Good morning, gorgeous! ☀️ Ready to glow up your skincare game today?

Your teenage years called—they want their acne back, but apparently it didn't get the memo and decided to stick around for your thirties instead.

So let's talk about why adult acne is a completely different beast, the truth about slathering Vaseline on your face, and how your stress levels might be sabotaging your skin more than you realize.

ADULT ACNE SOS

Adult Acne—Why It's Different & How to Treat It

Finally, answers for why your skin is acting like a moody teenager.

You did everything right in your twenties. You used gentle cleansers, religiously applied moisturizer, and thought you'd left acne in the rearview mirror. Then 30 hit, and suddenly your jawline looks like a minefield and you're googling "adult acne" at 2 AM like it's some kind of cruel joke.

What's happening to your skin: Adult acne isn't just teen acne that overstayed its welcome. It's hormonally driven, stress-fueled, and loves to camp out along your jawline, chin, and neck—basically everywhere that's not your T-zone.

Why this matters: Treating adult acne like teenage acne is like using a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame. Wrong tool, wrong approach, and you'll probably make things worse.

What's really happening:

  • Your hormones are fluctuating (thanks, life stress and aging)

  • Your skin is drier than it was in your teens but still breaking out

  • Dead skin cells aren't shedding as efficiently

  • Stress hormones are wreaking havoc on your pores

The adult acne game plan:

Morning routine:

Evening routine:

  • Double cleanse if you wore makeup or sunscreen

  • Retinoid: Start with Differin Gel 2-3 times per week (the adult acne holy grail)

  • Moisturizer: Same as morning, but apply a thicker layer

Who it's for: If you're over 25 and dealing with persistent breakouts, especially around your lower face, or if your skin was clear for years and suddenly decided to rebel.

Timeline for improvement: You'll probably see some changes in 6-8 weeks, but give it 3-4 months for real results. Adult skin is slower to heal than teenage skin.

What NOT to do:

  • Don't go nuclear with harsh scrubs or alcohol-based toners

  • Don't skip moisturizer (dry, irritated skin actually produces more oil)

  • Don't expect overnight miracles

Bottom line: Adult acne requires patience, gentle consistency, and products that work with your mature skin, not against it. Your skin isn't broken—it just needs a different approach than it did at 16.

TREND CHECK

Slugging—Does Vaseline on Your Face Actually Work?

The internet's obsession with petroleum jelly, explained.

TikTok discovered Vaseline and suddenly everyone's slathering petroleum jelly on their face like it's some revolutionary skincare breakthrough. Plot twist: your grandmother was doing this decades ago, but let's talk about whether it's actually good for your skin or just really good for Vaseline sales.

What you need to know:

  • Slugging means applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly as the last step in your nighttime routine

  • It creates a protective barrier that locks in moisture

  • This barrier is called an "occlusive"—basically a seal that prevents water loss

  • The name "slugging" comes from the shiny, slug-like appearance it gives your skin

Why this matters: Understanding the science behind slugging helps you decide if it's right for your skin type and concerns, rather than just following whatever's trending on social media.

The real story: Petroleum jelly is one of the most effective occlusives available—it can prevent up to 99% of water loss from your skin. But (and this is a big but) it's not for everyone, and here's why: that amazing sealing power works both ways. If you're trapping moisture, great. If you're trapping oil, bacteria, or clogged pores? Not so great.

How to slug properly:

  • Step 1: Complete your normal skincare routine

  • Step 2: Apply a thin layer of pure petroleum jelly (Vaseline, Aquaphor, or CeraVe Healing Ointment)

  • Step 3: Sleep on a towel because your pillowcase will hate you

  • Step 4: Cleanse thoroughly in the morning

Who should try it:

  • People with very dry or dehydrated skin

  • Anyone dealing with a compromised skin barrier

  • Those in dry climates or during winter months

Who should avoid it:

  • Anyone prone to acne or clogged pores

  • People with naturally oily skin

  • Anyone with active breakouts on their face

Common mistakes:

  • Using too much product (you need way less than you think)

  • Applying it over dirty skin

  • Expecting it to cure acne (it won't—it might make it worse)

Bottom line: Slugging works brilliantly for dry skin, but it's not a miracle cure-all. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, skip the trend and stick to lightweight moisturizers that won't clog your pores.

STRESS & SKIN

Stress Breakouts—How Your Mental Health Affects Skin

When your face becomes a mood ring you didn't ask for.

It's Sunday night, you have a big presentation on Monday, and suddenly your chin looks like a pepperoni pizza. Sound familiar? If your skin seems to have a direct hotline to your stress levels, you're not imagining things—stress and breakouts are in a toxic relationship that affects more people than you'd think.

