Here’s How to Get Clearer Skin in 15 Minutes or Less

For all of the season's pleasures, including but not limited to summer Fridays and long sun-soaked weekend getaways, July and August have a funny way of taking an unwanted toll on skin. And while protection from the harsh outdoor rays is key, the dehydration, accumulated sweat, and daily layering of SPF can often lead to seriously blocked pores. Fortunately, a specialized wave of high-tech at-home devices are sweeping the nation and, used in alone or in combination with topical acne prescriptions like retinol, they provided powerful bacteria-fighting benefits.

In fact, blue light technology—aka “LED lights, or light emitting diodes, that have the power to penetrate the skin and heal from the inside out,” says Weill Cornell Medical College’s Michelle
Henry, M.D.—has long reigned supreme at dermatologist offices worldwide, but now it arrives by way of affordable handheld spot treatments and battery-activated face masks. Want to reverse seasonal woes by targeting and shrinking oil glands and reducing inflammation? Try Neutrogena’s new two-minute, portable wand, a zero-recovery-time apparatus in the comfort of your own home. “Plus,” adds Henry, “the devices also emit a slight amount of heat that when coupled with the light helps to diminish pore size.”

The easy-to-operate gadgets have built-in automatic timers, making them basically foolproof—especially compared with retinol and strong-acting creams, which may cause flakiness when applied with a heavy hand. Use up to three times a week, morning or night, during a breakout or as a preventative measure. They won’t contribute to sun sensitivity, peeling, or UV exposure throughout the day. Henry recommends those with cystic acne or other severe skin cases to apply an anti-inflammatory cream like a topical salicylic acid treatment before use. “It makes it that much more powerful,” she says.

Credit:  Vogue