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 Follow the steps and answer the questions to determine your skin condition! Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser (don’t apply make-up or moisturizer). Look in the mirror as you answer these questions.1 Where do you see your pores?
A) Only on my T-zone (forehead, nose and chin)
B) They are so tiny I can’t see them or just a few on or near my nose
C) They’re scattered all over and large on my nose and cheeks
2 Run your fingers across your face. How would you describe its texture?
A) Soft and smooth except for my dry cheeks
B) Dry and a little rough especially my cheeks
C) Greasy and oily
3 How does your skin look?
A) Pretty good—not too dull or too shiny
B) Dull and a little flaky, and some pink areas on my cheeks
C) Shiny, not clear with some pimples and blackheads
4 What is your must-have product?
A) Cleanser
B) Face cream
C) Breakout treatment
5 How does your scalp feel?
A) Fine—no dandruff or grease
B) It sometimes gets dry and flaky
C) It’s pretty oily
6 How does your make-up hold up throughout the day?
A) The foundation on my T-zone fades by lunchtime, but my blush stays put
B) The only thing I need to re-apply is my lipstick
C) By lunchtime, my make-up is gone and I have to touch-up
If you answered...
Mostly As
Your skin is normal/combination. Typically, your skin produces just enough oil to keep your skin hydrated. Girls: you may spot a pimple or two during your cycle — Hit the Spot dabs on quick to clear breakouts fast. Even though you can get away with less attention to skin care than other skin conditions, you’ve got to keep it in good shape with a daily regimen. Super clean skin is where to start — we recommend Wash Off!
Mostly Bs
Your skin is dry, and can be sensitive. The outer layer of skin is made up of lipids, or fats, that keep moisture in and irritating chemicals out. Dry skin has fewer of these protective compounds and in the winter can become red, itchy and irritated. Your skin needs to be nourished and protected, or it will begin to experience greater sensitivity. Be sure to keep skin hydrated and protected from damaging UV light with Brighten Up SPF15 or Welcome Matte SPF15.
Mostly Cs
Your skin is oily and possibly acne-prone. Shine and mild breakouts are the norm for you all year long. You need a thorough routine that includes keeping your skin clean and clear to help control breakouts. We recommend All Over Clear to hydrate and keep oils in check from head to toe, and Bedtime for Breakouts to wipeout breakouts below the surface. Back to the Top
myths, facts, & tips
What you’ve always wanted to know about your skin
Myth: Blackheads are dirt inside my pores.
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 Busted: Blackheads are merely whiteheads that have undergone the process of oxidation. (So no, blackheads aren’t dirt!)
Oxidation is merely a chemical reaction happening in your skin. Think of what happens to an apple when you cut it open and it darkens: this is oxidation.
When the follicle (pore) opens up, oxygen enters, causing the oil and dead skin cells within the follicle to undergo oxidation. This leads to the dark color you see.
Whiteheads are follicles that are filled with the same material, but have only a microscopic opening to the skin surface. Since the air cannot reach the follicle, the material is not oxidized, and remains white.
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 Busted: Whether under the sun or under the tanning bed, baking in the sun to clear breakouts can worsen breakouts and is never an option. All this may do is intensify your chances of long-term scarring and hyperpigmentation (dark spots). While you may experience temporary drying up of breakouts after a day in the sun, you’re actually triggering future incidences of breakouts: there’s an increase in skin cells when skin is exposed to UV light, and this further clogs follicle openings, which leads to the development of breakout bacteria. Don’t forget tanning also puts you at an increased risk of skin cancer.
If you think your sun exposure is minimum, or just seasonal, SPF should be as much a part of your routine as cleansing. Leaving SPF out of your skin care routine now means premature skin issues in the future, including wrinkles and dark spots. Reach for Welcome Matte SPF15 or Brighten Up SPF15 for your daily dose of SPF.
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 Busted: While some sunscreen ingredients can make skin feel greasier and can be comedogenic (clog pores), there are new, more sophisticated formulations available that provide sun protection with skin care benefits. (By the way, those “new, more sophisticated” SPF ingredients are found in Welcome MatteSPF15 and Brighten Up SPF15!)
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 As you transition from child to teen to adult, puberty will trigger the movement of new chemicals in your body. Depending upon whether you’re a guy or girl, these hormones will go to work on different parts of the body, and of course, impact your skin.
Sebaceous (oil) gland activity is stimulated by androgen hormones. These hormones act like a switch and increase oil production and hair growth, and are responsible for the triggers that lead to oily skin and breakouts. These so-called "male" hormones are present in both males and females.
Your pores (follicles) may become enlarged, your skin texture changes and may not feel as smooth, your skin looks and feels shiny, your cheeks may feel more sensitive and look pink, and your once flawless skin may now have evident pimples, blackheads and whiteheads .
Your scalp and hair may also be oiler and you start to grow hair in new places! We haven’t even touched on your mood swings, ability to sleep all day and body changes, deeper voice if you are male and lovely new body odor!
