This Moisturizer Cleared Up My Acne

That isn’t just some click-baity headline I dreamed up hoping you guys would read my post. I’m dead serious. Elta MD Skincare’s Clear Moisturizer is a gamechanger for me. Over the course of one month, I went from struggling with acne concentrated along my jawline, cheeks and back, to it being a distant memory.

Some Background…

I have struggled with acne since I hit puberty. NOTHING helped until I did two rounds of Accutane right before I got married at the age of 26.

While Accutane is effective, it is HARSH. The side effects were so severe (peeling lips, dried out eyes, even mild alopecia), that I couldn’t finish the second round. It helped immensely though, and my skin was perfect for my wedding pictures, and I felt confident wearing the strapless wedding dress of my dreams.

A couple of years after taking Accutane, the acne came back. While not as bad as before, it was still annoying. And every now and then I would get the odd case of cystic acne that would leave scars that would take months, if not years to heal.

Beauty Blogging Helped

When I started beauty blogging and learning about skincare ingredients, I was better able to pinpoint what worked for me. For instance, I discovered that my acne got better when I used mineral makeup as opposed to liquid foundations. Products that contained hyaluronic acid greatly eased the minor patches of eczema that would pop up each winter, and I eventually discovered that facial oils don’t really work for me with the exception of a select few.

As my blog grew, I started reviewing better quality products and with that, the quality of my skin greatly improved. Several months ago, I was offered a hydrafacial and that treatment was a turning point for me.

Elta MD Skincare Clear Moisturizer

The hydrafacial was fabulous, quenching my dehydrated forehead and extracting all of the gunk that Bioré strips don’t have the willpower for. At the end of the treatment, the facialist applied Elta MD Skincare Clear Moisturizer to my face.

It felt comfortable and made my face look dewy. To top it off, it did not leave my skin looking ashy or greyish. I decided to buy a bottle and test it out and I am so glad I did.

For the next month, I did not get one pimple. My skin completely cleared up and looked much brighter. In addition, my skin was a whole lot less greasy, but I still retained dewiness and glow. The Elta MD Clear Moisturizer was the only change I had made to my skincare regimen, so I chalked up this hugely positive change to its regular use.

What Makes It Work

After some careful research, I discovered that this moisturizer contains niacinamide (Vitamin B3), which decreases the appearance of large pores (hallelujah!), uneven skintone, fine lines, wrinkles and dullness.

In addition, many studies show that niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with acne. Used as a topical skin treatment, it results in a significant reduction of acne.

Thanks to Elta MD Skincare Clear also containing hyaluronic acid, my skin felt ultra smooth and hydrated. This resulted in me retaining my dewiness and glow.

Over the years, I have tried countless moisturizers that claim to fight acne. So many of them are harsh and drying, leaving me with irritated, peeling skin. No thanks.

It has been six months since I started using Elta MD Clear Moisturizer and I’ve never seen my skin look this great. And living a zit-free life (finally!!) is so amazing!!! I honestly thought that I would usher in my 80s still wondering when the acne is going to stop. Haha!

This moisturizer is also ideal for those with sensitive skin, is fragrance and cruelty-free and dermatologist-approved.

Other Elta MD Skincare Goodies You Should Try

Elta MD Skincare Renew Eye Gel

Another Elta MD Skincare product I’m currently enjoying is the Renew Eye Gel. Like all of my eyecare products, I keep this hydrating gel in the fridge for a cooling, extra “depuffing” effect.

The skin around my eyes has become dried out due to me using another anti-acne product before discovering the Elta MD Clear Moisturizer. I started using this gel-like eye cream twice daily and thanks to its high concentration of hyaluronic acid, it soothed and smoothed the irritated skin quickly.

I don’t have too many fine lines around my eyes, but you may want to try this out if this is a concern of yours. It is great at plumping up your skin reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

This is also effective at reducing the look of puffiness around the eyes. Sadly, I did not notice a difference in the reduction of dark circles, BUT my allergies are quite bad. I recognize that I need to get my allergies under control in order to see a difference in dark circles.

Of note, this eye gel suitable for all skin types, is fragrance-, paraben-, cruelty-, oil- and phthlate-free. It is also non-comedogenic and dermatologist approved.

Elta MD Skincare Foaming Facial Cleanser

This gentle foaming cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin. It’s also ideal for those with oily or dehydrated skin. Completely pH-balanced, it soothes skin while removing oil and impurities.

If you wear a ton of makeup, you may want to reach for a stronger facial cleanser or remove the bulk of your makeup first with a micellar water or makeup removing wipes. Otherwise, this is a perfect cleanser that is gentle on skin without drying it out.

If you are suffering with acne, I HIGHLY recommend the Elta MD Skincare Clear Moisturizer. It worked extremely well for me! And this is the first time I have used a moisturizer geared towards acne-prone skin that didn’t not dry it out or stress it further. I’m now on my fourth bottle of Clear…I’m loving it that much!

The Elta MD Skincare line can be found in Ottawa at Concept Medical located at 11 Holland Avenue, Suite 400. Feel free to give them a call at (613) 829-1266 or by email at office@conceptmedical.ca.

*In collaboration with Elta MD Skincare. All opinions are my own.