According to celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau, when it comes to getting the best results from your skin care products to treat acne-prone skin, it’s important to avoid certain ingredients, which can exacerbate the problem. Here are the main culprits she recommends staying away from:
Alcohol
Check your product labels for SD alcohol 40, denatured alcohol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, all of which are commonly found in toners. Exception: They can be beneficial when used in acne spot treatments. Many people like the clean and tight feeling associated with using alcohol-based toners on their skin, but this ingredient will strip your skin of water, resulting in dead cell buildup and dull-looking skin.
Sulfates
Generally found in cleansing gels, sodium or ammonium lauryl sulfate are also extremely dehydrating to your skin. Even if you’re an oily skin type (who tend to be the users of alcohol-based toners), trying to dry up oily skin can backfire as stripped cell buildup traps oil and leads to breakouts and more oil production.
Thickening Agents
Mineral oil, petrolatum, isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate are used as thickening agents in many beauty products and may encourage clogged pores and can aggravate acne.
Apricot Kernels
These are naturally made particles found in facial scrubs that can scratch and irritate your skin, causing the spread of bacteria that can be particularly bothersome to acne-prone skin.
