Impurities to face - How they occur and what you can do about them

Are you miles away from puberty and still keep discovering one or more nasty surprises in the mirror? Do you envy the clear skin of your friends while your own skin makes you despair? Is your life already a bit turbulent and now a bright red spot in the middle of to face is annoying you? Have mercy on your skin - this little pimple party isn't actually trying to annoy you. Because there are logical explanations and reasons for this skin phenomenon, most of which are not your fault. I would like to help you with this and give you a better understanding of blemishes. You won't welcome your unpleasant companions all at once, but perhaps I can help you to understand them.

1. How do blackheads, spots and the like develop?
2. What are the causes of spots and blackheads?
3. The right skin care for blemishes
4. Which ingredients and which products help with spots and blemishes?
5. Tips - do's & don'ts for the care of blemished skin

1. how blackheads, pimples and co. develop

For this chapter, I advise you to sharpen your scientific eye and put your emotions to one side. If we look at our skin from a rational perspective, we may even be able to show some understanding for its behavior.
A blackhead occurs when the glands produce an excessive amount of sebum, also known as seborrhea. At the same time, increased growth of horny cells in the duct of the sebaceous glands leads to blockage of the sebaceous follicle. A plug forms which closes the outlet of the duct. Dirt or make-up residue can also block the pores. A closed comedo, known as a whitehead, has formed. As soon as the skin tears at the closed white comedo, air reaches the accumulated sebum. The stored skin pigment melanin reacts with the oxygen in the air and stains the plug dark, creating the typical appearance of blackheads.

The dead skin lipids provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which colonize and lead to an infection. The body's own defense system defends itself against the foreign inhabitants and triggers inflammatory processes. The decomposition of the sebum also leads to the formation of free fatty acids, which promote inflammation. If the blackheads become inflamed, this is known as a pimple. A focus of pus often forms at the top and visible redness decorates the skin. 
Ordinary pimples usually only appear sporadically and subside after a while. Acne, on the other hand, is more serious and usually persists over a long period of time. The follicle wall ruptures, releasing lipids, fatty acids, horny cells, bacteria and cell fragments. These cause extensive, deep and painful inflammation in the surrounding tissue, which can end up as abscesses with lump formation.

2 What are the causes of spots and blackheads? 

Good to know, but why exactly is your skin doing this? If your skin shows its stressed side with blackheads, pimples and acne, this can be due to various factors. In most cases, a combination of personal predisposition and an altered hormonal balance leads to blemished skin.
During puberty in particular, the body undergoes hormonal changes. Both boys and girls produce more testosterone - the androgenic male sex hormone. Among other things, the hormone stimulates sebum production, which leads to increased secretion of skin oils. These give the skin a greasy, oily and shiny sheen.
Hormones also influence the appearance of our skin during the female cycle. In the second half of the cycle, there is an increase in the luteal hormone progesterone, which has an androgenic partial effect. At the same time, the amount of oestrogen, which normally slows down sebum production, decreases. The graphic shows you how best to care for your skin during your cycle.

