Yes, I’m 35 and I Still Have Breakouts—Here’s How I Tackle Them

Adult acne is no match for this routine.

Hannah Baxter acne routine
(Image credit: Hannah Baxter)

Even though my friends and co-workers frequently complement my skin, I still struggle with breakouts like any normal human. Hormones, stress, eating too many Oreos, the bonkers weather—all of these can impact sebum production and inevitably lead to acne. It’s rude, believe me, especially when you’ve been diligent with your summer skincare routine. You’d think that by following the product regimen that your skin typically enjoys, it would just freaking cooperate. Alas, that is not the case, which is why I’ve been battling breakouts for the last few weeks, and frankly, I’m sick of it.

The kicker with acne, as anyone who has ever seen a juicy whitehead pop up on their face, neck, chest, or butt, is that you can’t just erase the inflammation overnight. It takes patience and persistence to not only heal the spot but also minimize the risk of it leaving hyperpigmentation behind. So while changing some lifestyle habits is a crucial part of clearing up acne (for me, I need to cut out sugar and booze, drink more water, change my pillow cases every three days, and get more sleep) there are a few key products and ingredients I swear by to banish breakouts as quickly as possible. Prepare for salicylic acid to become your new best friend.

Swap In A Gentle Acne Wash

Thorough cleansing is essential when you’re sweating all day running around the city, so I like to start and end my days with a highly effective—but still gentle—acne-fighting cleanser that is full of exfoliating AHAs and BHAs (alpha-hydroxy-acids and beta-hydroxy-acids) to increase skin cell turnover and kick acne to the curb.

Add an Acne Serum

If I’m seeing smaller pimples, rather than just one big cyst or something, I apply my go-to acne serums all over my complexion—not just as a spot treatment. It helps to both treat and prevent breakouts when my skin is behaving particularly poorly.

Keep Your Moisturizer Simple

There are a ton of options for multi-tasking moisturizers these days but when my skin is inflamed, as it is with acne, I want my formula basic and straightforward. I’m already adding in powerful exfoliating ingredients, so I don’t need to risk more actives and subsequent irritation.

Mask Once Or Twice A Week

To really tackle those clogged pores like a pro, I carve out time morning or night to apply a clay mask and suck out all the junk. Sometimes, if my skin is particularly dry, I’ll use it as a spot treatment, but in the summer, I like to apply the mask everywhere and do a deep cleanse.

Embrace The Pimple Patch

The biggest no-no of acne care is squeezing a zit before it’s ready to be extracted (and even then you should probably leave it to the professionals). That’s why I love using a pimple patch to keep my hands away from my face and disguise my extra juicy breakouts in public without resorting to concealer.

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Hannah Baxter
Beauty Director

Hannah Baxter is the Beauty Director at Marie Claire. She has previously held roles at The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and Bust Magazine, covering beauty, wellness, fashion, and lifestyle. Her writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Allure, The Cut, Elle, InStyle, Glamour, Air Mail, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Byrdie, Nylon and more. She is also the founder of Anxiety Beer, a bi-monthly newsletter about the intersection of culture and mental health. In her spare time you can catch her reading too many overdue library books, thrifting, or hanging with her hairless cat, Norman. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @hannahbaxward.