Week 7: The 8-Week Clear Skin Challenge

Naturopathic Beauty's Clear Skin Sessions

Your skincare routine might be sabotaging your clear skin goals. Dr. Stacey Shillington reveals a counterintuitive truth in skincare: over-cleansing and over-exfoliating can actually worsen acne by damaging your skin's crucial moisture barrier.
Picture your skin cells as bricks in a wall, with ceramides, fatty acids, and lipids serving as the mortar that holds everything together. This protective barrier keeps moisture in and harmful bacteria out. When we assault this barrier with harsh cleansers and excessive exfoliation, we compromise our skin's natural defense system, leading to increased inflammation, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and—ironically—more breakouts.
The science is clear: healthy skin maintains a slightly acidic pH that naturally inhibits harmful bacteria and fungi. Many acne products disrupt this balance, creating the perfect environment for acne-causing microorganisms to thrive. For those with fungal acne (characterized by flesh-colored bumps), understanding that these yeasts feed on oils is essential for effective treatment.
Dr. Shillington offers a practical, three-step approach to rebuilding your moisture barrier: first, simplify your cleansing routine (consider skipping morning cleansers altogether); second, wean off harsh topicals like benzoyl peroxide; and third, learn how to exfoliate at a frequency that works for your unique skin type. She recommends mandelic acid as the gentlest exfoliant, especially for sensitive skin, with salicylic acid and retinoids as alternatives for specific skin concerns.
Whether you've been fighting acne for years or just beginning your clear skin journey, giving your moisture barrier the care it deserves could be the missing piece in your skincare puzzle. Ready to transform your approach to acne treatment? Listen now to discover how less aggressive skincare might be the key to the clear, healthy skin you've been searching for.

Check out my new FREE Training: Clear Skin Mastery, where I share the different types of acne and how to treat each one. Click here to watch it now.
To get immediate access to the first module of my Clear Skin Group Program, leave a podcast review! Take a screen shot of your review and email it to [email protected] and you will be sent your login information!
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1. Introduction to Clear Skin Challenge (00:00:00)

2. Common Skincare Mistakes Damaging Your Skin (00:02:04)

3. Understanding the Skin's Moisture Barrier (00:04:14)

4. Signs of a Compromised Moisture Barrier (00:07:12)

5. Three Steps to Rebuild Your Moisture Barrier (00:09:00)

6. Choosing the Right Exfoliants (00:16:29)

7. Final Thoughts and Next Steps (00:19:46)