Benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid. Sulfur. BHAs and AHAs and PHAs. We’re used to hearing all these ingredients when it comes to breakouts. But there’s one buzzy new acne treatment that has everyone talking: succinic acid. It’s on the newer side in the beauty industry but it’s been used medicinally in European countries for years. Now, brands such as The Inkey List are using the ingredient to help acne sufferers get their clearest skin yet.

First, let’s start with the good stuff. Succinic acid has been shown to reduce inflammation (great for those red cystic zits) and excess sebum, while also de-clogging pores. Unlike other acne treatments, it doesn’t dry out the skin which can sometimes make a breakout worse. It helps balance pH levels so dehydrated skin is a thing of the past. It can even help hydrate the skin. Know what that means? Not only does it help with breakouts and dark spots, but it can also plump pesky fine lines and wrinkles. Succinic acid is naturally found in amber or sugar cane and fermented for use.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

One of the first big brands to incorporate succinic acid into its products is The Inkey List. The Succinic Acid Treatment works so well, it keeps selling out. (It’s probably also thanks to the affordable price tag.) Not only did The Inkey List put 2 percent succinic acid in its spot treatment, but also 1 percent sulfur powder to help absorb oil and salicylic acid to exfoliate. The combination of these three ingredients makes this one powerhouse product.

Although this is a more gentle acne treatment that works overtime, you’ll still want to use a hydrating moisturizer and/or serum after application. It’s safe to use during the day and some fans even use it under makeup. A skin-clearing primer? Sign me up.

Because this best-seller keeps flying off the shelves you’ll want to check back here and see if it’s back in stock. Don’t worry—Sephora does keep restocking it. In the meantime, try some other favorites from the brand to keep your skin in tip-top shape.

Retinol Anti-Aging Serum

This non-irritating, line-smoothing formula uses 1 percent of what the brand calls “RetiStar stabilized retinol” as well as .5 percent Granactive retinoid to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as squalane for hydration.

Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser

Oily, acne-prone skin doesn’t stand a chance against 2 percent salicylic acid, anti-inflammatory zinc compound and soothing .5 percent Allantoin.

Niacinamide Oil Control Serum

This lightweight serum kicks shine, as well as reduces blemishes, redness, and hyperpigmentation, with 10 percent niacinamide.

If you’re like me, you’ve spent most of your life doing for others, whether that was your family, your job, or your friends. You probably put yourself at the bottom of your to-do list way too often. And I bet you save the nice things for other people, too – that box of chocolates, those plush towels that you hang in the guest bathroom, that scented candle you won’t light just for you.

Think about how often we deprive ourselves of the simple pleasures that would brighten our days. What makes us think that self-sacrifice all the time is good?

Use the Special Things You’ve Been Saving

Paula Klendworth Skory wrote a story for us about realizing it was time to indulge in a little luxury – when she finally accepted it was her time to thrive. She had been through cancer treatment, something that often gives our writers clarity about their lives.

Paula was raised the way many of us were. Her mom had guest soaps in the powder room – those tiny green and pink and yellow roses that sit under a glass dome. You may not have the little soap roses, but I bet you have some other kind of guest soap, maybe a fancy scented one that is “too good” for everyday use.

Paula had a scented soap that looked like a piece of green marble – a wedding gift. That soap was so nice that she wanted to save it. Save it for what? She didn’t know.

She put that soap in a drawer, and it stayed there as she progressed from new bride to mother to empty nester. Then, while she was recovering from her cancer, she noticed that bar of soap was still waiting for someone special enough to use it.

She carefully unwrapped the soap and slowly washed her hands with it, saying it was “a small moment of pure joy.”

Treat Yourself as Well as You Would Treat a Guest

Why we save all the good stuff for guests is a mystery. I grappled with that at the beginning of the pandemic, and then I made a decision. I told our landscaper to put in more flowers than we ever had before. No one was coming to visit. The flowers would be for us.

That began our pandemic year. We made a conscious decision to treat ourselves like honored guests in our home, not only with more flowers but also with everything else we could think of.

I started using all the nice, scented soaps I’d stashed away – thank you, Paula – and then for the first time ever, I ordered boxes of additional expensive scented soaps, for me!

My husband Bill started buying fabulous wines, and I treated myself to cases of Spindrift seltzer waters (Bill calls them Spendthrifts). I ordered every kind of dark chocolate bar we wanted to try. We subscribed to all the television streaming services.

Whatever we would have bought for guests we bought for “just us.” How much did all this extravagance cost us? Less than a normal summer vacation at an inn where we would have been treated as valued guests.

Give Yourself the Luxury of “Me Time”

There’s one more luxury that you deserve, and that’s “me time.” By putting yourself first on your to-do list, you’ll give yourself the greatest gift of all. Making me time is a daily habit you should cultivate.

Luxuriate in an hour of reading, or watching a film, or taking a walk outside. Time is a precious commodity too, and we tend to allocate all our time to other people. That raises our stress level and makes us resentful.

