A SHORT GUIDE ON HOW TO BEAT BLACKHEADS, PIMPLES AND SKIN BLEMISHES WITH DETERMINATION AND EFFICIENCY.

PIMPLES AND BLACKHEADS: WHAT IS OUR SKIN MADE OF?

Your skin is a surface covered with holes - which we will call follicles or pores - from which sebum, the substance with which the body protects the epidermis from dehydration, is released.

Sebum consists of lipids (fats) that, by mixing with sweat, form the well-known HYDROLIPIDIC FILM and no, I don’t mean the latest box office hit.

Without hydrolipidic film, our skin would be very dry.

Dry skins produce little sebum, combination skins a bit more, and oily skins too much.

Normal skins produce just the right amount of sebum.

In a perfect world, sebum would spread evenly over the face as soon as it leaves the pore, leaving us with skin as smooth as a porcelain doll.

What actually happens?

Sebum is not perfectly fluid, it spreads over the skin in an uneven manner and we end up with a shiny T-zone and dry cheeks.

And it doesn’t end there.

WHY DO PIMPLES AND BLACKHEADS FORM?

When sebum contains too many fatty acids it stimulates the production of free radicals. Free radicals are tough little guys and they irritate the skin, which responds by producing dead cells. These dead cells build up at the mouth of our follicles, plugging them.

If the plug oxidises in contact with the air you can say hello to a BLACKHEAD.

If the plug forms deeper down you can, instead, say hello to a WHITE HEAD.

The matter might end there, or worse things might happen: dead cells or bacteria might get into the clogged follicle and turn it into a PIMPLE.

PIMPLES AND BLACKHEADS: THE REMEDIES

THAT’S THE THEORY OUT OF THE WAY. LET’S GET DOWN TO THE PRACTICE.

*this post does NOT deal with people with hormonal acne, I’m talking about people who have occasional pimples, blackheads and what I would call “impure skin”.

CLEANSING

If it is sebum that causes this whole disaster, it goes without saying that the way we remove it is fundamental.

IT MUSTN’T BE REMOVED TOO AGGRESSIVELY, OR THE SKIN MIGHT PRODUCE MORE.

SO NO TO AGGRESSIVE CLEANSERS like ordinary soap.

Soap removes too much grease from the skin and alters its pH. Our skin has a slightly acidic pH to protect it from bacteria, soap has an alkaline pH, so it’s really not suitable.

We can also forget about leave-on cleansers, whose residues would remain on the skin.

WHAT WE CAN USE:

 

 

 PANNO IN MICROFIBRA

 

This two-step technique is called double cleansing.

 

Which products to use?

 

1. Use oily cleansers (cleansing lotion is also fine) that dissolve the sebum and are then rinsed off or removed using the Microfibre Cloth, which also performs a micro-exfoliation (here you can, for instance, take a look at ours, which is very soft and removes make-up and impurities perfectly).

In our shop you can find many more products for treating impurities and products for blackheads, like Olio Denso, perfect for cleaning impure skins.

 

BEST-SELLER

OLIO DENSO

 

To obtain perfect cleansing for impure skins we created the Oil Wash kit, where you will find Olio Denso and the Microfibre Cloth together! 

2. Even after using an oily product, or on their own, the specific foaming face cleansers, which have the right pH, are perfect. There are many available, I created Spumone!

BEST SELLER

SPUMONE

 

3. And then we come to purifying cleansers formulated with salicylic acid, like our More Pure, which has purifying and sebum-regulation power without being excessively harsh on the skin.

 

MORE PURE

 

LET ME EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT DOUBLE CLEANSING.

An oily cleanser (like Olio Denso) acts by affinity to remove sebum. Instead of removing the product with a cloth, it can also be removed using a mild foaming agent that will remove every last residue by contrast, leaving the skin perfectly clean.

If you’re unsure which one to use, I recommend my Spumone.

 

EXFOLIATING: OR HOW TO REGULATE SEBUM PRODUCTION AND “SHRINK PORES”

How?

LIGHT EXFOLIATION WITH ACIDS.

Exfoliation carried out using sebum-regulating acids and which closes the follicles/pores.

It also fights the overproduction of dead cells that clog the follicles/pores and cause black- and whiteheads.

You can have a professional treatment by a beautician or dermatologist or buy light acids to use at home (some pharmacies sell them), the most suitable kind for this type of problem is salicylic acid or fruit acids.

I can recommend Luce Liquida, a brightening lotion with a small percentage of salicylic acid, which is perfect for this purpose. You can use it every day, it is very light and works miracles, but it is not a substitute for a professional treatment.

LUCE LIQUIDA

€ 20.00

Siero #Perfect

€ 45.00

If you have a skin with dry areas and that also needs hydration, a Serum with a lighter concentration of salicylic acid can be a good solution. My Siero #Perfect smooths and hydrates, and is so light that it can be used as a substitute for cream in the summer.

If you have a combination skin that is also sensitive and reactive, try our shikimic acid, which smooths and evens out the complexion in an even milder way and has been clinically tested on sensitive skins.

 

If, on the other hand, you want to venture into the world of chemical peels, always make sure they are mild and that your skin is not too sensitive.

Personally, I consider them very effective, provided they are not used with other acids and exfoliants, because this combination would be excessively aggressive.

 

REFRESH YOUR SKIN

€ 58.00

Our line includes Refresh Your Skin Gentle Peel, a phytoactive treatment, with natural sugars and alpha hydroxy acids, which in one week regenerates the skin, without being excessively harsh, and giving outstanding results.

If, on the other hand, you are up against one of those pimples that makes you scream in front of the mirror, there is a rescue remedy that acts directly on the blemish to reduce the inflammation.

We suggest Dot Eraser, a gel containing Salicylic acid and Bakuchiol.

 

AND BLACKHEADS?

They won’t go away on their own. You can prevent them from forming, but the most effective system for removing them is

• · STEAM
• · SQUEEZING

 

STEER CLEAR OF COMEDOGENIC PRODUCTS

The matter of products that favour the occurrence of blackheads is controversial, but I am a supporter.

How do you know if a product is comedogenic?

Check the ingredients list and make sure it does not contain:

• ·  VASELINE
• ·  PARAFFIN
• ·  MINERAL OIL
• ·  LANOLIN
• ·  WAXES
• ·  SQUALENE
• ·  CASTOR OIL

Skin reactivity is subjective, but if using a product covers you in pimples and blackheads, it’s not the product for you.

WATCH YOUR DIET

Let’s start with the basics.

If sebum is the root of all our evils, it’s obvious that anything that alters it can improve or worsen the situation.

BUT

SCIENTIFIC studies say that:

• Chocolate does not affect pimples.

• Salami does not affect pimples.

WHEREAS

the following do favour pimples:

• • Foods with a high glycaemic index, in other words deserts and all refined flours (white bread, pasta, pizza, etc.
• • Excessive omega 6 and a deficiency of omega 3 (Omega 6s are found, for example, in avocados, and omega 3s are found, for example, in salmon, etc.)

ANY QUESTIONS?

Before getting started you can find out more about our products and your skin type here:

OLIO DENSO: why is it useful against pimples and blackheads?

Because it is a non-comedogenic product, rich in plant oils, and ideal for deep cleansing the skin, without being excessively harsh. In addition, it cleanses by affinity, which is perfect for skins with impurities, but also for those who simply love mild products that nourish and hydrate the skin.

LUCE LIQUIDA: why is it useful against pimples and blackheads?

Because the measured and progressive exfoliating action this lotion with salicylic acid exerts, refines skin texture, shrinks open pores, and fights and prevents impurities.

The Veralab Team