Acne in our grown-up years

Filed in archive Beauty , Makeup on July 25, 2006

Isn't it really embarrassing to have acne with 30? To develop a juicy red pimple on your forehead just before that big presentation? Of course it is, but we can't help it, acne happens, all the time.

And, contrary to teenage acne, which are commonly triggered by hormonal changes in our bodies, reason for grown-up acne is a tad more difficult to name. As Acne.com says, if you're still having acne, the problem might be in your make-up.

You can read the whole article here, and I'll summarize some of the most interesting highlights:

If you're suffering from cosmetic provoked or induced acne, than you are seeing small, rash-like pink bumps on your face. The first and most obvious reason is that you might be using cosmetics which are too aggressive and penetrate your skin therefore contributing to pore clogging.

Which beauty products to stay away from if you have sensitive skin, prone to breakouts or suffer from cosmetic acne? Avoid lanolin oil and Isopropyl Myristate as beauty product ingredients and choose products that are labeled fragrance-free. Cream blushes usually contain comedogenic ingredients, so better use powder or gel cheek colors. Don't use heavy creams for around eye area and try to keep hair styling products away from your face. If you sweat heavily when exercising, don't wear any makeup when doing it, or wash your face as soon as you can.

And while all these advice sound very ok, the last one I can't get over. It says:

Lipsticks and glosses are greasy by nature, with high concentrations of petroleum, wax and other comedogenic substances. The greater the shine, the greater the potential for pore-clogging - so if you're breaking out, try going for a matte finish rather than a high gloss.

I couldn't possibly live without my L'Oreal Glam Shine lip gloss! Thank God I don't have pimples around my mouth, or else I would go around with uninteresting mouth.

Well, the moral of the story is, be a conscious buyer and user. Cosmetics can contribute to breakouts, so if you're starting to notice something acney looking on your face, try going 'nude' (makeup-less that is) for a few days to see what happens.