Acne can be a real pain in the neck, chest, back, cheeks, forehead, chin—and the list goes on. Many times, people with blemish-prone skin can feel like the moment one pimple heals another one crops up in the same area to take its place. But why does this happen? Popping pimples is one of the main causes of continued breakouts since doing so helps spread bacteria under the surface of the skin. When you manually extract blemishes with your fingers, you can actually spread the germs that can lead to more redness and irritation (and more acne). To lessen the chances of related breakouts, it’s important to arm yourself with knowledge! Your best plan of action?

1. Use a cleanser with Salicylic Acid, like our Acne Facial Cleanser, which is the first step to deep clean and help soothe acne-erupted skin. Enhance your anti-acne regimen by using a product like our Glycolic Foaming Cleanser twice a week in place of your normal cleanser. This will gently exfoliate the skin’s surface, eliminating the dry flakes that can keep your natural oils trapped inside the pores, creating a breeding ground for the p.acnes bacteria.

2. Follow this step with a toner appropriate for your skin type and condition. Special Cucumber Lotion is one of our best toners for acne-prone skin but, as always, be mindful of your skin type when choosing products.

3. Hydrate your skin with oil-free moisture to avoid clogged pores.

4. Treat your skin as needed with appropriate products like our Drying Lotion (for whiteheads), Drying Cream, Drying Mask (all acne), Silver Powder (blackheads) or Buffering Lotion (cystic acne), depending on the type of breakouts you're dealing with. Remember to always use clean hands and makeup tools when caring for your skin.

What are your favorite products for battling breakouts?