Picture this: Your best friend is getting married. You’ve been waiting months for the special day and have spent countless hours seeking out the perfect pair of shoes and a stunning dress. Finally, the big day arrives—and to your horror, you wake up with an acne breakout. Total day ruiner. While makeup may be your best bet for an immediate fix, you can put together a skincare routine to help combat future breakouts and start to visibly reduce the ones currently taking up real estate on your face. The right products can help you target and prevent breakouts, so you’re ready for any event (not to mention your daily life). Read on to learn about Kiehl’s best skincare products for acne, how to choose acne products that work for you, and what can help visibly reduce post-acne marks.
How To Choose Acne Products
When a horribly-timed breakout rears its ugly head, you want to be prepared with the right tools. The products you choose should be guided by your skin type and the severity of your acne. For example, it’s advisable for those with oily skin to look for products that won’t clog your pores (they’ll be described as “non-comedogenic” on the product’s label). If you have dry or sensitive skin, non-irritating formulas that help hydrate and soothe can be beneficial.
You can also consider the ingredients in products. Many acne ingredients work by targeting the bacteria responsible for the blemish, while others help exfoliate to address clogged pores, and some, like salicylic acid, even do both. Salicylic acid is classified as a beta-hydroxy acid, and it can be found in various over-the-counter acne treatments. It helps exfoliate and clean out clogged pores, a common cause of blemishes and more stubborn acne. Other popular ingredients in acne products include benzoyl peroxide and sulfur.
As you start using new products, be mindful of the strength and how often you use them. Taking it slow and allowing your skin time to adjust to them can help minimize redness and dryness. You’ll also want to make sure you’re following the usage instructions on the labels of your products. If you are unsure something is right for your skin or struggle to control breakouts on your own, we recommend consulting your dermatologist.
The Best Kiehl’s Products For Acne-Prone Skin
Keep reading to discover the best Kiehl’s products to help fight back against blemishes.
Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment
Kick off your routine with Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment. This salicylic acid and ginger root essential oil-infused cleanser helps remove dirt and oil from the skin’s surface. It also works to clear blemishes (and helps prevent new ones from forming). You can use it twice daily to help reveal clearer-looking skin over time.
Breakout Control Acne Treatment Facial Lotion
Every day, apply a liberal amount of Breakout Control Acne Treatment Facial Lotion to clean, dry skin. The lightweight moisturizer with salicylic acid and aloe vera visibly diminishes active blemishes and helps prevent future ones from forming. It also helps reduce the appearance of dullness and roughness to reveal clearer, smoother-looking skin over time.
Blue Herbal Spot Treatment
Follow up your cleanser and facial lotion with Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment. Formulated with 1.5% salicylic acid, it can help visibly reduce the appearance of blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads and help your skin feel more comfortable. After cleansing your face, cover the areas you would like to target with a thin layer of the acne treatment one to three times a day. If your skin starts to get too dry, you can cut down on the frequency.
What Products Should You Use After a Breakout?
Sometimes when a blemish goes away, you’ll be left with a dark spot in its place. Known as a post-blemish mark, this type of spot can occur when a breakout triggers the skin to produce extra pigment, or melanin. Not everyone will get dark spots every time they break out, but they’re particularly common for those with darker skin tones. Post-blemish marks can sometimes fade on their own, but this is not a sure thing. Using a dark spot corrector like Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Corrector can help actively address discolorations instead of leaving it up to time. It’s tested for all skin types and is formulated with activated C, buffered salicylic acid, and peony extract. The face serum helps visibly reduce the appearance of discoloration caused by UV exposure, age, or post-acne marks to even your skin tone and boost radiance. Apply it to specific spots you want to target or over your entire face, both day and night, for more even-looking skin over time.
Kiehl’s Tip: You can also apply Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Corrector to your hands, neck, and chest to help address sun spots and age spots, but don’t forget to pair it with SPF.
How to Prevent Future Breakouts
While it may feel like your blemishes pop up out of nowhere, they could be linked to mistakes you make in your beauty routine. Follow these tips to help prevent future breakouts:
1. Wash your makeup brushes.
It’s easy to forget, but makeup brushes come in contact with a lot of dirt and oils, which can clog your pores. Remember to wash your brushes thoroughly every one to two weeks.
2. Be careful with scrubbing your skin.
You may feel inclined to aggressively scrub your skin in an attempt to eliminate dirt and oil, but excessively sloughing your skin can make your blemishes worse. Stick with gentle exfoliation instead.
3. Clean whatever touches your face.
Make sure you’re washing your pillows, hats, clothes, and even your phone at least once a week. The things that touch your face can transfer blemish-causing dirt and grime to your skin, so it’s best to clean them regularly.
Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment
