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January 17, 2022 7 min read
Ben Franklin famously said that nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes, but we think he forgot a third (and equally delightful ) thing: acne.
Whether it’s the occasional pimple or a full-on breakout, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t dealt with at least a few zits here and there. Yet for something that’s so common, the acne treatment advice that’s out there can be contradictory, confusing, and all over the map.
So today we thought we’d--ahem-- clear up the best ways to care for yourself and your skin when you’re experiencing blemishes. Without further ado, here is our acne self-care guide.
Let’s start with the basics. Acne can manifest in a lot of different ways. It’s not just your typical pimple. Acne can also include whiteheads, blackheads, and hard, painful cysts. Many people with acne also have acne rosacea: clusters of small, red bumps on the skin.
Acne is most common on your face, neck, back and chest. But it can pop up just about anywhere. (And yes, we do mean anywhere.) This is because acne is a result of pores in your skin that get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. So virtually anywhere you have skin, you can also get a zit.
And for the record, you shouldn’t blame yourself if you have acne. Not only is it extremely common--studies indicate at least 80 percent of people have it--but it can be due to factors that are hard to control, like genetics and hormones.
Here are a few other common contributors to breakouts:
Besides some bad luck in your DNA and fluctuations in hormones, you can also get acne from certain medications . These include but are not limited to certain types of birth controls, bioidentical hormones, steroids and more. Some supplements, like biotin, can also promote acne.
We don’t ever advise ceasing medication use without speaking to your doctor, but you’ll be happy to know that there are measures you can take if you determine your meds are the acne culprit. Sometimes, adding a specific vitamin to your routine can help counteract the medication’s effects.
Moreover, using hair products and skin products with pore-clogging ingredients are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to zits, and unfortunately many acne “remedies” passed around the internet, like using coconut oil on your skin, will make your breakouts worse. Even more sadly, many products marketed as non-comedogenic (AKA non-pore-clogging) don’t live up to their claims.
When choosing hair and skin products that work for you, your best bet is to do your research. Work with a certified skincare professional if that’s within your means, or do a quick google search for pore-clogging ingredient checkers to get some guidance.
Keep in mind, anything that touches your skin, including fabrics like your pillowcase or your favorite hat, have the potential to exacerbate your acne. So we recommend washing everything with an unscented, gentle detergent to be safe.
Another thing that likely spends a lot of time touching your face these days? Masks . These bad boys can cause acne on even the most zit-resistant skin. Luckily, there are a few precautions you can take to reduce maskne, as it’s affectionately been dubbed:
Changes in weather and humidity can also contribute to breakouts. Obviously, you can’t control the weather (wouldn’t that be nice!) so this is one situation where patience is key. Eventually, your skin will adjust to a change in environment. However, you can help your skin do its job by avoiding heavy products that block sweating in humid weather and using a good quality moisturizer in dry weather.
If you do find that you’re getting sweaty when you go outside (or when you exercise or take a trip to the sauna), be sure to wash your face as soon as you can, and follow up with a pH balancing toner .
That said, you don’t want to over wash your face , as this can lead to dry skin and overproduction of oil, which creates more acne. Keep your face washing to three times per day at most, or two if you’re not fitting in a sweaty workout session.
But it’s not all about what you put on your face; what you put in your body matters too. Eating acne-promoting foods won’t help you get clear skin. And while these will vary from person to person, it’s safe to assume that anything processed or laden with sugar won’t help you glow. Many folks find that dairy and/or gluten lead to pimples, so you might try eliminating those foods for a few weeks and see how your skin fares.
Finally, while poor lifestyle factors like too much stress and lack of sleep may not cause acne, they can exacerbate it, so do your best to care for your overall health; it’ll only help your skin.
We know, this is a lot of information; and it can feel overwhelming at first. But as you incorporate these changes and habits into your lifestyle, they’ll become second nature (and your skin will thank you). To make this process easier, we’ve made a checklist of daily, weekly and monthly items that will help keep your skin stay clear and in balance.
