Expert Beauty Reviews | Skincare Ingredient Guides
Can You Really Get Rid of Acne Scars? It’s bad enough having pimples all over your face – but once they are gone – it can leave to scarring. What can you do about all those pock marks & craters? Find out in this video:
Find Loma Lux Acne Pill at https://www.lomalux.com/shop/order-lomalux-acnepill/
Style Chicks received compensation for this post.
Here at Style Chicks, we have a term for when you still have acne, and tiny little lines and wrinkles start creeping in. We call it Wracne.
Wracne is life’s little way of taunting you with the skin problems you thought you would leave at the door when you went to college and the ones that you thought only old ladies had. And treating adult acne is different than treating teen acne. That’s why we love the Exposed Skin Care line.
Exposed Skin Care
Our teen war on acne approach was probably never really that great. Our general Mode of Operation for dealing with an unwanted blemish was a show no mercy approach of blasting our teenage faces with hot water and harsh skin-scrubbing washes followed by drying topicals until the zits were all but eviscerated, imploding on to themselves in a dry, flakey heap. Our oily-faced, collagen-full teen skin could take it, and if all went well, bounced back in a few days moisture wise as if nothing happened. But our grown-up faces can’t tolerate those harsh scrubbing washes and that scorched earth, overly drying topical approach. It’s too irritating and not entirely effective.
So forget your teen acne game moves, they cause more harm than good. What tools make for a deft, elegant approach to acne? The secret weapons of fighting the good fight against adult acne include:
Stopping acne formation is the best bet for maintaining clear skin. The two-prong approach is proper cleansing and topical treatments that stop acne in its’ tracks.
Cleansing is key to exfoliate away acne causing bacteria and excess sebum/oil, as well as to remove the dead skin cells that can trap them into the pimple formation position.
Your hands, even just washed ones, carry too much bacteria to use them to rub/scrub/wash your face. They are also not effective for exfoliating dead skin cells. Ideally, choose a cloth that is not too hard, not too soft, just nubby enough to exfoliate but soft enough to not abrase or damage skin.
Let the cleansing product and the washcloth do the work, don’t rub and scrub as if your trying to get a stain out of clothing. Use slow, gentle massage only.
The Exposed Derm-X Cloth washcloth is soft but effective in removing dead skin when paired with a cleanser like Ultimate Clean
I found the Exposed Derm-X Cloth to be effective at removing dead skin flakes as well as foundation and sunscreen residue without being too harsh or rough.
Did you know some cleansers actually CAUSE acne? Many cleansers contain pore-clogging, acne-causing ingredients to buffer and counteract the effects of cheap detergent/cleansing agents. Stick to a cleanser that is non-comedogenic and hypo-allergenic. We like Exposed Facial Cleanser Ultimate clean for what it does and does not contain. It is non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic, and its’ soap-free.
Exposed Facial Cleanser Ultimate Clean contains acne fighting ingredients without the harsh detergents found in many acne cleansers
For the ideal blend of cleansing and exfoliating, alpha & beta hydroxy acids (AHA) are worth their weight in gold, especially for skin over thirty. As counter-intuitive as it sounds to use an acid for sensitive skin, it is actually ideal as hydroxy acids melt the “glue” that binds dry skin to live skin, so that dead skin cells basically de-attach themselves from the live skin without introducing excess force, rubbing or scrubbing. Not only does this result in less redness, drying, and irritation, but also less inflammation and skin microtears, which can become infected. AHA’s also give skin a younger appearance by removing dry skin, brown spots, and smoothing wrinkles.
Exposed Facial Cleanser Ultimate Clean contains alpha and beta hydroxy acids, as well as sage extract that gently detoxifies skin.
There are none of the detergents (such as lauryl and laureth sulfates) that strip so much oil and moisture from the skin that it feels tight and dry, rather it only removes excess. This pairs nicely with Pro-Vitamin B5, which regulates oil production.
Contains powerful alpha beta hydroxy acids to simultaneously treat both acne and wrinkles
The Ultimate Clean did not leave my skin feeling too tight, raw, irritated or dry, which is a problem I have with many cleansers. It left my face feeling soft. It removes even heavy makeup or oils, including when I use an oil-based makeup remover. I am a big fan of AHAs, and love getting them in a cleanser that doesn’t sting or burn while using it.
Salicylic Acid is an excellent pre-emptive topical that stops acne in its’ tracts. Salicylic Acid clears the deepest clogged pores from the bottom up.
