Guest Blog by Renée Rouleau
Q. I still get acne breakouts, yet I’m starting to see the signs of anti-aging. How do I properly address both?
A. You certainly don’t want to treat your skin like a teenager by drying your skin out using harsh acne products as these only make your skin worse by causing dry skin cells which trap the oil and bacteria beneath dead cells resulting in more clogged pores and acne breakouts. And when your skin is dried out, it certainly doesn’t help with lines and wrinkles because your skin needs to be healthy and hydrated to look and act young.
On the other hand, if you choose high-performance anti-aging products these rich formulas can often result in increased clogged pores. The most effective way to treat both wrinkles and acne breakouts is to give your skin the balance it needs with a proper home care routine consisting of non-drying, anti-bacterial products, gentle exfoliants, and oil-free moisturizing formulas.
-Use a cleanser with Salicylic Acid. This beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is famous for its ability for reducing acne-causing bacteria and oil to prevent blemishes, all while penetrating the pores to clear out impurities.
-Use an alcohol-free toner. There’s no better way to give your skin the hydration and water it needs for anti-aging than to use an alcohol-free toner morning and evening after cleansing. But make sure to leave it damp before applying lotion to seal in all the hydrating properties.
-Exfoliate often. Using gentle facial scrubs and chemical exfoliants (glycolic and lactic acids) will remove surface dry skin cells to release the oil and bacteria under the skin resulting in less clogged pores and blemishes. Exfoliants also break down scarred cells (known as post-breakout marks from picking at blemishes) so these also help to keep the skin more clear and even-toned.
-Spot treat blemishes. It’s best to treat blemishes individually as they appear with a drying spot treatment, than to dry out the entire face with harsh acne products (when you may only have one or two blemishes).
-Use SPF daily. The #1 best anti-aging product is a sunscreen used every day, 365 days a year, rain or shine. Look for ones with at least 6% Zinc Oxide as this UV-protecting ingredient won’t clog the pores and will generally dry to a matte finish.
-Get professional help. Deep pore cleansing facials and mild chemical peels can really make a huge improvement in reducing blemishes and keeping the skin looking young.
-Practice self control and don’t pick at the skin. I’ve always said that a blemish itself lasts only 5-7 days where a post-breakout scar from picking at the blemish can last for up to two months.
-Avoid cleansers that make your skin feel tight. More lather, more drying, less lather, less drying. Use sulfate-free cleansing gels that won’t strip the skin and cause unnecessary dry skin cells.
-Use an oil-free moisturizer. Do not skimp on moisturizer thinking that it’s going to cause acne breakouts. If it’s oil-free then it’s giving your skin the water it needs without the oil. Have questions for me? Just ask!
Hi Renee,
Love your tips. I follow your twitter updates religiously! I have a question about exfoliation. How much is too much? I have pretty oily skin and exfoliate (with Apricot scrub) about 3 times a week. Should I do it more often?
Thanks!
Hi Renee,
Just had a question. I read an article on your website, saying that we should avoid all soap bars for our face. Does that also refer to the Wonderbar? I know Kelly has been using for her body, but many other people are using it for their face, including me.
Thanks
Hi Laetitia!
Thanks for following me on Twitter! Apricot scrub? No! Not a fan since the particles can scratch and lacerate the skin. For scrubs, it’s the one time where natural is not better because of the grains. YOu want to use synthetically made grains that are perfectly round. But 2-3 times a week is great. But you should also use chemical exfoliators like glycolic or lactic acid since these DISSOLVE dry skin cells whereas the facial scrubs LIFT OFF.
Hope that helps!
Renee
Hi Annie,
Everyone needs to use what is right for them, but I would personally never let a bar of soap (even the Wonderbar) touch my face. Body? No problem. Face? No way…The most important part of your entire routine is what you wash with. You don’t want to dehydrate your skin since that encourages dry skin cell build up. Even those with oily skin shouldn’t dry out their skin.
Thanks,
Renee
Renee,
I am so surprised by your comment about not ever letting a bar of soap touch your face (including the wonderbar). The Wonderbar is not soap, doesn’t act like soap, doesn’t feel like soap and doesn’t dry like soap. In fact, while reading your article and hearing you describe the perfect beauty routine, you described the Wonderbar. It balances your skin and it is non-drying. It acts as an alcohol-free toner, and a daily, mild exfoliate. It deep-cleans your pores and removes surface dry skin cells just like a facial. You can get it wet and use it as a spot treatment on a blemish if you need to, which would be rare while using the Wonderbar. It ultimately causes your skin to produce its own natural moisture….in fact, when I wake up, my skin is soft and feels like I slathered on some expensive night cream….that is without putting any moisturizer on at all. The company recommends a simple sunscreen for day and/or a simple oil-free moisturizer like cetaphyl, which works perfectly with the Wonderbar. The Wonderbar does anything BUT dry out your skin, it actually makes dry skin less dry. In the initial phase while your skin is adjusting, it might feel dry, but that goes away quickly. Lastly, I don’t remember the website ever saying to use it on your body! It is a facial bar made of clay and algae and plant extracts. It would be an expensive habit to keep up if one used it on their body, not to mention you would have to use it in the shower, the one place you shouldn’t ever use it and where it wouldn’be effective because it has to dry on your skin before you rinse it off. Your comments are very misleading. This product has totally changed my skin and for the first time I have no acne and no rosacea, my skin is glowy and healthy and looks young. I would recommend it to everyone I know. I think it is clear that you have never used it and don’t know anything about it, which makes it very surprising that you would recommend against it.
