Acne is usually associated with oily skin. After all, the majority of the time, breakouts are caused when the pores end up clogged with excess sebum. 

However, many don’t realize that dry skin is susceptible to acne too. From hormonal fluctuations to dead skin cells clogging pores to bacteria being able to enter the skin via dryness-induced cracks, many factors can contribute to breakouts appearing on dry skin.

What makes this tricky to deal with is the fact that many of the acne treatments out there are designed for oily skin. They’ve been formulated to dry up excess sebum but, as you can imagine, this only makes dry skin even drier. 

So, what can you do about your dry, acne-prone skin? Here’s an Introstem skincare routine that you can follow to keep your skin looking soft, supple, and pimple-free.

Start With a Moisturizing Yet Non-Comedogenic Cleanser

Cleansing once a day is usually recommended for people with dry skin. However, if your dry skin also happens to be acne-prone, then twice daily cleansing would be more beneficial. This way, you’ll be able to keep the surface of your skin clear of all of those dead skin cells that tend to pile up on dry skin, preventing them from clogging your pores.

However, this extra cleanse also runs the risk of leaving your skin drier. Each time you cleanse your skin, you disrupt your skin’s natural barrier. If you have dry skin, then this means that your barrier is already compromised. That second cleanse could exacerbate all of your problems, unless you opt for a gentle cleanser that can safely be used twice a day on dry skin. At the same time, you need to make sure that the formula you choose doesn’t contain any comedogenic, aka pore-clogging, ingredients.

That’s where the Introstem Stem Cell Mousse Cleanser shines. Unlike a foaming cleanser, it won’t strip your skin completely dry. However, unlike a cream cleanser, which is usually recommended for dry skin, it’s not too rich either, meaning that your pores won’t feel clogged or congested after using it. Instead, the mousse that it creates will leave your skin’s surface refreshed and clear, which will go a long way in preventing the appearance of breakouts.

Exfoliate a Couple of Times a Week

Just like when it comes to cleansing, knowing how often to exfoliate acne-prone dry skin can be tricky. Those who suffer from acne usually exfoliate two or three times a week, whereas those with dry skin tend to only exfoliate once a week.

The solution is to meet in the middle. Aim to exfoliate twice a week but be prepared to increase or decrease this depending on your skin’s needs.

With that said, be careful that you don’t end up over-exfoliating your skin. This happens to be a common cause of acne-prone dry skin. By over-exfoliating, you damage and dehydrate your skin’s protective barrier. This stimulates your skin into producing excess oil, leading to breakouts in some areas while other parts of your face look dry and rough.

Of course, over-exfoliation isn’t solely about exfoliating too much. It can also be caused by using an exfoliator that’s too powerful for your skin. You need a formula that’s thorough enough to clear out any blockages in your pores, yet not too harsh that it’s going to damage your skin barrier and make your dryness worse.

The Introstem Stem Cell Facial Peeling is perfect for this. With mandelic acid and bamboo powder, it brings together the best of physical and chemical exfoliants, giving you a product that meets the mark on all fronts. The fact that it also contains a long list of antioxidants, including grape stem cells, vitamin A, vitamin C, and green tea extract, is just the icing on the cake. Your skin will look so much smoother and healthier after every use!

Hydrate With a Toner

If your skin cells are dehydrated, they’ll struggle to perform many of their basic functions, with cell turnover being one of them. This process sees your skin naturally shedding the older and dead skin cells on its surface to make way for the fresh new cells that are coming through from beneath. When this slows down, those dead skin cells end up building up on the skin’s surface. It doesn’t take long for these to lodge themselves inside the pores, creating blockages that lead to breakouts.

All of this can be avoided by ensuring that your skin is sufficiently hydrated at all times. This means incorporating hydrating ingredients in several stages of your skincare routine, starting with a hydrating toner.

Keep in mind that not all toners are designed to be hydrating. Many of the acne-specific formulas out there contain astringent ingredients that will dry your skin out even more. Look for a toner that contains multiple hydrating ingredients at the top of its ingredient list, just like the Introstem Stem Cell Facial Toner. With a quenching blend of aloe vera leaf juice, cucumber fruit extract, and hemp seed oil, which is non-comedogenic, this toner will leave your skin glowing.

