Skincare Routine: Dealing with Breakouts

It might surprise you to hear that I more than welcome the cold weather that has been gracing New York for the past few weeks. Now I’m not saying to bring on the snowstorms, they can take a break. I’m just saying I like the chiller temps and it’s for a pretty shallow reason. It’s because I can finally ease up on my skincare, no more breakouts. With the face masks and summer heat, my skin didn’t have a chance. I was seeing acne I didn’t even see during puberty so naturally, I looked into skincare solutions.

The Gothamista on youtube has a few good videos on this, so I took notes. Apparently, I was experiencing acene mechanica which is caused by friction, heat, and lack of air circulation on the skin. The best-recommended treatment for this is benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide treats acne, while salicylic acid takes care of the blackhead build-up. The breakouts were seriously stressing me out and painful and pimple patches were literally just a band-aide over the problem. I needed to prevent these breakouts not just treat them. I looked into products with these ingredients and got to work.

Then I discovered Innisfree’s Jeju Beja seed oil skincare line. I love Innisfree, good products with an even better price tag. The clarifying facial foam has salicylic acid and you really feel squeaky clean after using this stuff. Combine the cleanser with the Cica toner and balm and you get clear and supple skin. These products are great for sensitive skin and feel light when layered on, so I figured this be perfect for my morning routine. I finish off with sunscreen and lip balm and I am ready for the day. Don’t forget your face mask.

For my nighttime routine, I turned to Drunk Elephant. A skincare brand I have been dying to try but can barely afford. Lucky for me there is always a sample size available, so I tried a few mini versions of these products. The Juju exfoliating bar is gentle but effective and leaves my skin nice and clean. I follow cleanings with the Time Revolution Essence by Missha, which feels really nourishing to the skin. Then I finish up with the drunk elephant mini duo glycolic night serum and whipped cream. I mix these two in the palm of my hand and gently distribute them throughout my face. Boy does this feel good on the face! It’s so creamy and does not feel greasy at all. After scrubbing my lips with a Lush lip scrub and applying lip balm, it is time for bed.

What I love about this routine is how easy and minimal it is. I don’t need infinite products to treat my skin, just the bare necessities. For clear healthy skin, all you really need is an effective cleanser, good moisturizer, and sunscreen. The weather definitely plays a part in the condition of our skin. In fact, I am usually extremely dry during colder months. But with a good skincare routine, you can change that. So I will continue to enjoy my clear skin and the chiller temps. What about you, how have you been dealing with breakouts?