Carve out an hour a day, or a day every week, for yourself. You deserve to be treated the same way as you treat the other people in your life.

How to Get Started on Treating Yourself Better

Here are some helpful tips:

• Take inventory of those special items you’ve been saving for “someday.”
• Think about how you would treat a guest.
• Give yourself that guest treatment: light that candle, or eat that fancy food, or use that scented soap!
• Put “me time” on your calendar, and use it to de-stress and value yourself.

Do you have some special items you’ve been saving for the future? Have you allowed yourself a little luxury? How can you treat yourself as well as you would treat a guest? Please use the comments to share with or community!

Do you recall the lyrics from Louis Armstrong’s song, “When you’re smilin’ the whole world smiles with you?” What a cheerful reminder of the infectious magic created by one smile. Your smile has amazing power, and I’d like to inspire you to use it every day. But first…

Let’s Examine the Essence of a Smile

What’s behind it and where does it come from? We smile when we’re happy. We smile when we thumb through heartwarming family photos. We smile when we see someone we admire or observe a lively litter of precious puppies. We smile when we hear the voice of a dear friend or tune in to a chorus of cardinals announcing the start of spring.

But do you have to be prompted by beauty in order to be jolly? Must your life always be on the upswing in order to display a sunny appearance? On the contrary – your smile does not need to be controlled by outside influences or circumstances. You have the power to will a smile.

How often do you flash your pearly whites? Would you like to smile more? I believe we can condition ourselves to smile, and based on research, this may be a delightfully wholesome daily practice. Think of 10 adjectives to describe how you feel when you smile. I bet your list is brimming with uplifting words. That’s because smiling feels good!

What do the letters that compose SMILE represent? Let’s explore the potent properties of the acronym.

“S” Reflects Your Soul and Spirit

Smiling is not only great for your overall well-being, it can also enhance your appearance. Not necessarily in the way we view a popular celebrity; instead, it tends to make you attractive on a deeper level. You see, a smile is a conscious decision that extends beyond physical attributes.

A genuine smile speaks softly about your spirit and invites others to experience a brief moment of joy. You can influence the actions of others when you smile. You don’t have control over your height or the shape of your nose, but you have charge over the way you want to be perceived, and that can be revealed in your smile.

“M” Represents Magical Medicine

Smiling is good for the heart and soul! A sincere smile can evoke pleasant feelings. And like laughter, smiling can release endorphins and serotonin, sending a wave of natural, feel-good chemicals throughout your entire body.

Studies show that your happy expression beams brilliant health benefits, such as stress reduction, pain relief, a stronger immune system, and more. Knowing this may motivate you to set an intention to share your smile more.

Further, smiling not only raises your vibration, it also elevates others in ways you may not even realize. If you’re having difficulty getting your smile on, visit those pleasurable places in your memory, and reflect on these blessings during the day.

“I” Expresses the Authentic You

Fill in the blank with one of your endearing qualities: I am ____________. This feature can shine through your smile. No one can replicate your smile. It’s as unique as a fingerprint – your personal expression. And because only you can smile the way you do, put your signature on it.

Do you want to enhance this exceptional characteristic? Then begin personalizing it even more – I’ll talk about this in a minute.

“L” Turns on the Love and Light

Smiling is an act of kindness. Have you noticed that kind people have a pleasant countenance and seem to smile often? If you want to exude more love and compassion, employ your smile to speak volumes for you.

This may require commitment and practice. In other words, begin smiling more. Being generous with your smile will engage others and attract more goodness to your life.

“E” Emphasizes Exercise

Smiling can help to keep you looking your best! Did you know that working the muscles in your face can promote a youthful appearance? But when most people perform an exercise routine, they often neglect the facial muscles.

There are 42 muscles in the face, and smiling provides an opportunity to activate these specialized muscles and keep them toned.

Go ahead – make a crazy, distorted face. That’s sure to engage your facial muscles and stimulate a smile. Also, a more enthusiastic smile awakens the muscles in your neck as well. Wrap a hand around the front of your neck and feel the movement as you work your face.

Let’s Practice Growing Your Smile

Are you willing to play along with me for a few minutes? Okay, let’s have a little fun. Have you ever practiced smiling in the mirror? Grab a hand-held mirror and relax in a comfortable chair. Hold the mirror up to your face.

Now, keep your mouth closed as you use your facial muscles to slightly lift the corners of your mouth. You may feel your cheeks quivering. Hold right there for a few seconds. It may take a while to get those corners curled up. That’s your demure smile.

Now show your teeth. Ahh! This is your bold, dazzling smile! Practice cultivating both and capture the images with a collection of selfies so you’ll see what others see. By now, you’re probably giggling. Me too! A smile bubbling over into laughter is a beautiful thing – unleashing its own refreshing benefits.

