Acne Care: Why Wellness Matters
PiperWai.com is excited to feature Ju Rhyu, co-founder of Hero Cosmetics on our blog. Hero focuses on treating acne naturally, without harsh chemicals that do more damage to your skin. Like PiperWai, Hero focuses on the win-win: using natural ingredients that when combined, creates a product that works.This is why we are huge fans of the brand — it's aligned right with our mission!
As the co-founder of Hero Cosmetics, I spend a lot of time thinking about and researching acne care. I have dry, sensitive skin and suffer from occasional breakouts due to stress, hormones, and honestly, who knows what else. For years, I treated my pimples with harsh, over-the-counter acne solutions: consumer 1.0 brands formulated with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. After all, they were supposed to kill bacteria and dry out the pimple. But my scorched-earth strategy never really worked and I was left with even drier skin and irritated, red splotches.
When I first discovered hydrocolloid acne patches, my eyes were opened to the magic of a gentler, more mindful approach to treating breakouts. The proof that there could be natural solutions that work better to heal pimples than all of those chemicals I was using in the past was truly eyeopening. And it’s not just the case for pimple patches. Approaching overall acne care with a wellness mindset is effective and important. Here’s why:
Over cleansing and harsh ingredients can actually make your acne worse
People with acne-prone skin tend to scrub, over cleanse and attempt to dry out their pimples because they believe their acne is a sign that their skin is not clean enough. However, over cleansing and scrubbing throws off the balance of the skin’s natural pH and moisture levels, which ultimately causes skin to produce even more pore-clogging sebum and oil. And too much sebum and oil leads to more breakouts.
The first generation of acne products — the ones we all grew up using — are typically made with alcohol, several harsh active ingredients, and fragrances that can actually irritate and exacerbate acne. Today, there are many gentle cleansers and all-natural treatments available.
It’s time to trade in the chemicals and over scrubbing for a gentler approach to getting your skin clean and clear. We recommend starting with an oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser. Finish off with a toner and moisturizer that contain quality, natural ingredients (and quality doesn’t necessarily have to mean expensive). If you need a spot treatment, try our Mighty Patch acne patches, which are made from hydrocolloid (fluid-absorbing gel) instead of harsh chemicals. They absorb all the pus and fluids from whiteheads and prevent touching and picking while your pimple heals.
An unhealthy diet or lifestyle could be causing your breakouts
Recently, the New York Times featured an article about adult acne and how it’s reaching “epidemic proportions.” Contrary to traditional belief, acne is not just a problem for teens. Adult women are suffering from it more than ever before and many dermatologists believe that the upswing can be attributed to a mix of diet, stressful lifestyles, hormonal changes, hair products and other environmental factors. If you’re experiencing frequent breakouts, take a look at your diet and lifestyle to see if there are any changes you could make. Eat nutritional, real foods. Exercise more. Take the time to slow down and savor a cup of tea. Taking care of your whole self can help you radiate beauty from the inside out.
Don’t let acne stress you out
Acne can negatively affect self-esteem, which can lead to anxiety and depression. Whether it’s a surprise pimple that pops up right before a big date or a full-fledged breakout the day before an important presentation, we’ve all been there. And it’s natural to panic and feel self-conscious and stressed. But those emotions (especially stress) can exacerbate acne, so try your best to keep calm and gently treat your breakouts.
At Hero Cosmetics, we focus on helping our customers stay positive and show off their best skin. Our patches can cover up and camouflage pimples. The Invisible+ Mighty Patch can even be worn during the day (yes, even during that big date or presentation) with a little bit of concealer. It’s super thin with tapered edges and really helps to hide a pimple while it’s healing. We want our products to help people feel confident because they can take control of their breakouts with a better, more natural solution.
How do you treat your acne? Perhaps it’s time to consider a gentler, more natural approach.
