You probably thought that once you graduated high school—and certainly after college—your days of acne-covered skin were over. But if you still struggle with an oily T-zone and recurring blemishes, you’re not alone: 60 million adults in the United States suffer from acne, 20 million of which will experience permanent scarring.
A few months ago, I began taking a skin-specific supplement to address adult acne. In all fairness, I don’t suffer from severe breakouts like many of my peers—but occasionally, zits do seem to pop up out of nowhere (I’m super diligent about washing my makeup off at night, cleansing thoroughly in the morning, and not touching my face with my hands during the day, so I’m often clueless as to the cause) and, in particular, strike my cheeks and forehead during “that time of the month.” Ladies, I know you know what I’m talking about: More than 80 percent of adult acne occurs in women.
So, this supplement. Having had previous positive experience with a variety of jane iredale products (the Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain might be my favorite lipstick ever), I decided to try their Skin Accumax supplement. Why? For starters, it doesn’t contain any wonky ingredients—dairy, wheat and gluten, artificial colors and flavors, or any other possible skin disruptors—and is not tested on animals. Also, the testimonials are overwhelmingly encouraging; many users report major changes to their complexion, fewer monthly breakouts, and no side effects.
Since taking the supplements, I have noticed a substantial difference in my skin, but I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely sure if it’s solely a result of the supplement, the topical products I’ve been using, the changes I’ve made to my diet, or a combination of all three!
Because all the body’s systems work synergistically, I was thinking it was a result of the combination of all factors—and Jane Iredale herself confirms that, yes, this is most likely the case! The Skin Accumax slogan is “Feed, Fortify, Finish,” meaning to feed your skin with the supplement, fortify your face with appropriate natural skincare products, and finish the process with healthy makeup for “the clear skin trifecta.”
“People often assume that medications and nutrients work in the same way. So, they expect that each vitamin has one or two roles and that’s all it does. But nutrients work in synergy, while often medications work against each other,” says Jane. “Skin Accumax was developed by combining a unique group of nutrients which, individually, wouldn’t necessarily have a profound effect on skin health, but when working synergistically, they achieved an unexpected degree of results for acneic skin, addressing all types of acne regardless of its cause.”
What are those nutrients? Jane explains:
Vitamin A balances sebum so skin is less oily, smoothes skin by increasing moisturizing factors, heals and improves blood supply to the skin, and supports healthy cell function.
Vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes by stimulating collagen production and healing skin and other connective tissue.
Vitamin E offers antioxidant protection from free radicals, promotes healthy skin and hair, strengthens capillary walls, repairs tissues, and improves circulation. Plus, it increases the absorption of the next ingredient…
DIM, which is a plant nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale, works to improve metabolism—the breakdown and synthesis of substances in the body. This means it improves many mechanisms in the body, including targeting inflammation and bacteria to clear acne.
“Skin Accumax provides these ingredients in forms that improve absorption and enhance each other’s functions without using chemicals that cause dryness or flaking,” adds Jane. “The formula and ingredients are the results of four years of experimentation.”
A recent study conducted by the British Skin Foundation found some staggering statistics: Not only did 95 percent of those surveyed say acne had an impact on their daily lives, but more than 40 percent indicated they had been bullied because of their condition, 20 percent said poor skin had caused a relationship to break down, and 63 percent reported a decline in self-confidence due to acne. In addition, more than 30 percent said they weren’t satisfied with medical treatments.
So, if you’re ready to try something new to truly heal your skin from the inside out, give this supplement a go—seriously! And while you’re at it, remember to load up on the aforementioned nutrients via food sources, too. You’ll find vitamin A in foods like sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, peppers, and mangoes; vitamin C in oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, strawberries, and tomatoes; and vitamin E in sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, and peanut butter.
Follow her on Twitter @editorerica.