Blackheads are one of the worst annoyances when it comes to skincare. They are usually not big enough of a problem to warrant a trip to the doctor, unlike acne, but serious enough to cause you stress every time you look in the mirror. However, understanding what they are can easily help you minimize the presence of them or get rid of them completely! Here’s a little breakdown about them as well as 7 awesome ways to rid of and prevent blackheads from coming back.

Blackheads are simply pores that are clogged with a mixture of sebum (your skin’s natural oil), dead skin cells, and sometimes dirt particles. They are actually considered a mild form of acne in the medical world. When exposed to air and light throughout your day, certain metals and debris in the mixture oxidize and become a darker color, therefore making the clogged pore look “black.” If you don’t know what “oxidize” means, it’s a process that is very common in the world where a chemical reaction occurs in the presence of oxygen. When a metal rusts or an apple turns brown after being cut, it is all because of oxidation. So now that we have a better understanding of what they are, here are 7 ways to treat and prevent them!

1. Clays. When it comes to removing blackheads, there are 3 general ways we can do this: Extract them, Dissolve them, and/or Reduce pore size. Clays are amazing for extracting blackheads. Bentonite clay works exceptionally well in this case because the minerals in the clay hold a natural charge, which add to the extraction power when the clay dries on the skin. Although pore strips are fun to look at after peeling off, a bentonite clay mask will be a lot stronger and more efficient when it comes to extracting deeply buried blackheads. The use of clay masks can leave your skin dry so make sure you follow up with a toner and moisturizer afterwards!

2. Salicylic acid. When looking for ways to dissolve the blackheads, salicylic acid is one of the best options. Found as an ingredient in many cleansers and products for acne, salicylic acid helps by slowing down skin shedding in follicles (pores) to prevent clogging as well as breaking down blackheads and whiteheads. It works as a keratolytic, which breaks down and softens a protein called keratin. When targeting blackheads, try to look for a “leave-on” product with salicylic acid instead of a cleanser so that it has time to work. Dissolving a blackhead can take time so while some might take a couple of days to a week dissolve, others might take longer or simply stop dissolving after loosening up a little.

3. Enzymatic Exfoliator/Granular Exfoliator. An enzymatic exfoliator is a product that removes dead skin cells off the surface of the skin by digesting and breaking down proteins, oils, and debris. Cleansers and masks with ingredients like papaya, pineapple, and rice enzymes are most popular. On the other hand, granular exfoliators are products that contain small granules to debride dead skin cells. Cleansers and masks with ingredients like bentonite, charcoal, pumice, sugar, or salt make for great exfoliators. Exfoliating not only helps remove and break down blackheads, but it also make your skin glow radiant, lively, and healthy!

4. Toners. There are many ways to reduce pore sizes (enough for a future article!), but toners are a great option. Toners that are great for acne will probably serve you best. Look for ones with ingredients like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and witch hazel. Toners targeted for acne will not only keep your skin moist to slow down oil build up and dense clogging, but they will also help fight off microbes while your pores open after a nice cleansing!

5. Retinoids. Retinoids are different forms of vitamin A and are another great option for targeting blackheads. They work by increasing the break down rate of cells on the surface to allow new cells to grow and migrate towards the surface. By doing so, you can essentially think of this method as pushing all the old skin out with new skin from below the surface. This is why they are great for wrinkles and for removing blackheads.

6. Cleansing. It may seem obvious, but cleansing is a great way to prevent blackheads. The good ole’ soap does a great job at washing away oils and dirt. Having blackheads does not mean you are dirty or washing improperly, since washing with soap or a cleanser would only target the surface while blackheads can form much deeper inside, but it can help prevent many surface level blackheads. Who knows, maybe you simply live in a polluted area or work in a dust-filled place, which are ideal for dirt buildup and shallow blackhead formation.

7. Doctor.  If you have a much severe case of blackheads, acne medication and/or micro-needling may be the magical treatment you are looking for. The common acne medication, spironolactone, or even some birth control pills can help control sebum production. Micro-needling can also be a quick way to dissolve or melt blackheads by heating specific areas of the deeper skin with lasers without hurting the surface. Make sure you see a doctor and get the full rundown of the drugs and procedures if you choose one of these methods.

