6+ Products to Fight Teacher STRESS Acne

I never thought I’d still be fighting acne on this side of age 30, but there are still a lot of factors that can mess with adult skin.

• Hormones (ugh, still?)
• Leaning on your hands while typing (or grading, ahem…)
• Not washing hands often enough (...hand sanitizer doesn’t count)
• Not washing your face before bed
• Not making time for a skincare routine
• Pores that enlarge as you age (bummer!)
• STRESS!

I had no idea until recently that stress and cortisol can contribute to acne. (Maybe I’m just living under a rock.) But if that’s true, it explains SO MUCH for those of us who are teachers!

After spending WAY too many years and dollars experimenting with products, I’ve finally settled on

some favorites. (No product can ever prevent EVERY breakout, but these are the ones that have

honestly made my life better.) For reference, I have combination skin and typically use “sensitive” versions of products.

(Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with any of these manufacturers. Some, but not all, of these

product links are affiliate links.)

1. Oil-blotting tissues that erase shine

Even better, they’re cheap and work like champs. I’m a fan of Clean & Clear’s oil-blotting sheets, which tuck nicely into a makeup bag, teacher tote, or purse. They’re quick to use (such as during the 0.5 seconds between finishing your lunch and students re-entering your classroom). They also give you instant gratification for how much it gets off your face and how soft your skin feels. Find them at your favorite grocery store makeup aisle or grab a 6-pack (ha) for $30 on Amazon.

2. The easiest makeup remover ever

Yes, I’m too lazy to use fancy makeup removing liquid and a washcloth. (At the end of a long day, I’m too tired to take forever with a nightly routine.) Yes, I’m in love with these wipes, mainly because they don’t leave my skin with a chemical smell or dry me out. Plus, even though it’s a “gentle” face wipe, it still does the job. (I have to use a little extra elbow grease to remove heavily-applied eyeliner, but hey.) Check out Simple Facial Cleansing Wipes ($14 for a 3-pack).

3. An extremely satisfying exfoliator

The first time a Sephora lady used this on my face mid-makeover, I was SOLD. Most exfoliators seem to do nothing, but with this one, you will feel and see the dead skin come off your face (and, I promise, it is NOT too harsh).

Also, I know the price tag may look scary, but I’ve been using the same bottle for 3ish years. I use it 1-3 times a week for SPOTS of my face. Find Boscia Exfoliating Peel Gel at this link ($45).

4. A pore minimizing mask (that works)

Most masks never seem worth the money, but this one actually makes my pores smaller in one (painless) use. I used to buy the $8 pore-minimizing sheet mask, which was great, but this year I broke down and bought the bottle. (I make the bottle last by only using it in the needed spots instead of my entire face.)

5. Face wash that actually fights acne

Everyone has their own favorite brand, which is fine. For a long time, I loved and used Neutrogena’s Deep Clean cleanser, but it wasn’t enough for my face through every season of the year.

For the past few years, I’ve had better success with Proactiv+ (which I like better than the old version of Proactiv). It’s pricey, but I make it last WAY longer than just 30 days. I particularly like the exfoliator face wash (which I typically use in the shower), and the moisturizer in Step 3 is perfection that doesn’t feel heavy or oily.

6. Makeup primer that hides everything

I have very little patience for makeup, but when I DO use it, primer makes an incredible difference. (As in, I typically only use 2-3 makeup products a day, but if I’m going to use ANY concealer, foundation, or powder, I’m GOING to use primer first.)

I like this one from Sephora because it’s already a reasonably priced bottle ($15), AND you only need a TINY (less than your pinkie nail) amount for your whole face.

What other products do you use for acne or skin?

Tell me in the comments!