Acne Prone Jessica Simpson & Adam Levine Plan Summer Weddings: Will They Battle Breakouts on Their Big Days?

Photo by John VanderHaagen

Jessica Simpson, like many women over the age of 20, struggles with adult acne.

Jessica Simpson and Adam Levine have a lot in common. Both plan to tie the knot with their partners this summer. Simpson will begin her marriage with a bang when she exchanges vows with former NFL pro Eric Johnson during the Fourth of July weekend, while Levine will enjoy a destination wedding in Los Cabos, Mexico, with supermodel Behati Prinsloo on July 19. 

Both celebs also suffer from lingering battles with acne. As a performer or personality--or anyone who needs to maneuver in and out of public situations--the condition can wreak havoc on your self-confidence and psychological well-being. Feeling insecure about your appearance may even lead to depression, which Levine says he dealt with in high school when his breakouts began. 

Adam Levine developed a lifelong problem with pimples in 
high school.

Acne affects people regardless of gender, race or age. However, more women than men experience the condition as adults. In fact, up to half of the female population after the age of 20 suffers from acneic skin, which can result in pimples and plugged pores--blackheads and whiteheads covering the face, neck, chest, back or shoulders. Causes include overproduction of oil by enlarged glands in the skin (often influenced by hormones) and growth of bacteria within the hair follicles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

The AAD recommends the following tips to treat acne:

• Resist the urge to pop, squeeze or pick at your acne.

• Gently wash affected areas twice a day. 

• Use noncomedogenic cosmetics and toiletries that don't clog pores, along with oil-free makeup and sunscreens.

• Avoid alcohol-based astringents, which tend to strip your skin of natural moisture.

• Allow enough time for acne products to take effect.

No bride or groom wants to deal with acne breakouts on The Big Day. So, in honor of National Acne Awareness Month, we present the latest products to guarantee a blemish-free summer wedding. They contain tea tree oil, aloe vera leaf juice, salicylic acid, vitamin E, and licorice root and green tea extracts. These ingredients heal skin irritations and possess powerful antibacterial/anti-inflammatory benefits.

We'd also like to say a toast to the happy couples: May Levine and Prinsloo, and Simpson and Johnson enjoy clear skies and complexions on their wedding days. Congrats!

Beauty and the Beach: Wedding bells will ring for Eric Johnson and Jessica Simpson over the Fourth of July weekend near Santa Barbara, Calif.

Muy Caliente: Supermodel Behati Prinsloo and Maroon 5 Frontman Adam Levine plan to exchange "I Dos" in Mexico on July 19.

SHINE: 100% Pure Purity Skin Care Gift Set for Acne Care. BEAUTY: A face cleansing brush, Purity Cleanser, Purity Tonique and Purity Spot Treatment help to gently eliminate acne causing bacteria with tea tree oil, aloe vera leaf juice, and green and white tea leaf extracts. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances and colors. 100% recyclable.

SHINE: First Aid Beauty Deep Cleanser with Red Clay, Purifying Mask with Red Clay and Blemish Patrol Pads. BEAUTY: Green tea leaf and licorice root extracts, tea tree oil, salicylic acid and red clay help to detoxify and purify your skin, and remove excess oils. BEACON: Free of parabens, phthalates, alcohol, and artificial dyes and fragrances.

SHINE: Gunilla of Sweden Lerosett Face Wash, Facial Mask and Moisture Matte. BEAUTY: This three-part system removes impurities, and minimizes oil production and bacterial growth with salicylic acid, aloe vera leaf juice and rasul clay. BEACON: Vegan, noncomedogenic and cruelty free. Contains no benzoyl peroxide, dyes, detergents, parabens, and synthetic colors and fragrances.

SHINE: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum. BEAUTY: Salicylic acid, aloe vera leaf juice, green and white tea leaf extracts, and vitamins B5, C and E aid in preventing breakouts and clogged pores, and evening your skin tone. BEACON: Certified organic. Free of parabens, petroleum, benzyl peroxide, alcohol, and artificial dyes and fragrances.

