I have suffered most of my adult life from hormonal acne and now that we have been wearing masks for months now, some of you may be more prone to acne around the areas where your mask touches.
But here is a product that has changed really my skin. I believe it’s the French girl secret to perfect skin. Are you ready for it?
I learned about it from a Canadian Beauty Editor and it is fantastic and affordable!
It’s called A313. As someone who finds Retin-A too strong, but many over-the-counter retinols too weak, A313 hits that perfect sweet spot in the middle. Here’s what I’d recommend: A313 doesn’t make any claims regarding what it can treat, but based on its active ingredients, here’s what you could use it for:
Fine lines and wrinkles: Both retinyl propionate and retinyl palmitate have been shown to reduce facial wrinkles. Studies found that retinyl propionate along with niacinamide and peptides gave comparable results to tretinoin, without the irritation.
Pigmentation: Researchers found that retinyl propionate improved hyperpigmentation. You could also use it to help fade post-acne marks
Actinic keratosis: A 1998 study found that retinyl propionate reduced actinic keratosis lesions to zero after 48 weeks. (This is a skin condition associated with UV damage, resulting in patches of thick, scaly skin.)
How to use it:
?Use it at night: The pamphlet actually says “one or two times a day,” so you could technically apply it in the morning (as long as you wear sunscreen!). It is a thicker cream so your face so I think nighttime is best.
?Make sure your skin is dry: This is really important. Your skin has to be FULLY dry in order to prevent irritation. You want to wash your face and then wait 10-15 minutes.
?Avoid other actives (at first): For the first week or two of using A313I stopped using other active products just in case both were too much for my skin.
?Use a pea-sized amount: A little goes a long way, so this should be enough to do your entire face and I do my neck and décolletage. Here are some other tips on how you can help reduce and improve breakouts from wearing your mask.
Keep your skin clean by using a pH-balanced cleanser before and after wearing a mask to remove oil, dirt, and bacteria, and apply moisturizer immediately after washing. Make sure both your cleanser and moisturizer are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and not known to irritate your skin.”
Consider skipping makeup – foundations and concealers can cause irritation. If makeup isn’t non-comedogenic, it could clog pores and lead to breakouts. Use a retinoid like A313. This will help increase cell turnover and help unclog your pores.
Here’s to keeping safe AND having beautiful skin!
