What can I do to help?

When you’re battling acne at a time in your life when other concerns such as sensitivity, redness, photo-ageing and dehydration can be common, it’s tricky to get a skincare regime to suit, but this is a good place to start.

Cleanse:

If you usually wear make-up, it’s so important to remove all of it thoroughly at night to avoid clogged pores that can lead to even more breakouts. Opt for an effective but gentle one that won’t strip your skin of moisture, such as (1) Ultraceuticals Balancing

Gel Cleanser, $62.

Purify:

Salicylic acid has an exfoliating effect on the skin, which will help to keep your pores clear of debris. It’s in Garnier’s new (2) Pure Active Sensitive Toner, $13.99, along with witch hazel to help soothe irritated skin.

Hydrate:

Moisturising is an important factor in keeping your skin’s barrier healthy and strong to prevent more bacteria penetrating. A light moisturiser such as (3) Avène Cleanance Expert, $37.60, will help your skin to feel hydrated and comfortable as well as fight redness, spots and blackheads.

Protect:

Acne-fighting products can make skin more sun-sensitive, so daily sun protection is imperative. Look for something lightweight that will protect your skin without making it greasy. (4) Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30, $92, is specifically designed for acne-prone adult skin.

Treat:

The good news is that as well as being an effective anti-ageing ingredient, vitamin A is also very helpful for acne-prone skin because of its ability to speed up the skin’s cell turnover. This ingredient can cause irritation in sensitive skin, though, so find one that is well tolerated such as (5) Osmosis Calm Serum, $141.

Conceal with caution:

Naturally, the first thing most of us want to do when spots appear is to cover them up, but sometimes that can exacerbate the problem. A mineral form of foundation is a good option (make sure to wash your brushes and sponges regularly), or spot treat with a product like

(6) Natio Acne Clear Tinted Purifying Spot Treatment, $13.50, which combines mineral pigments with benzoyl peroxide to cover and treat at the same time.

Light therapy:

LED light treatments work by delivering different coloured light wavelengths into the skin.

Blue light is able to kill the acne-causing bacteria while red lights are commonly used to reduce inflammation. You can book a course of light therapy treatments at a beauty clinic or for an at-home version, we are pretty impressed by ( 7) Neutrogena Visibly Clear Light Therapy Acne Mask, $79.99, which combines both blue and red light. Ten minutes of daily use will see fewer breakouts and smoother skin.