The Secret to Eliminating Acne and Decreasing Skin Sensitivity: Part 2
If you missed part one go here! In part one we talked about the moisture barrier, the ideal pH for skin, and finding a low pH cleanser.
Adding a Daily Acid Toner
In addition to using a low pH cleanser, adding in a daily acid toner can help with keeping the pH of your skin low before applying additional serums and moisturizers. I see a big difference in the texture of my skin when I use a daily acid toner. My current favorite is the COSRX Two in One Poreless Power Liquid. It has a low dose of BHA to remove dead skin cells and tannins to tighten pores. For my pregnant mamas out there – no BHA for you! I recommend the Pixi Glow Tonic. It’s also available in Target stores if you don’t want to order online.
Essential Fatty Acids to Strengthen
Now that we have the basics covered – let’s dive into moisture barrier 1.02. The moisture barrier is held together by fatty acids and ceramides. A damaged moisture barrier will have a breakdown of these two things. The good news is that our skin is able to use topically applied fatty acids to repair itself. Essential fatty acids are found in many plant based oils. These oils can also help to strengthen a healthy moisture barrier. Some of my favorite oils and a serum to strengthen your moisture barrier:
- Josie Maran Argan Oil
- Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil
- Stratia Liquid Gold
- Red Earth Brighten Concentrate Oil
Nurturing Your Moisture Barrier
Now that you have a strong and healthy moisture barrier, hopefully you are seeing improvements in the health and texture of your skin. Keep these four steps in mind for strengthening and maintaining your moisture barrier:
- Don’t use products with a pH of 6 or higher, especially facial cleanser.
- Use a daily acid toner.
- Add an oil, serum, or moisturizer with fatty acids into your routine.
- Don’t over exfoliate, over cleanse, or get sunburned.
I would try using a low pH cleanser, acid toner, and a serum, oil, or moisturizer with fatty acids for two weeks and then reassess. If at that point you are still not happy with your skin – you can try adding in a BHA, AHA, or Retinol serum. We’ll talk about those in a later post!
