Blemished skin: why stricter is not better

There is one reflex I see in almost everyone with impure skin: attacking it harder. Cleansing more strictly, scrubbing more often, avoiding anything that feels greasy. It’s a logical thought, and it works exactly the other way around.

The cycle you maintain yourself

Your skin needs a layer of oil to keep moisture in. If you remove that with a harsh cleanser, your skin initially feels pleasantly clean. A few hours later, it produces extra sebum to make up for the deficiency, and you are shining again. You reach for the cleanser again, and the cycle continues.

If your skin feels tight or squeaky clean after cleansing, your cleanser is too harsh for you. That is not a sign that it is working well; it is a sign that it is removing too much.

What actually helps

Three things, in this order.

Gentle cleansing, twice a day, with lukewarm water. More is not better.

A targeted product that works deep into the pore. Salicylic acid, for example, is oil-soluble and therefore reaches where your blockage is. Start with a few times a week, not daily right away.

Sufficient moisture. Oily skin can also be dehydrated, and this is more often the case than you think. Choose a light, oil-free texture if a cream feels too heavy for you, but do not skip this step.

Give it six to eight weeks

A pimple that becomes visible today usually started forming a few weeks ago. You won't see the results of what you are doing now for a while. Sticking with it consistently for six to eight weeks before judging is a fair timeframe.

In the beginning, it may even seem worse for a while. That is part of it when you work with a product that accelerates skin turnover: what was already on its way comes up faster. Don't stop there.

Where people most often get stuck

Picking. I know it is difficult, but the difference between a pimple that is gone after three days and a brown spot that lasts for months is usually just that.

And skipping makeup because you think you shouldn't wear it. You don't have to. Choose a formula that your skin tolerates, cleanse it off well in the evening, and you are fine. You don't have to hide while you work on your skin.

Where do you start?

The collection for impurities and acne contains the products I work with for this. Biretix is often what I reach for with younger skin or skin that gets oily quickly.

Are you not sure whether your skin is oily or dehydrated, or have you been struggling for a while? Feel free to send me a message, and we will check it together. The intake at the institute is free.