SHINE: Murad Clarifying Body Spray, Acne Clearing Solution, Acne Treatment Concealer and Acne Spot Fast Fix. BEAUTY: Clear your pores, manage oil production and discourage future breakouts with tea tree leaf oil, green tea leaf extract, salicylic acid, and vitamins A, C and E. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Phytomer Acnipur Blemish Solution Fluid. BEAUTY: Marine sugar, vitamins B3 and E, and hazel seed oil help to keep oily skin and blemishes at bay with this noncomedogenic formula. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SHINE: Sanítas Skincare Tea Tree Mask. BEAUTY: Detoxify your skin, dissolve sebum and reduce inflammation with green tea leaf extract, lactic and salicylic acids, and tea tree and eucalyptus oils. BEACON: No animal testing, and free of parabens. Supports the Cinderella Foundation.

2013 Spa Week: Unmasking the Latest Treatments that Combat Common Skincare Concerns

Mask mania begins! Not only do they reach their full appeal during Halloween party season, but they gain even more popularity when fall Spa Week arrives. 

Starting today, hundreds of spas across the country offer discounted services for the entire week. Participating facilities reduce the price of two to three full-service treatments, such as facials, massages and scrubs, to $50 each. The promotion ends on Sunday, October 20. 

Spa Week also allows guests to address specific skincare concerns. If you've got dry or aging dermal issues, for example, a hydrating and healing facial that utilizes lots of vitamins and natural oils would work best for you. For oily or acne-prone skin, look for treatments that purge toxins while still regenerating new cells. In other words, they should say buh-bye to blemishes without causing excessive dryness or peeling. 

Check out the latest ingredients that help treat common conditions:

Acne--Salicylic acid, zinc oxide, alpha-hydroxy acid, benzyl peroxide, glycolic acid, aloe vera, green tea extract and licorice root.

Dry/aging skin--Shea butter, vitamins A, C and E, and avocado, coconut and sunflower oils. 

Sensitive skin--Oatmeal, cucumber extract, almond and jojoba oils, and chamomile.

Millions of Americans struggle with skincare problems on a daily basis. So, in honor of Spa Week, we've assembled the latest products designed to treat acne-prone, sensitive and dry/aging skin. We've also included revitalizing products for your body. Be prepared for spaaah-tacular results!

ACNE-PRONE SKIN

SHINE: Murad Acne Body Wash and Clarifying Body Spray. BEAUTY: Keep pores clean, clear and unclogged with salicylic and glycolic acids, green tea and licorice root extracts, and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Pevonia Problematic Skin Care Cream, Purifying Skin Mask, Problematic Skin Lotion and Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Salicylic and glycolic acids, aloe vera leaf gel and grapefruit peel oil help to purify and protect skin, as well as prevent breakouts and bacterial growth. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, mineral oil, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Acne Complex. BEAUTY: This advanced liquid form of benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and prevents future breakouts without drying your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Calming Mask. BEAUTY: Hydrate inflamed skin caused by acne with aloe vera leaf juice, algae extract, sea kelp extract, peptides and eucalyptus leaf oil. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, dyes and added fragrances. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Soy Doctor Acne Treatment Serum. BEAUTY: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera leaf juice, and cherry bark and green tea leaf extracts help to reduce sebaceous glands and decrease the amount of sebum secreted. BEACON: Free of parabens, mineral oil and petrolatum.

DRY/AGING SKIN

SHINE: Beauty Without Cruelty Daily Facial Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Sunscreen. BEAUTY: Shield and smooth your skin for a more supple looking appearance with avobenzone, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens, SLS/SLES and synthetic fragrances. 

SHINE: Coola Rose Essence Tint Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20. BEAUTY: Titanium dioxide, acai fruit oil, and cucumber fruit and sunflower seed extracts prevent sunburn and promote elasticity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: NeemAura Naturals Concentrated Neem Cream. BEAUTY: Highly moisturizing, this face and body cream mends skin by replenishing and rejuvenating it with aloe vera leaf juice, cocoa seed butter, and neem and jojoba seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan.

