Acne is the most prevalent skin condition in the world and affects over 650 million people every year. It is an age-old problem and the tools to clear blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores are well established.
So, why do many continue to suffer from breakouts when products are readily available to stop it?
Most are using the wrong products or using the right products improperly. People are too focused on treating a breakout after it has already surfaced when the focus should be on stopping lesions from coming at all.
So, What Causes Acne?
There are many indirect factors¹ that contribute to the formation of a pimple. However, at the ROOT of all breakouts is a clogged pore.
Pimples form when the oil and dead skin cells on your skin combine to form a clog that blocks the pores.
If these small clogs are not flushed out of your pore, they will eventually cause a full block and force sebum to pool. P.acnes bacteria grows quickly in these pools forcing the body to send blood into the area to fight infection.
Fortunately, clogs can be prevented if we use a leave-on lotion to perpetually flush out dead skin so that it does not accumulate inside the pore.
(We'll come to that in a moment.)
Can the Right Diet Get Rid of Acne?
Nutrition and diet affect overall health, but does diet directly affect acne?
Although, some studies try to link acne with sugary and starchy foods, the relationship between acne and diet² is still NOT well-established.
While most people are well-intentioned when they tell others to cut out a certain type of food or drink lots of water in the hopes of reducing breakouts, be wary of MISINFORMATION and stick to methods that are well-researched and well-established in stopping acne.
Current Solutions & Their Shortcomings
There is a common MISCONCEPTION that washing, scrubbing or sloughing off dead skin cells from the surface of the skin will stop acne. This is a half truth.
To address the root trigger for acne, you need to flush out the dead skin cells trapped INSIDE the pore.
In order to penetrate into the pore, an ingredient needs to STAY on your skin for several HOURS before being washed off.
As such, scrubs, masks, facials and peels can do little to stop acne since they are NOT left on the skin long enough³ to make a difference. If you are looking to stop breakouts, don't waste your money on these products.
As mentioned earlier, majority of the products on the acne market focus on treating the pimple after it has already surfaced.
(This includes pimple patches, spot applications, and masks which do little to prevent a pimple from surfacing.)
These post-acne products are generally INEFFECTIVE as there is little that one can do to stop a pimple once it has surfaced since the body needs to send blood into the area in order to fight off bacterial infection.
The key is to PREVENT pimples from surfacing rather than trying to hide or calm down a pimple after it has already surfaced.
Here’s a smarter approach to clearing clogs and making your skin less acne prone:
1. Retinol - The Gold-Standard in Clearing Acne
Topical retinoids are the primary tools which dermatologists use to treat breakouts⁴. A derivative of vitamin A, retinoids are well researched to promote skin renewal, reduce blemishes and boost your skin's collagen production.
Prescription medication from a dermatologist can be very hard on your liver and irritating to your skin. However, retinol is much more GENTLE⁵ and you can purchase it OTC.
To further reduce the possibility of irritation, pair retinol with other ingredients that balance the pH and amplify the results thereby causing LESS irritation and more targeted results.
2. AZA - Why So Many People Swear By It to Combat Acne and Redness
It’s a mystery why some great skincare ingredients fly under the radar, despite research proving them more than worthy of your attention. AZA is one of those ingredients!
A great deal of research has shown that AZA can significantly diminish the appearance of skin blemishes, help fade post-acne marks and other discolorations, refine skin’s surface, and reveal a more even skin tone.
Introducing the Clear Out
Introducing the Clear Out, a leave-in lotion designed to deliver retinol + AZA into the pore to flush out dead skin cells trapped inside. It also uses AZA + pracaxi oil in order to quickly flatten existing pimples and reduce the appearance of red marks (a formulation you can't find anywhere else on the market).
Because the Clear Out uses multiple active ingredients, we are able to make it far more GENTLE and EFFECTIVE than similar products out on the market.
(You can see the significant improvement many of our users have experienced by scrolling down in this article or by visiting the tagged section of the Clearly Basics Instagram page.)
Shouldn't I Visit a Dermatologist Immediately?
Prescription medications require doctor's oversight as there are NEGATIVE side effects to these drugs (that shouldn't be taken lightly):
- Overuse of antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance,
- Oral medication is hard on your skin, on your liver and causes birth defects,
- Hormone control therapy can negatively affect the body in many ways.
