Over many years of treating acne, I regularly had patients resistant to ditching their purchased skincare products and makeup even though I could see that their products were worsening their acne.
Some skincare products and makeup - often sold as "good for acne" by salespeople but contain pore-clogging ingredients like thick oils, silicones, or waxes. These occlusive ingredients block the pores, prevent the normal escape of oil, and then allow the harmless bacteria that normally live in the glands to multiply and cause the inflammation we see as acne.
Therefore, if you have acne-prone skin, use only non-comedogenic products that won't block the pores to worsen or trigger acne.
If you're about to start a program to clear your acne, you must first reassess your skincare products and makeup. Those that could cause pore blockage need to be replaced with acne-friendly alternatives.
These are what you must avoid:
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Oil-based foundations: These can clog pores. Only use those labelled ‘oil-free’ or ‘100% water-based’.
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Powder compacts: These typically contain large-sized oils that block pores. Use only loose dusting powder instead.
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Oil-based cleansers: Use only gentle cleansers that either contain no oil or only small molecular-sized oils that won't clog the pores e.g. Dr Mayson's Purifying Gel Cleanser.
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Occlusive moisturisers: Heavy moisturisers can block the pores. Use only a light non-comedogenic moisturiser e.g. Dr Mayson's Feather-Light Hydrating Moisturiser.
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Night creams & collagen creams: Best to avoid completely.
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Scrubs & exfoliants: Harsh scrubs can irritate and worsen acne.
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Sunscreen oils & creams: These too can clog pores. Use only sunscreen lotions, milks, or gels.
