Today I partnered up with Zapzyt to bring you a post I’ve been working on for a LONG time. I have had acne and skin issues since I was a teenager, so I am VERY familiar with breakouts. With my years of experience comes strategies and methods for dealing with those terrible times. Presenting my BREAKOUT DAMAGE CONTROL CHECKLIST!

*Whew look at that monster on my cheek! Perfect timing for this post…*

This checklist is basically a list of things you should do immediately if you start to feel a breakout happening, or even if you’ve just got a zit that you need gone ASAP.

• Immediately wash your pillowcase

If you don’t have time to do that, then get a few pillowcases you can switch out when needed. They’re very inexpensive! We don’t realize how much bacteria can be on our pillowcase contributing to blocked pores. Also hairspray and hair products accumulate on your pillow and can clog pores, so this is a key step.

• Increase your intake of water

Go out and get the BIGGEST water bottle you can find. Keep it with you at all times and chug that sucker as often as you can! It really speeds up the process of healing and keeps skin clear. This is a good policy to live by always! THIS is the water bottle I have and keep at my desk, it’s great and huge enough that I only have to fill it a few times a day.

• Take your vitamins

There’s lots of vitamins out there that can help your skin. I’ve heard Zinc is a great short-term supplement for acne, as well as other “hair, skin, and nails” types of vitamins. You can find them at your local drugstore. It’s a good idea to take that kind of supplement consistently to help prevent breakouts too!

• NEVER sleep with makeup on!
  

NEVER NEVER NEVER sleep with your makeup on! This is a rule to live by. I don’t care how tired you are, it’s not worth it. Also if you can, go a day without makeup. I like to do this on the weekends, if I don’t have anything going on Saturday or Sunday I will go makeup free and it helps your pores breathe and recover without being covered by foundation or concealer.

• MOISTURIZE

You might think that during a breakout you wouldn’t want to moisturize, thinking the zits need to “dry out” but actually the opposite is true. Moisturizing helps the skin to heal and makes any products you are using work better (that info comes from my dermatologist!). When I use my Zapzyt Pore Treatment Gel and Acne Treatment Gel, I make sure to moisturize beforehand and the products work their magic even better. THIS is my favorite moisturizer but I have very dry skin so it is pretty intense.

• Use an exfoliating brush

At night when washing your face always use an exfoliating brush. Sometimes I even use them morning and night, but very gently. This is a crucial step and you should be doing it regularly anyways but it is most important when going through a breakout. I have two I use, the Clairsonic and the VP Spinbrush. Use THIS LINK to get the Spinbrush for $30. I love both, so it just depends on what you prefer. The Clairsonic is timed for 2 minutes which is really nice, and you can change the brush heads out (I use the sensitive skin one). The Spinbrush is controlled by you and uses batteries, and comes with a bunch of brush heads. Both are great!

• Wash your makeup brushes

This is also a crucial step! At the very least you need to be washing your foundation and concealer brushes OFTEN. I use the Sigma brush cleaning line. I have the small mat and the glove, but I prefer the glove usually! I also use the drying tree. I love it because it makes cleaning SO much easier for me and is super fast. I use Dawn or a similar kind of soap, but face wash or anything like that works with the Sigma line. (*Right now they are having a 30% off sale too! Use code SAVE30.)

• Don’t stress!

Stress causes breakouts! It can also make them take longer to clear up if you remain stressed - so take time to chill out. I like to take baths at night to wind down. I use Lavender essential oil and epsom salt in the bathwater. I’ve read a few books on meditation and that seems to be a great method for some people. I love the concept because it basically is an exercise in clearing your mind. Whatever works for you, don’t stress out!

• DON’T touch your face

This seems really simple. TOO simple really - but it’s important! Most people don’t realize how often they touch their face every day, but it’s almost constant. This transfers dirt and oil to your face and clogs pores! Try your hardest not to touch your face. Also DON’T pick, prod, or squeeze zits! My dermatologist is very firm on this. Leave them alone!! It only causes scarring and makes them last longer. Leaving zits alone is the best policy. If they come to a head and you absolutely have to “pop” one, then do it extremely gently with light pressure and clean hands, with tissue.

• Use a quality acne skincare line

I use the Zapzyt line and it makes a WORLD of difference when going through a breakout! You want products that will clear up zits quickly. I love the whole line - I use the Acne Wash cleanser at night to remove my makeup and cleanse my face thoroughly. I use the Pore Clearing Scrub when I need a little extra exfoliation. Most of all I make sure to use the Pore Treatment Gel and the Acne Treatment Gel when breakouts pop up. The pore treatment gel has really helped minimize my pores, and the acne treatment gel gets put directly on zits as a spot treatment. Make sure to be consistent and use a complete line like Zapzyt so you get the maximum effectiveness. ***Scroll to the bottom of this post for info on a crazy giveaway with Zapzyt!

If you make sure to follow ALL of these tips when you have a breakout, I promise it will subside faster than ever! Also if you just implement these tactics as part of your routine, you will break out LESS.

Believe me, I’ve been through the ringer with acne! I’ve learned just how important it is to take the proper steps with skin and how big of a difference it can make. When your skin is bad, it affects everything. I know how it feels to be totally distracted having a conversation with someone because you’ve got a huge zit and they’re probably staring RIGHT AT IT. (Okay they’re probably not, but that’s how it feels.)

I hope these tips help you! Also a big thank you to Zapzyt for sponsoring this post because they are giving away their whole line to FIVE lucky people! The first 5 people to comment on this blog post will be sent the products, so make sure to leave your email! You can find Zapzyt products here or order online.

xoxo

Pin this graphic, and even better print it and keep it in the bathroom so you don’t forget any steps!:

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save