Skincare ingredients for skin scarred or damaged by acne

If you suffer from acne scarring, I'm sure you've heard it all with regards to how to heal your skin. And you've probably spent hundreds of dollars purchasing many different types of products hoping for results. But the results haven't happened yet. 

I'm not here to preach about products that heal skin overnight.

Proper skincare starts with looking at the ingredients that you put on your skin. After you've done your research on the ingredients, focus on looking for products that carry what you need. With consistent application and a healthy diet, skin will heal overtime.

Let's start with what ingredients you SHOULD NOT put on your skin.

• Alcohol: Alcohol "weakens everything about the skin" according to Paula's Choice Skincare Expert Advice. There's a difference between alcohol and fatty alcohols. Fatty alcohols such as cetyl, stearyl, and cetearyl alcohol are fine for the skin, but others are not.
   
• Fragrances: Fragrances are commonly seen as "Yellow 1" or "Blue 3" on product labels. They make your face smell good, but irritate the skin because they contain a lot of unknown toxins.
   
• Lemon: There's a lot of misconception regarding the benefits of lemon on the skin. Lemon is extremely acidic, and so can assist in removing dead skin cells and generating new ones. On the flip side, lemons are highly acidic and can irritate the skin which can result in hyper pigmentation and overall damage to the skin according to The True Skincare Center. 
   
• Physical Exfoliates:  An example of a physical exfoliate is the infamous Apricot Scrub by St. Ives. The Apricot Scrub has tiny walnut shells that leave your face feeling squeaky clean - but at a cost. The shells are "unnecessarily harsh and abrasive on the skin, leading to dryness and irritation" according to Dr. Kelly Park of Lakeside Dermatology in Illinois. Over time, the shells can also cause micro-tears to the surface of your skin, irritating your acne & increasing the chances of scarring.

Here are a list of ingredients you SHOULD put on your skin.

• Alovera: Alovera contains "antioxidants, enzymes, Vitamins A & C, and it is highly anti-inflammatory. It can help treat burns, acne and dry skin" according to Kim Chang, an esthetician with the Baylor Aesthetics Studio. I find that using alovera straight from the planted source works best since a lot of products use preservatives that may be harmful to the skin, but necessary for packaging alovera prducts.
   
• Turmeric Powder: Other than possessing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components, the curcumin in turmeric powder can heal acne scars by reducing your body's response to healing wounds and so reduces the possibility of scarring, according to a medically reviewed article by Healthline. 
   
• Oils: I'm not referring to your cooking oils. I am referring to oils such as Tamanu, Jojoba, and Hempseed. These oils are again ant-inflammatory and aid in the softening of acne scarring without clogging pores. Jojoba is often referred to as an oil - but in fact it's a 'liquid' wax that is similar to the sebum that your body produces naturally. When you put jojoba on your face, your skin is soothed and moisturized. This keeps skin from looking oily and helps prevent acne caused by clogged pores.
   
• Hyaluronic Acid: If you're not a fan of moisturizing with oils, finding a product with hyaluronic acid is a good fit. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally produced by our own skin, and is used to treat skin burns and irritations.
   
• Niacinamide:  Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that assists in protecting the skin barrier while healing damaged skin. Niacinamide can help also out uneven skin tone caused from acne scarring and tightening pores. 

The most important ingredient is Sunblock.

Without sunblock, there is no point in using all these ingredients because sun damage will make your acne scarring worse than it has been.

As someone who suffered from acne for years, this is my daily skincare routine.

MORNING

• Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser by Krave Beauty
  - ​Contains Hemp Seed Oil
   
• Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30
  - Contains Hyraluronic Acid & Niacinamide

EVENING

• Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser by Krave Beauty
• Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM or Jojoba Oil

I have combination-oily skin, with most of my oil on the t-zone of my face. Here is a picture of my skin journey!

These products work for me, but may not work for you, so do your own research and find out what works best for you. And let me know what you find out!