Blemish Busters: How to Regain Clear Complexion

Don’t you hate it when for no particular reason (that you can pin point anyway), your skin starts to act up and you start breaking out.  And it just always seems to happen at the worst of time - whenever you want to look your best without any angry red spots calling unwanted attention, giving rise to anxiety and frustration.

Unfortunately, I recently had (and am still having) this very problem with a break out on my chin and around the jaw line. I normally don’t get pimples in this area and couldn't pinpoint it to a particular reason be it related to stress, bad diet, or hormonal (as those generally triggers a break out on my cheeks). Needless to say, it's annoying and frustrating to suffer a break out.

Break out scars :(

So out came all the acne blemish treatments and skincare regime in my attempt to regain my clear chin again. Following the guideline of Treat, Heal and Prevent,  here’s a breakdown on how to say good bye to break outs, keep them in check and hello to clear complexion!

Blemish Busters

Treat

If it’s an angry outbreak, then treatment products can either stop the offending pimple from developing if caught early or if it's beyond that point, speed up its cycle so it can go away and heal quicker.

Try Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-1 Fight and Fade spot gel (15ml $16.99) to reduce the duration of the break out and also help to fade any scars and marks.  I only use this gel at night because when used during the day with foundation over the treatment, you pretty much will have the product balling up and causing a mess to your makeup up

Another treatment I like is Clearasil Ultra Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream Extra Strength (20g A$14.49) containing 5% benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria as well as dry out the pimples, quickly banishing spots. Those with sensitive skin types might find it too strong as it can irritate skin or cause stinging sensation so bear that in mind and try the normal strength product or use every other day only.

Dermalogica Spot correcting treatment (10ml  $35) is my preferred day time spot treatment as it doesn't ball up and has got a natural beige tint to help conceal any redness and dark marks. It also contains 5% sulphur and zinc oxide as active ingredients to help fight  and clear those pesky break outs.

Heal

When treating active pimples and acne, you need moisturising and soothing skincare as acne treatment products can by drying on skin. You want to look out for products that moisturise, help fade scars and speed up the recovery of healing skin.

Since treatment gel and creams often leave skin dry and tight, it’s important to use a hydrating moisturiser like the newly reformulated Clinique Dramatically different moisturiser Plus (50ml A$29 or 125ml A$49) containing sunflower seed, cucumber and barley extract to improve the skin barrier function and urea, hyaluronic acid, glycerine to increase moisturisation levels during the day. I like that it's non irritating so even sensitised skin will feel immediately comfortable with this great moisturiser that also gives soft silky skin.

To fight and fade off marks and scars, I've found Estee Lauder CyberWhite HD Advanced Spot Correcting Essence (20ml A$140) to be invaluable in reducing the appearance of scar marks on my chin. In fact, anything to do with pigmentation, whether from break outs or sun exposure, it has to capacity to correct and repair fresh dark marks over the course of 6 weeks. My marks from break outs are lighter and fading away by the day. I also notice that it gives my skin a translucent glow as it gently accelerates skin cell turn-over to improve skin clarity. Win-win!

Prevent

Good skin starts with daily washing and facial washes can go a long way to helping keep skin clear. Here are some of my cabinet staples during periods of break outs.

Products that contain salicylic acid like Neutrogena Oil Eliminating Foaming Cleanser (150ml A$13.99) are not very effective in removing dirt, oil and dead skin , they reduce the chance of blocked pores. I love how this cleanser leaves skin with a velvety texture after washing, is non-drying and not too harsh. Afterwards, I noticed that it also helps to provide a couple of hours of shine control so I don't oil up as much.

For scrubs, the recently released fruity smelling Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Scrub (150ml A$10.99) has avocado and pomergranate extracts to sooth and nousish skin whilst the salicylic acid and micro-bead scrub is effective with manually removing dead skin cell and grease build up whilst leaving skin feeling smooth and gently cleaned.

