Breakouts can be so baffling. One minute your skin is perfect and the next it's freaking out. Especially if you have sensitive skin. We're all too familiar with this dilemma.  We've all heard the common (sometimes mythical) culprits of acne: greasy food, sweating, not washing our faces, chocolate etc. But what if you're taking really good care of your skin yet still breaking out? Sometimes it takes investigative work to really figure out what's causing acne. Here are some culprits that my be causing your breakouts. Try eliminating one at a time to find the potential cause.

1. Stress & Lack of Sleep

When we stress and don't get enough sleep our bodies have a harder time repairing themselves. This is especially true for the body's largest organ -our skin. Stress and lack of sleep not only makes you look tired, but it can also cause more acne and breakouts.

2. Moisturizers and Foundations with Sunblock

We all know we need SPF protection to guard our skin against the sun, but the flipside is that sunscreen can be very comedogenic. (Even if it says it's not). Some of us are simply allergic to it and there's not a whole lot you can do about it besides wear a hat and avoid wearing sunscreen on your face all together. If you're using a product with sunscreen, discontinue using it to see if your skin calms down.

3. Dirty Makeup Brushes and Pillow Cases

Bacteria love to building up on pillow cases and makeup brushes. Be sure you're washing your pillow cases and makeup brushes at least once a week! Otherwise you could be breeding a nasty breakout.

4. Dairy

Yes, we love ice cream and cheese too, but dairy products have been known to inflame acne and cause breakouts. Milk contains a lot of hormones from animals which can aggravate our skin. Try eliminating all dairy products. You might find your skin clears up quickly!

5. Talking On The Phone

Phones attract a lot of bacteria. If you notice you're breaking on the side of your face where you talk on your phone, this could be the cause. Think about it, when was the last time you wiped your phone down with an antiseptic wipe? Keep your phone clean and away from your face when you use it.

6. Gluten

There's been a lot of uproar about gluten lately -and for good reason! Many people are very allergic to it and it has become a front-runner for being a sneaky acne aggravator. You may find you're also having digestive issues and lethargy if you're allergic to gluten. Check with your doctor to get tested.

7. Hormonal Imbalance

If your skin and hair has suddenly become oily, it's very likely something is up with your hormones. It's best to go to the doctor to get checked as a hormonal imbalance could be caused by an underlying medical condition.

8. Hormonal Birth Control

Hormonal birth control methods are notorious for causing acne and all kinds of undesirable side effects like moodiness, weight gain, and loss of sex drive. If you find your skin is breaking out when starting a new hormonal birth control method, it may be time to get off artificial hormones all together and use non-hormonal birth control alternatives until you can pinpoint the cause of your acne.

9. Your Partner

If your significant other has acne and you're canoodling and rubbing against their face, their bacteria could transfer to your skin and break you out! Short of putting a paper bag over your partner's head, this is a tough problem to deal with. You'll have to get strategic when kissing or just talk them into treating their acne as well!

10. Toothpaste

If you're getting breakouts around your mouth, your toothpaste could be the cause. Try switching to a natural toothpaste, such as Tom's or Jason Naturals. You may be allergic to the chemicals in non-natural toothpastes.

11. Lack of Moisture/Harsh Products

If you're using hardcore "acne" products, they could actually be making your skin worse. Many products formulated for acne are simply too aggressive. Try laying off the harsh products for a few days to see if your skin improves. We recommend our holistic Anti-Redness Calming mask. It helps rebalance and heal the skin while clearing acne effectively and gently using all natural, non-harsh ingredients! Shop here

12. It's Not Acne

Many people see red bumps and automatically assume it's acne. You may actually have rosacea or another infection not caused by legitimate acne bacteria P. Acnes. If you've been using traditional acne products to no avail, it may be time to see your doctor to see if your problem is caused by another strain of fungus or bacteria. 

Are your stubborn breakouts driving you crazy and it seems every product you’re using is making your skin worse?

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