The skin connection: Stress triggers a cascade of hormonal changes that directly impact your skin. When you're stressed, your body pumps out cortisol, which increases oil production and inflammation. It's like your skin is throwing its own little panic attack.

What's really happening:

  • Stress hormones ramp up sebum (oil) production

  • Your skin's healing process slows down

  • You're more likely to touch, pick, or neglect your skin

  • Sleep quality drops, which affects skin repair

The impact: Stress breakouts tend to cluster around your jawline, chin, and mouth—areas where you unconsciously touch your face. They're often deeper, more inflamed, and stick around longer than your average pimple.

Smart strategies to break the cycle:

Immediate stress busters:

  • Take 5 deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed

  • Do a quick 2-minute face massage to boost circulation

  • Step outside for fresh air (seriously, it helps)

  • Put your phone in another room for 10 minutes

Skin-specific stress management:

  • Keep your hands busy with a stress ball or fidget toy

  • Use a calming face mask as part of your wind-down routine

  • Set phone reminders to reapply lip balm instead of biting your lips

  • Keep blotting papers handy for stress-induced oil spikes

Long-term approach:

  • Consistent sleep schedule: 7-9 hours nightly (your skin repairs while you sleep)

  • Regular exercise: Boosts circulation and helps manage stress hormones

  • Mindfulness practice: Even 5 minutes of meditation can lower cortisol levels

  • Social connection: Call a friend instead of doom-scrolling

Quick wins for stressed skin:

  • Use a gentle spot treatment with salicylic acid on new breakouts

  • Apply a calming serum with niacinamide to reduce inflammation

  • Keep your regular routine simple—now's not the time for new products

  • Use a hydrating mask to counteract stress-induced dryness

When stress hits hard:

  • Stick to your basic routine (cleanser, moisturizer, SPF)

  • Add a gentle anti-inflammatory ingredient like azelaic acid

  • Resist the urge to over-cleanse or pick at your skin

  • Remember that this phase will pass

Bottom line: Your skin and mind are more connected than you think. Managing stress won't eliminate all breakouts, but it can definitely reduce their frequency and severity. Sometimes the best skincare routine includes taking care of your mental health too.

MYTH BUSTED

Myth: "Pores open and close like doors"

Separating skincare fact from fiction.

This myth makes me want to scream into a pillow. Steam "opens" your pores, cold water "closes" them, and somehow this magical door mechanism is supposed to help you extract blackheads more effectively.

Here's what's actually true:

  • Pores don't have muscles—they can't open or close

  • Heat and steam can soften the oil and debris in pores, making extraction easier

  • Cold water can temporarily tighten skin, making pores appear smaller

  • The "opening/closing" effect is purely visual, not functional

Why this myth persists:

  • It feels logical (but skin doesn't always work logically)

  • The beauty industry loves selling pore-minimizing products

  • People want simple explanations for complex skin functions

What actually affects pore appearance:

  • Genetics (sorry, you can't shrink your natural pore size)

  • Age (pores appear larger as skin loses elasticity)

  • Clogged pores (debris makes them look bigger)

  • Oil production (more oil = more visible pores)

Bottom line: Stop trying to "open" and "close" your pores. Focus on keeping them clean and using ingredients like niacinamide and retinoids that can improve their appearance over time.

Got a skincare myth you want us to tackle? Hit reply and send it our way! 💌

Skincare Tip of the Day

One simple trick for better skin

Today's Tip: Patch-test new products on your inner forearm for 48 hours before using them on your face

I know, I know—you're excited about your new serum and want to slather it all over your face immediately. But that 5-minute patch test could save you from days of angry, irritated skin.

How to do it: Apply a small amount of the new product to your inner forearm, wait 48 hours, and watch for any redness, itching, or irritation.

Pro insight: If you're testing an active ingredient like retinol or AHA, do the patch test and then start with every-other-day use on your face, even if the patch test goes well.

Bottom line: Two days of patience can prevent weeks of skin recovery time.

Let’s Chat

Building our skincare community

Have you dealt with adult acne, and what finally worked for you? We're curious about your experiences—did you find that what worked in your teens completely failed you later, or are you still searching for the right approach?

Also, we have to ask: are you team slugging or team "absolutely not putting Vaseline on my face"? And for those of you who've noticed the stress-skin connection, what helps you break the cycle? We'd love to hear your strategies for keeping both your mind and your skin calm.

We read every single reply and often feature the best responses in future newsletters. Your experiences help other readers more than you know!

Hit reply and let's keep the conversation going!

QUICK POLL

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Before You Go...

Share the Skincare Love! Know someone who's still using that harsh scrub from 2019 or following skincare advice from random TikTok videos? Forward this newsletter to them—they'll thank you when their skin stops looking angry, and you'll feel good about saving them from another expensive skincare mistake.

This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider or dermatologist regarding skincare questions or before starting new routines.

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