No word on if Kristen Bell actually uses these tactics to achieve her clear skin.Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Facial acne may be hard to ignore, but why is everyone so ashamed to admit they have body acne, too?
We talk so much about solutions for facial acne thanks to experts or kitchen treatments, but it seems as though we're at a loss for admitting that we suffer from "bacne."
The first step is acknowledging that we're all human and that we've probably all popped a back zit or random arm pimple at some point or another. The second step is seeking a solution and luckily, these five ingredients are all proven methods of fighting body acne.
Charcoal
Charcoal is a powerful, natural exfoliant that's known to detoxify and purify the skin. It scrubs away at the excess oils, clogged pores, leftover product, and congestion of the day, all of which are the main causes of body acne.
Bonus: According to Women's Health, charcoal is “inert, meaning that it won't cause allergic reactions or irritate sensitive skin.”
There are tons of charcoal products out there, and not only do many of them look aesthetically pleasing, they're also budget-friendly. Bioré's Pore Penetrating Charcoal Bar, which boasts that it provides the skin with 2.5 times cleaner pores, is available at drugstores or Ulta for only $7.49. Herbivore Botanicals' well-reviewed Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Soap Bar is available at Sephora for $12.
African black soap
African black soap is a long-time acne-fighting, all-natural product that originated in Ghana. It's safe for all skin types, rich in antioxidants, and can be used on the face, body, or hair.
African black soap gently exfoliates at areas of the body prone to stubborn acne, helping to moisturize them healthily while getting rid of the bad things like sweat and oil.
Nubian Heritage's African black soap bar is $4 and has been known to also combat discoloration and eczema. SheaMoisture's African black soap with shea butter is free of synthetic fragrances and colors and can also be used for calming the skin after shaving.
Salicylic acid
And when all else fails, bring out the salicylic acid. Experts and celebrities swear by salicylic acid-based products, which exfoliate, cleanse, and penetrate deeply into the skin, clearing, cleaning, and preventing any further pimples from arising. According to Allure, it works best on blackheads and whiteheads as opposed to cystic acne.
The bummer here is that many products containing this ingredient tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum. The Fabulous Foaming Body Wash from Bliss is $20, while Murad’s Acne Body Wash is double that at $40. Neutrogena’s Body Clear Body Wash also contains salicylic acid and costs only $5.99, but reviews are mixed as to its effectiveness.
Non-comedogenic moisturizer
We tend to operate on a scorched earth policy when it comes to acne. Dry it out, don’t feed the beast, we say as we fry it off with tea tree oil and salicylic acid. That’s not exactly the best strategy.
Excessive oil is bad, yes. But your body also needs oils as they’re essential to keeping things balanced. You can’t just dry them away and think that you won’t break out. Spoiler: dry skin just means more acne.
Non-comedogenic moisturizers are specially formulated so as not to cause blocked pores, but to still provide the skin with much-needed oils. Target has a whole selection of them, and oftentimes, other stores will also label them online so that customers can choose their own.
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