HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR BLEMISHES/ACNE

By: Vanessa

ACNE, UGH! That terrible word that everyone hates and dreads admitting they have. Now fortunately for me, nowadays my skin issues are pretty minor thanks to all the changes I have made to my skin regime. I would probably rate my skin 9/10 NOW (with up keep) but it wasn’t always like that! I used to suffer from acne in middle school till about first year of high school. When filming “The Latest Buzz” on set, sometimes it would get really bad as I was constantly caking on the makeup and working very long hours (Basically lots of pore clogging). For sensitive and acne prone skin, this just does not work!

I, like most people eventually broke and ended up trying Proactive, which I thought would be the answer to all my prayers…but unfortunately it was not. It worked great for the first three months. Then I found my skin was EXTRA dry and flakey. I would have to put on so much cream to have my skin looking remotely normal…which would also cause my skin to breakout. I felt pretty hopeless. The feeling of when your skin is so bad you become embarrassed and don’t even want to leave the house..yes I have been there….

One day a makeup artist on set in Toronto suggested I go to the “Acne Treatment Clinic” which actually was GREAT so happy I went. They told me I was using too much on my face...(the 3-4 step proactive regimes) creams exc... He suggested I switch to the original, non-scented “Dove Soap Bar” to wash my face and Neutrogena cream for the face. He also prescribed a prescription cream called “Benzaclin” for all over use or spot treatment, which I still use WEEKLY and honestly I do not know what I would do without it! It seriously stops and prevents breakouts! After a couple weeks of use my skin already improved.

*Actresses like Anna Lynne McCord use Benzaclin!

I then decided to take it into my own hands and really strip down my skin regime… I switched to a completely organic face care system. I now Use ALOE calming facial cleanser from the body shop, in either foam or the cleansing cream. They are both rated a ZERO on Cosmetic Database

which is basically a database that tells you how harmful your skincare products are..O being the best. Basically you should not be higher than a 2-3..SERIOUSLY go to the site and check all your products. I’ve given away hundreds of dollars worth of products once I discovered this.

Today I rotate between my Aloe Facial Cleanser/the exfoliator, which does not make my skin breakout at all! Keeps my skin in check (I use this the most). I also use “Dessert Essence Gentle Nourishing Organic Cleanser with Aloe Vera and Cucumber,” and I am currently trying out Honey Girl  Organics facial cleanser & Makeup remover which was rated highly on Jennifer Stano’s blog. I’ll let you know my thoughts soon! But if your acne is  bad I would stick to the Dove non-scented Soap bar, then maybe switch to ALOE facial Cleanser after a few months.

*Vitacost sells Desert Essence's organic cleanser for SUPER CHEAP! We will link to it on the sidebar ;)

MY FOUR BLEMISH KILLING PRODUCTS.

Now that you have stripped your face care regime down to the basics with no harsh chemicals… onto the blemish FIGHTERS. 

1.As mentioned above I love using my prescription cream called BENZACLIN for spot treatment…or for prevention when you feel like one is coming!

2. TEA TREE OIL is GREAT for spot treatment (all natural) lovelovelove. Wash your face, put on a little bit of tea tree oil before bed. Once that is dry you can apply BENZACLIN if you choose. OR tea tree oil is great after you wash your face to apply to pimples before you add your makeup. GREAT disinfectant for blemishes. Dry’s out pimples so keep skin moisturized and use generously! 

*We have linked this product on the sidebar. Vitacost sells tea tree for a fraction of the price that most stores do!

3. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Treatment Pads-Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this product honestly...my skin has been AMAZING since using this…even if I have a pimple I will compress the pimple with this for 5 mins…you may feel a lil burn but it’s just killing the pimple! The next day you will see your blemish(es) are improving!! Also a great makeup remover if you are sometimes lazy (like me) and just want to wipe your face instead of washing! I use this product prob every second day. Daily if my skin seems to be acting up but it’s a great preventative!!

 

4.Lemon- love lemon at bedtime for an all natural spot treatment! Cut a piece of the lemon and put the fresh juice on the blemish!

FACE CREAM SUGGESTIONS for Acne Prone Skin.

For Face Cream I love The Body Shop's Aloe Face Cream or Glaxal Base.

Both creams are pretty scentless & organic and no harsh chemicals. If you have extremely dry skin or rosacea I would recommend the Glaxal Base. If smell is important to you then I also like Evan Healy Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer (with rose geranium & carrot seed) It does not cause me to breakout and smells like roses. But if your skin is extremely sensitive just stick with the aloe or glaxal base.

*The Aloe products can be found at: The Body Shop