Apply a Vitamin C Serum

When you have acne-prone dry skin, you need to be careful about the active ingredients that you use. There aren’t many actives out there that are suitable for both acne and dryness. However, vitamin C is an exception…

This antioxidant is capable of working wonders on all skin types. Research shows that vitamin C can reduce the appearance of acne lesions when used daily. At the same time, it won’t cause any harm to dry skin. In fact, it does the opposite. Studies have found that it counters the look of dryness by boosting how healthy the skin feels overall.

With that said, there’s more than one form of vitamin C out there, and some are harsher than others. Ideally, you want to use a serum that contains multiple forms of a mild vitamin C derivative, such as the Introstem Stem Cell Vitamin C Serum. With two types of vitamin C, plus botanical oils that are natural sources of the antioxidant, this serum will give your skin the power of this wonder ingredient without any of the irritation that the more potent forms can cause.

Layer On a Barrier-Supporting Serum

As we mentioned earlier, if you have dry skin, this means that your skin barrier has been compromised in some way. So, you need to counter this by giving your skin ingredients that help to support the skin barrier and leave it feeling stronger. This would benefit your acne too as breakouts are often caused by a damaged skin barrier.

There are several ingredients out there that can help to support your skin barrier, with some doing so more effectively than others. Peptides are one of the best, with these amino acid chains helping to keep the skin barrier feeling fortified and more resilient. 

Humectants, such as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, are also great for the skin barrier. The hydration that they provide will leave your skin barrier feeling bolstered. At the same time, the extra hydration will give your skin a plumper and softer finish.

Antioxidants are vital too. They’ll ensure that your skin cells feel healthy, enabling them to function optimally.

You’ll find all of the above ingredients in the Introstem ThermoStem Serum. This cutting-edge product hones in on the skin barrier to give it the TLC that it needs. Not only will it leave your skin looking soft and dewy, rather than dull and dry, but it will also fight the feeling of greasiness to help reduce the appearance of clogged pores and breakouts.

Use an Eye Cream

There are a few key differences between the skin around the eyes and the skin on the rest of the face. It’s much thinner, meaning that it’s more prone to dehydration and wrinkles. It also contains fewer sebaceous glands. So, while breakouts may not be such a big issue in this area, dryness most definitely is.

Ideally, you want your entire face to look smooth, clear, and soft, including your eye area. However, this usually means giving the eye area some extra care by adding an eye cream, like the Introstem Stem Cell Rejuvenating Eye Cream, to your skincare routine.

There’s nothing wrong with using both an eye serum and an eye cream. However, keeping your skincare routine relatively simple is important if you’re struggling with acne. Product buildup commonly leads to clogged pores, so avoid overloading your skin. Plus, this eye cream hydrates, firms, tightens, and brightens the look of the skin, so you don’t really need anything else!

Moisturize Your Skin

Regardless of your skin type or the skin concerns you’re dealing with, moisturizing is non-negotiable. However, if you’re hoping to see an improvement in your complexion, you need to pick the right moisturizer. A formula that’s rich enough for your dry skin yet light enough to not clog your pores may seem like an impossibility. However, we have a few options for you here at Introstem…

The VitisCell Facial Shield Cream SPF 30 would be a great choice for the daytime. Being an SPF moisturizer, you won’t need to apply another sun protection product over the top of your face cream. This will save you from clogging up your pores. However, at the same time, this cream is also incredibly moisturizing. Between green tea, glycerin, aloe vera, and grape stem cells, it will have your skin glowing all day long.

Since dryness tends to be worse overnight, you’ll need a richer cream for evening use, such as the Stem Cell Night Repair. Don’t be put off by the plant oils in this formula. They’ll deeply hydrate and moisturize your dry areas while helping to prevent the appearance of acne at the same time. From jojoba oil to hemp seed oil, these oils are non-comedogenic. This means that they’ll bestow your skin with goodness without causing you to break out.

Caring For Acne-Prone Dry Skin With Introstem

Acne-prone dry skin is more common than many people realize. Fortunately, it’s more than possible to keep the appearance of breakouts at bay while also ensuring that your skin feels consistently hydrated and moisturized, and the skincare routine that we’ve shared above will help you to do just that!

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