Blackheads are definitely a nuisance when it comes to skincare but they are not too difficult to treat and prevent! Just stay vigilant and stay on top of your skin regime. We discussed some awesome ways to get rid of blackheads so try one, a multiple, or all of them out and see what works for your skin. If any of these options worked for you, I would love to hear about in the comments below! If you have any questions, feel free to ask as well! Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next time!

“Luxury. Comfort. Relaxation.” These are some of the words that come to mind when you think “mud mask.” Whether it’s for a spa night or to wind down after a long day, mud masks are always a go to item when you think of high end relaxation and comfort. Here are 5 benefits of including the use of mud masks in your daily or weekly skin routine.

1. Cleansing. Mud masks have great absorption properties. As they dry on the face, they absorb and suck up dirt and oil that may have gathered in small cellular crevices throughout the day. When used daily or every other day, they can even draw up impurities that are buried in the deeper layers of the skin and prevent future blemishes from forming. With all this absorption going on, they can and probably will leave your face slightly on the drier side, so make sure to follow up with a toner and moisturizer!

2. Exfoliation. Mud masks are usually made with some type of clay base whether it be bentonite, kaolin, white, rose, etc. Clays in the mud masks naturally exfoliate dead skin cells when the mask is washed off, although the levels may vary. Exfoliation of dead skin cells leaves the skin glowing, radiant, and smooth for you to show off! So if you are going mud mask, don’t go for those peel off ones but get the full benefits with a natural mud that you can wash off.

3. Nutrients. If you are going to use a mud mask, you might as use one that is natural. I mean, the name has “mud” in it so why even go for something that is synthetically made? Natural mud masks provides numerous amounts of nutrients and minerals to your skin that your cells can utilize to stay healthy.

4. Detox. Although levels may vary depending on what type of clay is used and how much clay is in the mud mask, all mud masks with a natural clay base will have a detox property. A mask with bentonite will provide you with the most detox. Who doesn’t like a little detox on the face!

5. Skin tightening. As a mud mask dries on your skin, it tightens your skin as it removes the unnecessary oils and impurities. When followed up correctly with a toner and moisturizer, it can keep your skin looking tighter in a nice toned looking way. Who doesn’t want their skin looking youthful?

Of course, the unofficial sixth benefit is how amazing they make you feel! A mud mask is something you want to show off when you use it whether it’s through Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. It’s something that comes up in conversations with friends and family because it makes you feel so good that you simply have to share your experience. So go get yourself a mud mask and feel like royalty today!

In today’s densely populated cosmetic world where every drug and beauty store carries hundreds of brands, there are so many types of products out there with new ones rising each day. Of these, one of the more popular types of product is a toner. You probably heard about how awesome a toner is from a friend and you may even own a couple yourself. But do you know what a toner is? Do you know it’s functions, the different subtypes, and which is the right one for you? I think it’s important to go beyond trying different products until the perfect one finds you but instead to understand the product so that you can go find it!

Where do toners come from?

Toners were created to be used after the cleansing phase of your routine. Before pH balancing and cosmetic regulation, soaps and other cleansers were usually made and left at a high pH that would be unhealthy for the skin. So toners were recommended as a mean to neutralize the rising pH caused by the cleanser. However, with today’s regulations and technology, most soaps are so mild that pH neutralizing is unnecessary. Therefore, the function of the toner is now also different.

Although soaps and cleansers are not pH damaging anymore, their function to clean is still the same. While this is good for the most part, they do have their downsides where they strip away the good oils, minerals, and other nutrients along with the “dirtiness”. So the role of a toner today is to provide the skin with all the nutrients it needs to restore and repair any damages. These nutrients can range anywhere from antioxidants to minerals and vitamins. With the right toner, your skin can feel and look healthier, more radiant, and younger.

The types

Toners can generally be categorized into 2 subcategories:

1. Alcohol-based
2. Water-based

Alcohol-based toners usually also have water in them but, we call them alcohol-based simply because they have alcohol. The benefits of an alcohol-based toner is that it does a great job killing infections if you have a lot of open blemishes like acne. They also help increase absorption of nutrients in the skin if you have a tougher skin that does not like to let anything in. Unfortunately, they do this by breaking down a bit of the protective layer of your skin. So your skin might receive and enjoy nutrients in the short term, but in the long term, its defenses will weaken.

