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Acne Skincare Products
Kanvas Beauty hates it, but we get it. When it comes to the best acne treatments and products in Australia, we've got you covered.
Firstly, we know not all pimples are created equally. To name a few, there's bacterial acne, cystic acne, hormonal congestion, subclinical acne or just that one giant pimple that blesses your face occasionally. If that wasn't confusing enough, there's also a myriad of solutions to contend with, including acne face washes, zit zappers, blackhead serums, recovery creams, whitehead patches and more. But don't worry, help is at hand! Let us guide you through all things pimply. Kanvas Beauty also stocks effective body acne treatments - because why should the face have all the fun?
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Fighting acne
Acne. Why does even it exist? What's its problem? Just....why? We don't know. But what we do know, is that thankfully, there's more than one way to get rid of it. So if you've felt like you've tried everything out there with little success, know this: it sometimes takes a journey to achieve acne-free skin. It also requires time, trial and error and consistency. You may additionally need intervention from your dermatologist in more severe circumstances, as well as an adjustment in factors that go beyond skincare: lifestyle, stress, sleep patterns, diet etc. When it comes to skincare at least, we can help. Check out our list of acne-fighting treatments and ingredients below: there may be some new ones on there you haven't tried. It's not exhaustive, and some can be used in conjunction with others.
Types of acne
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Blackheads
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Whiteheads
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Pustules
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Papules
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Cysts
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Nodules
The first thing to do is try and identify what type of acne you have. Blackheads? Cystic acne? Pustules? Subclinical acne? You may have more than one thing going on, and that's fine. Identifying it correctly will help you treat it more effectively. So consult your doc, chat to your friends, and look up pics on google. Once you're sure, then you can begin to try various solutions.
Remember:
There are also little things you can do (outside of trying out various products) that can make a big difference to your skin. These include drinking plenty of water, changing your pillowcase twice a week, keeping your hair clean, avoiding touching your face and for hormonal acne in particular, cutting down on sugar and fried food around your period. At the end of the day, acne is annoying but totally normal and just another part of life. Be patient with yourself and your skin, and consult a dermatologist when you're feeling stuck. And hey - if you're getting your period and need that huge slice of Nutella pizza to make you feel better, don't deny yourself! Life is all about balance, after all.
Our favourites:
Some of Kanvas Beauty’s favourite acne products are:
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COSRX - Acne Pimple Master Patch: The OG zit patch, this hydrocolloid patches are magic on popped/leaky pimples, helping to heal them in a jiffy and preventing new ones from sprouting.
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SVR Laboratories - Sebiaclear Cicapeel: This powerful spot treatment gel shrinks, dries and eliminates pimples in record time, thanks to salicylic acid and a whopping 14% concentration of PHA.
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Axis-Y - Dark Spot Correcting Serum:5% niacinamide and sea buckthorn come together in this gel-serum that is so good at treating acne and fading acne scars, the brand once joked to us it's almost too effective!
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Acure - Radically Rejuvenating Dual Phase Bakuchiol Serum: If your skin can’t abide by retinol, try this vegan alternative instead! Bakuchiol is highly effective at minimizing pores and treating mild acne. It's also gentle on dry skin.
- Journ Beauty - Correct and Perfect in Matcha: This is a colour corrector that actually treats the underlying issue! Formulated with AHAs and niacinamide, it helps mask pimples under your foundation, all while regulating sebum production and minimising the appearance of pores and acne scars over time.
Ingredients to try
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01.
BHA (salicylic acid, betaine salicylate, willow bark extract etc).
Best for: All types of acne, including subclinical and hormonal acne.
Suggested products: COSRX's BHA Blackhead Power Liquid as a good all-rounder, Pyunkang Yul's Acne Toner for sensitive skin, or Benton's Aloe BHA Toner for dry skin. -
02.
Niacinamide (i.e. Vitamin B3)
Best for: Blackheads, large pores, hormonal acne, acne on oily skin as well as sensitive skin. Can be used in combination with retinol.
Suggested products: Acure's Radically Rejuvenating Niacinamide Serum for dry and rosacea-prone skin, Axis-Y's Dark Spot Correcting Serum for hyperpigmentation, or The Niacinamide 15 Serum (with Zinc PCA) from COSRX for oily skin. -
03.
Skin Barrier Fortification
Best for: Cystic acne, allergy sufferers and sensitive skin. A weak skin barrier can actually worsen the severity of a breakout. Cystic acne can also damage your barrier as the pustules push through the skin. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, fixing the skin barrier with hydrating products can actually greatly reduce your breakouts. Once your skin doesn’t feel sensitive anymore, use these products in combination with retinol and acids to further improve texture.
Suggested products: SVR's Barrier Cream for sensitive skin, SKIN&LAB's Barrierderm Intensive Cream for dry skin and Purito's Centella Green Level Buffet Serum for easily clogged skin. -
04.
Mugwort (i.e. Artemisia)
Best for: Redness-prone acne, hormonal acne and mild acne on sensitive skin. Use in combination with a gentle BHA toner like willow bark or betaine.
Suggested products: I'm From's Mugwort Essence for redness, I'm From's Mugwort Spot Gel for angry breakouts and ISNTREE's Real Mugwort Clay Mask for oily, blackhead-prone skin. -
05.
Retinol (i.e. Vitamin A)
Best for: Hormonal and cystic acne, whiteheads, oily skin and large blackheads. Retinol is a notoriously tricky ingredient to get right (make sure you introduce it slowly into your skincare routine), but boy does it work!
Suggested products: A313 for experienced retinol users, SVR's Vitamin A Ampoule for dry skin and the COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream for those who prefer their retinol in a light moisturizer. -
06.
Propolis
Best for: Mild acne on dry, dull and sensitive skin, or hormonal acne.
Suggested products: Beauty of Joseon's Glow Serum for sensitive skin, iUNIK's Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask for dehydrated or peeling skin and Some By Mi's Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Toner for angry hormonal breakouts. -
07.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Best for: Teenage and bacterial acne.
Suggested products: For the best products using this ingredient, consult your doctor or dermatologist. -
08.
AHAs (e.g. Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid etc).
Best for: Non-sensitive skin prone to hyperpigmentation as well as acne from clogged pores. AHAs will help exfoliate without physical friction and lighten acne scars. Avoid if you have very sensitive skin or a compromised skin barrier. Use in conjunction with a hydrating, barrier-restoring cream.
Suggested products: By Wishtrend's Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water for darker skin tones, Some By Mi's AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner for whiteheads and SVR Laboratories' SEBIACLEAR Micro Peel for cystic acne. -
09.
Low pH Double Cleansing Routine
Best for: All types of acne, except teenage bacterial acne. In that case, a higher pH cleanser may be more effective. The reason for double cleansing and using a skin-matching pH for the second wash relates to keeping your skin barrier in good health. A strong barrier = less breakouts. It’ll also help balance out overly dry or oily skin.
Suggested products: Purito's From Green Cleansing Oil and Deep Foaming Cleanser for the best double-cleansing duo, SVR's Topialyse Body Wash (yes, it's great on the face too!) for acne on sensitive skin, Some By Mi's AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Foam for severe acne and Pyunkang Yul's Low pH Pore Deep Cleansing Foam for maskne. -
10.
Tea Tree
Best for: Bacterial acne. With natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, tea-tree can be used as both as a spot treatment or a key ingredient in combatting teenage or bacterial acne.
Suggested products: COSRX's Low pH Good Morning Cleanser for the best all-rounder, iUNIK's Tea Tree Relief Toner for redness-prone skin and Dr. Ceuracle's underrated Tea Tree Purifine Duo Set for oily skin/large pores.
