8 Products I'm Genuinely Afraid To Stop Using On My Aging, Acne Prone Skin
by Carolyn Firestone
I normally wouldn’t write an article about skincare in the first person. Who am I with my aging skin that still gets acne to lecture anyone else about skincare? Shouldn’t that be left to a glass-skinned, 24-year-old on TikTok?
But I realized something recently. Anytime I see a glass-skinned 24-year-old on TikTok, I can’t ever see myself or my skin issues in her perfect, perfect face, and therefore, I don’t really believe anything she’s using will work for me.
And so, I am here, not to be your pillar of perfect skin, but your 42-year-old, blemished, textured, looser-skinned, gaping-pored guinea pig.
Now in my 20s, I had combination skin, which is a dumb term, but it just means I dried out easily but also got acne. For a while in my 30s, I enjoyed (mostly) clear skin, but of course, the wrinkles started to come and the tautness started to go.
And now, in my 40s, guess what’s making a comeback? Pimples! Oh joy.
But the point of this is not to complain. It’s to tell you that after much, much, much trial and error, I’ve finally found the exact things that make a monumental difference to my aging and acne-prone skin. They’ve dramatically banished breakouts. They’ve left me with a glow. And my skin is even tighter.
Ok, let’s get to the goods.
1. Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
There’s an instant and extreme feeling of softness I feel every time I use this cleanser as if I’ve just sanded through layers of dry, dead skin to reach the baby skin below. But it wasn’t until I recently misplaced this scrub for a week during which my skin started to break out atrociously, that I realized it was heavily responsible for my previously clear skin. Since returning to it, even deep hormonal pimples started to clear overnight.
Price: $14
2. Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Crème Riche
If you ask me why a rich, luxuriant cream is part of my fight against acne, your guess is as good as mine. Yes, hydration is part of keeping your skin healthful and clear, but this cream has worked some miracles I never expected. A couple weeks into using it, my skin was completely different - tauter, smoother, more supple. The first bottle I tried was gifted to The Candidly, but I’ve gone on to buy it with my own money. I’m genuinely scared to stop using it.
Price: $95
3. Dr. whitney Bowe Asta C™
Vitamin C Age Defense Serum
The first thing that popped into my head after applying this serum was “glass skin,” and those are not two words I ever thought I’d apply to my own reflection in a mirror. There’s a glowy, almost reflective, but not at all greasy finish that feels like a fresh flush from the sun. Over time, vitamin C is one of 3 ingredients proven to be anti-aging so I’m diligent about using it daily. And the refill system is incredibly convenient and easy to replace, so you save a bit on each subsequent bottle.
Price: $88
4. iS Clinical Active Serum
Even after reading at length about this serum, I couldn’t have compreheded the effect it would have on my skin. It’s like a bit of sorcery in that it has both anti-aging and anti-acne powers, targets pimples and wrinkles and leaves you with your best, brightest texture and glow.
Price: $149
5. Hero Mighty Patch Micropoint™
This is the only pimple patch I swear by. I put it on before bed whenever I feel a spot about to emerge, and by morning, it’s flat.
Price: $13
6. iS Clinical Active Peel Treatment System
Don’t be intimidated by the words “peel system.” All it is is two wipes you use one after the other. I use it once a week, and it’s the closest thing to a chemical peel I’ve ever done at home. Each pad has powerful exfoliating botanicals along with replenishing ingredients, so my skin immediately looks 5X smoother and my pores look diminished.
Price: $96
7. Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil
The reaction my skin has to this oil can only be described as the golden glow of youth. It’s won countless awards and is made of “organic prunus domestica seed oil.” Sooo …. plums. Who knew the magic of plums? It’s free of essential oils, parabens, sulfates, preservatives, added fragrance, and harsh chemicals. And I don’t break out a bit when I use it. At last!
Price: $78
8. Furtuna Skin Replenishing Balm
When I’m extra dry or my skin is healing from anything from a hormonal breakout to a little too much sun, this replenishes like nothing else. It’s almost like it seals in all your skincare, making everything 3X more potent and powerful. If I want to feel deeply nourished and hydrated, I use this balm. And it never seems to run out!
Use the code CANDIDLY20 to get 20% off.
Price: $105
Carolyn is the Managing Editor of The Candidly. Her favorite thing to do is to write about her favorite things, especially when they have even the slightest chance of making someone else’s something (mood, relationship, travel plans, or toiletry kit) a little better. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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