Water-based toners are now the more popular choice of the two. You can think of them as humidifiers for your skin. They not only provide the nutrients your skin needs but also help maintain humidity so that your skin doesn’t dry out. Plus, they don’t break down the protective layer of your skin. Some water-based toners contain glycerin, which helps provide a protective layer on the skin to prevent it from drying out.

Although it depends on preference, most will use a glycerin-based toner for night time use only, especially if they do not moisturize at night or their moisturizer does not contain glycerin. This is because glycerin can make the toner heavy and also leave a sticky feeling especially when used on top of makeup. So those that like to use a toner as a ‘day mist’ will almost always choose a glycerin-free water-based toner.

Choosing!

What is the right toner for you? First of all, let’s cross out alcohol-based toners because usually, you can find water-based toners that have ingredients like witch hazel and specific essential oils known for their anti-microbial activity. While I have to agree alcohol is stronger at killing unwanted bacteria, water-based toners are a pretty close second and I don’t think it’s worth damaging the skin the long term. So no matter the skin type, I would suggest a water-based toner.

Next are you going for a night time use or all-day use? If you want to use it throughout the day as well as night, I would stick with a glycerin-free water-based toner. If you are going for nighttime use, you can go for either.

Finally, what in the skin are you looking to target? If it’s simply hydration, look for something with humectants like aloe vera, glycerin (for night time), and honey.  If you are trying to prevent wrinkles, look for toners with antioxidant qualities like retinoid and vitamin C or with plant extracts that provide vitamin A and C. If you are targeting acne prone skin, look for toners with witch hazel, tea tree, and aloe vera. If you have sensitive skin, toning with ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, glycerin, and chamomile can help greatly.

Additionally, also look for one that smells good! I am a huge believer in aroma therapy and know how a really nice smelling product can bring you joy and a better complexion from the inside!

So we now know more about the history, types, and choosing of the correct toners! What toners have you been using and what kind of skin type do you have? How has your experience been with it? I would love to hear your stories and your routines. Also, is there a toner you are looking for to target something else? I love seeing and responding to stories, comments, and questions so please join the conversation below!

Assessing the type of skin you have can be essential for purchasing the right products and knowing the right remedies to use to improve your skin. The determining factor to your skin type is sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. The amount of sebum your skin naturally produces will determine how oily your skin will be, how much water it can hold, and hence how quickly your skin can become dry.

Try washing your face and wait an hour without applying any skincare products. Or, try assessing your skin in the morning after you wake up. By doing so, you can analyze your skin’s normal oil production levels, without interference. Then, see which type most closely resembles your skin:

NORMAL

• skin does not appear shiny/oily
• skin does not feel tight/dry to the touch
• few visible enlarged pores
• no signs of flaking skin
• tend to have very few breakouts/blemishes

OILY

• skin is shiny with visible oil
• can see enlarged pores
• tend to have frequent acne breakouts and blackheads

DRY

• skin feels tight/dry to the touch
• skin appears dull
• visible flaky skin
• red patches
• wrinkles/lines on face seem more pronounced

COMBINATION

• noticeably dry in some areas but oily/shiny in other areas
• enlarged pores in the oily areas
• oily areas have frequent breakouts/blackheads
• dry areas have flaky skin and/or red patches

SENSITIVE

• skin feels irritated
• apparent redness
• burning sensation
• itching

Now that you have an idea of what your skin type is, remember to follow up with remedies that apply and are beneficial to your specific skin type. However, no matter which skin type you have, don’t forget to moisturize! For example, if you have oily skin, hydration is just as important to your skin, although it may not seem like it. Just be smart in the products you use and avoid heavier creams and stick to light formulas.

But also know that your skin type can change over time and the skincare routine that worked wonders for you once, may not always be applicable throughout your life. Some factors like age, lifestyle patterns, medications, hormonal changes, and weather may impact your skin and call for reassessments of judging your skin type. In fact, seasonal changes are a great time to reevaluate the type of skin you have.

