I’m too old to get acne 🤦🏻‍♀️

Unfortunately, acne disappearing in adulthood doesn’t always happen. There's nothing more disappointing than waiting until your 20s to finally have clear skin, and then learning the hard way that bad breakouts don't necessarily end when your teenage years do. Coming to terms with adult acne is difficult—best rest assured, you're not the only grown woman dealing with zits. Even though the outlook seems dreary (acne and wrinkles sounds like some sort of sick joke, right?), knowing what's causing your complexion woes can help you clear up your skin and keep breakouts at bay 🤗

HORMONES: Your hormones may be to blame. Fluctuation in hormones, such as before one's menstrual cycle, is the main cause, specifically androgens (male hormones) like testosterone. This usually rears its ugly head in the form of deep (painful) cystic acne around the chin, neck, and back.

STRESS: Stress can be an extra (and very influential) driving force. Whether you work full time, are a full-time mom, or juggle both, chances are, your stress levels are high. When you're stressed, you have an organ called the adrenal gland that makes the stress hormone cortisol, and puts it out into the body to help the body deal with stress. Unfortunately, a tiny bit of testosterone leaks out with it. For a woman, this male hormone can drive the oil glands to produce more oil—the root cause of breakouts. (Thanks a lot, hormones!)

POLLUTION: Air pollution just puts this layer of crap on your face. Especially if you live in a city. Go walk around outside for a half hour & when you come home, wipe your face with a toner pad or face wipe, and see what color it is. Warning: You're not going to like what you see.

PRODUCTS: If you have oily or combination skin and are prone to breakouts, you should be using skin-care products labeled "oil-free," "non-comedogenic," or "water-based," - Just one of these will ensure that the lotion you're slathering on isn't going to clog your pores and make matters worse.