Beauty And The Blog

Acne (pimples, cysts, whiteheads and blackheads.. ewww) and wrinkles. Now that’s a combination no one wants, right? I usually present information about anti-aging, minimizing wrinkles and lines, product ingredients and such. And I did post previously on the subject of wrinkles and acne. How terribly unfair having both is. And I gave you some information on dealing with it.

I mentioned my use of the (dangerous drug) Accutane to cure what I considered a ‘moderate’ severity case of Adult Cystic Acne. Knowing what I know now about the drug, I wouldn’t take it. Who knew, back then? But being an Esthetician I so did not want to go to work with a broken out complexion (yes, I am vain about my skin…).

So, now I do not have cystic acne. But like many I do suffer from the occasional hormone or stress related breakout. So what I have for you here is what I have found to be the best answer for treating those pesky little developments. And it works for bigger developments as well if you have those…

For a very long time I kept seeing ads and reviews in a number of top women’s magazines for a product by Mario Badescu Skin Care. It’s called “Drying Lotion”. I saw this advertised and reviewed so many times I finally got some for myself.

What you do is apply it with a cotton swab directly to a pimple that has come to a, ‘scuse me, whitehead (yeah, ew). You do this at night, just spackle that stuff right on there, let it dry and go to sleep. In the morning this, ummm, offender, will be one of two things. Gone. Or greatly reduced. Really. I know because I use it.

When you buy “Drying Lotion” it will arrive looking like a very thin, pink watery substance, in a small glass bottle. Set it on the counter and let it settle. Pink sediment, which is the actual treatment/medicine will sink to the bottom while the top will be a clear liquid. Alcohol. This is there to keep the medicine from drying up in the bottle.

Two of the active ingredients are Colloidal Sulfur (reduces oil gland production) and Salicylic Acid (breaks down the dead skin cells on the surface and cleans inside the skin pore, also known as BHA). So just dip that cotton swab down there, get the good stuff and apply. Don’t shake the bottle (if it does get shook up, such as in your luggage while traveling, it will re-settle) and if the alcohol evaporates down just add more.“Drying Lotion” can be used on all skin types. This stuff really lasts a long time, I just got my second bottle after a year. One bottle is $17.00.

For pimples that are merely inflamed (merely, such an understatement, I  panic at the slightest imperfection) or the under the skin cyst (so lovely) there is another product. And this one can be used to treat larger problem areas as well. This product is called “Buffering Lotion” and is for combination and oily skin types. It’s job is to reduce the size and severity of an inflamed pimple or deep cyst.

Active ingredients include Niacinamide (healing and anti-inflammatory properties) and Allantoin (soothing, healing and promotes stimulation of new tissue growth on damaged skin). I have combination skin and use this only in the T-zone, which we all know by now is the war zone of the face. Lots more oil production on the forehead, nose and chin. “Buffering Lotion” needs to be well shaken to combine the ingredients before use, comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and costs $17.00.

OK. Last up in my breakout weaponry is “Silver Powder”. No silver in it though. This actually is a powder. It does come in a jar which for most skin care products I don’t like. But this is a dry product, no moisture. What this product treats are blackheads (eeeeek, nooo!) and is particularly effective for treating the nose. Yes, we all get them there, such nastiness…

What you do with this powder is very gently touch a slightly water damp cotton pad to the powder. Then spread the powder that sticks to the pad onto the nose evenly (it becomes a paste), gently working into the pores. Now leave it there for 10 minutes, go read a book or stick cucumber slices over your eyes and relax, whatever.

To remove you can use another water damp cotton pad or an astringent toner. Use this 2 times a week. Guess what? No blackheads. Cool. Zinc Oxide (in powder form), which we know as a sunscreen, is very absorbent and has antiseptic, antibacterial properties. “Silver Powder” is for all skin types. A long lasting jar costs a whopping $12.00.

Mario Badescu Skin Care has other acne products and kits available. These are just the products I use myself and can personally recommend from my own experience.

For Affiliate information please see “Dislcosure”

Top photo by hippo-hand