You see, laughter is an extension of a smile. And because smiling and laughter often come from the same source, they complement each other. But usually the smile precedes the laugh – it’s sort of like a prelude to a more robust burst of perks.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone released their untapped reserves of smiling energy? Show the world what you know. Cultivate your smile, revel in its benefits, and distribute it to others.

How often do you smile? Would you like to smile more? What kinds of things make you smile? What feelings do you experience when you smile? What makes a smile contagious? Have you noticed personal benefits when you smile?

Benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid. Sulfur. BHAs and AHAs and PHAs. We’re used to hearing all these ingredients when it comes to breakouts. But there’s one buzzy new acne treatment that has everyone talking: succinic acid. It’s on the newer side in the beauty industry but it’s been used medicinally in European countries for years. Now, brands such as The Inkey List are using the ingredient to help acne sufferers get their clearest skin yet.

First, let’s start with the good stuff. Succinic acid has been shown to reduce inflammation (great for those red cystic zits) and excess sebum, while also de-clogging pores. Unlike other acne treatments, it doesn’t dry out the skin which can sometimes make a breakout worse. It helps balance pH levels so dehydrated skin is a thing of the past. It can even help hydrate the skin. Know what that means? Not only does it help with breakouts and dark spots, but it can also plump pesky fine lines and wrinkles. Succinic acid is naturally found in amber or sugar cane and fermented for use.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

One of the first big brands to incorporate succinic acid into its products is The Inkey List. The Succinic Acid Treatment works so well, it keeps selling out. (It’s probably also thanks to the affordable price tag.) Not only did The Inkey List put 2 percent succinic acid in its spot treatment, but also 1 percent sulfur powder to help absorb oil and salicylic acid to exfoliate. The combination of these three ingredients makes this one powerhouse product.

Although this is a more gentle acne treatment that works overtime, you’ll still want to use a hydrating moisturizer and/or serum after application. It’s safe to use during the day and some fans even use it under makeup. A skin-clearing primer? Sign me up.

Because this best-seller keeps flying off the shelves you’ll want to check back here and see if it’s back in stock. Don’t worry—Sephora does keep restocking it. In the meantime, try some other favorites from the brand to keep your skin in tip-top shape.

Retinol Anti-Aging Serum

This non-irritating, line-smoothing formula uses 1 percent of what the brand calls “RetiStar stabilized retinol” as well as .5 percent Granactive retinoid to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as squalane for hydration.

Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser

Oily, acne-prone skin doesn’t stand a chance against 2 percent salicylic acid, anti-inflammatory zinc compound and soothing .5 percent Allantoin.

Niacinamide Oil Control Serum

This lightweight serum kicks shine, as well as reduces blemishes, redness, and hyperpigmentation, with 10 percent niacinamide.

Benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid. Sulfur. BHAs and AHAs and PHAs. We’re used to hearing all these ingredients when it comes to breakouts. But there’s one buzzy new acne treatment that has everyone talking: succinic acid. It’s on the newer side in the beauty industry but it’s been used medicinally in European countries for years. Now, brands such as The Inkey List are using the ingredient to help acne sufferers get their clearest skin yet.

First, let’s start with the good stuff. Succinic acid has been shown to reduce inflammation (great for those red cystic zits) and excess sebum, while also de-clogging pores. Unlike other acne treatments, it doesn’t dry out the skin which can sometimes make a breakout worse. It helps balance pH levels so dehydrated skin is a thing of the past. It can even help hydrate the skin. Know what that means? Not only does it help with breakouts and dark spots, but it can also plump pesky fine lines and wrinkles. Succinic acid is naturally found in amber or sugar cane and fermented for use.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

One of the first big brands to incorporate succinic acid into its products is The Inkey List. The Succinic Acid Treatment works so well, it keeps selling out. (It’s probably also thanks to the affordable price tag.) Not only did The Inkey List put 2 percent succinic acid in its spot treatment, but also 1 percent sulfur powder to help absorb oil and salicylic acid to exfoliate. The combination of these three ingredients makes this one powerhouse product.

Although this is a more gentle acne treatment that works overtime, you’ll still want to use a hydrating moisturizer and/or serum after application. It’s safe to use during the day and some fans even use it under makeup. A skin-clearing primer? Sign me up.

Because this best-seller keeps flying off the shelves you’ll want to check back here and see if it’s back in stock. Don’t worry—Sephora does keep restocking it. In the meantime, try some other favorites from the brand to keep your skin in tip-top shape.

Retinol Anti-Aging Serum

This non-irritating, line-smoothing formula uses 1 percent of what the brand calls “RetiStar stabilized retinol” as well as .5 percent Granactive retinoid to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as squalane for hydration.

Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser

Oily, acne-prone skin doesn’t stand a chance against 2 percent salicylic acid, anti-inflammatory zinc compound and soothing .5 percent Allantoin.

Niacinamide Oil Control Serum

This lightweight serum kicks shine, as well as reduces blemishes, redness, and hyperpigmentation, with 10 percent niacinamide.