The drop in oestrogen levels during the menopause is also noticeable in the skin. The skin becomes less elastic; it tends to develop blemishes or pimples. 
Twin studies have also shown that hereditary factors play a role. It has been shown that acne patients have an increased sensitivity to androgens, which promote excessive sebum production. 
Diet is also said to have an influence on acne. We have already mentioned several times that your gut is very closely connected to your skin. If it is doing well, you can see this in the form of clear and radiant skin. To avoid putting unnecessary strain on your gut, you should avoid certain foods that are not good for your skin. Foods that contain a lot of preservatives and sugar can be the cause of pimples. It is better to eat fresh, unprocessed ingredients that contain vitamins and counteract possible inflammation. You can also strengthen your gut with fiber, such as linseed. Unnoticed intolerances to food or certain cosmetic products can also lead to blemishes and inflammation. These can range from small pimples to acne-like flare-ups. Omitting certain ingredients can help to identify the triggers. If you suspect a food intolerance, I recommend that you keep a food diary and have yourself tested for possible allergies by your doctor. The climate and other environmental factors are also suspected of causing blemish prone skin 
Although the influence of psychological factors on the appearance of the skin has not been proven, stress in particular is often observed as a trigger for pimples. The development of pimples is then presumably due to a lack of skin care and hygiene or an unconscious diet during stressful everyday life.
However, the psyche is not entirely unimportant in the course of the disease. Like many other skin diseases, blemish prone skin causes a high level of psychological distress and can have an enormous impact on the quality of life of affected people.  
Admittedly, after reading these lines, it's hard to feel quite as sympathetic to the subject. from it. And this is unlikely to change - but it doesn't have to. However, you should still deal with your blemished skin skillfully and treat it with respect. If you know your triggering factors, you can consciously avoid them. Read on to find out how to deal with pimples and blackheads if they do appear. 

3. the right skin care for blemished skin?

If you suffer from spots, there are a number of things you can do to reduce blemishes. At the same time, however, the wrong skin care can lead to additional irritation and make your skin look worse. Washing too often does not usually improve the skin condition. This is also quite logical, as blemish prone skin or acne are not a lack of personal hygiene. Quite the opposite - constant washing can damage the skin's protective acid mantle and make it even more susceptible to pimples and the like. To ensure you have permanently clear skin, you should develop your own skincare routine.  

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Targeted, regular and gentle cleansing is important and fundamental cleanser. Anything that accumulates on your face during the day should not go to bed with you. Make-up, dirt and excess skin secretions that remain on your face can clog your pores and cause inflammation. Especially at night, your skin craves breathable free pores. Your facial cleanser should be pH-neutral and contain no alcohol, perfume or fragrance. Mild surfactants in combination with plant-based moisturizers Cleanse gently and thoroughly cleanse the skin without drying it out. I recommend our Cleansing Oil or Cleansing Gel. 

Once or twice a week, you should integrate peeling into your skincare routine after cleansing your face. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) remove dead skin cells and thus enable a better flow of sebum. Beta hydroxy acids (BHA) penetrate deep into the pores, Cleanse them and thus Treat anti-inflammatory .

Step 3: 

To cleanse your skin Tone and take an extra step to unclog your pores Cleanse, spray 2-3 pumps of the Zinc toner onto your dry skin. You should skip this step on evenings when you use BHA or AHA peeling . The toner has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating effect. The trifactor for blemished, inflamed skin to promote the healing process and reduce the formation of new inflammation foci.  

Step 4:

To rebalance your skin, you should definitely use a regenerating serum after cleansing your face or after peeling apply . NiacinamideThis is a little miracle cure for blemished skin, works calming and strengthens the skin barrier. Here, too, you should leave it out on the evenings when you use BHA or AHA peeling . AM can then be used again without any problems. Retinal as an ingredient could become one of your best friends, as it regulates the keratinization of the skin and ensures a smooth complexion. You can use Niacinamide serum AM and Retinal serum PM . During the day, a sufficient sun screen is an absolute must. Retinal should also not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  

 To prevent your skin from drying out Protect, you should round off your skincare routine with moisturizer . When it comes to moisture, hyaluronic acid is almost literally second to none. It not only forms a moisturizing film on the skin's surface, but also stores moisture deep in the skin's connective tissue. With our hyaluronic creams provide your skin with rich, non-greasy moisture.  

However, you should be patient. Many things only show visible effects after weeks of regular use. In most cases, even one active ingredient or medium is not enough to improve the appearance of your skin in the long term.
Toothpaste, tea tree oil and herbal decoctions - well-intentioned tips just keep pouring in and everyone has THE unbeatable home remedy for you. However, if you start experimenting with all kinds of plants, teas and other things, you run the risk of really overloading your skin. Instead of a smooth complexion, your skin will become increasingly irritated. It's better to stick to a consistent skincare routine. This will allow your skin to slowly get used to the ingredients and benefit from them in the long term.

