3 min read

Surprisingly Genius Beauty Advice from Reddit

January 6, 2017

skin care advice from r/skincareaddiction reddit

How to get gorgeous skin, according to the global r/skincareaddiction community. Full confession: I used to have embarrassing flesh-colored bumps all over my forehead that neither charcoal masks nor pore strips could get rid of. In desperation, I turned to an unusual source to get help, Reddit’s large and bustling skin care community known as r/skincareaddiction. R/skincareaddiction is a online community comprised of skin care lovers across the globe. The subreddit (or subsection of Reddit) has a huge amount of knowledge. On the forum, you can evaluate your skin care routine, read up on skin concerns and product ingredients, and post questions to be answered by fellow skin care enthusiasts. Though the members aren’t all professionals, the community sorts out the best advice and downvotes the worst. I learned through reading their pages that I had closed comedones (a.k.a pimples that haven’t yet surfaced on the skin) and discovered that chemical exfoliation could get rid of them. Within a day, those bumps were gone for good and my skin’s been pleasantly smooth ever since.They helped me, so here are some of their surprisingly genius and in-depth tips that I hope will help you.

1. Use chemical exfoliators to get rid of small bumps on your forehead or jawline

(This is my favorite tip so far.) Closed comedones are pimples hidden by a clogged pore. They often look like tiny skin-toned bumps that appear on your forehead or jawline. Use a chemical exfoliator, like a AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), which exfoliates the top layer of the skin and “unglues” dead skin cells, or a BHA (beta hydroxy acid), which exfoliates the sebum (a.k.a that gross yellow oily substance) within the pimple and “degunks” your pores. These chemical exfoliators remove the dead skin cells and sebum, allowing the closed comedones to clear up.

2. Follow the r/skincareaddiction routine

Their beginner’s skin care routine is great for those who are just discovering the magic of skin care and don’t know where to begin. Follow these five basic steps: First cleanse with a gentle facial wash, then exfoliate to unclog pores. Continue with acne spot treatment (if needed), moisturize your skin for a dewy glow, and finish up with protective sunscreen.

3. If your skin is extra dry, only wash your face at night

For skin that’s extra dry, r/skincareaddiction recommends splashing your face with water in the morning and only washing with a gentle cleanser at night. Swap out your harsh facial wash for a gentle one that soothes your skin, like the FOREO Night Cleanser.

4. Do a patch test if you have acne-prone, allergy-prone, or sensitive skin

If you’re unsure about adding a new product to your routine, do a patch test. After all, it’s better to have a small problem than a full-on reaction. The patch test should be large enough to notice, but small enough that you’ll be able to treat it quickly. Here are some guidelines:

To see if you’re allergic to the product, place the new product behind your ear.
To see if it will irritate your skin, apply the product on the most sensitive area of your face.
To check for acne, spread the product on the most acne-prone area of your skin.

5. Breaking out after introducing a new product isn’t always a bad thing

“Purging” is when the acne you’re treating worsens after introducing a new product into your regimen. In this instance, the new product helps forming pimples emerge and finish their cycle. These breakouts should last no longer than two to six weeks, so you’ll just have to wait it out.

6. But breaking out in NEW areas is bad

However, if you’re trying a new product and see new pimples in areas that are usually acne-free, then your skin is probably reacting poorly to the product. In this case, stop using the product.

7. Keep a Google Doc with the ingredients of products that irritate your skin

Whether it’s a moisturizer that leaves you red and itchy or an eyeshadow that gives you an allergic reaction, keep a list of the ingredients in products that you react negatively to. Eventually, you’ll be able to cross-reference and identify the ingredients you should avoid.

8. There’s a right order to apply your products

And it goes like this: cleanser, toner, prescription topicals, chemical exfoliants (AHA/BHA), serums, moisturizer, sunscreen, primer, makeup.

9. There’s a way to get honest feedback on products

Bloggers are sometimes paid or gifted products to write a positive review. To find real, honest feedback on an expensive product, visit MakeupAlley reviews or post in the r/skincareaddiction forum for real consumer takes on a product.

10. R/skincareaddiction members think we’re gamechangers!

So after you’re done reading through the treasure trove of skin care info, take their advice and invest in this Swedish skin care staple, the innovative LUNA mini 2 facial-cleansing brush and gain the cleansing, physical exfoliator your skin needs.