Avoid These 10 Common Acne Mistakes
Acne can be a source of frustration and embarrassment, but it doesn’t have to be. Dealing with breakouts often requires trial-and-error, but there are some common mistakes that you should avoid in order to achieve clearer skin. We’re here today to provide tips on how to properly care for your skin during those flare-up moments.
Mistake 1: Overwashing Your Face
It’s important to cleanse your face daily with a gentle cleanser such as CosRx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser (personally I double cleanse at night and just splash my face with water in the morning). However, overwashing your face can strip away natural oils and cause skin irritation, leading to more breakouts. Aim for no more than two times per day when cleansing your skin.
CosRx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser
Formulated with tea tree oil and natural BHA to refine skin texture, the Good Morning Gel Cleanser's pH level is the closest to your skin's natural pH levels and leaves skin soft, moist and refreshed without stripping it of its natural oils.
Mistake 2: Not Washing Your Face After Sweating
HOWEVER If you’ve been sweating—whether from working out or just being outside in the heat—it is important to wash your face soon after as sweat can clog pores and lead to additional breakouts. Make sure you use a gentle cleanser such as Starface Space Wash so that you don’t overstrip natural oils from your skin while still effectively removing dirt and grime.
Starface Space Wash
Space Wash is a plant-based, lightly foaming cleanser that works AM and PM to gently remove makeup, dirt, and oil. It’s great for helping prevent future breakouts and leaves skin feeling fresh and happy. Its gentle-but-effective ingredients help soothe irritated or stressed skin.
Mistake 3: Touching Your Face Too Much
Your hands get exposed to all sorts of germs throughout the day and touching your face can easily transfer those germs onto your skin which increases the risk of infection and further breakouts. Be mindful of how often you touch your face and make sure to keep your hands clean!
Mistake 4: Not Moisturizing Enough
Moisturizing is an important part of any skincare routine, even if you have acne-prone skin. Without enough moisture, sebum production will increase which leads to clogged pores resulting in even more breakouts. Make sure you apply moisturizer immediately after cleansing so that your skin stays hydrated all day long. CosRx Oil-Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion is great for oily/acne prone skin as it’s super lightweight. It may seem counterintuitive to use a moisturizer when you have oily or acne-prone skin, but skipping out on this step could actually make your problem worse.
CosRx Oil-Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion
Recommended for sensitive, oily or acne-prone skin, this watery moisturizer is enriched with all-natural birch sap to improve hydration levels in skin while maintaining oil and water balance to prevent excess sebum production and further breakouts. The result is calmer, soother skin with an improved texture and tone.
Mistake 5: Not Exfoliating the Right Amount
Exfoliation helps remove dead cells from the surface of the skin and unclogs pores, making it an essential step for anyone dealing with acne-prone skin. It is important not to exfoliate too often however, as this can irritate the delicate balance of natural oils on our faces leading to more acne formation. Aim for 1-2 times per week, depending on how sensitive your skin is feeling at the time. And please, god, never use a scrub as this will further inflame your acne. Stick to chemical exfoliants (we did a whole article on them here).
Mistake 6: Popping Pimples
This can be very tempting but popping pimples can cause scarring and further infection. Instead, try using a stick on spot treatment like CosRx’s Acne Pimple Master Patch which helps reduce redness and inflammation. It also creates a protective barrier over the area to help keep bacteria out so you’re not tempted to pick or pop.
CosRx Acne Pimple Master Patch
Hailed by Korean skin care fans as a holy grail product for acne treatment, COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches protect pimples from secondary infections and further swelling. Available in various sizes, the hydrocolloid acne patch covers the affected area and absorbs excess sebum for easy and effective blemish control. This spot treatment speeds up the healing process of the pimple and helps prevent acne scars. Apply the pimple patch to clean skin.
Mistake 7: Not wearing sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential for all skin types, but it’s especially important for those with acne-prone skin because UV rays can worsen breakouts and increase dark spots. Look for a lightweight formula like Starface's Clear as Day SPF46 which is non-comedogenic and provides broad spectrum protection without clogging pores.
Starface Clear as Day SPF46
Clear as Day SPF 46 is an invisible, broad spectrum sunscreen made for acne-prone skin. Filled with lightweight, non-comedogenic ingredients, this powerful sunscreen gel protects, hydrates, and smooths your face — all without clogging pores or leaving a white cast. Thanks to its silky texture, Clear as Day is an easy addition to your daily routine (even when you have an active breakout). Plus, it’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you can swim, sweat, and live your life.
Mistake 8: Using too many acne products
Trying to get all Type A on your acne can be a big mistake as it can potentially make your skin worse and irritate your breakout further. You know those kits that come with a bunch of steps? Generally these are a bit intense. Instead, add in one or two products specifically designed to help treat acne like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid-based cleansers and spot treatments. CosRx has some great options that are perfect for treating acne, like their Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser and Acne Pimple Master Patch (as seen in the last step) that helps you target problem spots.
Mistake 9: Over drying your skin
PUT DOWN THE TOOTHPASTE. It’s tempting to want to dry out your pimples as quickly as possible, but overdoing it can strip away your skin’s natural defenses. This could leave your skin vulnerable to further breakouts, irritation and sensitivity. Instead, look for gentle cleansers that won't dry out your skin too much, like CosRx's Foam Cleanser which is sulfate-free and helps balance the skin’s moisture levels.
Mistake 10: Not addressing internal causes
Stress, hormones and diet can all be major contributors to breakouts so it's important to address any underlying issues in order to get clear skin. Eating a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can help provide your body with the nutrients it needs to keep your skin healthy and happy. You should also make sure you're getting enough sleep each night as this helps reduce stress and keep your hormones in check.
Taking proper care of acne-prone skin takes patience and practice but by avoiding these common mistakes, you should start to see results in just a couple of weeks. If you’re still having trouble with breakouts, consult your dermatologist to determine the best course of action for your individual skin type. With the right approach and treatment plan, you'll be on your way to clearer and healthier looking skin in no time.
But More Importantly is the ultimate destination for finding the best cosmetics around. We take on the task of sifting through a vast array of options to find the most useful and expertly-recommended items that you can buy. Our team has recently scoured the market for everything from sunscreen basics to physical VS chemical exfoliation, everything you need to know about acids, and the ultimate skin care guide for sensitive skin. Our links are regularly updated to ensure that you get the best deals available, so make sure to check back often for new suggestions!
