I’m purging right now! And by “purging,” I’m not talking about the movie where people don masks and become crazed killers for one night. I’m talking about my skin breaking out, a.k.a purging, because I started using a heavy-duty glycolic acid toner about a month ago (the Advanced 10% Exfoliating Pads by BeautyRx, $70).
Shortly before the new year rolled around, I decided I was going to get my skin care routine on track (finally). I was going to start wearing sunscreen every day again (I know!), drink lots of water, and incorporate an acid toner into my routine, among other things.
I started with these pads and have been using them every other night for a month, and now my skin is breaking out.
Normally, when I’m just going about my usual business, I will occasionally get a zit here or there, but it’s been a while since a whole crop of little pimples showed up to the party… I’m assuming it’s because of the glycolic acid ramping up skin cell turnover and clearing out the stuff stuck in my pores.
This has happened to me before when I’ve added a heavy-duty exfoliating product into the mix. There’s a period when I break out for a bit, but then my skin usually clears up after about six weeks (hopefully).
It usually takes a while… I’m looking at my forehead and wondering, “When will it be over!?” Granted, this isn’t one of the worst breakouts I’ve had (in college when I had really bad hormonal acne, I went through a round of Accutane, and the purging was intense), and I don’t think it’s noticeable from more than a few feet away, but I can definitely see the bumpy texture, especially when I’m looking at myself in pictures.
Until it passes, I’m not wearing extra dewy finishes on certain areas, and I’m going to be extra good about applying an acne cream in the mornings and at night (I swear by Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion with benzoyl peroxide).
Anyway, I was wondering if you’ve ever experienced a skin purge before, or if you happen to be purging now. Stay strong, friend! This too shall pass.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Happy International Women’s Day! ?⭐?
Oh, such a bummer! I’m not currently purging but have been battling some dry skin from my Retinol. I’m once daily and starting to see some results so I’m just moisturizing like crazy. The fine lines were the first to go and even the deep creasing in my forehead is much less noticeable. I think my pores are also showing great improvement. Fingers off that all visible pores and blackheads will be banished forever. 🙂 I’ve never had luck with benzoyl peroxide but salicylic acid really helps me.
Good luck with the skin clearing. I’m sure the results will be worth this bumpy patch. 🙂
Hi Kim,
I’ve had decent results with salicylic acid too! What salicylic acid products does your skin like?
I have a Neutrogena rapid clear lotion that I use in my T-zone and it’s good stuff. The boys are at that stage where they are having breakouts and this clears it up pretty much overnight. Before the Retinol, I used CeraVe SA as a twice daily moisturizer (all over my face). Now it would be too harsh. The drugstore has been pretty good to me with the SA. 🙂 I’ve also had good luck with Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion.
I’ve used that one before and remember liking it! It’s pretty old school but effective.
Ya know, there are many things I miss about being young, but those teenage breakouts aren’t one of them.
My skin has deteriorated a lot in this pregnancy. I hardly ever get pimples and now I get them more often, and my skin has a lot of unevenness in general right now. Did you experience that when you were pregnant?
Hi Agata,
I didn’t really break out but I did get some pigmentation, and that was probably because I wasn’t really using any serums or anything, just moisturizer.
How many weeks are you now?
I’m 21 weeks as of today.
My skin doesn’t look terrible but it’s definitely looking worse than normal.
Ahh, how wonderful! Are you feeling OK?
Everything changes when you’re pregnant, your skin, your hair, your ability to sleep, LOL!
Sleep is the worst!
Generally, I’m feeling fine now. I have a lot of round ligament pain and back pain right now. I’m the first trimester I was struggling with headaches every day but now it’s better.
And I’m struggling with my changing body and getting bigger too…
Sorry to break it to you but sleep just gets worse as you get farther into it. This pillow really helped me a lot:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/daily-photo/leachco-snoogle/
I know that in the skin care community and in quite possibly in real life purging is a thing, but I have recently personally rejected this idea. I’m not an anti-fact person by any means I just feel like when I listen to my skin, I am rewarded and when I don’t, my face turns into a monster. I used to be able to go through a purge but these days the scars that are left over (even if I don’t pick at them!) are not worth it for me 🙁
I hope your skin gets better, and you’re left with radiance and glowiness!