We recommend users to try the Clear Out before going to see a dermatologist as 85% of the cases that are normally seen by our ClearlyRx platform can be addressed using non-prescription solutions instead.
Why Is the Clear Out Different?
Most products in the market contain only a SINGLE active ingredient so it does not use multiple pathways to address your skin concern.
Using multiple ingredients simultaneously could be more EFFECTIVE, but getting the percentages correct in order to maximize synergy and stability is near IMPOSSIBLE without precision machinery.
Every ingredient in the Clear Out took years to balance in order to maximize synergy: ingredients work together to address your skin concerns with better results and less side effects.
The formulation is gentle and works for those with sensitive skin. Yet effective enough to tackle many cases that otherwise would require prescription medication.
Will the Clear Out Work for Me?
The Clear Out is so EFFECTIVE at clearing clogs that we place a full 90-day Money Back Guarantee if you do not see a noticeable improvement after finishing off the entire bottle. T&Cs apply.
This guarantee has been placed on every bottle of the Clear Out and we have a 98% success rate.
What Makes Clearly Basics Different?
Every formulation in the Clearly Basics lineup uses ingredients that are USP certified (highest quality). Although these ingredients are more expensive, the certification ensures a standard of purity and potency that cosmetic grade ingredients do not provide. The most frequent comment we get in our reviews is that users have tried everything and nothing has come close to the results they have seen with the Power Duo.
Products with USP certified ingredients are often EXCLUSIVELY sold in a dermatologist’s office at 3x the price. However we've made it available and more affordable to benefit everyday consumers.
We invest years of research into our formulations. Each base is tailored for the active ingredients in the formulation; to maintain the integrity of and deliver actives ingredients to the right layer of skin.
The active ingredients present in our products are well-established with pharma and medical research.
(If you want to learn more about the ingredients, please check them under the ingredients' tab.)
Now Show Me the Results!
We've covered a lot on the science. Now, here are the stories of 6 women who went from acne to clear skin with the help of Clearly Basics.
These are REAL RESULTS from REAL USERS along with their social media handles. You are free to contact any of these women who have been very open about their struggle.
Mim, a teacher from Southampton, had suffered from hormonal cystic acne on combination skin for the past 6 years.
She spent thousands on products which claimed to be effective at stopping acne. When these masks, scrubs and cleansers failed to meet their claims, the fallback excuse would be due to “hormonal acne”, which can’t be controlled.
Mim starting taking contraceptives in an effort to regulate her hormones and she also took antibiotics, and prescription topical lotions but they did not have a lasting effect in slowing down the breakouts.
She started using the Clear Out (originally designed to clear clogs on acne-prone skin) and noticed a difference almost immediately. Within a month, most of her actives were gone and she was only left with post-acne marks which covered her cheeks.
From the second month, the Lighten Up, started to make a significant difference in fading the appearance of her post-acne red marks and by the third month she had clear skin. For the first time in years, Mim has gone months without using green concealer and can go to work without makeup.
Mim logs her acne journey on Instagram @acneisntugly. Read more about her story here.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by SKIN WITH MIM (@acneisntugly) on
Toni
Individual results may vary
Toni, a stylist from Hertfordshire, has suffered from cystic acne for most of her life.
She had been to the doctors many times and was given creams and tablets which were harsh and burnt a layer off her skin. Instead, she put her trust in high street cosmetic brands but she never saw the progress she had hoped for (or paid for).
Desperate to find a solution, she turned to aestheticians who offered cutting edge treatments that promised the world: dermarollers, vampire facials, microdermabrasion… you name it and she has probably tried it. In total she had spent close to £5,000 in treatments that showed marginal results but her acne kept coming back.
When she stumbled onto Clearly Basics, she thought they were no different than the other brands. However, she was surprised to find how knowledgeable and responsive Clearly Basics is over chat. She was recommended the Complete Trio (Clear Out + Lighten Up + Protective Moisturizer) and decided to give it a try. Toni saw significant improvement in using the Trio and almost all her acne has cleared within the first set. She is only left with post-acne scarring.
Toni's personal Instagram is @xx.tonilumsden. Read more about her story here.
