Don’t: Overuse Exfoliating Ingredients
When it comes to breakouts, taking a more-is-more approach might seem like the best plan of action. Take advantage of exfoliating, acne-targeting ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, but do so with some restraint.
“Over-exfoliating can dry out your skin, strip the skin of its natural oils, and for acne-prone skin it can aggravate it, which causes more inflammation,” notes Kate Deery, BSN, R.N., a certified aesthetician and makeup artist at Clareo Aesthetics.2
What to Do Instead: Gentle, intentional care is much better for the health of your skin. Deery says that exfoliation should be done no more than two to three times per week, and that you shouldn’t scrub or rub your skin when using these products. If you’re dealing with an isolated breakout, use a targeted spot treatment on the affected skin versus all-over application.