It’s not rare to hear that eating a bar of chocolate will make you break out. Or if you are of Asian background, like me, a bowl of ramen might do the same thing. In fact, maybe you have personal experience of it. So does your diet really affect your skin and cause breakouts?

Most dermatologists say, “Yes,” or want to say, “Yes.” Unfortunately, there are no significant studies done with enough population size and parameters to truly drive the question home. But having been in the research field myself, I know how expensive a study like this would be as well as the difficulty it would have to execute a definitive study that cancels out all other variables, like exercise, environment, work, etc. Plus, it’s not like a drug or medication would come out of this type of study that would profit a pharmaceutical company, so it is unlikely that an investment for an in-depth study on this will happen any time in the near future.

Although I am all about the facts and research when writing an article or giving advice on anything, this is one of the few times I would go ahead and answer a question without research backing me up. Yes, diet can absolutely affect your skin. For those of you that exercise, you know that diet and wise food intake is half the battle. Well if the food you eat affects the way your muscles and fat react, same can be said for your skin, which is not only your largest but also one of the fastest regenerating and cell dividing organs of your body.

Even without specific research, I can confidently say from simply knowing my anatomy and physiology that our skin is affected by our diet. The food we eat is digested, filtered, and absorbed into the blood stream. That same blood goes and provides nutrients to all our cells which include the ones making up the skin. Although our body has an amazing natural filtration system in both the selective absorption of the intestines and the liver, we know that it can’t filter everything. So if you are eating too many oily foods or maybe too many sugary treats, those fats and sugars will make its way into the blood and to your cells. The skin’s reaction to the various nutrients, if we can even call it that, will be different from person to person, so it is hard to say whether this will cause a breakout or not.

Now, while diet can affect your skin, it is important to remember that there are so many bigger and better researched factors that affect your skin. From sun exposure to bacterial infections, there are so many factors that have been studied to cause skin conditions, whether it is irritation, acne, or even cancer. In order to take good care of you skin, make sure you first cover the basics of cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating, and moisturizing your skin. The ClearLee Clear Skin Set is great for covering these steps. Also, make sure to protect your skin from the sun when going outside.

 And, of course, eating healthy will be an added bonus for good skin care. In fact, it’ll be awesome for your overall health! There are plenty of balanced food charts, recipes, and meal plans out there so I won’t go too much into detail. In fact, my friend Nathan from Quick10Workouts recently came out with a meal plan. I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to see it thought it would be awesome to share his hard work! If you have any questions, comments, or experiences of food making you break out, please share below and I’ll do my best to read all of them! Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next time.

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear ‘sulfur water?' Probably the distinct and unpleasant smell of rotten eggs that it has as it penetrates your nostrils, oh-so strongly. Despite its many health benefits that it may have, many may forego these benefits to avoid the rancid smell of the water. Or perhaps, the first thing you think of is sulfur water springs and spas, which can be so heavenly- assuming the smell doesn’t bother you. But who's got the time and money for that on a daily basis?! 

So then, is there a win-win solution to avoiding the smell, while obtaining the health benefits of sulfur mineral water and saving time and money? Yes!

The base of all of the products made at ClearLee is white sulfur mineral water, but they don’t carry the smell one would associate with sulfur water. In fact, all the products have very pleasant aromas. Solely by smell, you probably wouldn’t even assume white sulfur mineral water to be one of the main ingredients. How is this possible? The blend of essential oils carefully incorporated to each and every one of the products not only proves great for your skin, but also allows the products to smell delightful. But to those who hate strong, overpowering scents also don’t have to worry! Because it’s not overbearing at all. Just a slight hint of aroma that’s pleasing to your olfactory(smell) system.

First and foremost lets answer the question: What are the health benefits of sulfur water?

Sulfur springs have been said to be a health and beauty aid since the days of fire and brimstone where even the soldiers of the Trojan war would take dips for curative purposes. Modern studies have shown that the waters help address health concerns like:

• arthritis
• allergies
• psoriasis
• eczema

Sulfur as an element is in fact recognized for its antimicrobial properties. It’s also known for being one of the more abundant elements in the body and a key component of collagen, which is highly important for connective tissue. On top of that, its essential to glutathione, which is one of the body’s most important antioxidants. And from personal experience, it’s definitely helped with calming down acne to the point where no more oral medication was necessary (I was on minocycline for a couple years).

