Skip to main content

The Manual Guide to Fighting Adult Acne

While acne is a nuisance during your teen years, it can be even more annoying as an adult. We turned to a few acne experts for tips:

Celebrity dermatologist and acne expert, Dr. Whitney Bowe:

Recommended Videos

Clean Up Your Diet Nutrition may influence acne for some people.[1] Maintaining a diet of low glycemic index foods like non-starchy vegetables, steel-cut oatmeal and most fruits has been associated with improvements in acne.It may also be beneficial to avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread or white rice.

Give Probiotics a Try People with acne-prone skin can benefit from daily use of a topical or oral probiotic. When applied topically, probiotics cause bacterial interference and protect the skin. When taken orally, such as Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium or in yogurts containing live cultures, probiotics could influence skin conditions such as acne by affecting what is known as the “gut-brain-skin axis.”

Talk to your dermatologist It’s important to visit your dermatologist to discuss treatment options and figure out what works best for you.

Television host and blogger, Lindsey Calla lives by these simple wellness tips:

More Matcha Matcha has a high concentration of antioxidants. Try it in a latte or add it to your morning green smoothie.

Breathe, Stretch, Meditate Engaging in a form of relaxation such as yoga, tai chi or meditation can greatly reduce stress, which may cause acne to flare in women. I also recommend taking five to ten minutes at the beginning or end of your day to focus on deep breathing in order to relax.

Make Time to Sweat Regular exercise is important for overall well-being and can improve some skin conditions that are worsened by stress.8,9 Exercise can also improve your mood by reducing stress and increasing the production of endorphins.

Annie Chiu, Los Angeles-based dermatologist and acne expert:

Make easy adjustments to your skincare routine For example, if you tend to have oily hair you may want to consider shampooing daily.

Watch what you eat Nutrition, specifically carbohydrates, may impact acne for some people. In this case, it may be beneficial for those who suffer from acne to adopt a diet consisting of low-glycemic foods, such as non-starchy vegetables and 100% stone-ground whole wheat or pumpernickel bread, and avoid refined carbohydrates.

Proativ+ Complete Kit
Everybody from Diddy to Justin Bieber endorses this, and it’s been tried and true for years. If you have severe acne, this is probably your best bet.
$69.95 at proactiv.com.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and La Roche Posay Effaclar Gel
There’s a reason why the French have such good skin. They wash their faces with the refreshing La Roche Posay Gel, and then they treat their acne with La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, which has Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide (5.5%) to fight acne deep in the skin, plus Micro-Exfoliating LHA provides precise cell by cell exfoliation to clear away dulling cellular debris and oil.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, $39.95 at laroche-posay.us; La Roche Posay Effaclar Gel, $14.99 at laroche-posay.us.

Jack Black 3-in-1 Clear Complexion Solution Razor Bump & Acne Treatment
This handy product treats acne, razor bumps and it also acts as a daily astringent
$25 at nordstrom.com.

Menscience Men’s Acne Treatment System
This treatment system was developed specifically for the needs of men.
For more information, visit menscience.com.

Kiehl’s Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment
This treatment is formulated with a powerful blend of blemish-fighting Dioic, Salicylic and Lipo Hydroxy Acids to clear up your skin.
$30 at kiehls.com.

Ann Binlot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…
How to make cologne last longer: The secret to smelling great all day
Smell great all day
Man spraying luxury perfume on black background, closeup

 

First impressions are vital. The moment you meet someone, they will make a snap decision about you, and if it is the wrong one, it will be a long road to fix it. There are ways to make a great first impression. You can look your best in every moment. You can wear the right clothes. You can get the perfect hair. Say the right things. But one of the most underrated secret weapons to a great first impression is to smell fantastic. The right cologne is the perfect way to draw in the people you want to surround you subconsciously. Of course, that is easy if your meeting, date, or conference is in the morning, but what if it is later in the day? Cologne can seemingly disappear throughout the day, which can be quite aggravating. Here is how to make cologne last longer so you can make the right first impression at any moment throughout the day, whether it is planned or not.
Why does my cologne wear off so fast?

Read more
I use this Clubman Pinaud beard conditioner and face moisturizer and I love it
Clubman Pinaud 2 in 1 beard conditioner and face moisturizer deal

I have a beard. Occasionally, no matter how well I wash that beard my face gets dry and itchy. It sucks, but that's part of having facial hair. You can counteract this with a proper beard grooming regimen, that includes not only washing your beard, but conditioning the hair, moisturizing your skin, and styling it with something like beard butter. Arguably, one of the most important parts of that regimen is using a proper beard conditioner. It keeps your facial hair smooth and healthy, but also works wonders for your skin. My top choice, and a conditioner I love to use, is Clubman Pinaud. It smells great, but the scent is not overpowering, and it both conditions unruly beard hair and moisturizes your skin. Plus, it's on sale right now, down to $6.62, usually about $7. You can also save a little more by setting up Amazon's Subscribe and Save service.

 
Why shop this Clubman Pinaud 2-in-1 beard conditioner and face moisturizer deal?
No, that chiseled hunk in the image above is not me. And look, I know the deal isn't crazy good or anything, you're only saving about 40 cents. However, I regularly use this beard conditioner and skin moisturizer from Clubman Pinaud and I love it, so I figured I would share. If there's anyone else out there that happens to deal with a dry beard, like I have, you may appreciate the callout.

Read more
The ultimate guide for men’s skincare in the fall that everyone should follow
Try these skincare tips for men to take you from warm fall afternoons to chilly winter nights
A man applying skin cream

The winter holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier from a commercial standpoint. Now, it's not uncommon for Black Friday/Christmas ads to start before Halloween and to see Halloween candy in stores in August. However, it’s challenging to think about winter let alone winter skincare, when it’s still light out at 5 p.m. While putting gift shopping off to the last minute is perfectly acceptable — and may score you a sweet deal — early fall is the time to start thinking about skincare tips for colder weather.
Come winter, the dry air from the indoor heat and the freezing cold air can do a number on our skin. Think dryness, cracked feet, and chapped lips. A little advanced preparation can go a long way. These men’s fall skincare tips will season-proof your regimen.

How do you take care of your skin in the fall?

Read more