As glow getters and skincare savants, we have placed a lot of our time and effort into crafting an immaculate (albeit never perfect) routine. We do our research (for fun!) and pursue recommendations from fellow enthusiasts, all while sharing our knowledge within the skincare space. We do all of that and more because we believe everyone deserves healthy skin that glows. Plus, skincare should be fun and relaxing, not a means to an end or a frustrating experience.
Sure, some of us are still a work in progress 🙋 while others have their regimen so detailed it's longer than a Starbucks order—you do you. We don't discriminate against routines if it brings you joy. Just remember, everything in moderation and to take things slow. However, even when we think we've figured it all out, our skin likes to throw us a curve ball and hit us with things we're not totally sure how to treat. And today, that curve ball is milia. How and why is it appearing on our face? Should we see a dermatologist or take matters into our own hands?
First, a moment to air our grievance. So, our body will randomly decide to pop out white bumps on a whim?! Well, not entirely the case, but your frustration is valid. You see, even if our routine has covered alllll of the skincare bases, there will always be room for the unexpected. That's why it's so important for our mental health to remove the idea of "perfect" skin, or the "perfect" routine. No, you don't need to shrink your pores to the point of non-existence because that's humanly impossible! And you definitely do not need to purchase every new and exciting product that trends on TikTok. Every skin has texture, pores, bumps and discolouration, and no routine is perfect.
Now that that's out of the way, back to these strange white bumps called milia. They form when dead skin cells or keratin get trapped underneath the top layer of our skin. This means they're not a pimple and using products or ingredients that help with acne will not necessarily work. You'll usually spot milia around the eyes/cheeks, nose or chin and they'll be hard or firm to the touch.
While it's super annoying to have a cluster of milia just chilling out on your face, they are harmless and generally go away on their own within a few weeks. If their appearance is really impacting your day-to-day life, you should visit a dermatologist to have them extracted professionally. Please do not try to pop or poke milia bumps at home!
Lastly, there are a few ways we can use skincare to help prevent milia bumps from forming. The most effective tool in your arsenal is Retinol 30 and the benefit of vitamin A in your routine. Using a retinoid is gold standard when wanting to reach deeper into the layers of your skin to encourage cell turnover rate and the shedding of dead skin cells. If you're not on team retinol, consider opting for an AHA treatment like our Solution I with 3% glycolic acid or our more gentle AHA Cream with 6% lactic acid. Regardless of your approach, your skin will overall improve in its brightness and texture. And as always, if you need any skincare assistance, shoot us an email at info@miracle10.com 💌