Cystic
acne is a pesky beast. It lurks deep below the skin's surface until it decides to sprout a painful, throbbing red bump onto your face. And it's
tough to get rid of (let alone prevent).
Anyone who deals with this complexion woe knows the struggle—and Grammy-nominated singer Sza does too. (Add her to the refreshing list of celebrities opening up about their acne, from Lorde to Kendall Jenner.)
Her secret? Sticking to what's natural, and staying consistent in her routine. "I have this weird feeling that the apocalypse is upon us, so I have to choose products that I can find in nature," Sza jokes in a recent interview with Refinery 29. "I have cystic acne, so I use a Manuka honey mask to combat it and hemp oil to smooth out the surface of my skin. I also use a Vitamin C serum and black soap, and that's it." Smart move, considering Manuka honey's a natural antibacterial (and it's moisturizing), and hemp oil's full of fatty acids that help the skin.
"I use a Manuka honey mask to combat [cystic acne] and hemp oil to smooth out the surface of my skin."
If she's learned anything from working the skin-care department at Sephora (yes, that was her previous job), it's that her skin is really sensitive. "Consistency and simplification [are] key," says Sza. "I can't try a whole bunch of different [products]."
She'll even turn down prescriptions from her derm since her skin "goes crazy" from foreign products. "I do what I know," she adds. "Don't get discouraged with your skin when it doesn't do what you want it to do and you feel like, [screw] this product. Give it some time." Words of wisdom.
Here's why a new wave of body-positive Instagram accounts wants you to celebrate acne (yes, really). And let's talk about skin-shaming, which is definitely a thing.
