Beauty Dictionary- B is for Benzoyl Peroxide

Of late, there has been an emphasis on natural products and how chemicals are bad for your skin. Truth be told, almost everything is a chemical – the water you drink, hyaluronic acid in your cells and fatty acids in your body. Basically, anything that is a compound is technically a chemical, some of them essential for the human body and not at all harmful to the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide is one of those chemicals that sound like they could be bad for the skin. On the contrary though, benzoyl peroxide is great for those plagued with acne. It works in three ways: reducing skin inflammation, eradicating pimple-causing bacteria and clearing pores. The strength of benzoyl peroxide in products usually range from 2.5 to 10 per cent, but as a general rule, you should always start with the lowest dosage and work your way up.

For those with sensitive skin, try using benzoyl peroxide as a topical treatment, only applying it on areas that are prone to acne to reduce skin sensitivity. Another word of caution for those who think that more is better; layering products with benzoyl peroxide on top of benzoyl peroxide causes unnecessary stress on the skin and should be avoided. Pair benzoyl peroxide with products containing antioxidants to keep inflammation at bay.

READ MORE:
Beauty Dictionary: A For Antioxidants
6 Habits That Can Cause Pimples
10 Natural Remedies To Treat Acne