Unless you’re a skincare expert, finding the right products for your skin may be difficult. Whether you have dry, oily, acne-prone skin, you must find the products that work best for you. Using the wrong products can lead to worse or different problems, affecting how you feel about your appearance. Unfortunately, every skincare product uses different ingredients, and it’s difficult to know what those words mean. Many skincare brands and skincare tools may help you understand products by listing their common names, but mostly, ingredient lists look like another language.
Additionally, there’s no one-size-fits-all ingredient or skin product, so what works for your friend might not work for you. Everyone needs an individualized approach to skincare to help them look and feel their best while improving the health of their skin. Whether you get laser hair removal to keep your legs smooth, or eat certain foods for energy and skin boosts, there’s something out there for everyone.
Best Products for Troubled Skin
Unfortunately, there are many types of troubled skin, ranging from common issues like dry skin and acne to more severe issues like yeast infections, skin allergies, and serious skin conditions. Let’s look at the most common types of troubled skin and the best products for individuals with those skin issues.
Acne
Acne products are different from other products, and most of them don’t have the same active ingredients. Some acne products target bacteria, while others remove excess oil and dead skin cells. Some acne products may even have both functions, removing bacteria and excess oil. When looking for the best acne treatment for your troubled skin, check for the following ingredients:
- Benzoyl peroxide: A bacteria killer, benzoyl peroxide removes excess oil and dead skin cells that are responsible for clogged pores. In addition, these products don’t require a prescription. Unfortunately, possible side effects include dry skin, irritation, and burning, especially in those with sensitive skin.
- Adapalene: A retinoid that unclogs pores to prevent breakouts, adapalene is a non-prescription ingredient that might cause stinging.
- Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid unclogs pores and prevents breakouts. It’s available without a prescription. Some products may be left on while others are for washes, with mild side effects like skin irritation.
Of course, if you’ve tried everything available, you may need prescription acne medication, so always check with a dermatologist if you’re having trouble controlling your acne.
When choosing acne products, you’ll need to consider your skin type and skincare preferences. For example, if you’re someone who only wants to wash their face once a day, you may have to choose a product that’s effective enough in just one wash. Unfortunately, treating acne with over-the-counter skin care products is a slow process, and you may have to wait three months or more to see results.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is fairly common, especially in those that live in cold, dry climates. The skin often feels dry or tight after cleansing, but you may also notice flaky skin, itchiness, and rough patches. If your skin is sensitive, you may need to avoid exfoliants and acne treatments altogether because they can irritate the skin, causing further damage. When shopping for products to relieve your dry skin, look for hydrating ingredients that won’t strip your natural oils.
Ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid can restore your skin’s protective barrier and cleanse it without drying it out. If you’re going to spend money on one item, individuals with dry skin need a high-quality moisturizer that can soften the skin. Unfortunately, you may need something heavier and oilier than someone else because your skin dries out so easily.
In addition, you’ll need a good cleanser that won’t strip your skin of natural oils. Individuals with acne will be looking to remove oil, but those with dry skin should try to keep as much of the oil as they have to naturally moisturize their skin throughout the day. Dermatologists often recommend cleansers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid to keep the skin moisturized without stripping it of oils.
Unfortunately, while most people believe acne only happens to individuals with oily skin, it can happen to anyone, even those with dry skin. Since dry skin can flake and clog pores, you should still have a cleanser that gently exfoliates to remove dead skin and dirt that can cause acne.
Individuals with dry skin may need multiple products to lock in moisture. While your moisturizer is important, you may also choose a serum with vitamin C to reduce redness and inflammation and hydrate the skin. Products with retinol are also important because they can help speed up skin cell turnover and stimulate collagen production to help dry skin heal faster. Unfortunately, retinol can be irritating, so you may have to experiment with different brands to find the right one for your skin.
Combination Skin
If you have oily or dry skin, tons of products are available to help you target these issues. However, when you have both dry and oily skin, you may not know which products to use on your skin. In most cases, you don’t want something too greasy that can cause acne, but you don’t want something too drying that will dry your skin out even more. Individuals with combination skin must moisturize dry skin without creating oiliness and use acne treatments only where there’s acne. Therefore, you want products with moisturizing ingredients that won’t clog pores and acne products that won’t cause further skin irritation.
Ingredients to consider include hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid, all of which can help hydrate skin without clogging pores. Many of these are used in acne treatments because they maintain oil production.
Patch Test Your Skin Products
Patch testing will help you determine which products are best for your skin. For example, you can put a small amount of moisturizer on your skin to determine if it’ll cause allergic reactions, irritation, or clog your pores. If it worsens your skin, you know it’s not the right product. Testing all the ingredients before committing will ensure you find the right products for you.