I find Salicylic Acid especially helpful for the evilest of all the blemishes: cystic acne. I never had cystic acne until I was an adult and had no clue how to treat it. Cystic Acne appears to be on the surface, but it’s too deep a pimple to attempt to extract yourself, even with implements. If you try, it gets worse, much worse, just pushing the pimple contents, now fueled with more bacteria, deeper into your skin. Worst of all, the lifespan of a cystic pimple is much longer than a typical pimple, and it can leave a scar for months even if you don’t pick it or irritate it at all. Cystic Acne pimples are little jerks and not much can be done since most acne topicals treat by drying only the surface.
A nightly application of Salicylic Acid cleanses pores to shrink current breakouts and prevent future ones
Salicylic Acid is used in two ways within the Exposed skincare system, it is found both within the Clearing Tonic and the topical treatment Exposed Clear Pore Serum.
The Clearing Tonic reinforces the cleanser action by clearing the skin of dead cells and preventing blocked pores before they start. To leave skin balanced, the Salyclic Acid is combined with soothing, nourishing Aloe Vera, and anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, soothing Green Tea. Another notable ingredient in the fight against acne is Azelaic Acid, which addresses a slightly different type of acne, those which occur in a hair follicle that has filled with oil or sebum. These occur often around the chin, jawline, and sides of the face. Azelaic Acid opens and clears the debris to keep pimples from forming.
I find the Clearing Tonic to leave me flake-free. I often skip this type of step during skincare because these kinds of products typically sting too much, but the Tonic is quite gentle. It does make a difference that is noticeable in about a week, my skin does seem clearer.
A soothing but effective blend of Salicylic Acid, Green Tea, Aloe Vera, and Azelaic Acid
Clear Pore Serum contains Salicylic Acid to keep pores clean.
I find that the recommended nightly application of Clear Pore Serum quickly reduces new pimples from forming and helps reduce the volume of existing pimples to help them shrink faster. It does not sting, and my skin is not raw and red with regular use. Even after one night, my existing pimples looked calmer the next morning.
By combining the Hydroxy Acids found in the Ultimate Clean Cleanser to remove dead skin, oil and dirt on the skin surface, and the Salyclic Acid in Clean Pores Serum to deep clean pores and shrink them, the key components needed to form new pimples becomes few and far in between. But how can a pimple that forms despite preemptive measures be tamed?
Benzoyl Peroxide is likely an acne fighting ingredient you’ve used before, the oxygen in BP kills bacteria. No matter how often you cleanse, you are still exposed to toxins, pollutants, and bacteria all day long. Your pillowcase, your phone, your hands, your makeup brushes all harbor bacteria. As a teen, you likely used Benzoyl Peroxide to remove excess oil and bacteria, but did you know how to use it most effectively? I didn’t.
Are you using your Benzoyl Peroxide the right way?
The best Benzoyl Peroxide is micronized, meaning it won’t just sit on the surface of your skin, drying out only the top layers of a pimple while bacteria hides below. Rather, it slips through to the deep layers of the skin, purging even hidden bacteria. As a teen, we may have subscribed to the “more is more” theory and slathered it on our skin, but as an adult, this won’t work. Benzoyl Peroxide use is different as an adult. When BP is paired with the right ingredients, only a thin layer is needed.
Benzoyl Peroxide works very well with Tea Tree Oil, an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial powerhouse for clearing breakouts from the skin. Some people use Tea Tree it straight from the bottle, but Tea Tree Oil is pungent and is most tolerable, and effective, in a blended skincare product.
The drug store BP topicals we used as a teen are too harsh and too concentrated at 5 and 10 percent. An adult should use less than four or five percent, which studies show is just as effective and less irritating. Exposed uses 3.5% Benzoyl Peroxide in this serum. Another key to proper use is Benzoyl Peroxide must be buffered, as is the case with Exposed Acne Treatment Serum, which in addition to Benzoyl Peroxide and Tea Tree Oil uses Green Tea Extract to keep skin from becoming red, irritated and flaky.
Benzoyl Peroxide must be buffered to be effective on adult skin
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a 3.5% BP, but in tandem with the other products, I think this is the right amount for my skin, not too drying, acne looks better, my skin is not red and raw like can happen with some BP topicals. The buffer ingredients make a big difference.
All skin undergoing acne treatment, whether young or not so young, requires moisturization, but as a teen, your skin likely bounced back faster on its’ own whether you moisturized or not. Acne treatments, even when properly balanced and buffered, are still drying to the surface of the skin. Dry skin is not only unattractive, but makes makeup apply unevenly, and it magnifies every fine line, wrinkle, and pore, resulting in the appearance of older skin. So for those fighting wracne, proper moisturization is a must.
