Treating acne-prone skin can be a painful and (seemingly) never-ending journey. 

It might seem like clear skin is out of reach when there’s a new breakout forming as soon as you clear the last one. 

You’re not alone in this – according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, “acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually”. 

We want to help you take control of your skin once and for all, which means you need a plan to attack and conquer! You’re in the right place at the right time. 

This guide will help you:

• Quickly treat blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads
• Get rid of texture and blind pimples
• Prevent future breakouts and scarring
• Identify acne-inducing habits

You’ll be well-equipped with the right products, techniques, and knowledge needed to attack any kind of blemish in no time!

Let's tackle those pimples! 4 tips to banish breakouts

If your skin just can’t catch a break right now, these 4 tips will help you escape the redness, swelling, and pain that comes along with an active breakout.  

1. Breakout emergency - Treat blemishes quickly

First, we highly recommend applying a spot treatment directly to the affected area as soon as there’s a pimple sighting. Treating your pimples early on can help prevent the situation from escalating. 

After cleansing, pat your face dry. Before applying any serums or moisturizers, use a pimple patch to help treat the affected area. 

Pimple patches are the fastest way to get salicylic acid onto the blemish and can keep the breakout controlled to avoid spreading bacteria to other areas. 

Your new BBF - Breakout Box Friend 

Have you ever had a pimple that looked more like a lump because it never formed a head? This is called a blind pimple. According to Healthline, blind pimples “usually result from a cyst or nodule under the skin”. They can be tough to get rid of, but pimple patches and tea tree oil are two ways to expedite the healing process. 

The Breakout Box is the perfect solution for all types of pimples, from blind pimples to whiteheads, and even blackheads! 

For regular zits and blind pimples, use the salicylic acid dots. For whiteheads, pull out the hydrocolloid dots from your Breakout Box. Lastly, the box even comes with blackhead-eliminating charcoal nose strips. 

Once you experience the magic of The Breakout Box, you’ll never go back to smearing pimple cream all over your pillows – or even worse, using toothpaste to spot treat *cringe*!!! 

Pro-Tip: Keep the Breakout Box in your medicine cabinet so you’re ready to heal a breakout at a moment’s notice! 

2. Mask it up - Eliminate texture with a mud mask

The next step to banishing breakouts in a flash is to detoxify your skin. By purging toxins from your pores and removing dead skin cells, you speed up pimple recovery time and ensure proper healing.

Mud masks are perfect for detoxifying while restoring minerals back to the skin, but many people shy away from them because they’re messy. 

Instead of picking clumps of mud out of your hair and from underneath your fingernails, try SmartMud: the No Mess Mud Face Sheet Mask. This has all the benefits of a mud mask without the mess. Its convenient dual-sheet format applies just like a regular sheet mask to keep your hands clean and your skin smooth and refined.

Apply the sheet mask to cleansed skin, sit back, and let Kaolin Clay, Volcanic Ash, Activated Charcoal, and other powerful ingredients work their magic to detoxify dirt and remove excess oils. Learn more about what makes the Mud Mask so magical.

Pro-tip: Detoxifying products help the skin purge toxins as we mentioned, which could bring some new pimples to the surface. This is good in the long run so we can treat the pimples and finally make our way to clear skin. However, if you have a photoshoot or a hot date coming up, you might want to wait until after the festivities to get your mud mask on. 

3. Stop before you pop - Why you shouldn’t pop pimples

Whatever you do, don’t pop your pimples! You’ve heard this advice a thousand times, but here’s why:

If done incorrectly, pimple-popping can damage the skin and leave behind scars.

Trauma to the skin can cause craters, also known as pockmarks or boxcar scars. Craters are indentations in the skin that form “when the deeper layers of the skin become damaged,” according to Medical News Today.

This kind of damage can be difficult to reverse. To avoid unnecessary skin trauma, refrain from touching, peeling, poking, and popping your pimples.

4. Zen mode on - Reduce stress for clearer skin

If you’ve tried everything and can’t seem to escape the breakouts, you might be falling victim to stress acne.

