From dealing with uneven texture to finding the best coverage, life with acne scars can be challenging. Luckily, we can help you find the best products for treating acne scars!
While there is no secret ingredient or magic formula that will make scars disappear completely, we can help you find the right ingredients to visibly reduce discoloration and texture, helping you achieve healthy, radiant skin!
What causes acne scars? For all you pimple pickers out there: stop it! We’re not here to judge, we’ve all been there! When impurities, skin damage, and excess sebum production are removed, bacteria and inflammation can set in.
This causes pigment-producing cells to become overactive, leaving dark spots and acne scars. What are the types of acne scars? There are different types of acne scars. Once you know what type of acne scar you have, you can choose the best products to treat your skin.
Hyperpigmentation is the most common type of scar, and luckily, it’s not permanent. It’s more common in darker skin tones. In fair skin tones, hyperpigmentation often leaves pink or red patches on the surface, both of which will fade on their own after a few weeks.
Jagged scars, also known as atrophic scars, appear beneath the surrounding skin and occur when there is insufficient collagen production during the wound healing process. Atrophic scars can be divided into three specific types: ice pick, boxcar, and raised scars.
Hypertrophic scars, also known as keloid scars, are raised scars on the skin, usually on the chest and back. Best Products for Acne Scars. What have you been waiting for? It’s time to find out which ingredients are best for your scars and make your skin glow!
Expert Tip: Before starting acne scar treatment, make sure all active breakouts are gone, and always avoid removing those annoying blemishes.
1. Niacinamide: Niacinamide (or vitamin B3) is a water-soluble vitamin that is suitable for all skin types and all ages. It helps reduce breakouts, shrink pores, and relieve pigmentation and redness.
Additionally, it’s a great addition to your skincare routine because it helps balance oily skin and improves the skin barrier. These benefits make Niacinamide the perfect acne scar treatment!
Directions: Shake well before using Niacinamide products. Apply a few drops to clean, dry skin. For best results, apply morning and night. 2. Retinol: Retinol is one of the best products for treating acne scars and a great addition to your skincare routine.
Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A that can reduce discoloration and fade scars by increasing collagen and elastin production.
However, it can make the skin extremely sensitive to the sun, which is why you need to protect your skin with a sun protection factor (SPF). There’s no excuse! Retinol is an effective treatment for atrophic acne scars.
Directions: As an addition to your evening skincare routine, apply a few drops of Retinol Serum to cleansed and toned skin. Massage gently into skin before finishing with your evening routine.
3. Vitamin C Vitamin C is a bleaching agent and antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that damage cells over the long term. As a treatment for acne scars, it is great for building collagen and remodeling the skin, thereby protecting, healing, and producing new skin cells for a radiant, even-toned skin. Vitamin C is great for all acne scars and is an essential supplement whether you are looking to change your diet or add new ingredients to your skincare routine. Application: Vitamin C is a super simple dietary supplement that can be used once or twice a day. Due to its protective properties, we recommend applying a few drops to your face every morning to protect your skin throughout the day.
4. AHA Alpha-hydroxy acid (or AHA as you and I call it) is derived from sugar cane and is found in most anti-acne products. AHA helps remove dead skin cells and prevents pores from clogging, thereby reducing scar reduction. This acid exfoliates the outer layer of the skin, reduces skin discoloration, and eliminates roughness. AHA is very effective and suitable for all types of acne scars. Directions: Apply to a clean face,
Do not use on damp skin. Apply evenly to face and neck and leave on for up to 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
5. Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid is an ingredient that many acne sufferers are familiar with. It helps unclog pores, reduce swelling and redness, and exfoliate the skin, making it one of the best treatments for all types of acne scars. While it’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine, we recommend using it with caution if you have sensitive skin as it can cause dryness and irritation.
Directions: Apply a thin layer to a cleansed face. This product can be used daily and blends seamlessly with foundation to transform your skin throughout the day. Advice on Acne Scars Here are some additional measures to fight acne scars
Tips to make your skincare dreams come true! Consistency is key Consistency is very important to see results in treating acne scars.
Daily skin care can help reduce acne scars and prevent new breakouts. The recommended skin care routine for acne scars is: Morning: Cleanser, Exfoliating Toner, Brightening Serum, and SPF Moisturizer
Night: Micellar Water, Cleansing Gel, Acid Toner, Pigmentation Serum, and Moisturizer Extras: Exfoliating Masks and Acid Therapies Here are some of our products to help you get started with your new skin care routine…
Always use sunscreen. To protect your skin, it is important to use sunscreen. Sun exposure can exacerbate pigmentation, so wearing SPF every day is one of the fastest ways to get rid of acne scars. It is especially important
Consider SPF when using chemical peels and acid treatments to reduce acne scars. These treatments can expose new top layers of skin, which means skin is more sensitive to sun damage. I love the skin you have now. Revolution
Skincare We’re here to give you the tips and tricks you need to stay confident in your skin. With our recommendations and the best acne scar treatment products, you can reduce acne scars and enjoy radiant skin!
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.
