Eliminating Blackheads and Acne

You’re no longer a teenager. Your mother calls you less and less often, and you hardly listen to Blink 182 anymore. But blackheads and acne, symbols of the thankless age that is adolescence, however, tend to persist. They can carry on wreaking havoc on your skin for ages, even though you may wish they’d be ancient history once you entered adulthood. They must be eradicated, but how?

What are the causes of blackheads and pimples?

There are many legends about this. Some claim that the abuse of chocolate provokes them, others accuse cold cuts. We also often hear that stress is the cause of the problem. While chocolate and cold meats cannot be directly blamed, it’s true that a diet based on fatty, sugary foods tend to make your skin more prone to the development of acne.

The appearance of pimples is often caused by one of three things: an obstruction of the hair follicle (aka the root of the hair), excessive secretion of sebum inside the follicle, and development of bacteria in this same follicle. Blackheads, on the other hand, are linked to an excess of sebum in the pores which forms a comedo. Once they come in contact with air, it oxidizes and turns black

It's a fact: being a man is a disadvantage when it comes to acne. A man's skin has a natural tendency to produce more sebum than a woman's does, in addition to being thicker, which leaves it more prone to acne breakouts.

How long has it been since you washed your pillowcases? The question may seem stupid, even off-topic. However, it’s important: dirty pillowcases are obviously covered in bacteria. Rubbing your face in bacteria is bound to be a bad idea. Changing your pillow covers every week obviously won't hurt you. Also remember to do it after each conquest, since you don't know what the next day has in store for you.

How to eradicate blackheads and pimples?

Should you pop your pimples?

First, let's answer an important question. Should you pop your pimples? No matter how many times you'll be told not to, it's far too tempting for you to really deprive yourself of it. You probably will. Is that bad? Let's just say that it’s not a good idea, not just because you risk ending up with scars on your face, but also because you’re opening up your follicles to more bacteria.

If you do pop them, do it well. Be sure to use an alcoholic solution on a cotton pad to sterilise the skin and avoid other bacteria to prep your skin. If the pimple resists being popped, it’s not ready. Leave it alone. Remember to disinfect your skin again afterwards.

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First step: cleanse your face

If your skin is conducive to the development of blackheads and other pimples, cleansing is not an option, it’s a necessity. Washing your face with a purifying cleanser is essential to regulate the excess sebum that causes pimples and not stimulate sebum production by stripping the skin. And contrary to popular belief, using marseille soap isn’t a good idea: it dries out your skin, which naturally responds by producing more sebum.

Second step: moisturise your skin

A moisturising and mattifying cream will allow you to improve the condition of your skin. A properly hydrated face is also much more protected against the aggressions that come with big city life. Plus, some creams can strengthen the skin and its immune system (this is the case with our mattifying moisturizer.

Once or twice a week: exfoliate

Exfoliation is essential to fighting against blackheads since it helps unclog pores. However, in cases of severe acne, exfoliation should be done sparingly. Treatments that are overly aggressive can worsen the situation of acne-prone skin. Our binchotan-concentrated konjac sponge gently exfoliates, and is ideal for acne-prone skin. For other skin types, the use of a gentle exfoliating skincare product is especially recommended. Our exfoliant cleans deeply yet gently thanks to the soothing murumuru butter it contains.

You no longer have any reason to be childish. It's time to put away the Smirnoff Ice to move on to an adult drink.