Of course, what you do every single day will have the biggest impact on how your skin looks, so try to make each of these a habit:
To get the best results for your skin, there are a few tasks you may want to incorporate into your routine once or twice a week. To make them extra indulgent, save them for a designated self-care afternoon.
Every few weeks, there are steps you can take to level up your skincare routine.
The good news about taking care of your skin is that you’re taking care of your whole self. The same things that benefit your complexion, like healthy food and sunscreen, keep your entire body thriving. That’s why we’re confident that your acne self care journey will reap benefits far beyond just fewer pimples.
If you’d like to get started caring for your acneic skin today, many of the products we’ve mentioned in this article are available at a reduced price when bundled in our 4-step facial set , which is the perfect place to start on your skincare journey.
All of the products we sell at Wild Ice are kept cold until the moment we ship them to you, which means that they retain maximum potency and don’t contain unhealthy preservatives, because we think your skin deserves the best.
If you embark on an acne self-care journey this year, we’d love to hear how it goes. Drop us a line or comment below. We can’t wait to see you glow!
Mila (pronounced 'mee-luh') is mother of three, wife, and founder of Wild Ice, an all-natural cold-preserved skincare line dedicated to bringing the best of care to women everywhere.
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I can’t say enough about all the Wild Ice products! The toner is light and refreshing and is the perfect addition to my skin routine. I highly recommend all her products if you are craving beautiful skin!
My face feels so hydrated and smooth. Love how it looks too
Started this 4 step set 2 weeks ago and was hooked after the 1st day. Can't wait to post my 6 week progress photo. With each use I keep changing my mind to which one is my favorite. I look forward every morning and evening to the fresh feel of washing and moisturizing my face. Thank you Mila for this beautiful product.
LOVVVEEEE IT! I feel immediately lifted as soon as I finish using it, and it is a wonderful face massage. I feel like I have treated myself, every time I use it.
I’m hooked on Cryo-C. This hydrates and makes my skin look youthful!
I love this body oil! It goes on smoothly and my skin feels amazing. I lobe using this when I get out of the shower. It smells amazing too!
I love this product. Not greasy or oily. Leaves my skin smooth and I love the smell. Since using this product, I constantly get told my skin looks beautiful and has a nice glow.
I have used several cleansers over the years and since trying the B-Meltee, I always come back to this product. It is a clean fragrance as well as a clean feeling without drying out my skin. I would recommend this product to all ages and all skin types. It will not disappoint, I promise.
I began using the cryo- C about six weeks ago and my skin has never looked better! The first thing you notice is how wonderful it smells, the second thing you notice is how it glides on and gives you an instant glow, and the next thing you notice overtime is that it provides a permanent dewy glow with diminished discoloration‘s and lines! I love love love this product! I’m 58❤️
This is truly the best system I’ve ever used. My skin is healthier - I’ve always had dry skin and finally it feels hydrated and the difference is visible. It even stayed hydrated feeling and looking on a 5 day ski trip, which always especially drys out my face. I’ve also had redness on my cheeks and that is slowly but noticeably decreasing. I gave wild ice to my daughters and best friend for Christmas as well and they are so happy with it and agree it’s a game changer for our skin. Thank you!
This class was such a great experience. Mila explains how the muscles in your face work and how to use her products to enhance your face and glow. I had so much fun as this class and I would definitely go to another one!
Love these products! My wrinkles are minimised with continual use and it’s an easy regimen. Try it!
This cleanser is light and refreshing, but does the heavy lifting of cleaning my face daily! I love how refreshed my face feels afterward- not dry or tight; just soft and clean! I have used Mila’s 4 step program for a year now and my skin has never looked better! I’m absolutely obsessed with each step and the benefits my skin has gotten from them. Clear, glowing, soft skin!
The entire Wild Ice line of products are what my skin responds to over any other product I've ever used. I do not hesitate to put any new Wild Ice product on my skin knowing I can trust the ingredients to do the job well. Just smelling the freshness of the products is a daily pleasure. And look no further than Mila's gorgeous skin for inspiration :)
So glad I found Mila again after her rebranding to Wild Ice. Her skin care line is the best I’ve found for my skin (and I’m sensitive to so many products) It’s a luxury I can’t do without