Now, what’s the difference between regular sulfur water and white sulfur mineral water?

Simply put, most sulfur springs are orange-brown in color, but the water ClearLee draws is clear and rich in sulfur as well as many other minerals that crystallize into a white powder when evaporated. Check out the pics below!

How cool is that?? You can visibly see the minerals that get to go on your skin.

The water obtained is drawn from natural flowing, underground springs that are studied and said to be one of the most sulfur and mineral enriched waters in the Americas. And because its constantly flowing, it’s naturally filtered through the ground where it is purified by mineral rocks. This water is even safe to drink for internal health benefits unlike regular sulfur water. And although all the products at ClearLee are made with all natural ingredients (might I also say they’re vegan) don’t go consuming these because they’re not made to eat! But if you want more info on white sulfur mineral water check out this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIElqjTdaH0

How do ClearLee’s products save you time and money?

Since ClearLee delivers straight to your door, you don’t need to take the day off to travel far to find these enriching sulfur mineral waters anymore. ClearLee will do the traveling for you. In addition, for the amount of products that you get, the price is 'ClearLee' worth it. 

Experience the benefits of white sulfur mineral water in the comfort of your home.

“How often should I exfoliate my face?” This is a common question asked by many skin enthusiasts. I’ve read many blog articles and seen many videos written and made by skincare gurus, but none seem to accurately and completely answer the question and most generally lean back on sharing how often they do it. Now, they are definitely not wrong when they share their skin and exfoliation routine, but their answer only applies to THEIR SKIN and NOT YOURS. Then what concerns me, is that there are those who just make up things because it sounds logically correct in their mind. I’ve seen everything from you should exfoliate every day to exfoliating everyday will ruin your face and leave you with scars, wrinkles, and scratches (without taking them out of context).

 So, what’s right? And is there a secret formula? I will do my best to explain the best exfoliation routine for you!

For those that don’t know what exfoliation is, it is the process of removing the dead skin cells on the outer surface of skin. This sometimes involves the use of an exfoliating glove, a cleanser, or a scrub.

 To figure out how often we should exfoliate, let’s begin by understanding how our skin cells grow and divide. Now I don’t want to dive into too much science and biology, so let’s think of our skin growth this way. In general, our skin cells grow from the inside-out. There is a layer deeper down in our skin called a basal lamina where our skin cells are essentially born (they are differentiated into basal cells from a stem cell for those who want more specifics). As they grow older, they start making their journey towards the surface of our skin. Along the way, they lose their nucleus, flatten out, and layer themselves to become part of the skin you and I feel with our hands. Eventually, they die and flake off leaving behind the newer generation of skin cells. They will always grow inside-out like this except for certain situations like when healing a laceration or cut, where the dividing happens sideways in order to cover and patch up the injury. But that is a whole different study in itself.

Skin cells divide and multiply the fastest. I can’t answer how often they multiply because that is different for every person as well as controlled very specifically by the body. But it’s a good thing that I can’t answer the question, since if your body had no control of the growth rate, it would be the definition of cancer. So yes, your body will decide how quickly you need new skin cells and this rate can change depending on the environment.

 Now that we know a bit more about the skin, let’s forgo a couple of misconceptions that people may have.

1) “You will damage your new skin if you exfoliate too much.” This is not necessarily wrong, but it’s not true either. By the time your skin is on the surface, it is not really a new skin cell anymore. In fact, it is closer to a dead skin cell and researchers sometime say that they are already dead since they have lost their nucleus. However, it is possible to damage your skin if you exfoliate too much and I’ll get to that in a second. 

2) “Will you run out of skin if you exfoliate too much?” While it might sound funny to others, it is a valid question if you think about exfoliating at a faster rate than your skin divides/multiplies. But now we know that your body controls the rate of skin cell production or differentiation. On top of that, if you are exfoliating too much and start touching the newer not fully developed layers of your skin, your body will tell you to stop because it will be painful. 

