Despite actually being the most common skin condition in the world, acne is typically depicted very negatively in the media, which can lead to misunderstandings of how, why, and to whom it happens.

Plenty of high-profile celebrities struggle with acne, and yet, when it's time for award shows and movies, the blemishes seem to suddenly disappear. Most of the time, celebrities manage their acne by combining the best natural ingredients with scientific ingredients. This form of treatment is, fortunately, accessible both for celebrities and us non-famous folks.

Despite acne itself being minor, the psychological effects of how our society talks about it are not. Feeling like you have so-called “bad skin” can make you more likely to develop self-esteem issues, anxiety, and depression.

Openly discussing celebrities with acne is not meant to negatively call attention to their features, but to change the narrative surrounding pimples from one of shame to one of acceptance.

Also read: How to choose the best acne treatment

Celebrities with Acne: Their Stories

Though we may not see it, plenty of celebrities and figures we admire deal with acne throughout their lives. Take a look at these celebrity testimonies to learn more about how some of your favorite stars have taken control of their skincare, then see how it works at Exposed to do the same.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner has been a model and TV personality since 2007, and she’s been relatively open about her severe acne. She’s had it since she was 13 and her confidence took a hit. Even with acne, she’s a reality and Instagram star, and one of the top-earning models in the world.

Jenner openly talks about her present acne and it is sometimes visible at events. After an appearance at the Golden Globe Awards with her pimples on full display, the star became the target of public scorn.

In response, Jenner wrote a pitch-perfect letter to her fans, in which she was very frank about her struggles as a model with bad skin.

“I had such bad acne when I was younger. It completely ruined my self-esteem—I wouldn't even look at people when I talked to them. I felt like such an outcast; when I spoke, it was with my hand covering my face.”

These days it's encouraging to see her confidently strut down a runway, pose for a photoshoot, and walk the red carpet.

Kendall Jenner assures us that we aren’t alone in our skincare woes, and we aren’t alone in the negative psychological effects they can have on us as well as our ability to own them.

Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne is an actress, model, and singer who has been as public about her struggle with acne as anyone can be. She has cystic acne, and a cyst is a severe form of pimple that is painful, large, and raised, making it difficult to hide and even more difficult to treat.

Yet, despite her battles, Bella Thorne remains an inspiring example of the power of loving yourself despite your skin blemishes and refusing to listen to what other people have to say.

She's also fierce in her defense of others' battles with cystic acne, as this Instagram post reflects:

"[It’s] no secret I struggle w acne. Sometimes it’s clear and sometimes it’s just not. I'm very self conscious and constantly feeling bad about myself. BUT I shouldn't feel bad. It is normal to have acne. EVERY1 does! It’s only our society and social media outlets like this one that tells us we have to have “perfect skin” to be considered socially acceptable. I’m here to tell you rn (*&@#!) THAT. I’m going to show my skin for what is it and own it. No matter what any1 says."

Chrissy Teigen and Brooklyn Decker

Among the more serious and down-to-earth expressions of acne management, there are plenty of celebs who keep it real in fun ways. Chrissy Teigen famously shares her everyday struggles with fans in her thousands of interviews and Instagram stories, so naturally, she's just as honest about her acne.

One particular Instagram story caught our attention—Chrissy Teigen’s “pimple off” with fellow supermodel, Brooklyn Decker.

It started when Decker posted a pic of her awkwardly-placed pimples on Instagram. Chrissy Teigen responded by tagging her friend in an Instagram clip and giving a cool response, “I see you trying to out-pimple me, Brooklyn Decker. I see you.” Decker shot back with a video and a hilarious, “Don’t even try me right now. I have two eyes on my chin.”

Mindy Kaling

The comedic star and co-producer of The Mindy Project posted again recently about her skin struggles in an ironic Instagram post:

"That zit cream in your 30’s life. At least I’m not going on the Tonight Show later today. 🙄"

Kaling's adult acne and face treatments have been a popular topic of discussion over the years, and she even mentions it in her biography, Why Not Me?

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber, one of the world's most famous pop stars, is also one of few male celebs who choose to be open about his skin struggles. In a single Facebook video that’s since been deleted, the star confessed that the condition bothers him a lot, causing him to hide his face by wearing hats.

In the video, he admitted that his skin blemishes affected his confidence, and pointed out that any photo can be manipulated:

It’s the worst for your self-confidence [especially because of] all these filters on Instagram. People are like looking perfect with their skin and you feel like that's a reality, but in reality a lot of people probably have bad skin.

In an earlier Instagram post, the celeb attributed his pimples to mono and Lyme disease, both of which are particularly debilitating illnesses. He has since received treatment for these, and his wife has helped him get his skin red-carpet-ready with sensible skin routines.

What Causes Acne?

To understand how to get rid of acne, you have to first learn where it comes from.

Acne is caused by three intertwined, yet individual, factors:

• Inflammation,

• Overabundance of certain strains of P. acnes bacteria

• Excess oil (sebum) on the skin.

When one or more of these components falls out of balance, the others tend to follow, and breakouts usually occur.

Certain triggers might make it more likely that you break out in some areas more than others, but the causes of acne remain the same regardless of where or on whom it exists.

Why Does it Look Like Celebrities Have Perfect Skin?

Because acne has various causes, it requires various solutions.

Many products claim to be an acne cure-all. But the truth is that, because acne has so many causes and triggers, no individual product will get rid of your acne all on its own. You need a balanced treatment that combines various acne-fighting and skin-calming ingredients.

You should also consider that sometimes people who look "ideal" in photos have entire teams of people whose job it is to make them look good. That means filters, makeup, edits, and more, all of which are designed to make a celebrity look more like a robot and less like a human being. One study showed that 71% of people edit their selfies, so even the people you see who aren't celebrities are portraying an image, not reality.

But if you want to get photo-ready skin without all the editing and airbrush, we've outlined the steps below.

How to Get Rid of Acne, Celebrity or Not

Kill Excess Bacteria

To fight acne, you must also reduce the bacteria that cause it. Active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, which can be found in our Acne Treatment Serum, that can kill excess bacteria without damaging or irritating your skin are a great choice.

Manage Oil Production

Sebum plays a vital role in helping our skin stay hydrated and lubricated, but too much of anything is never a good thing. That's why the Exposed Facial Cleanser is formulated with salicylic acid to fully cleanse and shrink pores, regulate oil production, and leave you feeling refreshed.

Squash Inflammation

Swollen, irritated skin can't heal properly, and it's also bound to make acne worse. We've created the Exposed Skin Care Moisture Complex with natural ingredients like green tea extract and pumpkin seed to soothe the skin and reduce redness for that reason.

Use a Consistent Routine

To truly reap the benefits of all the best ingredients, you will have to be consistent about treatment.

We make that easy by offering skincare kits delivered right to your door every month.

Our skincare kits include instructions for what to do in the morning and in the evening, so you can be sure that you're getting a medically reviewed, balanced treatment.

Everyone should have access to the same high-quality treatments that celebrities use. That's why we guarantee that if you try our kits, you will see a reduction in your acne, regardless of how many followers you have on Instagram.