Collection: Skin Care Products For Adult Acne

Mature skin is typically drier, easily sensitised and prone to hyperpigmentation and scaring due to slower healing rates. As teenage skin tends to produce excess sebum, many teen acne spot fighting products can leave adult skin feeling tight and dry, and can cause barrier damage, in turn exacerbating breakouts and inflammation – it can be a vicious cycle.

There are five main factors that contribute to the causes of adult acne: overactive sebaceous glands, dead skin cell accumulation, bacteria, inflammation, and post-inflammatory pigmentation. Good skincare for adult acne will target all five factors to see true changes in the skin.

What is a good skin care routine for adult acne?

1. Start with a gentle double cleanse Properly cleansing the skin is the first key step in helping to clear and prevent breakouts. Opt for gentle formulas that respect the skins natural acidic PH and moisture levels. Start your double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser like PreCleanse to dissolve dirt, excess sebum (oil), make up, sunscreen and pollutants. Follow with an antibacterial cleanser like Clearing Skin Wash that is formulated with Salicylic Acid. It will help target bacteria, decongest skin and reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
2. Target, treat and prevent Next follow with a targeted acne treatment that not only soothes active breakouts and minimises flare ups, but also hydrates the skin and prevents new breakouts from forming. Hydration ensures dead skin cells are shed effectively and helps control oil production. We recommend AGE Bright Clearing Serum as it is formulated with Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide to boost skin healing and clear impactions, whilst addressing the signs of skin ageing. 
3. Hydrate and protect Acne is tricky. Sometimes skin can feel dry (lacking oil) and dehydrated (lacking water) when you're battling your breakouts. On the other hand, it may overproduce sebum (aka oil) to compensate for dryness and dehydration, so staying hydrated and protected is as essential to acne concerns as balancing excess oil production. Prebiotic technology can also help balance the levels of breakout causing bacteria. Try Active Moist – it provides effective, oil-free hydration without a greasy feel. 

In need of some expert advice for dealing with adult acne and the best Dermalogica products to use? Our qualified skin therapists will be able to best recommend a personalised product regimen for your adult acne. Find your local Dermalogica qualified skin therapist via our store locator or contact us here. We also offer an online personalised professional skin analysis that is as easy as taking a selfie! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I still getting acne when I am over 30? 

One of the first questions adults have when they experience acne is, “Why am I breaking out at this age?” Contrary to popular belief, acne isn’t just for teenagers. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or skin type. While teens typically get acne because of puberty hormones that trigger excess sebum production in the skin, adults get acne for a variety of reasons that range from intrinsic factors (stress, genetics, hormones, endocrine disorders, immune system, microbiome) to extrinsic factors (lifestyle, cosmetic use, the environment). 

What is the difference between adult acne and teen acne? 

Adult acne generally falls into two categories: persistent and late onset. Adults with persistent acne are experiencing a continuation or relapse of acne from adolescence into adulthood and middle age. Late-onset acne (generally 25 years old and above) can happen to everyone irrespective of prior acne condition(s) during teenage years. Adults also often have sensitised skin and a combination of other skin conditions in addition to acne, which makes treatment more complex than treatment of teens, who generally have more resilient, uniform oily skin. Read more about the differences here. 

How can I get rid of my adult acne fast? 

There is no miracle cure or fast-acting overnight treatment to cure adult acne. When treating adult acne, it’s important to remember to always stay consistent and give your skin time to heal. It can be overwhelming and frustrating trying to figure out which products will work best for your skin, which is why we have created Active Clearing, an advanced range of products designed spfecially for adult acne. 

What type of adult acne products does Dermalogica offer online?

Our Active Clearing range of acne skincare products harness the best of nature and science to control adult breakouts and reduce the appearance of related skin ageing. Having products that address breakouts, ageing and repair the skin's barrier simultaneously helps streamline treatment to truly support an adult acne skin.