3) “What if my skin stops growing but I keep exfoliating?” Fun fact: Your skin will never stops dividing and multiplying in your lifetime. Sure as people get into the elderly age, their skin might get less firm and tight, but skin cells will still be made.

So what is the best exfoliation formula for you? Here are a couple tips and advice to help figure that out.

1) Exfoliate GENTLY! This applies to everyone. Exfoliating is meant to simply remove the outer dead skin cells that are ready to flake off so that it doesn’t block the glow and radiance of your healthy skin. Being harsh with any exfoliator is no different from you rubbing your face on sand paper.

2) Start by exfoliating 2-3 times a week. This is a super safe method. We naturally lose around 30,000 cells every hour and over a million a day. So there will be plenty of new cells to exfoliate every 2-3 days.

3) Start making your way to exfoliating every day by adding an extra day every week. This not only allows your skin to become accustomed to the process, but you also will be able to see if your skin is reacting in a negative way. If it gets too red or feels uncomfortable, take off a day and that is probably where your routine should stay.

4) If you can get to exfoliating once a day without problems, then that is the routine for you. It means your skin is regenerating at a fast enough rate and it also means that you can show off glowing, radiant skin every day since you will have minimal amount of flaking cells.

 Hope that helped not only develop another step in your skin routine, but also expanded your knowledge about your skin! If you have any questions or want to share your skin routine, comment below and I’ll be sure to read them. Let me know if your routine changes when using the ClearLee Mineral Water Mud Mask/Cleanser compared to other exfoliators. Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next time.

“How do I get rid of my acne?” “What can I do to cover up acne?” “What is the best acne treatment out there?” These are just a few of the common questions about acne that almost everyone asks some time in their journey through life. Then there are the follow up questions. “Why doesn’t this product work for me?” “How come my friend’s acne is getting better but not mine when we have the same skin routine?” “Do I have to go see a dermatologist?”

These are all really good questions! But, what I find surprising when talking with people or reading other blogs and articles (minus the scientific/research papers) is that most people don’t ask the most important and key question. “Why do we get acne?” By understanding even the basics of acne, so many of the questions above can be answered and may even help find the solution to it. So before you go pay an extreme amount of money at the dermatologist, simply study up a little and try out a couple, more affordable things. Here, I will do my best to explain why we get acne without getting too scientific, so that it can serve as a building block in your skin care knowledge.

Acne vulgaris, or more commonly known as acne, is a chronic skin disease that almost everyone in the world suffers from. In general, we can break down the reason of their formation to four factors:

1) Your outer skin cells grow/multiply too fast that they plug up your follicles

2) Your skin creates excess sebum (an oily secretion that your skin creates to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair) causing clogging 

3) Microbial infection

4) Inflammation

Genetics and stress also play a huge role in acne, which is why your skin might not react the same way to products or environments like your friend’s does. For example, your skin cells multiplying too fast can definitely be due to genes you inherited from your parents (don’t get mad at them!). Or your immune system might be too sensitive and react to every little bacteria and product even if they aren’t harmful! On top of that, how much stress you have and how your body handles it may differ from other people. But don’t worry, there are little tricks around each factor and I’ll do my best to target all of them!

Hopefully by now, you are starting to get a sense of why the same acne treatment or skin care regime doesn’t work for everyone. If not, here is an example. Let’s say the reason you are getting acne is because of your skin cells growing too fast. You decide one day that you are going to treat your acne and start going to the dermatologist to get shots to fight against infection. You can see how this will prove useless and just waste time and money. Of course, I would expect your dermatologist to run exams first to determine the reason(s) for your acne but, it doesn’t hurt to know yourself.

 So here’s a basic guideline you can try at home to try targeting the source of your acne.

1) Try exfoliating. If your skin cells are multiplying too fast (known as follicular epidermal hyperproliferation), exfoliating your skin a couple times a week may help prevent the plugging of the follicles.

2) Don’t wash your face with just water but use soap. Washing your face with just water will only dry out your skin. If your skin is already producing excess sebum, the last thing you want to do is dry out your skin to make your skin think it needs to make even more! Washing your face with soap can also help prevent bacterial infection.

3) Use a mud mask or something that will suck out and absorb excess oils on your skin. This will help your acne by preventing the clogging of pores with excess sebum.