Thanks Indya! I’m going to stick it out for a little while longer and if it doesn’t turn around soon I’ll take a different route.
What skin care products are you currently using and loving btw? I know you’re a Kate Somerville fan.
Believe it or not, I’ve been loving a random, lanolin-based cleanser I found at TJ Maxx! I get really anxious in stores like this but I was in there one day and there weren’t many people in there and found that gem! Downside is I probably won’t be able to replace it once it runs out as it was the last one and I can’t find it online 🙁
I’ve been using Son & Park Beauty Water a lot lately too!
I did love Kate’s Exfolikate moisturizer but good lordt it’s expensive. I am playing around with other moisturizers before I re-up on that one.
GIRL. I get nervous buying beauty products there too. I’ve seen one too many people open up jars and sample lotions and whatnot in the middle of the aisle! Freaks me out. I’m glad you found something that works for you though.
I have clear skin now, although up until my late 30s I had prolific acne. I did, however, experience an skin purge towards the end of a three-day fast. Deep, cystic pimples cropping up in places where I would normally not get them (not even when I had regular acne). After I broke the fast, the pimples subsided. I’m curious if that would happen again!
Every time I switch skin care products, I break out after a few days. Then in a few more days, it settles down and I don’t have any further problems. I rarely switch skin care products now, having found stuff that works and not wanting to deal with the breakouts.
Hi Kellly,
That’s awesome that you found a routine that works for you. I should really just stick to what I know, but I always get antsy and think the next best thing is around the corner!
I just started using Differin and am dreading any purging that may come. I console myself with thoughts of beautifully clear skin by summer (which is why I chose now to start). Be encouraged!
Good luck with the Differin, Stacey! I know it works for a lot of people so I hope it brings you clear skin.
I too am going through the purge. My face went to being combo to super dry from the heater being on all the time at my house. Then I used the pixi glycolic acid pads to help with exfoliating the dry skin and now it’s break out central. I’m using the Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion (Thanks for the recommendation!) which has worked before and it’s slowly getting better. I also like to use the MARIO BADESCU Drying Cream which works great too.
Hi Leah,
You’re welcome! Isn’t that stuff great! Layers well under makeup and doesn’t have a funky smell. The heater drives my skin crazy too, gahh! I hope your skin heals sooner than later.
I’m currently dealing with the after-effects of trying out the Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte, which unfortunately broke me out 🙁 I was super bummed! I was really hoping to like it… but that, and the texture, and the color (NOT for my skin tone) and the fact that it irritated the outside corners of my eyes all qualified it for a return to Sephora. I still have a swath of bumpy skin on my cheeks from that experience, sigh.
I’m currently trying out the Bareminerals Complexion Rescue… I’ve gotten a few little pimples here and there, but I think that’s because I haven’t been taking off my makeup at night (whoops). I’ve changed up a few things all at once, too, because I’m impatient and want to get rid of the bumpy aftermath of the umbra tinte… so I’m currently trying to be more regular about using my Pixi Glow tonic. Oh, and I got some new night cream, from a line my friend recommended while we were in New Zealand! It’s called Alpine Silk. I just finished the last drop of their Manuka Honey night creme (which I picked up while we were there last year), and was bummed because I can’t it find anywhere in the US – BUT they have their normal “replenishing night creme” on Amazon! Basically works exactly the same as the manuka stuff, so I’m on cloud 9. It smells a little like old lady, but OMG it’s so luxurious. It feels so good when you apply it (it weirdly stings the tiniest bit when you use it for the first time… not sure why, though I think it has something to do with how dry your skin is) and it seems to moisturize and heal SO quickly. So I’m a big fan, haha. Once I run out of my current daytime moisturizer, I’m going to try the Alpine Silk daily moisturizer too… see how it holds up!
Hi Shannon,
Be careful about buying skin care (or any other beauty related products) on Amazon. I’ve been burned one too many times and so now I’m super cautious. Such a bummer that Umbra Tinte didn’t work for you. I like it but I’m about to order a Jan Marini sunscreen because the dewy finish from Umbra Tinte highlights the bumps (I’ve also heard that the Jan Marinin one doesn’t flash black and layers well under makeup, yay).