Stress pimples usually pop up in the oiliest areas, known as the T-zone, which includes your forehead, nose, and chin.

According to Byrdie, high stress levels can cause acne because "your stress hormones [will] rise and trigger your oil glands to produce more oil, which then triggers acne flares”. 

Turn Zen Mode on and relax! 

Here are some relaxing activities you might enjoy: 

• Listen to calming music
• Read a book
• Watch a tv show or movie
• Meditate
• Do yoga
• Draw, paint, knit, scrapbook, etc.

Pro-tip: Pssssst! We have the ultimate relaxation hack for those who struggle to sit still – try a hand mask and a foot mask at the same time! For 10-15 minutes, shea butter will hydrate your extremities while releasing the fragrant scent of rosé. In the meantime, you’re locked on the couch and required to relax.

Now that is self-care, honey! 

Future-proof your skin! Prevent future breakouts

When it comes to acne, you need to be proactive instead of reactive. 

Above, we discussed ways to react to a new breakout. Now, it’s time to be proactive and take care of your skin to prevent future cases.

Wash, glow, repeat - Your face-washing routine and hands-off policy

First and foremost, a good face-washing routine is the cornerstone of healthy skin. If you haven’t been washing your face twice a day, it’s time to start! 

It’s also important that you keep your hands off your face. It can be tempting to rest your face in your hands or tuck your hands under your face while you sleep. However, dirt and oils from your hands can cause breakouts on your cheeks, temples, and along your jawline. 

Refrain from touching your face while you’re out in public, and remember to wash your hands regularly after meals or as soon as you get home.

Fight the good (skincare) fight - Face mask management

One of the best-kept secrets to acne-free, radiant skin is face masks. By incorporating a sheet mask into your weekly skin routine, you can keep your skin balanced and reduce the chance of future breakouts. 

It’s important to find a face mask that can control oil production and shrink your pores over time – two amazing features of The Good Fight Sheet Mask. In just 10-15 minutes, you can slay skin-clogging bacteria to prevent future breakouts. 

If your face isn’t 100% free of pimples, don’t sweat it at all – with potent ingredients like tea tree oil, willow bark, and peppermint, this mask will soothe, reduce redness, and shrink active blemishes.

The new normal - Restore radiance and hydration

At some point, we hope these tips get you to a new normal. This is an exciting step in your acne journey since you can finally start restoring radiance and hydration to the skin.

Replenishing moisture and promoting radiance isn’t just for show – it’s key to preventing early signs of aging, wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging. 

If you’re looking for the perfect sheet masks to bring your skin back to life, this is when you Get Dewy With It and Just Let It Glow – two of our favorite sheet masks to keep your skin looking soft and supple in the name of slowing down the aging process (yes, please!).

Embrace your skin journey: You're more than your acne! 

The acne journey can be painful, but you’re not in it alone. Let’s face it – acne is as common as avocado toast on a Sunday brunch menu. Don’t forget that you could have a perfect skincare routine and it’s still impossible to ditch pimples for the rest of your life. 

This journey is much more than pimple patches and face masks – it’s a journey about learning to love and care for your skin, embracing every step of the way. Remember to look in the mirror and love yourself exactly the way you are instead of waiting until your blemishes heal. Life’s too short to let your pimples define who you are! There are so many amazing things about you. Here’s your friendly reminder to let your best qualities shine!  

Say it with us: I am more than my acne!!!

Getting clear: Understanding and preventing breakouts  

It might sound crazy, but pimples can be a good thing. They’re like little messengers, dropping hints about your skin’s well-being.

Catch those clues – maybe you’ve been touching your face with dirty hands again, you haven’t been keeping up with your daytime and nighttime routines, or you’re overdue for a face mask. 

Understanding your triggers will help prevent future breakouts and teach you how to care for your skin properly. Love the skin you're in and rock that confidence no matter what your skin journey is looking like – we promise that you’ll glow from the inside out!