Ideally, a moisturizer should be both oil-free and lightweight, so as not to clog the pores you’ve fought so hard to purge. It should also contain treating ingredients that soothe, nourish and restore the skin. An excellent ingredient for those who are experiencing acne while aging is Pumpkin Seed Oil.
Oil-free Moisture Complex contains Pumpkin Seed Oil, Caffeine, and Green Tea Extract to fight both acne and wrinkles
For acne, Pumpkin Seed Oil is rich in essential fatty acids that regulate skin oil production on both oily and dry skin. It promotes a healthy cell structure and cellular renewal, it has healing properties and is nourishing, and highly moisturizing, which is perfect for both acne and aging skin. The A, C, E and K, enzymes, fatty acids, iron, and zinc are highly nourishing, and it has the unique ability to simultaneously prevent both acne and fine lines.
Topical Caffeine application also can help both acne and fine lines. As a vasoconstrictor, it constricts blood vessels, which in turn reduces inflammation that makes acne larger, redder and harder to conceal. Inflammation also causes fine lines.
Green Tea is a soothing anti-inflammatory that not only calms the skin but helps to reduce scarring.
I find this to be lightweight and it absorbs easily, and I am a new fan of Pumpkin Seed Oil! Few products feel like they balance my needs properly when it comes to acne and aging, this combo of ingredients doesn’t make an acne problem worse and it still nourishes the skin.
What’s our personal experience with the Exposed Basic 4-Step Acne Treatment Kit? I love how the cleanser leaves my skin feeling smooth, clean, and so soft. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight like other cleansers, which I attribute to the lack of harsh chemicals. This is especially unusual for a Salicylic Acid cleanser, but it is gentle but effective due to the great formulation. I love that it includes Vitamin B5, and the sage extract makes the formula feel luxurious.
The Exposed Clearing Tonic isn’t harsh like a lot of other toners, and definitely not like the ones you used in your teens that stripped your skin of moisture. My skin feels refreshed, clean, and supple.
The Exposed Acne Treatment Serum has already made a difference in tough blemishes. I had several stubborn blackheads that have resolved in the timing, which has me elated. I also am very happy with the milia that have shrunk or disappeared since I started using the Acne Treatment Serum!
I also have the Exposed Clear Pore Serum to thank for those stubborn blackheads coming out, and for shrinking some hormonal acne I experienced within a couple of days. It is lightweight and it sinks into my skin, so I don’t have to worry about it getting in my eyes at night.
Also, I really love the Derm-X Cloth that comes with the kit – it is so gentle on my skin!
Battling adult acne and aging at the same time is no small feat but can be accomplished with the proper skin care techniques and ingredients, including choosing hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic products with the ingredients that support optimal skin health. Adult acne can be managed with pre-emptive cleansing and topical measures to stop breakouts, effective topicals that are applied with precision to existing breakouts, both followed with the right moisturizer, one that hydrates, nourishes and feeds skin without causing more acne. Exposed Skin Care takes the guesswork out of finding helpful, not harmful products by creating a line of acne products ideal for treating adult acne while battling signs of aging. This boxed kit comes with all the products seen in these photos including the Ultimate Clean, Clearer Tonic, cloth, Clear Pore Serum, the Acne Treatment Serum and the Moisture Complex. Clear skin is guaranteed.
Find the entire Exposed Skin Care line including the Exposed Basic 4-Step Acne Treatment Kit at http://www.exposedskincare.com
Style Chicks received these Exposed Skin Care products in exchange for our unbiased review and we were compensated for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.
This is part two of a two-part series about the Multi-tasking uses of Retinol, the go-to beauty product to fix numerous skin issues ranging from stretch marks to acne to wrinkles. Today we discuss both acne and dark undereye circles, and why Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, a 2.5% non-prescription Retinol is a powerhouse for treating them both.
Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains natural moisturizers to soothe while treating acne and dark circles
Retinol is especially effective on acne. No matter what age you get your acne, Retinol can tackle it.
Whether you are a teen, in your twenties or even post-menopausal, acne happens. But how acne is best-addressed changes with age. Teens generally use oil-drying cleansers combined with a heavy layer of benzoyl peroxide, both of which are too rough for more mature skin because it cannot recover moisture like younger skin.
At the first sign of an emerging pimple, apply a buffered Retinol like Lordsbury Retinol+C to reduce inflammation and redness without causing surface dryness or irritation
But this is not to say that Retinol cannot be overly drying to the skin, as it’s in fact, quite a potent topical acne remedy. So potent, that only a pea-sized amount should be used on the entire face. Even in small doses, prescription strength retinols need to be buffered with a cream or lotion to ease the dryness and itchiness that can come with Retinol. This is one of our favorite things about Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer for treating acne because it comes with an all-in-one 2.5% prescription strength pure Retinol and several soothing ingredients built right into the formulation to buffer the retinol with just the right balance. Natural ingredients include Organic Aloe Vera and Shea Butter that keep skin supple and pliable to help pre-empt stretch marks before they form. Also, there’s Green Tea that soothes irritation. Even when I use it twice a day, I don’t experience peeling, itching or dryness, yet it effectively targets acne.
Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer has soothing and hydrating moisturizers that buffer BOTH the prescription strength 2.5% Retinol and the 20% Vitamin C Serum to quickly reduce acne breakouts and heal acne mark scars
Retinol is a keratolytic treatment that dissolves dead skin layers. In laypersons’ speak, this means Retinol unclogs pores. This has a two-fold benefit of allowing other medications creams and gels, such as Vitamin C Serum or Salyclic Acid to more effectively treat the pore by cleaning it, removing bacteria and oil and shrinking its’ appearance. Retinol also reduces the number of blackheads and pimple outbreaks by preventing dead cells from clogging pores or entrapping bacteria and oil which form said blackheads and pimples.
Retinol unclogs pores so well that after about two weeks of Retinol use, users report a sudden acne breakout, often it is so bad that people feel Retinol is causing their acne. It’s not causing acne, rather purging pores. If you can hold on for just a few weeks, your skin will be clear and less congested.
Retinol can also reduce inflammation and redness, which is a big part of what makes a pimple look so large.  At the first sign of a pimple, dab an extra bit of Lordsbury Retinol+C on the pimple to start reducing inflammation and quell the redness without causing a dry, crusty skin layer that is itchy.
Retinol also encourages the formation of collagen, which helps the skin to heal, and it redistributes excess or abnormal pigmentation, meaning skin takes on a more even tone. This is why, in part, it addresses so many skin problems.
Cystic Acne scars live on long after a pimple itself came and went, and the scar mark turns red then brown then after about six months fades to its’ final state of discoloration. Even if you are very careful not to pick, squeeze, poke or otherwise irritate these tricky cystic pimples, some are little jerks and just leave a scar anyways. The faster you can fade the scar, the better. Retinol tackles uneven skin tone and accelerates the healing process, breaking up the dark pigmentation of a red or brown scar. I particularly like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.
Got some discoloration from an old acne scar? Applying Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer to acne scars helps quickly fade them and heal the skin texture without causing irritation
Acne on the body, especially the back, can be tough to treat. Benzoyl Peroxide, while effective and inexpensive, is often unsuitable for back acne, AKA “bacne” because it can bleach the fabric of clothing. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer dries down clean without a greasy finish so it can be applied to your back acne with no residue and is safe to wear even with nicer clothing. It also comes in a large 2.8-ounce container, large enough to apply liberally to acne prone areas such as shoulders, chest, and back.
Dark under eye circles happen for many reasons: allergies, heredity, lack of sleep, and at times, leaking blood capillaries under the skin that creates a purple hue. The undereye skin area, being so thin, is also subject to the effects of sun damage.
Retinol breaks up excess pigmentation and disperses it to make the skin tone appear even. It’s also exceptionally effective in reversing the appearance of sun damage. But for some dark circle undereye conditions, the best that can be done is minimizing their appearance by optimizing the condition of the skin by keeping it wrinkle free and as hydrated as possible.
Part of what contributes to the appearance of a dark undereye circle is skin sagging and the resulting shadow. Collagen is the scaffolding of the skin, if there’s not enough collagen to support skin tissues, skin sags under the weight. Skin loses collagen with age, especially around the eye area. Retinol promotes collagen production and in tandem with topical Vitamin C, can reduce the sagging and discoloration substantially.
You likely cannot substantially eradicate hereditary dark shadows, but you can remove as much sun exposure and skin damage as possible to lighten, smooth and brighten the area and you can boost the collagen levels to lift the skin upwards for a younger, brighter look. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains Aloe Vera which feeds the skin like a vitamin, providing a dewy look over time that is smooth and reflects light, giving a lighter appearance. Vitamin C builds collagen and lightens the skin without bleaching it to an unnatural color, as can happen with some chemical peels or laser treatments.
Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 20% Vitamin C Serum to build collagen, fade both discoloration and sun damage around the delicate eye area
TIP: To not irritate the delicate eye skin, only apply retinol as high as all along the orbital bone of the dark circle, below the eye bulge up to the brow.
Ranging from stretch marks, facial and body acne, dark undereye circles, wrinkles or discoloration due to sun damage, age spots, scars, discoloration or acne marks, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides a powerful combination of a 20% Vitamin C Serum paired with a prescription level dose of 2.5% Retinol and all natural buffering moisturizers in one 2.8-ounce cream at a great price. Gentle enough for even sensitive skin, but potent enough to make a sizable difference in skin problems in short order.
Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/
Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort to write this review. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.
Adult acne is difficult enough to treat, but when combined with Rosacea it is nearly impossible. Treating acne despite rosacea is extremely difficult because so many topical treatments provoke Rosacea flare-ups. And for some blemishes, it is hard to assess at first if it is acne or rosacea, which delays topical treatment. Even in the absence of rosacea, most acne treatments are too harsh for the skin of an adult. Fortunately, LomaLux Acne Pill provides a natural treatment for both acne and rosacea, plus the redness and inflammation associated with both conditions. This patented mineral technology safely and effectively stops acne in teens and adults.
LomaLux Acne Pills were developed by a dermatologist as a natural acne remedy for mild to moderate acne and rosacea
Did you know a blemish develops under the skin for up to two to three weeks before it’s visible? Topical treatments can’t penetrate that far into the deeper skin layers. It also takes weeks to entirely clear the residual inflammation, redness, skin damage and disruption. Discoloration can last much longer. LomaLux Acne Pill stops acne before it visibly erupts, resulting in clearer skin.
LomaLux Acne Pills target acne where it begins – deep in the skin
LomaLux Acne Pills work like a vitamin and are a natural remedy that has been proven in clinical studies to safely combat acne from within by stimulating the body’s healing response. A combination of five mineral ingredients safely encourages the body to pre-emptively begin a recovery response to immediately heal an acne or rosacea breakout.
LomaLux Acne Pills are natural acne remedy to clear skin
This natural remedy is steroid-free, gluten-free, and lactose-free. LomaLux controls mild acne without the drying and irritating skin effects of topical treatments. It also treats moderate acne that typically requires antibiotics to treat, but it does so without the side effects and risks of repeated antibiotic use. Clinical studies show LomaLux to be highly effective for treating papulos-pustular (rosacea) acne.
Afraid of waking up on prom day, graduation, that big job interview, or a wedding with a giant new pimple or rosacea flare-up? Stop that pimple in advance by taking LomaLux in the weeks leading up to the big day to keep breakouts at bay.
For my weight, I take a customized dose of two tablets a day
LomaLux has five active ingredients that are natural mineral elements which are used frequently for the treatment of a variety of conditions. In combination, they create an all-natural response that disrupts the pattern of acne and rosacea breakouts.
LomaLux Ingredients are all natural minerals
LomaLux was developed by a dermatologist for his patients, and it proved a highly effective preventive measure for twenty years. LomaLux went through extensive clinical testing with strict objective evaluation standards to determine how effective it was, including counting the number of blackheads, whiteheads, cystic and pustule pimples, scales of redness and inflammation.
These pills are taken daily. How many pills you take is determined by your weight in order to provide you with optimal results.
Weight Daily Dosage
DIRECTIONS: Â Chew pill & allow to dissolve in the mouth for 1-2 minutes before swallowing. Don’t eat or drink for 10 minutes afterward for maximum effectiveness.
For my weight, the recommended dosage is I two LomaLux chewable pills per day
I take two pills daily. These chewable tablets taste to me like blueberries. They dissolve quickly without an aftertaste.
I had a breakout worse than I had in a long time: three pimples that had slowly formed and persisted over the course of weeks, one large, red and very obviously between my eyebrows, one on my chin, one on my lower cheek. Two of them were obvious, red, and were not going anywhere no matter how much topical treatment I put them. Oh, and I also even heavy concealer or green-tinted coverup would hide these pimples.
LomaLux says you can expect to see visible improvement in about two weeks, with clearer skin often within one week. Studies indicate people start to see results within one week and see maximum results at two to four weeks.
Personally, my acne took less than a week, but the redness and inflammation of those stubborn pimples were gone within two days, making them much less “angry” looking. While the angry pimples still existed for a few days, it was much easier to cover with concealer once the redness and inflammation were gone. I did not experience side effects, and in the clinical study, 100% of participants were also able to tolerate the tablets.
A natural remedy for the safe, effective treatment of acne and rosacea, LomaLux, when taken daily, leads to clearer skin for mild to moderate cases of acne and rosacea. Take LomaLux for two to four weeks before a big event to be confident your skin will be clear of breakouts. Suitable for teens and adults, LomaLux has none of the drying or irritating side-effects of topical skin care treatments.
Find LomaLux Acne Pills at http://www.lomalux.com/shop/ and at select Walgreens in the Vitamin Aisle!
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Style Chicks received LomaLux Acne Pill in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.