For a little something extra, the Neutrogena 2 in 1 Cleanser Mask (150ml $13.99) is handy as you can use it  two ways- as a normal daily cleanser or as a face mask. Every other day, or when I have a new break out, I would apply a thin layer over it as a mask , wait 5 minutes and then wash off to absorb excess oil and help soften skin and sooth the pimple. The clay-based mask cleanser is also great for reducing pesky blackheads as well as it also contains salicylic acid to dissolve and dislodge dead skin cells.

After 6 weeks, I'm still not out of the woods with my break outs. I do however, find that the pimples take only a few days to heal rather than the full week. Now if only I can stop new ones from forming, I'll be on my way to clear skin again. I've also increase my intake of fresh seasonal fruit (strawberries are in season right now) and drinking plenty of water helps flush out the toxin and clear the break outs quicker. I think I'll need to add an exercise regime as the final process to help to rid toxins out of the body quicker as well.

If you are suffering a break out, give these products a try and I hope they work as well for you as they have for me.

This review features products provided for consideration but I've previously purchased and will continue to buy the above acne treatment products to help me get rid of my break outs. 

Be Sun-smart: Top to Toe Protection

You’ve most likely heard it many times before, but it honestly can’t be said enough that the sun is your skin’s #1 public enemy and the surest way to cause pre-mature aging and increase the risk of getting skin cancer.

So I was shocked to find out that today from the experts that the message is still not getting across to the people out there and not everyone is using sunscreen on a daily basis. Many are only using sunscreen when they head out to the beach but not when they are out and about. Incidental sun causes more damage as people don't remember to apply sunscreen and that most of our sun damage is caused in the first 18 years of our lives but  that damage won’t come to surface until many years later.

UVA rays, even on a cloudy day will cause damage to skin cells, causing those fine lines and deep wrinkles. And if you want to tan, do so safely with sunscreen - it may take longer but it is safer!

Don’t wait till you have to repair the damage, prevention is key. Here are some great sun-protecting products for you to use everyday when you are out, rain clould or shine - that will go a long way in helping you stay protected from those nasty rays

Facial sunscreens

1. Endota  SPF 15 Day Moisturiser SPF 15 – 50ml
Launched as a take-home after care product with the new Endota Glycolic in-spa treatments, this physical blocking moisturiser sunscreen doesn’t deteriorate like chemical ones do over time so I’m overlooking the fact that it’s only SPF15. It’s quite thick but the paste-like formula rubs well into skin to give a surprising matte finish without any hint of shine and would suit normal to oily skin types . With moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera juice, jojoba oil, green tea extract, vitamin C to hydrate and protect the skin, you get 2 benefits in 1.

I’ve now made this my daily facial sunscreen as I love how it also primes my face and help makeup sit better on the surface of skin. Best of all there is no white cast usually associated with physical sunscreens to be seen.

RRP A$65 at Endota spas and Endota online.

2. Moisturising Daily Defense SPF 30+ - 100ml
On days when I’m giving my skin a break from the intensive layering of serums and treatment products, I only this product and I’m set to go. This light lotion absorbs into skin with ease and little rubbing, non greasy it also leaves a semi matte finish that also works well as a primer for makeupl.

I’ve found that this broad-spectrum moisturiser sunscreen too rich to use with my vitamin C oil serum and it caused a few breakouts around my nasal labial folds when I do the layering of multiple treatments products.

On its own, it’s beautiful and hydrating enough and if only I don’t have so many other skin issues like pigmentation, large pores and uneven skintone, I’d gladly give up the layering to use only this product and this would make one great product dryer skin types. Thankfully it’s also packed full of great ingredients - hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) to promote elasticity and soothe skin so that I don’t feel guilty when I go without treatment products with its use.

RRP A$49 at selected salons or online from the Facial Company (where it's $9.80 cheaper too)


Body Sunscreens

I’m a lazy person by nature and spray and aerosol type sunscreens will forever be a part of my life.

3. Le Tan Coconut spray SPF 30+ - 250ml
The heavenly coconut scent is the reason why I love this product. Normally I’m not a coconut fan as it can be overwhelming and synthetic but this one is just right and very natural. A milky lotion in a spray, I spritz straight into my hand it rub onto my legs and arms but spray directly onto the body for hard to reach places like back of legs and necks for 4 hours of protection. Not too sticky and leaves skin with a soft sheen, it makes me feel like I’m taking an island holiday every time I put this to use.

