If you suffer from acne, whether you are a teenager or in your forties, it is a bothersome, and sometimes embarrassing battle that you want to win. But where do you start?

 5 Simple Steps to Clearer Skin

Step 1: Cleanse

On top of adhering to a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water, you must wash your face twice a day. Be careful when selecting a cleanser, as many are formulated with harsh, drying chemicals that will only cause more inflammation. The Clear Cell Salicylic Gel Cleanser is a gentle, foaming cleanser. The salicylic acid reduces oil and discoloration and will exfoliate without irritating the skin. The anti-oxidants will promote healing and keep the skin soft and shine free.

Step 2: Exfoliate

A whitehead or blackhead forms when a pore becomes clogged, and often times infected, which is why exfoliating is key. The Clear Cell Medicated Acne Facial Scrub uses benzoyl peroxide and anti-oxidants to clean out clogged pores and soothe the skin. Benzoyl Peroxide is an organic compound that breaks into oxygen when applied. The oxygen destroys the bacteria while the micro-exfoliant beads sloughs off the dead skin cells.

Step 3: Tonic

Using a tonic is especially important for those with excessively oily skin because it will close up pores. The Clear Cell Salicylic Clarifying Tonic soothes the skin with green tea, tea tree and chamomile. This will reduce inflammation as well as remove excess oil and bacteria, leaving the skin looking fresh and shine-free.

Step 4: Masque

A good masque is key to any acne skincare routine, but should not be used daily, but rather 1-3 times a week. The Clear Cell Medicated Acne Masque uses an aggressive yet gentle blend of glycolic and salicylic acids to exfoliate and draw out impurities. The green tea and manuka blends add essential nutrients while the China Clay absorbs all excess oils. It can be applied to the entire face or used as a spot treatment, and will reduce redness and dry out lesions.

Step 5: Moisturize

Often those that suffer from oily skin want to shy away from lotions. However, a moisturizer that is well formulated will keep your skin from becoming dry and irritated. The Clear Cell Medicated Acne Lotion is an oil-free lotion that will control the over-production of oil while using anti-oxidants to hydrate. A natural lightener will fade the visibility of redness of both current and past lesions. Remember to always end your morning routine with an oil-free sunscreen such as the Prevention+ Daily Matte Moisturizer, to prevent further damage.