My top picks to battle skin flare ups

The products that keep my skin cool, calm, and collected.

I don’t know why, but every so often my skin decides that it needs to have a major meltdown. It doesn’t matter what skincare products I’m using, what I’m eating, or how stressed I am, I just know that my skin will flare up. And when it does happen, I’m left to deal with a collection of angry pimples on my cheeks and chin. It’s the absolute worst, but I’m getting better at anticipating and dealing with these pesky inconveniences.

At one point I was convinced it was hormonal, and very well could be. But there’s nothing cyclical about my flare ups. It doesn’t happen every month at a scheduled time, so I’m not sure what the exact problem is. But I’ve created my own list of skincare remedies that will soothe my skin, destroy my pimples, and get it all back to normal in a few days. I also try to simplify my skincare routine, too. Instead of adding serums and face oils to my skin, I will cleanse, tone, and moisturize my skin along with doing these five things:

Mist me away

I’m a longtime fan of face mist, and this soothing face mist from Glossier is one of my absolute favourites. I’ve been using it religiously for over a year now, most especially when my skin isn’t looking or feeling it greatest. It has a light but calming fragrance, and helps hydrate and cool my skin down, which is perfect for the angry breakout of pimples on my chin and cheeks. I also like using it after I’ve used washed and exfoliated my face to help tone and rebalance my skin. And the best part is I can use mist my face as much as I’d like. There’s no way to overdue it.

Tea tree is everything

The only ingredient I want to use on my face when I’m dealing with a breakout is tea tree oil. I’ve been using it for years to control excess oil and blemishes, and it’s the only thing I trust when my skin is freaking out. Tea tree oil isn’t new. It’s considered the OG of acne-fighting ingredients because of it’s anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

I love using The Body Shop’s tea tree oil as an acne treatment because it really works. I have oily/combination skin, so I can handle using tea tree oil on my skin every day. I know people with more sensitive skin find tea tree oil too irritating, but I’ve never had a breakout from using it. I just pour a few drops into the palm of my hand and then apply it to my problem areas. After just one night I usually see that a few pimples have all but disappeared, and the bigger ones have reduced in size. It’s literally my lifesaver when it comes to controlling my breakouts.

Mask attack

In combination with tea tree oil, I’ve started using this tea tree mask by Biossance to help detox and rebalance my skin. It’s super gentle, and it’s packed with Biossance’s hero product: squalane. The mask itself isn’t drying, which I really liked. My skin just feels very cool and looks more even. I also like that the scent of the tea tree oil isn’t very strong. It’s very light, and I find it really soothing, to be honest. I’ll use it at least once a week, and sometimes I’ll do a mini spot treatment when I’m breaking out.

Rollin’ with the homies

Facial rollers are super popular, and I can definitely see why. I’ve had mine for almost a year now, and I still get excited about using it every night. It feels so cool against your skin, and helps reduce tension in my face, particularly around my mouth and jaw. I’ve started using it after I apply moisturizer or a super hydrating face mask to help press the product further into my skin. It’s one of the best beauty hacks I’ve learned this year and it feels incredible. When my skin is breaking out, there is nothing better than spending 5 or 6 minutes rolling this green crystal across my skin.

Water, water everywhere

The last thing I do to deal with breakouts is increase the amount of water I’m drinking. I’m usually pretty good about drinking enough water, but I know I could always be drinking more. Plus, there’s a huge link between water and skin health. Water helps flush out all the toxins that have built up in your body and skin, so drinking lots of it is always a good idea.