4 Which ingredients and which products help with spots and blemishes? 

Cleansing Gel - What are the effects of sugar, acids and fats?

Time to talk about the effect of the ingredients in our cleansing gel. Our new gel contains: Sugar beet extract, aloe vera, lactic and tartaric acid, plant-based surfactants, chamomile flower extract.

Sugar in cosmetics? Yet it doesn't have a good reputation at all and is even said to be responsible for blemish prone skin . When it comes to nutrition, sugar can definitely be dispensed with. In the form of surfactants, however, sugar is now known to do a good job. Sugar surfactants are particularly well tolerated and are therefore also suitable for sensitive skin. Sugar beet also contains a natural fruit acid, glycolic acid. It belongs to the alpha-hydroxy acids and penetrates deep into the epidermis due to its small molecule size. It removes horny scales and unclogs pores. Acemannan from aloe vera also belongs to the group of "sugar pieces". Until puberty, our body even produces this active ingredient itself. It not only strengthens our immune system, but is also an important basis for our skin vessel walls. This is not the only reason why our skin enjoys an extra portion of aloe vera. The anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant and moisturizing properties properties help against pimples, eczema and stressed skin.
The breakdown of sugar also provides us with an effective skin care substance. Although lactic acid sounds like an aggressive substance, it is a true all-rounder for our skin. As a mild peeling it dissolves calluses on the upper layer of the skin and removes impurities from the pores. It is also a natural moisturizing factor and occurs naturally on the outer layer of our skin. Lactic acid binds and stores water and protects us from dehydration. As a component of the natural acid mantle, the acid supports and regulates our pH-value skin. Our skin barrier thus protects us from bacteria, fungi, environmental influences and harmful microorganisms. As soon as the active ingredient is absorbed by our cells, it stimulates the body's own production of ceramides and collagen. Damaged cells are thus repaired and can recover quickly. Now that our skin is cleansed and moisturized, all that is missing is a protective layer to strengthen our skin in the long term. The natural skin barrier consists of dead skin cells that are bound together by a mixture of fats and water. With a share of 60%, Ceramides is the main component of the fats in this so-called horny layer. For this reason, they are constantly being produced in the lowest layers of the epidermis. If we support our skin with natural ceramides from the outside, the skin's barrier function is strengthened. We lose less moisture and at the same time prevent the penetration of irritants and bacteria. And salts also unclog our pores, Treat have an antibacterial effect and provide intensive moisture.
Our skin doesn't make it easy for us with all its needs. Once it is out of balance, it wants support from all sides. Quite demanding, but if you provide it with a thorough daily cleanser, it won't put quite so many obstacles in your way.  

And now to our Spot cream - why the ingredients here also offer us a lot of good and above all targeted effects is mainly due to these main active ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin E, Castor Oil, bentonite, plant-based oils.

By blocking specific metabolic pathways, Zinc inhibits sebum production and can act as an immune booster to support wound healing. It is therefore hardly surprising that a zinc deficiency can lead to skin problems. Around 17% of the world's population suffers from a zinc deficiency, and it has been proven that this mainly affects patients with acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. An undersupply leaves its mark in the form of inflammation, pimples and wound healing disorders. In a study involving 332 acne patients, French scientists from the University Hospital in Nantes observed that taking 30 mg of Zinc per day reduced the inflammatory pustules by up to 50 percent. However, the effect of Zinc on the skin can be used not only internally. The antibacterial and antiseptic effect effectively combats pimples. In addition, Zinc binds moisture and thus deprives bacteria of the breeding ground they normally need to multiply and promote skin blemishes. 