Wow……..anyone who catagorizes The Wonderbar as soap, clearly does not understand what it is!! I have been using The Wonderbar for a year and have gotten rid of all the red, dry spots on my face and my facialist still cannot get over the results. In the very beginning of use, there is a time when your skin gets used to this incredible do all, end all product. I had only one small incident in the beginning which cleared up immediately and since that time the bar has done nothing but illuminize my skin and make it softer and more supple than ever before in my life. My advice is to try it before denying your followers the results of this truly amazing product!!!
I have been using WONDERBAR for 8 months and I think it is the best thing since sliced bread! I have used everything from Erno Lazo to La Prairie to Aqua Glycolic. I love it so much that I insist my four kids (age 15 to 9) use it. I even started putting it on my arms and I can see a difference only after a few days. I would recommend any and all using the WONDERBAR. It is so simple yet so effective.
Renee,
Have you had the chance to use the WONDERBAR? It looks like a bar of soap, but that is where the similarity ends. The WONDERBAR is the only thing I have used that actually does what it says. You can use it as a one step cleansing, clearing, balancing, tightening, refining.
I had very dry skin. It took a few months, but my skin balanced out. I need moisturizer once a day, where as in the past I was constantly moisturizing through out the day. My face is tighter and the pores finer. Pigmentation spots have lightened. Most I have a glow .
My teenage daughter loves it for her skin…it makes it baby soft…I have used A LOT of different products. I am a product junkie, but this one, I will never be without.
I hope you get the chance to try the WONDERBAR, It makes you wonder, how something, so simple, can accomplish sooooo much.
Renee
Also on Sept 10th, Laetitia asked you about a scrub for her face….you recommended LACTIC
ACID, which isnt it something produced by exercise, I am not sure I would trust someone’s
opinion who suggests uses lactic acid on her face. But I do agree, do not use soap. But you need to get your facts straight, LACTIC ACID is not a chemical to put on your face. And the WONDERBAR is not SOAP…..try it, you’ll like it!!!
Hi Lori and all,
The binders that hold a bar soap naturally have a high pH balance and cause dryness in the skin. But if you like the Wonderbar and it works well for you, then by all means, use it.
I am all about healthy, hydrated and balanced skin and you get that with your cleanser, then go for it! -Renee
Renee,
Have you ever tried the Wonderbar? Your comments still sounds like you are saying it is soap, therefore it has ingredients that naturally dry your skin out. I have never used a product that makes my skin this moist, so can you please explain what you mean here? Which ingredient in the Wonderbar dries your skin out? If you are all for healthy, hydrated and balanced skin, it seems like you would be a proponent of the Wonderbar and not someone who recommends people not let it near their face. Would you please explain yourself further, because obviously many people are fans of the Wonderbar (look on the website, the reviews and testimonials are awesome) and you have lots of followers who trust that you know what you are talking about…..so you need to know what you are talking about. Please explain what binds the wonderbar together.
Renee,
I would hope you would get a chance to try the WONDERBAR and recommend it as the comments you made about what you need in a facial wash is all in the WONDERBAR. It is an incredible product that has really cleaned my skin, made it shine and my nanny was the first to comment on how great my skin looked a couple weeks into using the product. It is so easy as well as it is an all-in-one product. I just leave it on my face for 3 minutes in the morning and night and I am done. It is fabulous and has saved me a lot of money as well on all those expensive products out there that don’t really work and have multiple steps you have to take to clean your face.
Hi Renee,
I just spoke w the manufacturer of WONDERBAR…..since we all have been saying how amazing this bar is…one important fact I got was the PH level is below 7. SOAP has high PH levels and is not good for our skin as you said. WONDERBAR is NOT SOAP!! WONDERBAR’s PH is 5.65-5.75 which can be verified in labs.. the most exciting part of this WONDERBAR is the proprietary blend of several algaes that
has the ability to heal our skin problems…it truly has WONDER in it!!
Hi Renee,
I am one of the owners of Wonderbar Distributors, LLC. It is true that the PH level for Wonderbar is around 5.65- exactly the balance our skin needs. This is why, after consistent use, dry skin becomes less dry and oily skin becomes less oily. The Wonderbar tones and balances the skin very well. The manufacturer of the Wonderbar has the world patent on the material that binds the bar together. It is not drying like a binder you would find in a soap. It cannot be found in any other product in the world and this makes the Wonderbar very unique. Also, the Wonderbar is made of four different organic algaes that literally heal the skin several layers down. The Heilmoor clay detoxifies the skin resulting in deep-cleansed skin with minimized pores. It acts as a toner, cleanser, exfoliate and moisturizer. It is great for acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, dry skin, oily skin, large pores, hyper-pigmentation and much more. The longer you use it, the better your skin gets. It really is a one of a kind product and because it replaces all of your skincare products, it is very cost-effective too. It is suitable for all skin types. We are very proud and excited and would love to get a bar to you to try. I agree that soap is terrible for your skin and, like you, would never let a bar of soap near my face. After using the Wonderbar for 8 months very consistently and as directed, I will never use another product or be without this one (and I’ve tried them ALL!). I can’t find anyone who has used it correctly who doesn’t feel the same way. What you get is very healthy, hydrated and balanced skin…..
Just let me know and I’ll send you a sample!
Best Regards,
Tiffany Masterson
Oh my gosh… Renee, I would ignore all of these so called WB lovers (there is no need to call it by its real name..) the comments above not only sound incredibly defensive, but also in a way that is so.. spammy. Who talks like that?
Hi Renee,
I just came across this discussion again and I can’t figure out why the last person is so angry, but speaking for myself, I meant my letter to you to be informative and kind. I think people who use and love the wonderbar generally talk like that because it works well for them. They are just enthusiastic. You are well-respected and well-regarded and i would still love to give you a Wonderbar to try! Anytime, just let me know.
Best Regards,
Tiffany