Here at Think Dirty, we know acne can be embarrassing and mortifying during the holiday party season. Trust us, we’ve been in your shoes. After looking into the seemingly thousands of causes of acne, we compiled a list of the 5 worst things you could be doing to your skin that you might not know!
#5. Popping your pimples
While popping your pimples makes you feel as if you’re releasing all the gunk from your face, the reality can be quite different. Popping a pimple can actually rupture a follicle, which allows pus and bacteria to leave the pimple and increase the chances of scarring. (Source: Dermascope)
#4. Wearing makeup
This one is a no-brainer - using makeup to hide your acne can actually irritate your skin and cause the vicious cycle of having more acne! If your products are very oily it can impede oxygen from entering your pores and allow bacteria to grow. (Source: Dermascope)
#3. Over-exfoliating and over-washing
This might seem like a shocker, but exfoliating and washing your face too often can actually be bad for you. Over-exfoliating can exacerbate your acne because the roughness of the product (even more so if combined with a scrub or loofah) can create tiny tears in your skin, causing irritation. Over-washing can have negative effects as well, such as drying out your face. Your skin would then go into overdrive to produce more natural oils, which would then create more acne! (Source: WebMD)
#2. Applying toothpaste on your pimples
This habit is a surprising one at first glance, but you’d be shocked at how many people believe this old wives’ tail. Just because your teenage self believed toothpaste could cure acne… doesn’t mean that it does. Similar to how you wouldn’t use mouthwash as a toner for your face, you shouldn’t use toothpaste as a replacement for an acne cream. (Source: Dermascope)
#1. Using products with harsh ingredients
You’ve probably been told that if your skin feels warm, tingles and even stings a bit your product is working. At some point we’ve all sported redness in the t-zone for weeks thinking we are doing our skin a favour. What’s really happening is a side effect and possibly even an allergic reaction from harsh ingredients.
Harsh ingredients are everywhere, whether you know it or not. Some of the top ingredients to avoid are Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sodium sulfacetamide and alcohol-based cleansers to name just a few. If you have sensitive skin and your moisturizer or other beauty products contain these ingredients, chuck them! These acne fighting products come with a slew of potential side effects. They can irritate, redden and dry out your skin, something the Zyderma HS™ Clarifying Cream would never do.
In fact, on top of it’s 24hr LONG-LASTING antimicrobial cleansing activity that reduces the appearance of redness, the colonization and growth of harmful bacteria, Zyderma HS™ helps support the skin’s natural healing process, helps to lock in moisture and is FREE of side effects. Many people have reported positive results with this all-around amazing cream in as few as 3-4 days; including, those suffering from acne, eczema, fungal infections, rosacea and more. Awesome versatility! This is primarily due its star ingredient, MicroSilver BG™, a natural antimicrobial cleansing ingredient.
Made from pure silver, MicroSilver BG™ is a highly porous, sponge-like structure that is produced using a unique and complex process. Not to be confused with nanosilver, colloidal silver or silver salts, MicroSilver BG does not penetrate the skin and is clinically-proven to be safe & non-toxic. Plus, the ingredient is registered with ECO-CERT, which means that MicroSilver BG™ does not contain any parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicon, PEG, synthetic perfumes and dyes, or animal-derived ingredients. The ingredient is also included in the Certified Natural Products Association, registered in the Vegan Society, and registered with the BDIH organization. Wow!
Two thumbs up for this product, which rates an impressive 0 on our Dirty Meter. If interested, you can receive a FREE trial offer here or buy the Clarifying Cream from their website.
This post is sponsored by rated clean brand Zyderma HS.