Hormonal acne

[kawaiipotato92]

Hi guys! Just wondering if anyone has found any products that are good at combatting hormonal breakouts? I tend to get gigantic pimples either on my temple area or chin/jawline every week before my monthly and the current acne wash I'm using isn't really working too well.

[GracieLuu]

I used to get bad acne in the same areas, and what it came down to was an overhaul of how I wash my face. I went to the drugstore and picked up Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne cleanser with 3.5% benzoyl peroxide and I started using it 3x per day (morning, when I came home from work, and before bed); concentrating more on the areas with existing breakouts/prone to breakouts. I then used Clean and Clear 2% Salicylic Acid Astringent (it’s the Step 2 of their cleansing line) 3x per day as well and blotted it on a damp face after cleansing (not wet, but not too dry). I then used my regular serum, eye cream and face cream (Origins original skin serum with willow herb, YTTP eye cream, and Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream). I did this until I noticed the angry red pimples went down, and then I continued this routine for just 2x per day. Once my skin calmed down I started introducing back my regular cleansers.

Once all the texture and scarring had gone down substantially and no new breakouts were starting, I stopped the stubborn acne cleanser and astringent and switched to my regular cleanser (Tula cleanser) PLUS Neutrogena Pink grapefruit cream to foam cleanser for acne prone skin, and I use a Clarisonic now for deeper cleansing. The Tula I only use after having worn heavy makeup, and the neutrogena one I use every day to keep breakouts at bay.

Since doing this since February, my skin has never felt better - heck, it’s almost like I’m in my teens again. The scarring has almost all but gone, and I’m not wearing so much makeup to try and cover how bad the scaring and redness was on my jawline and neck. I’ve only had one cystic pimple try to form, but because I was already maintaining my skin I just had to use the astringent a few times to stop it from growing, and now it’s almost gone.

The 3.5% benzoyl peroxide coupled with the 2% salicylic acid goes deep to get the gunk out of the pores, calm the area, and minimize the pores so they don’t continue producing sebum and oil in excess. The Neutrogena cleanser has salicylic acid and pink grapefruit to help maintain the area gently without drying out the skin, as the other products do dry the skin out. 

Hope this helps!

[potprincess420]

I grabbed the Clinique acne solutions clearing gel with some of my points when it was offered at Sephora and I’ve been OBSESSED. I dab some over my pimples (I have the same jawline breakout area as you) and they’re visibly flattened and smaller by the morning ☺️