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We’re all creatures of habit. From the moment we wake up until the minute we hit the sack, our bodies are attuned to a daily routine of sorts good and bad; but what if I told you that your bad habits may also be responsible for your breakouts?
When zit zappers and pimple creams don’t work anymore ─ you know you need to adjust your habits. I’m not talking about just picking up a typical anti-acne cleanser, in fact, you can’t and shouldn’t do that.
The thing about most pimple and acne products is that they work to control sebum secretion (as it is, afterall, the main cause of pimples); but if you’re just dealing with a random acne breakout, you shouldn’t use run-of-the-mill acne busters. These products may actually make your skin worse. Unlike people who constantly battle pimples, your skin is just experiencing a sudden influx of germs or is reacting to a new product, so using an oil-control product might be detrimental to your skin.
What you need are good anti-acne habits that can be guaranteed to remove impurities and return your skin back to its normal state for the long term.
Bad Habit 1: Using the wrong moisturiser
I know the feeling of sticking to a beauty product I love even if its bad for me. If you have a fondness of rich creams, you might want to reconsider it, as a lot of rich creams are to be blame when your face becomes a pimple farm.
Creams and lotions have a tendency to clog up your pores, as the thicker consistency makes it difficult for it to be absorbed into the skin. Even if you have been using a certain cream for weeks before an acne breakout, the cream might still be the cause of your acne. This is because unabsorbed cream may be sitting on the surface of your skin, and accumulated cream will result in a pimple-outbreak.
Opt for a water-based moisturiser instead, such as Biotherm’s Pure Skin Effect Hydrating Gel. Containing antibacterial properties and salicylic acid, the brand says this moisturiser will help to clear obstructed pores while giving your skin hydration from within.
Bad Habit 2: Sticking to the same-old products
Sudden acne breakouts may also be due to products that your skin is allergic to. Although you may have been using a product for ages, your skin can develop an allergy anytime. Shortlist the cause of an acne breakout by eliminating the product that is to blame.
For starters, see if there is any reaction to each skin care item. Reaction signs include red or itchy skin, or tiny bumps appearing on your skin’s surface. Slowly eliminate products from your regime and stick to those that don’t have a reaction to calm down your skin first. When your skin is back to normal, re-introduce that product and see if your skin reacts. If it does, it’s time to throw it out.
Bad Habit 3: Being lazy with cleaning
There once was a time when I was battling puffy eyes for months; and I had no idea why. I initially thought it was due to a product, but even after stopping and changing products, my eyes still stayed red and puffy. I was seeing Dr Kenneth Lee at the Sloane Clinic then (for my severe acne) and I raised this woe with him.
He looked at me simply and said, “Something around your bed is dirty, and you need to change it.” I was in disbelief at first as I regularly change my sheets (and I was certain it was a product that was causing it!). But then I realised that I didn’t spring clean around my bed. Things like soft toys and pillows need to be washed very regularly too. So if you’ve been battling constant bouts of pimples, some spring cleaning might be in order.
(Although I had an irritated eye, the same principle applies to inflamed skin. Pimples are a result of an infected pore, so keeping everything clean will certainly help.)
Bad Habit 4: Neglecting your regular detox
Even if you enjoy pimple-free skin on most days, your skin may still be subjected to environmental pollutants. Giving your skin a regular detox will help clean your pores and ultimately result in clearer skin. If you don’t know where to start, I’ve written about the four tried and tested masks that I rely on.
The trick is to do a detox mask regularly (I do so once a week) so your pores are constantly unblemished. Don’t wait for a breakout to happen before you decide to cleanse, it might be too late!
Biotherm Pure Skin Effect Hydrating Gel, $55, is available at all Biotherm counters. For more information, visit www.biothermsg.com and follow the brand on Facebook.