RRP A$16.99 at supermarkets, Kmart, Big W, Priceline and selected pharmacies

Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 30+ - 140g
This aerosol sunscreen spritz gives a fine mist all over skin without having to rubbed in – pefect for bikini skin with the upcoming summer. The spray has a light fresh scent and leaves skin feeling dry to touch once the alcohol (enthanol) evaporates, but if you prefer your products to not contain alcohol, you are better off with non-aerosol types. Neutrogena Ultimate sport is made to be sweat and transfer resistant and last up to 4 hours and contains helioplex to stablise and slow down the deterioration of the sunscreen formula.

RRP A$17.99 RRP A$16.99 at supermarkets, Kmart, Big W, Priceline and selected pharmacies

Remember, sunscreen is only 1 of the mantra of slip slop slap. I highly recommend a wide brimmed hat and light long sleever shirt when you’re outdoors for long hours for keeping your skin looking its best for the longest possible time and prevent skin cancer.

I wished someone spent the time to tell me all this when I was a teen as I  never used sunscreen on a daily basis until my mid 20s. I just hope I can undo the damage I've caused all those years before.

What is your biggest skincare regret?


Product featured have been provided for consideration. 

My Morning Skincare Routine

Having used so many beauty products over the past few years, I'm known be very fickle and don't really have a very set skincare routine. Add to that, my routine invariably have to change whenever I have to test a new product as I have to stop what I'm using and try the new product for a period of time for complete a review for it.

Despite all the chopping and changing in products, the basic elements of my daytime skincare routine is always the same: cleanse, serum, treatment, moisturise and sun protection. I don't use a toner as my hydration comes from the serums and treatments and don't believe toners should be used to remove cleansing residue if the cleanser was a good enough product in the first place.

Today I thought I'd share with you what I'm currently using in my day routine, some of which are products I've used on a long term basis and others are products I'm currently putting on trial.

For reference, I have oily/combination skin in my T-zones and cheeks but am also prone to very dry skin despite producing alot of oil. My skin consultant once said I have a masked dry skin condition as most people think I'm straight up oily skin but if I wash my face, most people would immediately say I have dehydrated skin (and I totally blame the office air conditioner for making the situation worse).

Click to enlarge to see details

1. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 500ml RRP A$87 - gentle yet effective enough to wash off dirt,  grime an and even makeup. I use this exclusively when I had a peel performed as it's non irritating and soothing on the most sensitive skin with the calming lavendar essential oils. one of my HG cleansers.  I use this with and without the clarisonic facial cleansing brush.

2. Kiehl's darkness diminishing activated eye treatment 15ml RRP A$62* - I'm currently putting this eye cream to the test to see how much it helps with my dark circles from poor circulation and lack of sleep. So far I've noticed reduced puffiness and brighter eyes from the light reflecting particles in the formula. I've yet to see much in terms of darkness reduction after 3 weeks use.

3. Shu Uemura Whitefficient Whitening Essence 150ml RRP A$115* &  4. Lancome Blanc Expert Whitening Activating Spot Eraser 30ml RRP A$118* - I alternate between these two whitening treatments on most days or use one in the morning and the other at night. The main reason for using whitening products is to brighten up my complexion and prevent the sallowness from creeping in. I'm also trying my hardest to fade some pigmentation I have around the eye area.

I find Shu Uemura's Whitefficent essence spreads better on the skin but can leave a sheen so is better suited for dryer skin or the winter months and It works well as a primer. It contains algae extract, prune extract and Ellagic acid which help to block melanin production and brighten the skin.

Lancome's Blanc Expert is water-based and is instantly absorbed into skin without any tacky or greasy feeling. It contains a proprietary Melanolyser technology to break down the melanin in skin and fade the dark spot.

Both products give a luminous radiance to skin . There is very some lightening on my pigmentation spots with 4 weeks use of it but it is more efficient with fading blemish marks and those disappear in 1-2 weeks on my skin.

5. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum 50ml RRP A$49.99^- is my go-to daily serum that effectively plumps and hydrates my skin, while working to softens and fills in fine lines. Best of all it is affordable enough that I don't need to take out a second mortgage to keep using this on a daily basis.

6. Priori Cellular Recovery Serum 50ml RRP A$220 ^- When I feel my skin's particularly dry or irritated and needs a boost of radiance I would use this instead of the Olay Mirco-sculpting serum. Being water based, it is lightweight and instantly absorbed into skin, leaving it nourished, super hydrated and never ever greasy. It contains enzymes and liposomes prevent and repair cellular damage to help with the anti-aging process and firms the skin. This was one of the products used when I recently had my fraxel laser and it was soothing and calming to use. I have to say for the price, I expect to see more results but sadly I don't. I still really enjoy the product though I'd love it more if the price tag wasn't so hefty (thank goodness I received this from a competition prize!).

7. Neutrogena healthy defence daily moisturiser with Helioplex SPF 30+  for combination/oily skin 40ml RRP A$16.49 ^- a good moisturiser sunscreen that is affordable and suitable for oily and combination skin and doesn't have the white cast issues that other sunscreen products have. It's not too rich and rubs easily into skin although it's not as oil controlling as it could be. It works well during the cooler months on my skin and given I already treat my face with other serums and treatment products, this basic moisturiser sunscreen meets all my needs and gives me basic hydration and stable high sun protection. It's the last skincare product I put onto my face before I slap on my makeup.

8. Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid  RRP A$15.95 - my favourite lip balm/treatment product - I've tried the other lanolips and although nice, they didn't make much of an impression as this 70% pure lanolin balm. It helps to sooth and smooth my dry chapped lips, keeping them moist and soft and makes lipstick application more even and smooth. I love the tangy taste and scent of the lemon essential oil and it acts as a natural exfoliant to keep flaky lips at bay too. This is a limited edition product and it's still available in the Myer and DJ stores I visit in Melbourne but I'm going to be stocking this right up - just in case you know.

My star products that I would never swap out (or would quickly come back to) is my Dermalogica cleanser, Lancome Blanc Expert Spot Eraser,  Lanolips Lemonaid lip aid and Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting Serum. They are my HG skincare products.

Next up, my night time skincare routine...

Products marked * were sent for consideration. 
Products marked ^ were competition prizes or gifts from generous friends. All other products were purchased by yours truly.

Lux v Less - Sun Protection

Summer has officially arrived and it's finally starting to feel like it too.

So when the sun rays peeks through, make sure you enjoy its presence safely and in moderation by protecting your skin. Here are 2 facial sunscreens that will not only keep your skin moisturised but give you the protection you need to safely venture outdoors.

LUX: Guinot Age Sun Protective Anti-aging Skincare SPF 20 - RRP A$140

This will not only protect you from the sun, but it will give you a big-antiaging boost with its list of 56 super-charged anti-aging ingredients like vitamin A, C, E and cell protecting amino-acids.

Only SPF 20 I hear you scoff? well yes, it is not as high as I personally would like but I was explained by Guinot's skincare expert Laura Pritchard that a higher percentage of the sunscreen chemicals would destablise the formulation and won't allow the product to penetrate deeper into skin, making it an ineffective anti-ageing product. Besides, no matter what SPF you end up using when outdoors, you should always re-apply every hour to make sure skin stays protected throughout the day.

A light and non-greasy cream, this stuffs smells of chocolate cocoa butter and can be quite addictive. Readily absorbed, this keeps skin hydrated all day long and doesn't get greasy on me at all. It also acts as a great primer before makeup applications, a bonus that many will appreciated and enjoy. Although it doesn't leave an obvious white cast in everyday use and has a great finish, be mindful if you're planning to be photographed whilst wearing this as it can have you looking lighter than in real life due to natural sunscreen ingredients (titanium dioxide).

Guinot is available at Guinot salons nationwide.

LESS: Neutrogena Healthy Defence Daily Moisturiser SPF 30+  - RRP A$17.95
A cheaper and readily available alternative, you will get good hydration and sun protection from Neutrogena Healthy Defence.

