Skin care

Your Ultimate Guide to Fighting Adult Acne

Find out the causes, treatments and products -- then get your prone to oily skin back on track

by Sarah Carrillo

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Step 1: Cleanse correctly King recommends pre-cleansing with an oil-based cleanser. Sounds weird, but actually, oil attracts oil, so a cleanser like this will draw the oil from your skin and allow for better penetration of your treatments. One to try: Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil, $62.

Next, use a cleanser with salicylic acid morning and night. Look for one with tea tree in it as well to help fight inflammation. Try Dermalogica mediBac Clearing Skin Wash, $33.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Step 2: Exfoliate without hurting your skin

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products mentioned

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil

9.5

Dermalogica mediBac Clearing Clearing Skin Wash

8.5

Zia Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask

9.0

DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Gel

7.6

Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer Oil Free

7.5

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

8.3

bareMinerals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush

9.3

Olay Daily Facials Intensives Clay Mask

8.3

Nude Hydrating Water

0.0

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Older comments

Great advice

by Mollysunshine Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 03:33AM Report as inappropriate

This article is right on the money. I suffered from acne as a teenager, but now I'm dealing with frequent, deep, painful cystic acne. It's a constant frustration for me, and I'm always looking for further education on the matter. All of these tips seem to fall in line with what my aesthetician has told me. Thank you!

by Erin4 Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 01:48PM Report as inappropriate

Helpful info

by EricaC123 Friday, December 28, 2012 at 05:22PM Report as inappropriate

Does anyone have a daily lotion recommendation with SPF that won't irritate adult acne, or make your skin super oily?

by lecheeka Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 11:11AM Report as inappropriate

Very helpful... I suffer from adult acne and was having a particular hard time trying to treat it ... the products that once worked for as a teen, did nothing for my skin now.... now i know why lol.... I will def. be searching for these ingredients next time around.... Btw It would have been nice to see a few product recommendations that were a bit cheaper in price... Just saying....

by MiSSxLusciouSxLokitA Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 03:01AM Report as inappropriate

I was embarressed about having this at almost 27 and i do admit to being incredibly vain. No matter what I have tried nothing seems to help and most skin care products I have got from the drug store have dried my skin way too much. I now use an all natural skin carew product by mama nature. It is an acne treatment for teenagers (well I presume so from the name) but it is by way and a far better than everything else. It has reduced the greasiness to a normal level, cleared my acne, moisturizes my skin and has left my skin feeling soft and silky to touch. Look into natural skin care products it is the best thing I have ever done in the fifteen years or so I have been using skin care products.

by MindyRoss Friday, June 29, 2012 at 09:22AM Report as inappropriate

I don't know if I'm brave enough to use an oil-based cleanser.

by VV001 Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 06:51PM Report as inappropriate

Drink lots of water too!

by TBjunkie Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 09:05PM Report as inappropriate

I didn't know that adult acne has to be treated differently from teenage acne. I've had acne since in my teens. It was on my forehead and nose in my teens and is now on my cheeks and chin at 30. I would have never thought of putting oil on my face before especially with it already being oily.

by army101wife Friday, April 20, 2012 at 09:26PM Report as inappropriate

Just awful having adult acne, thanks so much for sharing this article!

by MissXu Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:45PM Report as inappropriate