The Regimen

Acne: A Tactical Guide To Clear Skin

DAILY

Wash. Remove oil, dirt, makeup, dead skin and fight the spread of acne bacteria.

Ice. Calm inflammation and redness with a little ice directly on the skin as needed. It’s also a great way to prep skin for additional products.

Tone. Get every last bit of grime, dead skin, and soap film out of pores to prime skin for better absorption of additional product.

Recommended: 3% Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Toner

Correct & Repair. Apply corrective vitamin A or mandelic acid serum to accelerate cell turnover and reveal smoother, clearer, brighter skin.

Protect. Limit sun exposure and use a UVA/UVB sunscreen daily to protect from UV radiation, which can cause inflammation, acne flares, and acne scarring.

Recommended: Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15

Nourish. Eat a clear skin diet: leafy greens, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, avocados, whole grains. Drink plenty of water. Avoid sugar as much as possible.

Supplement. Studies link acne with a deficiency in zinc, which is an anti-inflammatory. Try 100mg a day to give your skin some internal support.

Radiate. Exercise daily to rev up circulation and detox skin. Remember to wear sunscreen if you’re exercising outdoors, and indoors or out, beware of tight clothing that can trap sweat and cause mechanical acne. And absolutely, shower asap when you’re finished to remove dirt, oil and sweat.

Sleep. Choose to snooze at least eight hours a night. Sleep is skin’s method for repair and renewal.

WEEKLY

Detox and Exfoliate. Use a mask to pull impurities from the skin and accelerate cell turnover.

Recommended: Vivant Sulfur Clay Mask

Change Your Sheets. Oil and dirt accumulate on sheets and breed bacteria that ends up back on your skin. Keep it clean.

Try A Booster. For bacne and bumps on the chest or shoulders, slather on some benzoyl peroxide, let it dry, then cover in plastic wrap. Keep it in place with a snug Tee and let that sit a while to concentrate the effects of the BP. Bye, bye, breakouts.

Moderation. When it comes to alcohol, sip it, don’t tip it.

BI-WEEKLY

Deep Cleaning. Get a professional facial for peak poreformance every two weeks ideally (if budget allows). Once the skin is under control, you can back off to every two to three months.