No matter where I am – on a walk, at dinner, on a plane, at a workout class – if I have a bag, there is one thing that will always be in it. Hypochlorous acid.
According to my esthetician, it’s the closest product to magic she’s seen for acne-prone skin. As a girl with a science background, before I implement a “cure-all” or “magic” product into my routine, I do my research. So here’s what I found: hypochlorous acid, which became popular a few years ago with Tower 28’s SOS Rescue Spray, is actually something our skin already produces. Our white blood cells, as part of our skin’s immune system, produce hypochlorous acid to kill bacteria and decrease inflammation. Of course, the hypochlorous acid that we’re buying at Sephora or on Amazon isn’t made this way, but the outcome is the same. Hypochlorous acid sprays and products kill acne-causing bacteria and help reduce inflammation in the skin. Essentially, a dream for an acne-prone and sensitive skin girl like me.
So how do I use hypochloric acid in my routine?
The short answer? In every way. For the years I spent actively clearing my skin, I went through more hypochlorous acid than I’d like to admit (which is why I switched away from the Tower 28 one–it’s great, but expensive). I would spray it after washing my face before I put on my skincare (just make sure it’s fully dry before applying any other products!), immediately after I worked out, after I put on makeup, and literally any time my skin felt like it needed a refresh. This might have been a bit overkill, but it worked. With consistent use, I watched my redness and inflammation decrease. Now that my skin is clear (for the most part), I don’t use it as frequently, but I still always carry it for after workouts, when I’m on a plane, if I’m breaking out, or in a week like this when my barrier is struggling and I need something to address the redness throughout the day.