4) Try using a couple of essential oils known for anti-inflammatory or astringent properties. Lavender, Frankincense, Rosemary, Ginger, Carrot Seed, Juniper, and Patchouli are all great examples but there are many more! If you have already oily skin, try putting 1 or 2 drops into an oil free lotion and moisturizing your face with it.

Now, unfortunately the world is not perfectly linear and more than one of the factors can be causing your acne. So to target all the factors, David and I created the Clear Skin Set by ClearLee. The Mineral Water Mud Mask/Cleanser not only exfoliates but also draws out all the unwanted oils of the skin. Factors 1 and 2 down! It even has rosemary and lavender essential oils to help with inflammation. Then the Mineral Water Toner comes into play to rehydrate and condition your skin. It has tea tree oil, which is known for its amazing antiseptic properties. Factor 3 down! Finally, the Mineral Water Moisturizer not only moisturizes your skin, but also has jojoba oil, which mimics your natural sebum. It will tell your skin there is enough sebum and to slow down production, which is awesome if you are producing too much sebum. On the other hand, if your skin naturally does not produce enough sebum, it will act in its place and help the lubricating process. All three products also have essential oils with anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Factor 4 down!

I’m not against going to the dermatologist. In fact, I encourage it! Dermatologists are experts in the field of skin care and I know how hard each and every one of them worked to get there. However, I also know that it is not feasible for many people today, so hopefully I provided a little knowledge as to how to go about targeting your acne without destroying your bank roll. If you have any questions or comments, please mention them below and I will do my best to answer! I will also be coming out with video segments answering all these questions so stay tuned at our Youtube channel. Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next time.

There are so many cosmetic products out in the market today and both men and women are on the lookout for the perfect regime for their skin. What does this mean? It means that people are always trying out new products at an attempt to piece together the perfect formula for their skin. This is a great thing and more people in the world should treat their skin with such care! However, from this, arises a question that every cosmetic lover will face during their journey.

Will my skin break out with every new product I try?

Cosmetic gurus already know there is an acclimation period and most know what that timing is for their skin. But for those of you who are new or just now starting to dive deeper into the cosmetic world, the acclimation period may catch you off guard! Many people decide to try a new product out only to find out it makes them break out, and ditch the product forever saying it’s not for them. Now while this may be true for certain products, the more popular case is that the skin is simply in the acclimation phase.

An acclimation phase is a period of time where your skin is adjusting to the new products. Your body is amazingly built and has a natural defense system that will react to anything foreign. For example, one of the many reasons you can get a pimple is because your body is fighting against a bacteria or some other microbe so that it does not infect your body. (I'll dive deeper into acne in a future blog article!) While this is an awesome mechanism to keep you safe from harmful infections, it backfires just a bit when it comes to cosmetics.

When you try a new product, especially one with different ingredients from your regular regime, your skin has no idea what it is. So it takes the “better safe than sorry” approach and begins a defense against it. And WHA-LAH, it looks like you are breaking out. But if you give the product a chance and keep at it, your skin will quickly learn that there is nothing to worry about. Typically, this acclimation or adjusting period lasts anywhere from 3-7 days. If after 7 days you are still breaking out or getting a rash from a product, then that is your skin telling you, “Nope, this ain’t for us.” So unless that happens, don’t be so quick to throw out new products!

Another reason people breakout from a new product is simply because they are using a product that draws out impurities. I’ll use our Mineral Water Mud Mask/Cleanser as an example. The mud mask is specifically designed to draw out impurities and unwanted oils of the skin so that your skin is healthy and radiant! Now while the oils on the surface will be quickly absorbed or washed away by the mud, the deeper impurities will need some time to be drawn out. As the Mud Mask/Cleanser does its job, the oils and impurities buried deep in your skin will slowly come towards the surface. This will appear and look the same as a breakout. However, this is a necessary process in cleansing the skin and your skin should clear up afterwards. How long this process takes will depend on the skin type. Some skin types will take only a few days while others, such as oily ones, may take weeks to months.

Hopefully, this was helpful to all the new and upcoming cosmetic lovers out there! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to comment below. You can also request a topic you want to know more about! Thanks for reading and keep loving your skin!