Oh, something that might help with remembering to take makeup off at night: keep a pack of makeup wipes near your bed. That way, as you’re falling into it you can at least do a quick wipe. It’s better than nothing!
Noted re: Amazon! The texture of this lotion seems on point… but I will certainly keep that in mind.
Interesting re: the Jan Marini! Haven’t heard of it, but it sounds super awesome. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I’ve been looking for a good mineral sunscreen for the face – I want something that’s separate from my base (though I’m enjoying the Bareminerals Complexion Rescue ATM). I wanna check Farmacy’s Green Screen. I picked up their balm (which is lovely) from Sephora the other day and started reading up on their other products. Their mineral sunscreen has really great reviews, so I might try that next… we’ll see.
And YES, I totally need to put my facewipes by the bed!! Although the last time I did that I lost them for a week because I forgot I put them there. lol! I’ve been slowwwllly getting better at taking my makeup off at night, and it just feels so nice. It’s healthy self-care, y’know? Like, my skin is worth it. <3 it's a nice little reminder at the end of the day. Since my word of the year is "health," I've been trying to notice things like that. Bein' healthy feels good, and that includes taking the steps to have healthy skin! (so, Shannon, wash your face tonight! lol.)
I’m super paranoid about Amazon so I might just be overly cautious, but I’ve gotten burned a number of times so be careful!
Girl take off that makeup at night! I’m sure it’s tough after a long show but you gotta do it.
I have been purging when I started retinol a while back, but it passed within three weeks and it has kept me consistent because I fear it will return when I start to slack with my routine.
That’s not bad! I’ve read the average is about 8.
YES. I started a new skincare routine in January to try to handle my adult acne once and for all, and I’m also struggling with the sea of forehead bumps, and worse. Thanks for the solidarity.
Hi Brenda,
You’re welcome. I hope it passes quickly!
Ugh, sorry you’re dealing with this. My skin is still healing from a massive cystic acne breakout that lasted pretty much all last month along the left side of my face, from eyebrow to jaw. I don’t know if being ill caused it, or hormones, but its a nightmare to deal with. I hope your skin gets back to its normal lovely self soon.
Hi Rachel,
Hmm… That’s kind of odd that it was just on one side. Have you recently switched your laundry soap? Because if you sleep on your left side it might be related to that. Or are you using a new hair product? If you part your hair to the left, it could be that as well.
Nope, nothing new. The only hair product I use is shampoo and conditioner, and those are the same as always. Same detergent, etc., because my son has allergies and has to have scent- and color-free. I sleep on my right side, and my hair is always pulled up away from my face. I cannot for the life of me figure out why my left side was affected so much. It was really weird. I hope it doesn’t happen again!
My skin doesn’t like any acid type products, it gets red, irritated , dry and flaky. Sometimes with a nice rash as well lol. So I stick to the most basic, old school stuff – a gentle daily exfoliate by way of cream cleanser and a washcloth.
The best skin I ever had was when I lived in the UK & used Liz Earle products religiously (plus the there climate helped). I got carded buying wine when I was 31!
I’ve actually just discovered a new brand that I’m loving. It’s from New Zealand & called Glow Lab. The cleanser is kinda meh, the day cream is nice but doesn’t have a sunscreen in & that’s a must for me. But the serum and night cream are bomb! The night cream has actually replaced my favourite one that I’ve been using for years- and it’s half the price!
The Glow Lab stuff does honestly make your skin glow, it’s super hydrating and the night cream is very rich.
I have strong feelings on the subject of purging. Purging is real. The struggle is real. Just because something hasn’t happened to you as an individual doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened to others. One dermatologist will refute it or call it another thing, but I’m willing to bet that 100% of aestheticians agree on purging. Skin care is not one-size-fits all, and individuals have varying reactions, much like the way our livers process certain foods. I have purged from Retin-A and Biologique Recherche P50-1970. Retin-A was murder, but I stuck with it and my skin adjusted. I had a good run with Retin-A but I stopped using it because it felt like sandpaper when I applied it. I wish I hadn’t stopped, because I fear I’ll have to go through the process all over again. I love the BR, go ahead and judge me, but it lasts a long time.
Did your skin get better? Im using that product now and going through the same thing. Yikes!