Let’s explore what causes breakouts, and ingredients and formulations that can support clearer, healthier-looking skin.
What Causes Breakouts and How to Target Them
Breakouts are a common—and often frustrating—skin concern, affecting people across all ages and skin types. They’re often influenced by a variety of factors, including internal factors, skincare habits, lifestyle choices, and genetics. Understanding what causes breakouts can help you target and prevent them more effectively.
Understanding Skin Congestion and Breakouts.
Breakouts typically occur when the skin’s natural processes are thrown off balance, creating a buildup of dead skin cells or overproduction of sebum. This dead skin build up, along with excess oil, can clog the pore opening and lead to the formation of blemishes.
However, breakouts are not one-size-fits-all. They can be influenced by genetics, internal factors, and environmental triggers, making it important to take a personalized approach to skincare.
Common Causes of Breakouts on Skin.
1. Excess Sebum Production
Sebum is an oil naturally produced by your skin. If the skin produces too much oil, it can mix with dead skin cells and clog pores, leading to blackheads and breakouts.
2. Internal Factors
Internal shifts can lead to an increase in oil production and breakouts. Many people report experiencing a greater number of blemishes during teen years, at certain times of their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and menopause, or in response to stress
3. Harsh Skincare Products
Using harsh cleansers or exfoliants too frequently can strip the skin, leading to irritation and a damaged skin barrier. Blemish-prone skin is already more prone to skin barrier disruption, so it’s best to avoid practices that may exacerbate the issue.
4. Certain types of food
Research has shown a link between certain types of food, like those high in sugar, and the occurrence of breakouts.
5. Skin Type
Oily skin produces more sebum than other skin types. Individuals with oily skin may be more prone to breakouts.
Ingredients that help reduce the look of breakouts.
Certain ingredients can address common causes of breakouts, such as excess oil and pore congestion, and help prevent and reduce the look of blemishes. When building a regimen for breakout-prone skin, look for formulations with the following ingredients.
1. Sulfur
Sulfur helps improve the appearance of breakouts by soothing signs of spot redness, while absorbing and controlling excess oil, and helping decongest pores.
2. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that exfoliates the skin, helping remove dead skin cells that contribute to congestion. Unlike water-soluble acids that primarily work on the skin's surface, salicylic acid is oil-soluble, meaning it can also penetrate the pores to exfoliate below the skin surface.
Recommended formulations:
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
is a water-based serum that provides effective exfoliation. Exfoliation helps target pore congestion, prevent and improve the appearance of blemishes and associated redness, and smoothe skin texture.
Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum
is specifically formulated to improve the look of blemish-prone skin on the body. Its targeted nozzle applicator allows for precise application on areas prone to congestion, such as the chest, back, and shoulders.
3. Niacinamide
Niacinamide or vitamin B3, plays a key role in minimizing excess oil, improving skin texture, and reducing the appearance of pores. It also reinforces the skin barrier over time. This universal ingredient is suitable for all skin types and layers well with most skincare regimens.
Recommended formulations:
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
is a high-strength serum designed to control excess oil to help prevent the appearance of blemishes, and support a balanced skin barrier. With consistent use, it can help you achieve smoother-looking, more radiant skin.
4. Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is a multifunctional ingredient that provides longer-term support for blemish-prone skin. It gently exfoliates, while targeting signs of redness and discolouration, for a smoother, more even-toned, appearance.
Recommended formulations:
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
is a cream-like formulation that gently exfoliates and brightens skin while visibly improving skin texture. Unlike some other direct acids, azelaic acid has a lower irritation potential, making it suitable for daily use in a breakout-prone skincare regimen.
By incorporating these targeted formulations, you can create a well-balanced skincare regimen that helps exfoliate and reduce excess oil to target and prevent the appearance of breakouts. Before adding new formulations to your regimen, take a moment to learn about effective layering. Our Guide to Layering offers clear, step-by-step guidance that helps you choose formulations that are tailored to your needs.
A Targeted Approach To Healthier-Looking Skin.
Now that you understand what causes breakouts, and the ingredients that can help reduce their appearance, you can take steps toward clearer, healthier-looking skin. Start by building a daily routine with formulations that help address the causes of breakouts and some of the associated skin concerns.
Be as consistent as possible with your routine. A combination of targeted ingredients and regular application is what will help you reduce the appearance of breakouts and prevent future ones from occurring.
For a more tailored approach to blemish support, try our Regimen Builder and receive custom product recommendations to suit your specific skin concerns. It's quick, easy, and designed to help you achieve clearer, healthier-looking skin.
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