Kiana
Individual results may vary
Kiana, a data entry specialist from New Jersey, grew up with acne and hyperpigmentation on sensitive skin for most of her teenage and adult life.
Five different dermatologists had tried to treat her acne but they all fell short. She had committed to using “clean” products for a year, eliminating any chemical that could cause harm to her already damaged skin. While her skin responded positively to the natural ingredients, progress was very slow.
When she came across Clearly Basics, she was intrigued as skincare companies rarely use USP certified ingredients (highest quality).
Since she has very sensitive skin, Kiana first used the Clearly Basics' Protective Moisturizer for two weeks to help strengthen her skin and reduce sensitivity. Then she started to introduce the Clear Out slowly by applying every alternate evening. Within three months, she saw significant improvement in texture and the hyperpigmentation went away.
Kiana logs her acne journey on Instagram @mysevereacneblog. She talks about the importance of the 3 ingredients here.
Watch her IG story, skincare routine here.
Bea
Individual results may vary
Bea, a student from California, suffered from cystic acne on oily skin. She had used prescription medication, chemical peels and a long list of cosmetic brands (Clean & Clear, Clearasil, Proactiv, St. Ives, etc.) in an effort to stop her breakouts but most of these products irritated her skin, resulting in even more breakouts.
Without insurance to cover visits to a dermatologist, Bea spent a lot of time following dermatologists on social media and found that gentler ingredients were more effective for her skin.
When the #acnecommunity started talking about Clearly Basics, Bea was intrigued that there was a product specifically targeted at red acne marks. Within the first Power Duo (Clear Out + Lighten Up) set, Bea had significantly reduced her new breakouts and any breakout that surfaced went away in days rather than weeks. Furthermore, the red scars on her face had virtually disappeared over the course of a month.
Bea logs her acne journey on Instagram @beas.bareskin.
Deanna
Individual results may vary
Deanna, from Essex, had enjoyed clear skin throughout her teenage years but started to get adult-onset acne through her 20's. She tried every cosmetic, diet, and lifestyle change imaginable but could NEVER find anything that kept the spots away.
Over the summer, she was introduced the Power Duo (Clear Out + Lighten Up) into her routine and she noticed results within weeks:
"The texture of my skin is smoother, the redness is non-existent and scars are fading faster than ever (even quicker than using aloe vera). I rarely get new spots in my problematic areas and find my skin improving the more I use Clearly Basics" - Deanna
Regardless if she gets the occasional pimple, Deanna is now happy to leave the house with no makeup and her confidence has skyrocketed.
Deanna logs her acne journey on Instagram @deannaskin.
Alisha
Individual results may vary
Alisha, from Berkshire, developed severe acne when she was 15-years-old.
In her desperation to stop the pimples, she has tried every imaginable wash, soap, scrub, peel, mask, and lotion. Her bathroom cabinets were a graveyard of high end and on-trend products claiming to give her 'perfect skin'. Unfortunately, most of them only made her breakouts worsen.
Alisha then went through 3 rounds of prescription oral medication but her acne would always come back. She talks about the negative side effects from it and it should not be taken lightly.
"A lot of people always asking me what I do to maintain my skin after prescription oral medication. All I can say is ‘Clear Out’ by @clearlybasics is a Godsend ❤️ I started using Clear Out after finishing my course and it has helped keep acne at bay. It doesn’t leave me overly dry or flakey which most retinol creams did. I wish I had used the Clear Out before going on prescription oral medication." - Alisha.
The Clear Out formulation has been very effective at keeping her clog free so that she can work on scar repair. Alisha logs her acne journey on Instagram @skinwithalisha. Read more about her story here.
Related story
References:
1. Kristina Liu et al, 2019: Understanding underlying causes and banishing breakouts
2. Apostolos Pappas, 2009 : The Relationship of Diet and Acne
3. Maria Valéria et al, 2016 : Characterization and Short-Term clinical study of clay facial mask
4. James Leyden et al, 2017 : Why Topical Retinoids Are Mainstay of Therapy for Acne
5. Marissa Laliberte : Retinol-vs.-Retinoids
Disclaimer:
This article is intended to provide insights on how to identify effective acne products and is a personal opinion. Nothing on this article should be interpreted as personal medical advice. For medical related matters, please consult with your dermatologist.
