It’s happened to the best of us, your skin will be thriving, the best it’s ever looked, and then boom your period is due and here comes the hormonal acne. Caused by clogged pores, hormonal acne develops when hormonal changes increase the amount of oil your skin produces. This oil interacts with bacteria on the pores of your skin where hair grows (hair follicles) and results in acne.
Thankfully we’ve listed the skincare must-haves from trending Korean skincare brand COSRX, that aren’t just for that time of month but all day everyday.
Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser, £16 Beauty Bay
Working to gently remove impurities and excess sebum while tackling acne and blemishes, the Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser is non-drying, making it perfect for daily use. Infused with salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells and clear pores, and a natural BHA component to dissolve oils, the creamy cleanser leaves skin soft and smooth without that tight, stripped feeling.
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner, £19.99 Superdrug
Refresh and reset your complexion with the AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. This gentle toner is suitable for everyday use to help clear your skin of impurities, dead skin cells and clogged pores. Willow bark water and apple fruit water help to clear pores and improve skin texture, whilst glycolic acid and betaine salicylate work to remove dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores.
Centella Blemish Cream, £24 Beauty Bay
Acne can leave behind scars that appear as red or dark spots on the skin, which can seem difficult to get rid of. Thanks to the Centella Blemish Cream, these spots will disappear in no time. Enriched with centella asiatica leaf water, a healing ingredient which helps to prevent scarring and future breakouts, this cream will help to fade red and dark marks, rebuild irritated skin and calming inflammation.
Master Patch X-Large, £22 Sephora
Suitable for the large acne-prone areas, this hydrocolloid patch with niacinamide helps care for dark spots and acne scars. A large patch designed for the natural curves of our faces, it applies smoothly and blends right in. COSRX Master Patch X-Large can be used to visibly reduce coloured spots from acne or to absorb the gunk in a particular region of pores.
Master Patch Intensive 36 pieces, £14 Beauty Bay
The same blemish patch you know and love, now just a little more intense. The COSRX Master Patch Intensive is the perfect tool to get rid of your spots quick and fast. Each thin, clear hydrocolloid, tea tree oil infused patch adheres to the skin’s surface to heal spots and protect them from any additional bacteria and dirt that can make the spot worse. Each little patch is an overnight fixer for whiteheads, blackheads, pustules and papules, as they break down the bacteria inside the spot whilst moisturising the skin’s surface to speed up healing.
Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask, £23 Sephora
A lightweight multitasking overnight mask with 68% rice bran extract and niacinamide to brighten and hydrate your skin as you sleep. An all in one moisturiser, overnight, and wash off mask, this gel-like formula works to even out skin tone and soothe irritation, or give thirsty skin a boost of hydration.
