Bare minerals original vs matte for acne sufferers and acne prone skin

About two months ago, I made a mistake that irritated my skin horribly. I purchased the Bare minerals original foundation instead of the matte formula that I always use. Without even realizing this mistake, I started using the original formula and noticed a slight sheen on my skin. I suddenly realized that I bought the wrong foundation. So, I thought no big deal plus I don't want to waste the money. Big mistake.

My skin started to slowly but surely get worse. I noticed lots of tiny bumps on my forehead. But I am so cheap that I didn't even think the Bare minerals original formula is the problem. I guess I just didn't want to waste the money by throwing it away. Being stubborn is a bad thing! So, my skin got pretty bad with about 10 inflamed whitehead pimples on the forehead and a few on my chin.

Long story short, I finally decided to stop using the original foundation and went back to the matte. My skin is now healing and most of the pimples disappeared from my face. It's just amazing to me that original bare minerals foundation irritated my skin that much. On the other hand, the matte foundation was just perfect for my acne prone skin. I wanted to write this post so that you guys should stick with the matte formula if you have oily or acne prone skin.

Oily, acne prone skin dos and don'ts

I had oily skin for many years and came up with this list of dos and don'ts with oily, acne prone skin. Oily acne prone skin is one of the hardest skin types to care for because of excessive oil production on the face and constant breakouts. A lot of people have the wrong idea of how to manage acne prone skin which will make the problem worse. Anyways, here is the list and I hope it will help out others with oily, acne prone skin.


Do wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed with a suitable face wash designed for oily or acne prone skin. Twice, no more no less.

Do use foundation with oil production control and acne treating ingredients.

Do use a deep cleaning mask once a week to properly clean out the pores and any dirt, oil left on your face.

Do use products from Neutrogena which is gentle on the skin but tough on acne (I know it sounds like I am promoting their products, but Neutrogena does actually work. In fact, my skin is both acne prone and sensitive, Neutrogena is one of the best brands out there for my case at least.)

Do carefully choose your makeup and skin care products and make sure they are non-comedogenic (do not clog pores).

Do use a light moisturizer when you have combination skin.

Don't wash your face when you feel excessive oily, stick with the twice a day routine that I mentioned above. Over washing will cause excessive oily production which will make your acne prone skin even more likely to have acne.

Don't use oil blotting papers. Your face will compensate for "oil loss" by producing even more oil and faster.

Don't use cosmetics that are full coverage but not designed for oily or acne prone skin. This can cause really bad breakouts because your pores are clogged. Again, look for non-comedogenic.

Don't use a harsh soap bar for washing your face.

Anti-wrinkle skin care and acne prone skin

Anti-wrinkle skin care is a MUST for every woman at almost every age, even for those that have active acne. There is a myth that oily skin do not tend to get as much wrinkles as dry and normal skin. This is somewhat true but lots of people with oily skin can still get wrinkles when we age. What is the appropriate time to start anti-wrinkle skin care routine? My answer would be around 25 years old. Women that are 25 would already start to see light wrinkles on different parts of their face.

Around the eyes

People with acne on their face would not get a single pimple near the eyes. I don’t know why but it seems like that area is not prone to acne. This area has the most delicate skin on your face and you must take very good care of it. Anti-wrinkle cream should be used on this area daily. Most major cosmetic brands have anti-wrinkle cream products that are suitable for younger people. It is so important to visit a place like Macy’s where they have lots of different reputable brands in their cosmetics section. You should buy this product from a well known brand not something you find in a 99 cents store. I would recommend using anti wrinkle eye creams as early as when you turn twenty. I started using Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Eye Contour Cream when I turned twenty two. I can honestly say that it diminished the very fine lines under my eyes.

On your face

This gets tricky because most people with active acne tend to breakout anywhere on their face. If you use the wrong products with lots of oil in its ingredients, your problems will become worse. The best thing to do is to use a moisturizer instead of anti-wrinkle cream on your face. Most anti-wrinkle creams for the face are too rich for oily skin. But a moisturizer has similar effects as an anti-wrinkle cream. A lot of places have oil free moisturizers that are suitable to use for oily skin. If possible, you should try it on your skin before purchasing it. When the moisturizer feels light and barely noticeable on your skin, it is the right product for you.

Your neck

This is another area that tends to reveal your age. You should either use the same moisturizer that you use on your face or choose a richer product. Generally, this area does not tend to have lots of acne problems. It will be able to tolerate an anti wrinkle product.

How should I use the product?

Anti wrinkle eye cream can be used once or twice a day depending on personal preference. Moisturizers should be used only once during the day because you want your skin to breathe overnight and repair itself. For the neck, it is okay to use whatever product you choose twice a day for the best results.

Things you must avoid when you have active pimples / acne prone skin

Pimples are hard to deal with and most people needed to deal with them at least once in their lifetime. There are things that you must avoid to properly cope with the situation. Some people do things that can cause more problems without knowing and pimples can get even worse. There are a few of the common things that you can mess up on for your daily skin care routine. Be sure to avoid things listed below to make your skin look better.

Wash face / use lots of oil absorbing papers

This is a mistake that people with oily skin makes quite often. Those with oily skin hate the fact that they have lots of oil on the face constantly. It has a shiny appearance and people think that they don’t properly wash their faces. Some people wash their face whenever they feel oily. This is very bad for oily skin because your skin will compensate by producing more sebum which makes your face even oilier. This is a vicious cycle because oilier skin causes more pimples. Same is true for oil absorbing papers. As a rule of thumb, only wash your face twice a day.

Smoking

Smoking can negatively affect your skin. It makes you break out even more especially when you combine it with other bad habits such as drinking, drugs and etc. When you quit smoking, your skin will improve because you are not getting those toxins in your body.

Pick, squeeze, pop

Whatever you call it, picking at a pimple is one of the worst ways to deal with them. Many people argue that by popping a pimple, you will get rid of it faster. However, popping it wrongly will cause a scar or make the pimple even worse.

Using toner

Toner is a solution that a lot of people use after washing their face to make pores smaller. Many toners are designed without alcohol which makes them suitable for oily skin. However, toner can make your acne worse even if it is okay to use for oily skin. Oily skin tends to have large pores. And by shrinking the pores, sebum gets trapped inside the pores and more pimples will surface on your face.

Eating certain foods

This is controversial. Many experts believe that food has nothing to do with your skin. But a lot of people that I know avoid certain foods to avoid getting more acne. Here are the foods that can cause pimples: milk related products, seaweed and junk foods. This is really for each individual. You acne situation might not be affected by foods anyway.

Sun tanning, being in the sun too much without proper protection

UV rays can cause lots of damage for your skin and also make acne worse. Lots of people enjoy outdoor activities and neglect to protect their skin. If you want a golden tan, you can use a stray on self tanner to achieve very good results. When you are out in the sun, you should wear proper protective clothing or sunscreen to shield yourself from the UV rays.

Alcohol

Alcohol can make your acne worse. A lot of times, your skin is an indicator of your health. Alcohol consumption damages your health and your skin shows that by having worse acne.

Wrong makeup

Makeup that is not designed for oily skin can cause lots of problems. It will clog pores and make your face breakout. Things that are designed for oily skin can actually help acne prone skin. When you select makeup, make sure you buy ones that are non-comedogenic. See a complete list of all ingredients that can clog pores.

Hair near face

A lot of girls / guys use their hair to cover the problem areas. This is good so that people will not see your acne from far away. However, hair has oil that will clog pores and irritate skin. This is very good for acne because it will make the problem worse. You will breakout more and the surrounding area will be red. You should keep your hair tied up so that it is completely out of your face.