I have acne. Like, I have a lot of acne. I’ve been valiantly battling terrible hormonal acne since I was 22, so this isn’t a comment on someone who gets a rash every year.
This is a comment from someone who has two month old cysts on either side of her chin, just like Urusula and her eel friend in The Little Mermaid. (Even shooting the dermatologist couldn’t kill them.)
My acne journey is a long story that I won’t bore you with here, but the CliffsNotes say that my treatment options, including actively trying to get pregnant, were extremely limited, leaving me battling almost permanent acne on my chin. It
s sucks, but the upside is that I actually know a lot about acne treatments.
I love the idea of acne patches. They’re so cute and fun and silly that they actually make you laugh when you break out in a rash, which can be a good thing if you’ve been crying about your skin for days.
However, they aren’t particularly effective for my particular type of acne, which is usually pretty stubborn, deep-rooted cysts and pustules. I’ve tried every topical product, serum, spot treatment, and pretty much anything else I could find on Google, so Kiehl’s True Targeted Acne Clearance Solution ($30) is definitely my favorite product — adding yet another viral hit to TikTok that quickly shot to the top of my list. The name intrigued me, and the brand
advertised them as liquid acne patches, which felt a bit like a buzzy marketing statement, but Kiehl’s has long been one of the most popular and trusted skincare brands on the market, so I watched it all
With this new introduction, acne is gone.
Product: The True Targeted Acne Solution isn’t an acne patch in the traditional sense. It’s not in the shape of a cloud, star, or invisible sticker. The brand calls it “liquid patch technology” that creates a “breathable seal” that you can apply under sunscreen or makeup; in short, it’s more like a serum than a spot treatment or acne patch.
With a whopping 2% salicylic acid, the product shrinks pimples, soothes redness, and helps fade acne marks once the breakout has subsided. Kiehl’s also adds 4% niacinamide to visibly brighten and balance skin, and 0.2% licorice root to relieve stress acne.
The product is claimed to visibly lighten pimple color in two hours, reduce pimple size in 24 hours, and reduce the appearance of blemishes in four weeks. Sounds good, right? I put it to the test during a severe mid-term breakout to see if it could stand up to prescription medications. My Review: Use is as easy as a topical treatment or acne patch. Kiehl’s recommends putting a drop of the product on your fingertips and applying directly to affected pimples, or slathering it on in a thin layer as the last step of your skincare routine. (But don’t rub too much on!) Since I have a lot of active acne on my chin right now, I do two things: I apply it directly to some particularly bad pustules and slather a thin layer on my cysts. Apply it thinly. I now know that I can’t expect magical results from anything I do with my acne; I use a few prescription products to tide me over until I can resume my tried-and-true anti-acne regimen, and rarely try other products. When I tested this product, I was in the middle of my period, so the lower half of my face was very uncomfortable. I applied the liquid directly to a few inflamed areas on my face, including a pimple on my upper lip and a subcutaneous cyst on my chin. Yes, these before-and-after photos still look pretty intense in terms of color, but one thing that particularly impressed me was the acne-clearing solution. After a few nights of use, two huge, stubborn cysts that wouldn’t go away even after injections at the dermatologist looked and felt a lot smaller, as did the rest of my acne-prone lower face. They were much easier to cover up with concealer. I may not have experienced a miraculous acne transformation where all my acne disappeared overnight, but I wasn’t expecting a miracle; I just wanted to see what this little bottle could do for my big zits. Very impressed.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.