How I've been healing my adult acne (and ISO Skin)
Some of you may have followed my journey with adult acne. A few months ago I spoke candidly in this post on the gram (swipe right on the below post for how it all stared) — and got real about my time during lockdown this April/May. ISO Skin was well and truly something a lot of us were experiencing #IRL, and I felt very lost as to what to do.
Adult acne happens to the best of us. Just when you think you got away with puberty, you’re hit with a late onset of frustrating little pimples. Some are painful, others are pesky or leave dark scarring that take ages to heal. I’ve experienced all of the above and have found that it’s usually the result of something internal that needs to be reset.
Finding balance, inside and out
All photography by Ellie Bobbie Photography
Be it hormonal, stress, diet or a combination of all the above, it seemed that a great majority of you were going through the same thing. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone in my mysterious skin freak out. All your comments and messages of encouragement served as a reminder to not let myself get down about my physical appearance, and to solve this issue at its roots.
While I did everything I could to repair myself internally, there was one crucial thing I knew I could do externally that would help what was happening in real time, and in the future: My skincare routine.
Stripping it back to basics
Hitting pause on all my experimentation with the latest beauty products, I decided to give my skin a much return to basics. Avène has been a trusted brand in my family from a very young age, my mom swearing by these products for her eternally flawless complexion — Spoiler alert: She shared that she too, went through the same adult acne as I did, so I knew some of it was also due to genetics.
Avène’s Cleanance Comedomed
The latest moisturising anti-blemish concentrate to come out of Avène’s Cleanance range is Cleanance Comedomed anti-blemish, anti-recurrence, acne fighting moisturiser. Many of you probably know that acne is the result of a build-up of oily and clogged pores. This range in particular focuses on gently purifying and regulating excess sebum, without drying or stripping the skin.
The gel-like texture is light, non-greasy and easily absorbs into my skin. It dries gently enough to leave a soft, matte finish. No crusty peeling or dry build up, the product feels like a second skin in compliment to my normal moisturisers. I also use the Cleanance Cleansing Gel to wash my face just before applying, and both products work really well together
This specific moisturiser was formulated with two goals in mind :
Target excess sebum
Reduce and limit the appearance of blemishes and blackheads.
Here’s a fun fact about acne:
There are two stages.
One is the visible stage, where you can see the bumps, white heads and black heads — those are called comedones. The other stage is invisible, these are called microcomedones and there are hundreds of them hidden behind one comedone. It’s like we find our-selves fighting an invisible battle with many, many little battlers getting ready to attack behind enemy lines. And we have no idea how many there actually are. Scary? I think so, too.
With this in mind, it’s in our best interest to be proactive and preventive in the recurrence of these micro pimples. That’s where Cleanance Comedoned comes in. With its minimal, plant based active ingredients derived from milk thistle oil, it moisturises and regulates excess sebum, acting on both visible and invisible stages.
In combination with a healthy diet and keeping stress at bay, I noticed my skin get lighter and my chin area brightening up in the weeks following my regular use of Avène’s Cleanance Comedoned. Even though my breakouts predictably occur around my period (something I know most of you ladies experience) — I’ve noticed the spaces between breakouts being longer and less intense, and it feels as though a sense of balance is being restored.
More than just skin
Of course, there are good days and bad days, as well as a combination of environmental and personal factors to consider when going through a bad breakout phase. It’s important to ask for help from a professional when you need it and not let it affect your self-esteem. I know there are many girls out there with different conditions, and some cases may seem more severe than others. No matter what or who, you are so much more than just the surface of your skin.
“You are so much more than just the surface of your skin. ”
Remember that these skin conditions are often temporary and often don’t last forever. Our journeys are all different in understanding what works for your skin type and skin condition. It’s comforting to know that products like Avène’s Cleanance range offer the most gentle, simple and effective ingredients for oily, acne-prone skin.
Some additional habits I’ve incorporate into my skin regimen to heal from the inside:
A glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning.
Bone broth in warm soups + lots of leafy greens.
Cutting back on processed foods like bread.
Taking a relaxing yin class, a nature walk or a bubble bath and good netlflix show at least once a week to unwind.