Ⓒ Shifaaz shamoon / Unsplash |
By Victoria Vallecorse, Beautylish
This year, don’t let body blemishes derail your summer plans. First off, we all get them, so don’t go into hiding—wear the swimsuit anyway. And second, you can reduce the appearance of acne from the neck down by incorporating the following habits into your skincare routine.
Read More: 6 Spots That Are the Most Vulnerable for Long-Term Sun Damage
Shower more often
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Bump up your daily shower to once in the morning and one at the end of the day. And before you hop in, take a look at the ingredient list of your body wash/soap. If you see notorious acne-causing ingredients like sodium chloride, lauric acid, and lanolins at the top of the list, it’s time to chuck what could be the source of body breakouts. Go for body cleansers formulated with salicylic acid and tea tree oil, which helps clarify and prevent blemishes with their antiseptic and astringent powers. And be sure to assess your shampoo, conditioner, and leave-ins for pore-clogging ingredients as well.
Read More: How to Exfoliate Your Entire Body
Exfoliate every week
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We all know that excess sebum can cause breakouts, but dry skin also sparks acne flare ups. An excess buildup of dead skin cells can clog your pores, so be sure to exfoliate once a week. Go for a charcoal-infused scrub, which harnesses activated charcoal, salicylic acid, and jojoba seed oil to unclog pores, exfoliate, and hydrate. Plus, this scrub’s specialty is skin polishing, so target the granulated formula on bumpy, textured, or flaky skin for ultra-smooth results.
Also, opt for dry brushing, which involves sweeping a densely bristled brush over your body to slough off dead skin cells, boost blood circulation, and stimulate lymphatic drainage. Simply apply slight pressure and use stroking motions to exfoliate build up and unclog pores.
Don’t forget to moisturize
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Acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid mean well, but they can seriously dehydrate and irritate skin…leading to more breakouts. Combat skin dryness by moisturizing your body at least twice a day. Opt for gentle fragrance-free formulas.
Spot treat pesky breakouts
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Even after implementing the above into your skincare routine, pesky flare-ups stemming from stress or hormonal changes can still attempt to ruin a clear skin day. Stop acne in its tracks by spot treating as soon as you feel a blemish coming on. Infused with salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and hyaluronic acid (to prevent unnecessary drying!).
Fade acne hyperpigmentation
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Even after acne has healed, it always leaves a little parting gift–hyperpigmentation. These dark spots usually clear up on their own over time, but you can expedite the process.
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