Vitamin E can be found in almost all natural cosmetic skin care products. And not without reason, because vitamin E or tocopherol is a real all-rounder. Vitamin E is suitable as a natural preservative and ensures a long shelf life for your skincare product. But more importantly, vitamin E also preserves your skin. It works antioxidative, promotes cell division, stabilizes structural proteins such as collagen, Keratin and elastin and improves skin hydration. It also relieves inflammation and is therefore particularly suitable for blemished skin.
Vitamin E occurs naturally in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. There it protects the sensitive fatty acids from damage caused by atmospheric oxygen and light. Both coconut oil and sunflower seed oil benefit from the antioxidant effect and are therefore an excellent source of the miracle vitamin. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are also provided by the fatty acids they contain, such as lauric acid and linoleic acid. Castor Oil helps to combat the formation of spots, stimulates the production of collagen and thus ensures healthy skin protection. Blue chamomile oil can also boast the same properties. Bisabolol, the main active ingredient in true/blue Camomile, gives the oil its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and regenerative properties. Other ingredients are also said to have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and give the oil a calming and relaxing character that can soothe stressed skin.

However, another player is responsible for removing the bacteria that cause inflammation. Bentonite, a mineral earth derived from volcanic ash, binds pollutants and bacteria in its mineral structure and thus frees our pores from unwanted dirt.
That sounds like a real all-round carefree package. It is, and that's how it should be. If you already have blemished skin, you shouldn't be punished with a complicated skincare routine.

5. tips - do's & don'ts for the care of blemished skin

DOs

You should never miss out on daily facial cleansing. Even if you have to do it quickly in the morning or it's a little late at PM , your unclogged pores will thank you. Make sure you wash and rinse your Towel or sponge thoroughly. They provide the perfect environment for bacteria to spread quickly. 

Not everyone's skin is the same, but everyone is grateful for alcohol-free, oil-free, pH-neutral and mild skincare. blemish prone skin in particular tends to react particularly sensitively to certain ingredients and is punished with redness, blackheads and spots.

While fatty or very sugary foods clog your pores and lead to blemishes, fresh foods provide you with lots of vitamins for beautiful, smooth skin. Even if you find it hard to give up at first, it's definitely worth giving up spots. 

If we are under internal pressure and tension, our body releases stress hormones. These can also promote blemish prone skin and trigger spots. So pamper yourself and your skin as much as you can with a breather or two. If you calm down, your skin will soon calm down too. 

DON'Ts

Even if it is very difficult and your fingers itch, you should definitely refrain from squeezing pimples and blackheads. This encourages the development of inflammation and your skin will hit back with a double dose of redness. If, on the other hand, you leave them to heal in peace, they will heal just as quickly and you will prevent scarring.

Our hands are THE magnet for bacteria and viruses. Almost everything that comes into contact with us passes through our hands first. And promptly all kinds of bacteria and dirt particles end up on our face with our hands. Regular hand washing is therefore just as important as not touching your face all the time. Studies have also shown that no other object contains as many bacteria as our smartphone. The next time we make a phone call, this ends up directly on our face. You should therefore also regularly Cleanse and disinfect it. 

Blemishes naturally tempt you to apply a thick layer of make-up. If you close your pores with concealer and the like, the sebum can't drain away and the next pimple is already on its way. Even if you find it difficult to go out in public, there is no reason to hide. And if you do have to wear a bit of make-up, only use the essentials and don't forget to remove your make-up.

Of course, life would be much easier if you didn't have to constantly fight pimples, blackheads and pustules. Unfortunately, pimples cannot simply be magically removed and do not disappear overnight. The reassuring news: blemish prone skin affects at least 80% of people and many can only dream of smooth skin. Clear skin is the result of many factors and even if you have a predisposition to blemished skin, you can influence your skin's appearance to a certain extent. You don't have to go straight to the doctor for every pimple. However, if blackheads and pimples are widespread and persist over a long period of time, I would definitely recommend seeing a doctor. If the right cleanser and care are not enough, your skin may need intensive treatment for acne. 

Enough of spots, blackheads etc. - you can now close your scientific eye again and banish your angry emotions from your emotional world. Stay relaxed, don't hide and be the active part for a clear complexion.