Acne and aging skin concerns, products that do double duty

By April MacIntyre Jul 5, 2011, 5:54 GMT

This is a drying but miraclulous item - you wake with really refined looking skin. It helps to obliterate photo-aging, smooth fine lines and clear acne-prone skin with amino sugars and glycoproteins.

Whether you are struggling with wrinkles AND breakouts, mild to moderate acne can be controlled at any age with some excellent over the counter products.

A specific type of bacteria (propionibacterium acnes) existing in the pore thrives on oil and dead skin cells and can kick in cause the skin to become inflamed. The inflammation and bacteria proliferation result in a pimple.

Whether your are 15 or 50, they totally suck. Skincare today is so targeted and refined, that anyone can have a handy arsenal of fast and packable fixes for maintaining a clean and healthy skin.

Try to wear the right weight in makeup and moisturizer, use serums that are Vitamin C heavy (Made in USA, Eraclea is a great brand to use) and are great hydrators that firm and brighten the skin without grease.  Boots No. 7 oil-free mousse makeup is an inexpensive foundation to check out too.

Exfoliate the skin's surface regularly and disinfect the skin to eliminate acne-causing bacteria. Finding the combination that works for you is the goal, and that requires a bit of experimentation.

Use a good face wash. M&C recommends that you try Lisa_Ashley 'Hope' foaming face wash, Lily_B. foaming face wash, Le_Mieux exfoliating cleansing gel, Boscia Purifying cleansing gel and SIBU Sea Buckthorn Facial Cleanser.

We spent the last few months testing and using the following items that delivered radiant skin, cleared up blemishes and performed above expectations. Convenient, fast and targeted, these items can be used by teens with problem skin and their moms having mid-life acne issues.

Arcona The Solution Pads
www.arcona.com

This is a powerful fix. Do not overuse, as you can do this about 3x times a week. The active night-time treatment resurfaces your skin and repairs sun damage as you sleep. Overuse this and your skin will feel too tight.

The active ingredients boost cell renewal and deep exfoliation with their Glycolymer Complex. Arcona’s antioxidant complex strengthens skin, and decongests microcomedones to refine pores and leave skin smooth and clear.

This is a drying but miraculous item - you wake with really refined looking skin. It helps to obliterate photo-aging, smooth fine lines and clear acne-prone skin with amino sugars and glycoproteins.

Suitable for all skin types. Acne clearing. Refines the skin lending a smoother, younger appearance. It really works.

Arcona Triad Pads
www.arcona.com

Arcona is a made in the USA skincare line that has many good products. Scarlett Johansson's makeup artist Heba Thorsdottir introduced me to it when I interviewed her for the film "Match Point." Triad pads are a refreshing skin cleanser AND toner in a convenient pad.

The scent is cranberry and the pads are rough on one side to really deep cleanse the grime. Antimicrobial cranberry - containing vitamins, phyto-nutrients and essential fatty acids - Vitamin E tocopherols and tocotrienols, Omegas 3, 6 and 9, and rice milk make skin glow.

Arcona Cranberry Gommage AM Exfoliant
www.arcona.com

The smell of cranberry and rasberry is divine and the effect of volcanic minerals and sucrose is a clean sweep in the morning of all the dead skin, and sets the tone for the day.

Makeup goes on better, and you wear less of it.  Arcona's cleansers perfectly complement their heavy duty night-time skin refiners like The Solution. They make a gentler Gommage scrub for sensitive skins, but this is for skin that can handle a good deep scrubbing two to four times weekly. Teens love it, and men too.

Arcona Tabula Rasa Pads
www.arcona.com

We have used Tabula rasa for years. It normally came in a little brown bottle, then they re-did the packaging in a fancy silver container. Now it comes in pads as well.

Men plagued with razor bumps love this product. This is the most powerful spot specific blemish fighting formula that helps combat breakouts and visibly reduces enlarged pores, ingrown hairs and razor burn. Lactic acid unclogs pores, kills skin eruptions and neutralizes bacteria. Allantoin and grape seed extract help promote cell renewal. Naturally antiseptic witch hazel leaves skin visibly cleansed. Controls oil production too. 

This powerhouse pad clarifies the skin and kills bacteria.  Helps to prevent bumpy, uneven skin texture. Use 2-4 times a week: Apply sparingly to problem areas in the AM and/or PM. Benefits are cumulative with regular use. Best used within six months of opening Qty 45 Pads. Again, like the other Arcona items, it works beautifully.

Skinn by Dimitri James Acne treatment Wipes
http://skinn.com/

These were a hit with the teenager of the house. Easy packets of fast acting acne treatment that refreshes and cleans in a snap.

Skinn's Acne Treatment Wipes are individually stored in packets that keep the acne medication fresh and allow each skin type to use the acne treatment according to their need.

Salicylic acid encourages the shedding of dead skin cells from within the follicle, helping keep the pores clear of debris. In this way, it helps reduce the pore blockages and breakouts on the skin. This is a bonus for campers and school kids to keep handy in backpacks. A sanitary acne product with ingredients that stay active.
No-spill packaging is convenient for on-the-go: quick, easy and discreet.

Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer
Made in USA

Pricey but works.  Perricone MD’s Intensive Pore Minimizer ($50) is a unique, potent, multifunctional formula designed to address enlarged pores caused by active oil glands, dirt or just aging. This formula reduces the appearance of enlarged pores, and balances oil and delivers a matte finish.

A mild exfoliator that resurfaces skin and normalizes oil while Alpha Lipoic Acid is added for resilience, tone, and texture. DMAE counters loss of elasticity while minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores. Salicylic acid is the workhorse that removes dead skin cells, dirt, and oil that can clog and enlarge pores. A proprietary Perricone mineral complex imparts tighter, smoother, more vibrant skin.

Murad skin Perfecting Primer Acne and Shine Control
www.murad.com

Love this 'no foundation' foundation! Acne-fighting matte face primer with salicylic acid. This is perfect for combination to oily skin types and can be worn alone or under makeup. It has some coverage and is part of this new wave of better tinted moisturizers that do not lay shiny on the skin. Really sucks up the oil too. For men and women. Fabulous product and under $20.