z(it) happens / skincare routine
Acne 101
Sweat, Sunscreen & Skin Freakouts: Your Official Guide to Summer Breakouts
There’s a reason your skin feels more reactive in the summer — and it’s not just the heat. From sneaky breakout triggers like salty ocean swims and poolside chlorine to the way your skincare routine shifts with the season, acne-prone skin needs a little extra attention right now. Consider this your no-stress guide to keeping things clear, balanced, and beach-day ready.
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Sweat, Sunscreen & Skin Freakouts: Your Official Guide to Summer Breakouts
There’s a reason your skin feels more reactive in the summer — and it’s not just the heat. From sneaky breakout triggers like salty ocean swims and poolside chlorine to the way your skincare routine shifts with the season, acne-prone skin needs a little extra attention right now. Consider this your no-stress guide to keeping things clear, balanced, and beach-day ready.
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Breaking Out or Purging? Here’s How to Tell — and What to Do About It
You finally commit to a skincare routine — maybe it's your first dip into a retinoid, or you’re flirting with exfoliating acids — and boom: your face suddenly switches up on you. You’re spiraling. Is it a skin purge? A breakout? Is your barrier about to disown you? Take a breath. This might actually be a good sign. A skin purge happens when actives like retinoids or BHAs speed up cellular turnover and push all the junk (clogged pores, micro-breakouts, bad decisions) to the surface. It’s temporary. It’s annoying. But it can be a turning point if you know how to ride it out.
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Cryotherapy for Acne: Is It Worth It? Here’s the Chill Breakdown
Cold plunges. Ice rollers. Cryofacials. The skincare world is deep in its “frozen era,” and cryotherapy has officially entered the acne chat. If you’ve seen videos of skin icing or heard about cryofacials and wondered if there’s any real benefit, here’s what you should know. Cryotherapy won’t replace your acne treatments, but it can definitely support them. The right kind of cold therapy helps calm inflammation, reduce redness, and give your skin a little post-breakout breathing room. Let’s get into how cryotherapy works for acne and where a cryofacial fits into your routine.
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Latest Blog Posts
“Eventually, I realized the hard truth: there’s no real industry standard for what makes a product acne-safe”
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read moreAcne 101
Sweat, Sunscreen & Skin Freakouts: Your Official Guide to Summer Breakouts
There’s a reason your skin feels more reactive in the summer — and it’s not just the heat. From sneaky breakout triggers like salty ocean swims and poolside chlorine to the way your skincare routine shifts with the season, acne-prone skin needs a little extra attention right now. Consider this your no-stress guide to keeping things clear, balanced, and beach-day ready.
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read moreAcne 101
Breaking Out or Purging? Here’s How to Tell — and What to Do About It
You finally commit to a skincare routine — maybe it's your first dip into a retinoid, or you’re flirting with exfoliating acids — and boom: your face suddenly switches up on you. You’re spiraling. Is it a skin purge? A breakout? Is your barrier about to disown you? Take a breath. This might actually be a good sign. A skin purge happens when actives like retinoids or BHAs speed up cellular turnover and push all the junk (clogged pores, micro-breakouts, bad decisions) to the surface. It’s temporary. It’s annoying. But it can be a turning point if you know how to ride it out.
-
read moreAcne 101
Cryotherapy for Acne: Is It Worth It? Here’s the Chill Breakdown
Cold plunges. Ice rollers. Cryofacials. The skincare world is deep in its “frozen era,” and cryotherapy has officially entered the acne chat. If you’ve seen videos of skin icing or heard about cryofacials and wondered if there’s any real benefit, here’s what you should know. Cryotherapy won’t replace your acne treatments, but it can definitely support them. The right kind of cold therapy helps calm inflammation, reduce redness, and give your skin a little post-breakout breathing room. Let’s get into how cryotherapy works for acne and where a cryofacial fits into your routine.
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read moreAcne 101
Skin Cycling 101: How to Reset Acne-Prone Skin
If your shelf is full of half-used exfoliants and “miracle” products you gave up on, same. Skin cycling offers structure, but in a chill, supportive way that actually respects your skin barrier. This routine keeps things gentle, effective, and sustainable. No more guessing games. It’s not a social media trend. It’s a smarter way to treat acne, support your barrier, and finally get consistent results—especially if your skin is sensitive, acne-prone, or just plain tired. Skin cycling can be adjusted according to your skin type, whether it’s oily, dry, or reactive.
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ReadAcne 101
How to Pop a Pimple (If You’re Going to Do It Anyway)
We get it. You know you shouldn't pop that pimple, but here you are, standing in front of the mirror, fingers ready. You’re not alone. And while derms usually say “hands off,” sometimes the urge wins. So — if you’re going to pop it, here’s how to do it with the least damage, and the most control. This is just a guide — not a green light for every pimple, especially deep, cystic acne. When in doubt, skip the squeeze and go for a derm. But if you're dealing with a surface-level whitehead? Keep reading.
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read moreAcne 101
Pore-Clogging Ingredients to Watch For (and What to Use Instead)
If your acne-prone skin still feels unpredictable — even when you swear you’re doing everything right — it might be time to zoom in on ingredients. Comedogenic (aka pore-clogging) culprits can hide in everything from your cleanser to your conditioner, quietly clogging things up and making breakouts stick around. Even labels like “non-comedogenic” don’t always mean safe. That’s why it pays to know what ingredients to look for, and what to ditch.