This all sounds very frightening, but the good news is that these androgens that tend to be present in relatively large amounts during adolescence become stabilized as you reach adulthood. Meaning the oily skin and breakouts will lessen and clear for most people.
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 The Clean Start regimen has been broken down into three simple categories to help you get your best-looking skin now and in the future. It all starts with getting skin clean. Skin must be properly cleansed for two reasons: it rids skin of dirt, oils, and pollution that make skin look dull, and it helps prep skin, making it more receptive to treatment and moisturizer benefits.
When it’s time to take on issues like oily skin and breakouts, a scrub/masque, spot treatment, and all-over overnight treatment will help you face every day with a clean slate.
The last step of your Clean Start regimen is to protect skin. Smooth, shield, and hydrate without a greasy after-feel or clogged pores.
This simple approach will help ensure your best-looking skin now…and in the future! Here’s another tip – stick with it for at least 4 weeks to start seeing results. Why? Because when something new is introduced to skin, skin must have time to adjust to the active ingredients. As skin adjusts, more breakouts may arise: this simply indicates the purging of toxins and represents the effectiveness of the ingredients.
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 Making a few adjustments to your skin care regimen can help control oil production from morning until night.
Try creating a “matte kit” that fits conveniently in your purse or backpack for mid-day touch-ups. Keep Welcome Matte SPF15 handy. Also, look for skin wipes loaded with Salicylic Acid (not alcohol!) to help degrease skin, help prohibit acne bacteria, and keep skin feeling fresh.
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 It’s up to you to stay in-the-know as ingredient advances enter your make-up (and skin care) products. If you’re going to wear make-up, observe these simple rules:
• Never go to bed with make-up on.
• Whether you wear make-up or not, you should always cleanse at night, following with products that help take on issues and protect skin.
Here’s a reliable list of ingredients to watch out for.
Several ingredients have a comedogenic (pore-clogging) or sensitizing effect on the skin and should be avoided:
• D&C Dyes are comedogenic (pore-clogging)
• Isopropyl Myristate (pore-clogging)
• SD Alcohol (drying and stripping)
• Lanolin (can trigger skin sensitivity)
• Artificial fragrance (irritating)
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 Back acne or “Backne” is very common among teens and young adults – especially in boys. Athletic clothing which may trap sweat and dead skin cells (such as abrasive gear like football shoulder pads) and a general over-secretion of the oil glands in this area can cause breakouts.
- You can treat back acne the same way you treat it on your face – with Clean Start products! Don’t over-cleanse the skin with harsh soap, vigorous scrubbing movements, or rough loofahs or back brushes, as this will exacerbate the situation. Wash with Wash Off, a soap-free cleanser designed for your face and wherever you get breakouts.
- Don’t reach for a mentholated astringent, which can have a drying S.D. Alcohol base (which over-strips skin). Instead, grab All Over Clear, an all-over refreshing skin toner that helps control oil and bacteria. Convenient spray bottle helps you spritz hard-to-reach areas effectively!
- Gentle exfoliation can really help breakouts – so reach for Ready, Set, Scrub! This gentle breakout-fighting, pore-refining scrub and masque contains purifying clays to pull excess oil from skin, while Silica scrubs away dulling surface cells.
- Treat the affected area while you sleep with Bedtime for Breakouts.
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 The most overlooked breakout- and acne-causing products are hair care products. Conditioners, hair sprays, and hair gels almost all contain plastics, which can block pores and trigger the process that leads breakouts.
Ingredients to be aware of include PVP, CVP, and any copolymer ingredient.
Scalp breakouts and chin acne (it is very common for people to touch hair then touch their chin) are good indications that hair care products are the offenders. Many waterproof, sweat-proof, or smudge-proof cosmetics and sunscreens also contain these plastics.
Many shampoos and styling products are artificially colored with D&C dyes to make them look pretty. D&C dyes are another major culprit in hair care products, as well as make-up products, as they can be comedogenic (cause pore-clogging) in some individuals, resulting in blackheads on the skin.
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 What’s a little make-up sharing between friends? Bacteria including staph, yeast and fungal infections can be found in used make-up including powders, foundations, mascaras and lipsticks.
Common conditions including conjunctivitis (pink eye) are easily transmitted through shared mascara, and viruses including herpes can be passed amongst each other when sharing lipstick.
Simply put, just say no to sharing. If you feel bad telling your friends “what’s mine is mine,” rattle off some key “gross out” words from the previous paragraph of this article!
If you’re part of a cheer or dance squad that shares make-up for performances, simply pack your own supply. Help keep germs away by keeping brushes clean (try foaming up a little Wash Off in a cup of water to clean brushes once a week).
To cut down on make-up bag contamination, mark the date on the bottom of products you buy and throw them out when they reach their limits:
Ready, Set, Scrub! and Smart Mouth Lip Shine last for 24 months – but we’re sure you’ll run out before that time hits!
