I’ve spent most of my adult life plagued by acne. Indeed, I don’t even know who I’d be with clear skin. Would I have more confidence? Would I feel more beautiful? Probably not, to be honest. I’m beginning to come to terms with the fact that skin is blemished, wrinkled, pored and marked. I’m 26 now: the age when you can no longer rely on youth to keep your skin glowing. My collagen stores are depleting, and if I ever do clear my skin completely, I’ll probably just have a new skincare bugbear instead, like hyperpigmentation or ageing. There’s no such thing as perfect skin.
In a 2022 UK census, it was discovered that “over a third of adults have suffered from acne at some point in their life,” with the NHS spending Dhs106.6 million between February 2021 and January 2022 on topical treatments alone. This figure doesn’t even begin to cover popular options like antibiotics, oral contraceptives or Roaccutane, and the numbers in the US are considerably higher. The numbers of adult acne are on the rise, too. So, acne is completely normal, actually, despite the many myths surrounding it. Acne itself is a medical condition, so feel free to ignore those who tell you to “Just wash your face more!”, because nothing except doctor and dermatologist intervention will cure it. Even then, it can be a long and frustrating journey. Celebrities aren’t immune either, with high-profile stars like Kendall Jenner and Taylor Hill publicly speaking about their struggles with the condition.
never let that shit stop you! 😎✨ https://t.co/uXlqwJxTPf
— Kendall (@KendallJenner) January 8, 2018
I have tried every medicine mentioned above, save for Roaccutane due to medical reasons, and I still struggle with persistent breakouts. If this sounds like you, remember to seek medical advice, and don’t expect acne to completely clear without it. This being said, I personally rely on a select few brands to help me manage my acne alongside professional advice.
Whether it’s to soothe the pain and irritation or help keep breakouts to a minimum, these are the brands you need to know about.
VOTARY
Votary was one of the first brands I turned to at the beginning of my acne journey, and I still use their plant oil-rich blemish range and incredible Intense Overnight Mask whenever I can afford to. It’s a little on the pricier side, but trust me, it’s worth it. Each formula is luxurious and a joy to use, and instantly soothes my angry spots. I opt for this brand when I’m having a flare-up and don’t want to dry out my skin, because I have eczema too. Also, you don’t want to dehydrate your skin and cause it to produce more oil, so actually feeding it with hydration can help. Everyone I know who’s tried Votary has loved it; their cleansing oils are now nothing short of legendary.
Advanced Nutrition Programme
It’s no secret that many believe diet affects your skin, which is why a dietary supplement makes so much sense. Advanced Nutrition Programme’s Head of Nutrition, Lorraine Perretta, told me, “The skin is a double-sided organ, so you want to treat it from the inside and the outside.” Her enthusiasm and conviction are nothing short of infectious, and the brand backs up each supplement with a lot of (very convincing) research; their coveted Skin Accumax capsules are even award-winning. Bear in mind though, if your diet is already spot-on (i.e. you did not just eat a Pot Noodle at 3am like me), then a supplement might not make a noticeable difference, but if your diet is lacking in essential vitamins and nutrients, then you’ll start to notice an improvement with consistent use. As well as Skin Accumax, I’m a big fan of their Skin Ultimate.
Murad
I can’t lie, this brand wasn’t really on my radar until recently, when they sent me their Blemish Control range in response to a story I uploaded to Instagram about my skin concerns. I’d heard of it of course, but until then, I hadn’t actually tried anything. Suffice it to say, I’m a full convert, and I now get a Murad facial at least once a month. My favourite thing to do is to double cleanse using the above Votary cleanser first, followed by this Clarifying Cleanser. I’ve always shied away from typical “blemish” ranges because I worry they’ll strip my skin, impair my skin barrier and make it all a bit worse, but this uses industry heavyweights without drying, using an encapsulated form of salicylic acid to continue treating even after you’ve washed it off. Genius.
Monday Muse
If you’ve been online at all in the past year, then you’ve probably spied Monday Muse’s meteoric rise to cult status within the beautysphere. In part, I’m sure, to the brand’s sophisticated brand identity and luxe packaging, but mostly down to the incredibe formulas made specifically for those with “temperamental” skin. Founder, Lune Martens, said she was prompted to get a diploma in organic skincare formulation as she suffered from “skin conditions including eczema in [her] early childhood to acne, mild rosacea and perioral dermatitis as a teenager and adult.” One of the things I personally hate the most about acne is the pain – there’s nothing worse than your face feeling sore. Lune agrees: “I know how horrible it feels to have painful cysts and bumpy-textured skin that just can’t be masked by any foundation or concealer.” Monday Muse is made to “protect and support” troublesome skin. Their Enzyme Exfoliant is one of my favourite ever exfoliants because it doesn’t irritate and is formulated with soothing colloidal oatmeal. Just remember to take it easy when exfoliating blemish-prone skin – don’t combine too many exfoliating products. For example, I wouldn’t use this and the Murad cleanser at the same time.
Ranavat
You’d think it’d be easy to find skincare brands that simply soothe and look after my skin whilst I undergo acne treatments but no, it’s so hard to find formulas that don’t strip or throw the skin barrier into a state of disrepair. That’s why I like RANAVAT; each caring formula just makes my skin look healthy and glowy. The brand isn’t geared towards acne per se, but it’s suitable for acne-prone skin, and that’s a big win in my books because it can sometimes feel like everything makes my acne worse. Plus, I met Michelle Ranavat recently and her skin had me speechless – I was instantly sold. It just looked healthy. I also like the story behind the brand, which was founded by Michelle – a first-generation Indian American – as a way to combine her two worlds by bringing Ayurvedic practices to the fore. If you don’t know where to start, the Brightening Saffron Serum is my personal favourite.
