From Accutane (a brutal but effective last resort) to Proactiv's three-step system (never again), I've been acne-free for over a decade. I've spent years (and I can only imagine it cost an incredible amount of money) testing acne treatment products of the past, present, and future.
As with most skin issues, prevention is the best course of action (*reapply sunscreen*), and I'm also proactive in controlling breakouts as my first line of defense. However, past acne still bothers me and has always proven to be the most difficult and expensive to treat.
Professional laser treatment from a dermatologist is a quick treatment that doesn't come cheap, but even an over-the-counter cosmeceutical serum (like Skinceuticals' popular C E Ferulic Acid) is still an investment. Call ordinary people to come to the rescue.
Known for its effective, affordable products, this completely transparent skin-care brand offers affordable skin care to those who don't want to pay triple-digit prices for high-quality formulas. The brand’s latest serum, Aloe Vera 2% + NAG 2% Solution, aims to fill a gap in the market: post-acne care.
"While the acne treatment world is flooded with products containing ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, we wanted to create a formula that would support an often overlooked part of the blemish-lightening process: post-acne spots, and the specific texture they cause. and pigmentation.
“Once acne heals, it leaves behind marks,” Prudvi Kaka, scientific director at The Ordinary. This formula packs a one-two punch with 2% Aloe Vera and 2% NAG to heal lingering signs of acne. You may have heard of aloe vera as an ingredient that has cooling and soothing properties after sun exposure
making it great for caring for stressed skin. This brings us to the second key ingredient, NAG – also known as N-acetylglucosamine. NAG occurs naturally in the skin. "This ingredient not only targets uneven skin tone and texture, but also supports hydration making it an ideal addition to your skin care routine for blemish-prone skin." The serum also contains Pamitoyl Pentapeptide-4, according to the brand It is said to help fight acne and uneven skin texture while strengthening the skin barrier.
I'm a huge fan of The Ordinary (who isn't?) and swear by the brand's 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc Serum to balance my oily skin and unclog pores. Getting the chance to test top-secret samples of The Ordinary's early products is every skincare lover's dream, so I'm super excited about this new product.
Aloe 2% + NAG 2% is a clear, unscented serum packaged in a UV-protected dark brown glass bottle. Because it is water-based, it has a nice hydrating consistency and absorbs into my skin within seconds, leaving my face feeling refreshed and hydrated.
I use it in the morning after cleansing, then apply my moisturizing gel cream, then my daily sunscreen. Unlike serums that contain exfoliating AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), I noticed no stinging at all with this product.
While the most common acne solutions often involve spraying harsh ingredients on your face, I learned later in life that less is more; relying solely on active ingredients and depriving your skin of moisture like I did will only cause irritation and inflammation, and make acne worse.
The most important beauty lesson I've learned is to take care of your skin. Moisturize the skin (bumps, etc.) and wait for the skin to heal on its own. After a month of testing, I definitely feel like my skin is softer, more hydrated, and healthier.
(Post-acne reddish-brown hyperpigmentation can take months or even years to completely fade, but so far, so good.) To make sure your routine includes both healing and hydrating elements the brand recommends alternating with Aloe Vera 2% + NAG 2% is used with my personal favorites Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% or Salicylic Acid 2% solution. "While we have a variety of products that target uneven skin tone, Kaka explains that Aloe Vera 2% + NAG 2% is also formulated to treat active acne and is our first serum to specifically target the appearance of post-acne 'marks.' It's An attack/defense combination that ensures your skincare routine remains comprehensive and optimized. At £12.90, the new serum is more expensive than The Ordinary's other Hero SKUs, but not so expensive that you can't splurge - what a treat for the skin.
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