The remaining Clean Start products have expiration marks noted in the crimped part of the package or stamped on the bottom.
Mascara lasts 3-6 months.
Concealer lasts around 18 months.
Liquid Foundation should be tossed after one year.
Cream eye shadow can go for 12 to 18 months, and powder can last up to 2 years.
Lipstick can last up to 2 to 3 years, but if the color or odor changes before that, toss it!
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 If you feel like you blot, wipe, and try to wash away greasiness more during warm days and hot months, don’t blame your skin care routine: blame sweat!
Studies show sweat contributes to the appearance of increased oiliness, or “greasiness,” during warm days and seasons. This really applies to those of you who have above average oil production in skin.
If you’ve been sweating or have been in a high humidity environment that triggers sweating, the skin will visually look oilier – and greasier. Even sweating triggered by emotional stress or nerves can contribute to an oilier appearance!
Now you know: it’s the emulsification (mixing) of sweat and oil that’s really causing your skin to look greasy. Stress less about skin during warmer days with your daily Clean Start routine, designed to help control oil production at the source, and leave your blotting hands free for warm weather activities!
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 This question is similar to another popular question, “Do greasy foods and chocolate trigger breakouts?” Both questions are misinterpretations. Stress doesn’t directly cause acne or breakouts, but it does act as a trigger for the factors that contribute to acne development (excess oiliness). The balance of school, work, friends and relationships can contribute to chronic stress. This constant, continued and heightened level of stress throws adrenal glands into overdrive. Adrenal glands are in charge of regulating stress, and when stressful situations arise, adrenal glands stimulate sebaceous (oil) glands to secrete more sebum (oil). This excess oil sets the stage for acne development.
Stress also causes increased blood flow and expansion of capillaries, which makes skin appear more red and inflamed. Stress can also cause poor assimilation of nutrients in the diet and can lead to slower healing because of a lowered immune system.
Yoga, deep breathing, exercise, sleep, aromatherapy… even a quick walk with a friend or co-worker during the day can help de-stress your life and help manage adrenal spikes. Cutting back on caffeine and sugar (which also spike adrenal gland activity) can also help manage breakouts. A daily and nightly skin care regimen can help keep fluctuations in check — so can touch-ups throughout the day! Get the Clean Start Kit containing grab-and-go sizes of Wash Off, All Over Clear, Ready, Set, Scrub!, Bedtime for Breakouts and Welcome Matte SPF15.
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 Busted:
If you’re under 30 and use a tanning bed, your risk of skin cancer jumps by 30%.
A 2009 study* revealed this statistic alongside another dramatic finding: tanning beds are a definite cause of cancer. In fact, they’re so dangerous they’ve been moved to the top classification of the cancer risk category – deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas.
Unfortunately, despite these findings and previous warnings from the World Health Organization, the use of tanning beds has increased amongst those under 30, and some areas of the United States boast more tanning salons than Starbucks or McDonald’s! In Britain, melanoma is the leading cancer diagnosed in women in their twenties. This is quite a dramatic finding, as traditionally, skin cancer rates are highest in people over the age of 75.
Tanning beds, or sunbeds, give of ultraviolet radiation, which cause skin and eye cancer. Ultraviolet radiation is not healthy on any level, whether it comes from tanning beds or the sun.
This doesn’t mean you have to hide out under umbrellas! Take a smart approach to skin care – wear Welcome Matte SPF15 or
Brighten Up SPF15
starting today. These dual-action products combine your daily moisturizer with critical SPF. And, if you really want that all-over bronzed glow, reach for self-tanning cream to build your color year-round.
*Published online in the medical journal Lancet Oncology by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization
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 Busted: Stripping the skin of moisture and oil with alcohol can actually cause skin to produce more oil than before. How? When the sebaceous glands sense a loss of moisture and oil (which is there between cells to protect your skin), they kick into overdrive to replace what has been lost! For those who self-treat with these harsh, drying ingredients like alcohol, skin is often left dehydrated, irritated and sensitized, and oilier than before.
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 Busted: Quite the contrary: new information actually reveals that toothpaste can stimulate breakouts on your chin and around the mouth. Dermatologists say that heavily flavored toothpaste, or toothpaste with high levels of fluoride, can cause breakouts to arise.
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 Yes and no. The truth is during puberty, the level of sexual hormones is more abundant and they may heighten your sexual desire. Sexual hormones also increase the production of sebum. If bacteria (known as P. acnes) are present together with sebum (oil), then this can trigger acne development. This is the only link that can be established between sex and acne. So the truth remains that sex is not the sole cause of acne but can possibly contribute to its development in a round-about way.
Toothpaste is for teeth – Hit the Spot is for breakouts! This concentrated spot treatment helps banish breakouts while controlling future breakout activity. And the clear formula absorbs without a trace – quite the opposite of chalky toothpaste that’s been dotted on skin!
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