Spot on Spot Advice

Oh god why me I’m no longer a teenager I hear you cry?! Unfortunately, age doesn’t prevent us from getting hormonal breakouts so we need to learn how to deal with them. Here are a few simple tips to dealing with the dreaded adult acne.

 Start with the inside. If you’re rushing around and eating lots of processed foods as you don’t have time to eat properly then stop. The time you save grabbing a chocolate bar or pastry on the run will be lost later when you are in front of the mirror worrying about the massive spot that has chosen to show up in the middle of your forehead just as you have that wedding / christening / dinner to go to – great!

 Drink plenty of water – at least 8 glasses per day. These can be disguised as a cuppa as well as other drinks (not wine – sorry) but watch your caffeine intake as this can affect the level of oil you skin produces too.

 Eat fresh foods – avoid over processed sugary foods. Try to have a plate that looks like a rainbow, not only is it appetising its good for your skin.

 Vitamins – taking a good multi-vitamin will help to top up areas that you are missing from your diet.

 Avoid over use of steam rooms or saunas – these intense environments can over stimulate your skin encouraging over production of oil.

 Cleanse, tone, moisturise and scrub – remove your makeup daily. Don’t ever go to bed with your makeup on. Not only will it sink further into your skin and cause breakouts but it will sit on your pillow and the dirt will transfer back onto your face the next night. Use a gentle face scrub once or twice a week to slough off dead skin cells, clear pores and reduce the risk of infection. Make sure you are using the right moisturiser for your skin type use a product that is oil free or contains and natural antiseptic like tea tree oil. Its a myth that oily skin doesn’t need moisture. Avoid using cheaper products as these often containing harsher ingredients which may strip your skin of essential nutrients.

 Prime – before applying makeup you need to prime your face. There are so many different primers out there all doing slightly different jobs however, my primers of choice for pretty much any situation are Smashbox. The can stop oil and shine, fill in fine lines, reduce the look of dark circles and take the redness out of skin. Smash box primers from £17.00.

 Makeup – look for products that are non-comedongenic or non-acnegenic.

Basically this means they won’t clog your pores and thus cause spots.

There are a growing number of foundations designed specifically for use on oily skin such as Chanel Perfection Lumiere £36.00. This is one of my favourites as it looks light but gives a good medium coverage.

Selecting a great concealer is really important too. Laura Mercier, Secret Camouflage £26.00 is great for covering spots, plus both colours can be blended until you achieve the right shade.

 Finally, smile. The biggest asset you have in the fight against acne is your smile. Whatever the situation or the size of the spot if you’re smiling that’s all people see.

Natalie Willingham