A lot of us assume that because we have acne, sunscreen is by far the WORST thing you could apply to your skin. This assumption is well founded considering sunscreens of the past we’re thick, greasy and would likely clog your pores. However, with all the attention on anti-aging, sun protection and sun awareness, there is a whole new kind of sunscreen being developed.

Sunscreen can now be light, non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores) and can even be found in your moisturizer. At our Oakville acne clinic, one of our very favourite sunscreens is the Vivier Sunscreen Lotion 30SPF. It is super light-weight, moisturizes the skin and is great to use on acne prone skin. In fact, we’re so sure that it won’t make you break out; we use large pumps in all of our rooms to apply to patients’ skin after they have had an acne treatment or acne scars treatment.

We’ve spoken before about the importance of using mineral based, anti-bacterial makeup as a defense against breakouts. At our Oakville acne clinic we really love to use the Glominerals and Colorescience products. I like to think of them as being more than makeup, and actually an acne treatment because they have actually been shown to help heal and prevent breakouts. However, it is just as important to use the right tools in order to achieve or maintain clear skin. I will usually advise against applying makeup with your hands because of contamination and bacteria getting into the product as well as on your face. So using the appropriate tools is very important.

For concealer I will usually recommend a stiff, small and synthetic bristle brush. For pressed powder I love the Glominerals Kabuki brush. It is a natural, dense bristle brush that applies the makeup evenly and naturally. For liquid foundation I will often recommend the same type of synthetic brush as the concealer, but just larger. Lastly, blush tends to go on best with a natural and loose bristle brush so the colour is diffused naturally along the facial contours.

In order to keep your brushes clean and bacteria-free I recommend using an alcohol-free brush cleaner anywhere from 1-3 times a week. People who follow the clean-brush rule will be much less likely to find themselves breaking out after wearing the makeup that is supposed to be concealing!

We know that clean skin with the proper preparation including cleanser, sunscreen and an at least one active product, can be the key to having clear skin. But it is a misconception that cleansers that over-dry or strip the skin will reduce breakouts. In fact, patients that wash their skin more than two times a day can actually be making the problem worse. As with many things, sometimes less is more.

That is why at our acne clinic we will often recommend microdermabrasion for patients that experience mild acne breakouts. As an acne treatment it gets rid of all the junk that lies deep within your skin. Sometimes skin cells can build up on the surface of the skin, which ultimately blocks the pore and causes you to break out. Microderm uses a diamond tip which gently exfoliates off those dead skin cells without over drying the skin like some other forms of exfoliation. Also, because it is performed by a nurse, the treatment is also very controlled and gives an instant boost and glow to the skin! Bonus!