticking to a regime is imperative.
Lastly, don’t worry about it! Confidence is key. Everyone gets pimples and honestly, nobody cares about it. Smile, stand up straight, groom well, and dress sharp and you’ll be the handsome man your teen self wanted you to be: Freddie Prince Jr from Scooby-Doo.
Check out the products at Charles + Lee to begin your attack acne action plan today.