Wise Words of Acne Wisdom, Straight From Team Cosmo
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Here at Cosmo we’re unfortunately all too familiar with breakouts. Whether its chronic clogged pores, stubborn whiteheads, full-on cystic breakouts, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, our editors have experienced it all at one point or another.
Fortunately for you though, that’s made us serious experts when it comes to treating acne and its aftermath. And bc we love you and know how annoying dealing with pimples can be, we’re sharing our 11 best skin-clearing tips for you below. Pls screenshot them, save to your favorites, and reference next time your skin is freaking out (...which given everything going on right now is probably definitely right now.)
1. “No matter how many glasses of wine I have, I always double-cleanse my face before bed. A cleansing oil or balm followed by a regular face wash. It’s critical for keeping pores clear and preventing breakouts.” —Lauren Balsamo, deputy beauty director
Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
Cerabalm
Gleanser Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser - 2 Pack
2. “Do your skin a favor and pls stop washing your face with bath clothes and invest in Clean Skin Club Towels instead. They’re not rough or irritating on the skin—plus they’re super sanitary, so you don’t need to worry about spreading germs or bacteria on your skin.” —Jasmine Hyman, assistant shopping editor
Clean Towels XL
3. “One of the most life-changing things I learned from an aesthetician was to very, very sparingly use any hot water on my face. I’m so acne-prone and therefore always inflamed, so any kind of heat can exacerbate that. But if I use cold water, it actually helps bring down the inflammation in my skin. Now I only wash my face with cold water and rarely make the water in my shower anything but tepid!!!” —Beth Gillette, beauty editor
4. “I can’t believe I used to think that washing your face several times a day would help with acne. In reality, you’ll just strip your skin and trigger more oil production. Acne-prone skin needs to be gently cleansed in the morning and not overly washed or scrubbed.”
—Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
5. “Even if you have oily skin, don’t skip moisturizer! Opt for a lightweight gel cream to hydrate your skin without heaviness.” —Daisy Maldonado, associate shopping editor
Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel
Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream
Curology Gel Face Moisturizer, Lightweight Daily Face Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid, Buildable Hydration for All Skin Types, 1.7 fl oz
6. “Even if a product says its safe for acne-prone skin, it can still cause breakouts, which is why I run all my makeup and skincare through this comprehensive ingredient checker. It flags anything in a formula that may clog pores and lead to pimples.” —JH
7. “I used to be quick to write off products if I didn’t see instant results, but the reality is that topicals take weeks, sometimes months, to make a visible difference in your skin. Patience is everything.” —LB
8. “DO NOT POP PIMPLES. I repeat: DO NOT POP. And if you have poked or prodded a pimple, clean the area and use a pimple patch right after. And if you can’t resist picking, using a pimple patch before can help too. Out of sight out of mind, right?” —Olivia Truffant-Wong, editor
Zits Happen Hydrocolloid Acne Patches
Hydro-Stars
9. “Keep your skincare routine simple—9 out of 10 times, overdoing it with a bunch of different products and steps will just aggravate your skin and leave it dry, flaky, and pissed off.” —Siena Gagliano, associate editor
10. “Spending hundreds of dollars on a trendy product won’t fix your skin. Everyone’s skin is different, and you don’t need the most luxe skincare items in your cabinet to treat your acne. Narrow it down to a few items with good ingredients and you’ll be solid.” —DM
11. “If your over-the-counter products aren’t cutting it, see a dermatologist (whether virtual, via a service like Curology or Apostrophe, or in person) for a prescription. The reality is that moderate to severe acne won’t get better without help from a pro.” —BG
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