Mild to moderate acne + dry or damaged skin
People with mild to moderate acne may have any combination of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples with or without pus, all over the face or in specific areas. Dry skin or a damaged skin barrier is most likely due to the use of an inappropriate skincare product - harsh cleansers, aggressive, and drying products.
Cleansing is an important step in skincare. If you wear oil-based makeup or SPF during the day, use a gentle oil-based makeup remover, and then use a cleanser. A gentle cleanser is already half the battle for healthy skin, so choose your cleanser carefully.
Acne is multi-factorial and reflects what is happening inside the body. To learn more, read our blogs on the different causes of acne.
Daily Skincare Routine
For mild to moderate acne + dry or damaged skin
- Cleanse face with Triple Action Cleanser and rinse with cold water. This concentrated, gentle cleanser does not lather, and you only need a small amount. It gently exfoliates and adds probiotics. Pat dry, leaving a little moisture for the next step.
- Apply Vitamin C Oil-Serum to the entire face. This serum will repair the skin barrier, nourish it, and add powerful antioxidants. Vitamin C will also help prevent deep scarring.
- Apply Multilayer Serum to blemishes to target redness and sebum.
- Apply Regulating Cream to the entire face to regulate bacteria and help prevent blemishes (mix 1 drop of Vitamin C Oil-Serum with Regulating Cream if you have very dry skin).
- Take the Skin & Stress supplement (3 capsules at once) to replenish antioxidant and mineral deficiencies.
Evening:
- Cleanse face with Triple Action Cleanser + cold water.
- Apply Multilayer Serum to blemishes.
- Mix 1 drop of Vitamin C Oil-Serum with Regulating Cream, and apply to the entire face.
Nutrition
Thanks to the new science of Nutrition, healthy eating now has a new purpose. Given the paramount importance of our gut microbiome in body health and skin health, we must choose foods that nourish our gut microbiome. To improve acne, a hormone-related skin condition, we should also prioritize foods that help balance our hormones.
Examples of foods that help nourish our microbiome:
- Fiber-rich foods such as oats, broccoli, bananas, apples, cabbage.
- A variety of plant-based foods - aim for a minimum of 30-35 different foods per week (including herbs, spices, seeds, fruits, and vegetables) to improve gut microbiome diversity.
Examples of foods that help restore hormonal balance:
- Healthy fats such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado, nuts.
- Omega 3s (fish oil or omega 3 supplements).
Reduce sugar:
- Sugars (including simple carbohydrates) produce more insulin. An increase in insulin leads to an increase in androgens. An increase in androgens leads to an increase in sebum and potentially acne or pimples.
- In the case of skin aging, sugar leads to premature aging through a process called glycation. Glycation irreversibly damages collagen and elastin, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles.
Conversely, avoid foods that can worsen acne such as cow's milk, processed or fried foods, sugar, and chocolate.
To learn more about diet and acne, click here.
Lifestyle
Physical exercise accelerates blood flow, and blood carries oxygen and nutrients to active cells in the body, including the skin. Physical movement is also essential for balancing hormones. Any form of exercise is effective, from brisk walking to weight training. Find an activity you enjoy, and you'll be more likely to stick with it.
Stress management is another key component of health and healthy skin. Incorporate breathing exercises into your life, even if it's only a few minutes a day. Yoga is an excellent way to combine physical and breathing exercises. During periods of prolonged stress, our Skin & Stress supplement, rich in antioxidants and magnesium, is a valuable support.
Improve your sleep and take time to relax. Stress is an aggravating factor for acne, and many people suffer from stress without recognizing the symptoms.
To learn more about stress and acne, click here.