Making out should be fun. Full stop. But the question remains: How does one embrace making out without breaking out?!
The only thing you should worry about during a make out session is your enjoyment — not whether or not your face might break out into a full blown acne breeding ground. You’re probably wondering how your partner has anything to do with YOUR acne issues. As it turns out, there are quite a few less apparent things contributing to your breakouts than you’re aware of.
You take the best care of your skin that you can — I mean, no one wants zits but there are things you could be doing, even things TOTALLY unrelated to skincare, that cause pimples to pop up.
Making out without Breaking Out: Things To Be Aware Of
The products your loved one is using on their face and body are crucial when getting up close and personal.
When we allow another person into our personal space, we’re also giving their skincare products, hair care products and bacteria full access to our skin. Yikes!
Our skin is literally at the mercy of our significant others product choices and hygiene habits. But we have a few tips and some advice to help you combat acne brought on by your mate.
We’ve done some research and we narrowed it down to 3 main acne causing attributes: Skincare products, hair care products and oral hygiene products.
Beards and Chest Hair Harbor Bacteria
Did you know your boyfriend’s skincare products could contribute to breakouts for you and him? We recommend he use body washes, cleansers and moisturizers that are free from pore clogging ingredients too.
Your man might also be using a body lotion that contains harsh chemicals or fragrance and when that seeps into your facial pores, it’s highly likely to cause a breakout. You wouldn’t think of this as something that could affect your skin but it can.
When you’re kissing – faces are touching, making it a perfect scenario for a transfer of product. Beard oil has 3 main ingredients which are carrier oils, essential oils and preservatives all of which contain pore clogging oils. The most commonly used oil in beard oil brands is coconut oil, which is a huge no-no for acne sensitive skin types.
We recommend: Beachy Clean – Go Gently foaming cleanser and Beachy Clean – Matte Moisture Hydrating Gel.
Remember: Your skin is one huge sponge of an organ, absorbing anything and everything you put on it. Beards and chest hair harbor bacteria, which can cause acne not just on his skin but on yours as well…
Sunscreen and Shaving Products For Breaking Out
Two things can cause sunscreen-related pimples: clogged pores from comedogenic ingredients or sensitivity to chemical UV-blocking agents. In other words, the mineral sunscreens can sit on top of your skin and gunk up pores, while the chemical ones might irritate vulnerable skin.
Shaving cream or aftershave lotion has a similar effect but also carry a higher probability for allergenic reactions in sensitive acne prone skin types. We recommend: Andalou Naturales Men Smooth glide shave cream and Gillette sensitive shave gel. And, Beachy Clean –Sun Guard SPF 30, of course!
Pomade Putting Pimples in the Spotlight
Does your partner use hair products like pomade, hair spray, mousse, gel? These common hair styling products may be the guilty culprits to your acne problems. Many hair products are oil based, which may trigger acne in those who are already prone, but ingredients such as silicone, cocoa butter, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulfate, mineral oil, and coconut oil can also trigger acne, especially if left on the skin.
Making Out Without Breaking Out: Kissing
Lastly, make sure you’re using acne safe toothpaste and lip products to prevent breaking out when making out.
Toothpaste commonly contains sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Sodium lauryl sulfate is a strong lathering agent. It produces the white foaminess of countless products, including toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, shower gels and facial cleansers. We see it all of the time. Toothpaste causes terrible breakouts around the mouth and chin.
To prevent oral bacteria from getting on your face, make sure to wash your face AFTER you brush your teeth. By washing your face after brushing, you are sure to remove any acne-causing particles that dripped onto your chin or around your mouth while you were brushing!
Not to be over-looked, is what lip products you and your partner are using. Is your partner’s chap stick acne-safe? If you’re kissing (which we hope you are) we recommend using our chap stick. It’s designed specifically for people with acne and doesn’t contain any pore clogging ingredients. There’s no coconut oil or shea butter, which are killers when it comes to acne. We recommend: Shmidt’s Wondermint toothpaste, Beach Beauty Bar – Acne-Safe Chapstick
A Final Note
A good habit to build is showering before bed or at the very least making sure hair gets washed before hitting the sack at night. Styling products get all over the pillow cases while you sleep and clog your pores. Most people don’t even consider this, but the hair product in your hair is rubbing against your face during the day and if you don’t shower at night, it’s rubbing against your skin while you sleep. We recommend: Aveda Shampure Shampoo, Dove Men + Care Hair Styling Sculpting Paste, AXE Hair Paste for Men, OUAI Matte Pomade.
So there you have it! If you are prone to acne, make certain your love interest is also using acne-safe products so as not to aggravate your skin. Are you ready to go all in for clear skin? Wondering about which ingredients are clogging your pores? Schedule an acne consultation, and we will provide you everything you need to know to get you clear and confident.
Cheers to clear!
Rene
