ACNE

Whether you call them blemishes, pimples, or zits, most of us experience mild acne at some point in our lives. More often a problem in the teen years, acne vulgaris, as it's known medically, starts when skin pores become blocked by excess oil and dead skin cells. Some people have severe acne resulting in hundreds of pimples across the face, chest, and back, although many treatments can help.

I Struggled With Cystic Acne for 10 Years—Until I Tried This Skincare Line

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I developed cystic acne in the beginning of high school. I'd spend hours in front of the mirror popping and squeezing my breakouts (and mutilating my skin in the process). I expected my skin to improve after I graduated, but it continued to worsen well into adulthood. All in all, acne plagued me for over ten long years.

I bought countless skincare products during that time, and was even prescribed doxycycline, an antibiotic for severe acne. I switched to a vegan diet and experimented with different workout routines. I tried home remedies, once slathering a banana peel on my face after hearing it could soothe skin (it didn't). One day, after exhausting all possible avenues, I decided to invest in yet another skincare line.

To my surprise, it actually worked. At $112, the four-piece Glytone Acne Treatment Kit (available on dermstore.com and glytone-usa.com) is an investment. But once I did the math, I realized I easily spend hundreds of dollars on facials and various topical treatments. So after reading the many positive reviews, I decided the kit was worth a shot.

And I wasn't disappointed—in fact, the change in my skin's appearance happened overnight. The first morning after using the kit, I looked in the mirror and could instantly see that my skin had improved. Instead of red, inflamed skin (or worse, a newly-erupted pimple), I was greeted by a fresh, dewy face.The kit comes with four products, which can be purchased individually as well as with the complete system. I use the Acne Self-Foaming Cleanser ($40; dermstore.com) every morning and evening. It's gentle, soft, and doubles as a mask if you leave it on for 30 seconds before rinsing. After that, I apply the Acne Clearing Toner ($25; dermstore.com) with a cotton pad. I credit this product in particular with improving the overall tone of my skin. Next up: the Acne 3P Treatment Gel ($32; dermstore.com). It contains 5% benzoyl peroxide, so I use it as a spot treatment for any active breakouts. Finally, I smooth on the Acne Treatment Lotion ($30; dermstore.com). It's a great daily moisturizer, and since it contains 1% salicylic acid, it also helps prevent new breakouts from forming.

As dramatic as it might sound, I can honestly say these products have completely altered the way my skin looks and feels. And now, if a breakout does appear—occasionally in the area where my glasses sit between my eyes, or on my chin—this system fights it with lightening speed.