Also quite light and fluid, it has a subtle fresh scent that disappears within minutes of application. Whilst its texture is not as luxe as Guinot and it does leave a bit of an sheen on skin, it also contains vitamin A, C, E to give instant hydration. It doesn't leave a white cast and dries to a slight sheen finish, but I don't find makeup sitting as well over it and you may need to use a primer to prep your face and I find I can get slightly oily looking during the day with this product, even when using the combination/oily skin formula.

In 2 formulations to cater for normal/oily skin and combination/oily skin types, I find this product more suitable for me to use in cooler weather as I don't oil up as much and so I can slap plenty of it on my face and neck.  

Guinot spreads better and is slightly pale yellow in colour

Neutrogena is available in supermarkets, Priceline and pharmacies nationwide.

Many people have asked how you can re-apply sunscreen over makeup. Unfortunately, there's no real simple way without without having to do major touch ups on your face. So if you are outdoors, try using mineral foundation for touch up as they contain natural sunscreen that will give you protection or SPF tinted moisturisers instead.

samples of these products were sent for review.

Review: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen SPF30+

Given that we Aussies live in one of the most southern countries in the world and the fact that there is a big gaping hole in the ozone layer just over neighbouring Antarctica, looking after our skin from the suns harmful UV rays should be our #1 imperative (well it is mine).

UVB  is what causes skin to go red and burn as it damages the skin's epidermal layers and is a key cause of nasty skin cancers such as melanoma while UVA, although less intense than UVB, is more prevalent in our atmosphere and is associated with photo-aging, skin aging, freckling and pigmentation. UVA rays can penetrate deeper into the basal of the epidermis and causes much untold damage many years later on.

So, short of staying indoors and never seeing the light of day or completely covering up, sunscreen is one of the most important products out there that one can use to protect our skin when we find ourselves out and about during the day.

Choosing sunscreens
Not all sunscreens are created equal and when looking for one, make sure that it provides broad spectrum protection (which will block out both UVA and UVB rays) and ideally should be Skin Protection Factor aka SPF 30+). The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administrators or TGA (think US FDA counterparts) have restricted labelling to show no higher SPF than 30+ as it can mislead consumers and lull them into a false sense of security that SPF 50 is better than 30 when in fact after application on skin, there is no significant increase in skin protection provided by the higher SPF sunscreens. Also different country applies tests for SPF differently so ratings vary considerably according to country. As a guide, Australian SPF30+ allows transmission of 3.4% of UV radiation onto skin which is more than enough for the daily UV rays our skin needs for vitamin D synthesis and healthy bone development.

I like my facial sunscreens lightweight and non-greasy. When I came across Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily face sunscreen lotion, I was instantly interested and the new helioplex technology promising a more stable sunscreen was too hard to resist.


What I found

• is a chemical sunscreen so works but absorbing the harmful UVA&B rays before it penetrates skin. Helioplex helps to stablise the sunscreen chemicals so you get longer protection before the chemicals starts to break down by the suns ray. Re-application every 3-4 hours is recommended if staying outdoors for an extended period of time
• being a chemical blocker sunscreen does not give a white cast on makeup applications, especially in photographs 
• lightweight and non-greasy - dry to touch with a matte finish
• milky white fluid in texture - rubs into skin very quickly
• very light, non-overbearing fresh scent the disappears quickly after application
• didn't quite work as a primer for makeup base. It accentuated any dry patches and needed a separate primer to fix those areas
• after 2 weeks use, I broke out from this and had 2 tiny whiteheads on my cheeks. I've not experience this with any sunscreens before, even with oilier sunscreens

Overall thoughts
I love the texture and how it was quickly absorbed into my skin. It is a shame I can't use this product long term as an ingredient caused my skin to react to it after a period of use. I now use this solely on my hands and neck as its a lovely product for those areas, just not on my face. I would love to see a re-formulated version that doesn't break me out as it gives a nice matte finish to the face.

Rating: 6/10
RRP A$14.99 at all good chemists and Target, Big-W and Kmart stores.
stats source: Australian Cancer Foundation