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Breakouts vs. Purging - Which is which?
It seems like it’s an endless cycle.. Girl sees skincare, girl buys skincare, skincare leads to a massive breakout. But what if all this time you weren’t actually breaking out and your skin was just purging? Here’s what to look for to find out.
Breakouts
If you pay close attention to your skin, you’ll notice it always asks you for exactly what it needs - moisturizer, a gentle cleanser, a detox mask. This rule also applies to trying out new skincare products. Breakouts are caused by bacteria and pores that are clogged by dead skin cells. The bacteria gets trapped in the pores and triggers an immune response, causing a flare up and angry, red blemishes.
Purging
Purging refers to blemishes caused by an increase in cell-turnover to remove dead skin cells, which, incidentally, also produces flare ups and blemishes. The difference with purging is that it usually will last 6-8 weeks before your skin returns to normal. Think of this process as an accelerated shedding process that pulls up all of the gunk currently trapped in your pores.
How to tell the difference
Purging pulls up what already exists deep below the surface. If you begin breaking out in areas that you’ve never had blemishes in before, it’s likely that it’s a breakout, not a skin purge. Purge blemishes are also somewhat mild, existing just below the surface of the skin while blemishes caused from breakouts are categorized as cysts, nodules and pustules that are rooted deep beneath the surface.
Pay attention to the time frame in which you’ve implemented a new skincare product to your routine as well as the ingredients it contains. Look for products that are non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) and be sure to always do a patch test before using across the entire face!
Because SPF is Really, Really Important
We hate to sound like a nagging mom, but did you pack your SPF? No, really, did you? While we all want a summer glow - sitting in the sun and burning your skin is NOT going to get you there. If you want healthy, glowing, wrinkle-free, blemish-free skin, then you HAVE to protect your skin with beyond complexion's SPFs.
Why beyond complexion?
Our lightweight SPFs not only protect your skin, but also help to restore it. Our SPFs are lightweight, non-clogging, and acne friendly. Which means, not only are they going to block those harmful UVA/UVB rays, they are also nourishing and rejuvenating your skin. Two for one!
beyond complexion SPF
Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 30
This lightweight yet super moisturizing mix of aloe vera, vitamin E, and botanical oils hydrates and protects skin without clogging pores. These natural products also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduces redness, plus calms and soothes skin with acne or rosacea.
Vitamin C+ Sheer Defense SPF 30
This lightweight sunscreen is loaded with potent antioxidants to fight free radicals, improve the appearance of aged, fragile skin, and discoloration. It creates a powerful shield to protect skin from UVA/UVB rays and renews skin’s moisture barrier, leaving your skin feeling silky-smooth. Ideal for all skin tones and types.
Radiance Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
Look flawless with this mattifying, oil-free tinted moisturizer with SPF 46 that adapts to your skin color to enhance skin tone with long-lasting hydration. Containing an innovative blend of ingredients including Niacinamide, Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid, and the groundbreaking Knotweed Extract, this moisturizer helps smooth and restore skin, making it ideal for all skin types.
Vitamin C: The Secret Ingredient for Glowing Skin
We all want a summer glow, but not from sweat and goopy sunscreen that creates more of a drip situation than a glisten.
Get glowing from the inside out with the power of Vitamin C! This vitamin is the secret ingredient to beautiful skin any time of year, but especially during the summer - when cover-ups should only apply to swimsuits, not your face.
Why Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights off free radicals, penetrates the skin and regenerates cells. Our Vitamin C products leave skin looking refreshed with fewer fine lines, sun spots and scars. Wow!
Vitamin C-20+ High Potency Serum
This anti-aging antioxidant serum penetrates the skin with vitamins C & E, and hyaluronic and phytic acids- a combo that gets those skin cells moving! And by that we mean regenerating to create new, fresh cells, and leaving skin looking refreshed with fewer fine lines, sun spots and scars.
Vitamin C+ Sheer Defense SPF 30
This lightweight sunscreen is loaded with potent antioxidants to fight free radicals, improve the appearance of aged, fragile skin, and discoloration. It creates a powerful shield to protect skin from UVA/UVB rays and renew skin’s moisture barrier, leaving your skin feeling silky-smooth. Ideal for all skin tones and types.
Vitamin C with HQ Lightening Serum
This clinical strength brightening serum reduces the appearance of skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation - including melasma, sun spots, liver spots, brown spots, freckles, and chloasma. This mix of hydroquinone 4%, vitamins C & E, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and 11 botanical oils has been proven to reduce discoloration caused by sun exposure (sun spots) or hormones (melasma).
Are You Applying Skincare Products Correctly?
You Have the Right Products...Now Learn How to Apply Them
Once you've stocked your cabinets full of our great beyond complexion products, the next step is to make sure you are applying them correctly so you get maximum results!
One of our most loved products is our Mandelic Acid 5+ Retexturizing Pads. They minimize the appearance of pores while exfoliating and brightening skin, plus they help tackle a range of skin woes, from acne to hyperpigmentation to aging. They are easy to use, but we do suggest a specific way to apply them...
How to Apply our Re-texturizing Pads
Step 1: Wipe the pad across your forehead with moderate pressure (not too much at first!).
Step 2: From the forehead, move to the cheek, down to the jawline, and then wipe pad upward to cheek.
Step 3: Repeat on the other side of your face.
Step 4: Apply to nose and chin being careful around the corners of the mouth and nose, where skin is more sensitive.
Things to Note: To start, use every other day in the evening after washing your face. As skin begins to adjust to the product, increase to 2 times a day.
If you are battling active acne lesions or impactions, first apply ice to inflamed skin and then proceed with pads.
Make sure to use a moisturizer that includes SPF, like our Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 or our Vitamin C+ Sheer Defense SPF 30 as skin will be sensitive to the sun after exfoliating.