SHINE: Refineé Firming Mineral Moisture Cream. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, red marine algae, and vitamins A, C and E maximize moisture retention, and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SENSITIVE SKIN

SHINE: Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion and Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion. BEAUTY: Calm redness and irritation, and soften and strengthen skin with sweet almond oil. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. Supports Conservation International.

BODY

SHINE: Eight Skincare Ginger Lime Créme Body Wash, Ginger Lime Body Moisture and Ginger Lime Sugar Body Scrub. BEAUTY: Sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba and avocado seed oils revitalize your skin to promote more smoothness and silkiness. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Sonoma Soap Company Citrus Medley Hand & Body Lotion and Citrus Medley Bath & Shower Gel. BEAUTY: Remove impurities and restore skin's natural moisture balance with vitamin E, aloe vera leaf juice, and orange and grapefruit fruit oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no parabens, gluten or artificial colors. Supports Clean the World.

Mardi Gras Masques: How to Brighten and Beautify Your Fat Tuesday Celebration

Bring on the parades and parties--it's Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras, as it's more commonly called, takes place in the French Quarter of New Orleans on the day before Ash Wednesday. Raucous revelers forego polite society in favor of fun, frivolity, fancy floats, face painting, bead tossing and wild costume creations.

People also like to adorn their faces with a variety of masks--the more outrageous the better. It's believed that the custom dates back to the 18th century, where the wealthy wore them to hide their identities while the working-class used them as their admission ticket into the prestigious parties of the time.

Today, these guises serve as a way for revelers to help release their inhibitions. But before you rock your favorite Mardi Gras mask, make sure you give your skin a party of its own with a refreshing facial masque. This nourishing treatment addresses common concerns such as acne, aging and dull skin by providing moisturizing, calming, detoxifying or deep-cleansing benefits.  

So jump start your Fat Tuesday festivities with the following cream, gel and lifting masques. They're designed to brighten and beautify all types of complexions, as well as any Mardi Gras celebration. 

SHINE: Ecco Bella Dark Chocolate Mask. BEAUTY: Soften and smooth skin as you clear away dead skin cells with aloe vera, organic cocoa powder, and vitamins C and E. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of gluten, talc, synthetic oils and fragrances, alcohol and FD&C dyes. Supports Friends of Animals.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Strawberry Kiwi Gel Masque. BEAUTY: Aloe gel, ginkgo biloba extract, vitamins A, C and E, and hyaluronic acid cool, calm and nourish the skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, or artificial colors or fragrances. 

SHINE: Naturopathica White Tea Antioxidant Mask. BEAUTY: Firm and fortify skin for glow on the go with aloe vera leaf juice, white tea leaf extract and sunflower seed oil. BEACON: Free of sulfate detergents, PEGs, DEA, TEA, parabens, glycols and urea. Supports the American Botanical Council and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

SHINE: Sjal Skincare Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask. BEAUTY: Sapphire powder, silk proteins, tamanu seed oil, and ginseng and ginger root extracts help minimize pores and maximize cell regeneration. BEACON: Free of parabens.

SHINE: Somme Institute Boost. BEAUTY: Purify, plump and protect skin with peptides, vitamin E and pumpkin fruit extract. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Systeme 41 Rejuvenating Masque. BEAUTY: White clay, sunflower seed oil, pomegranate and papaya fruit extracts, and hyaluronic acid help to decongest pores and restore radiance. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, artificial colors and fragrances, surfactants, detergents, mineral oils and glutens.

SHINE: Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask. BEAUTY: Replenish the skin and lock in luminosity with green tea leaf extract, hyaluronic acid and red algae extract. BEACON: Contains no parabens, mineral oil, synthetic colors or fragrances, sulfate detergents, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates.

Oil-Free Skin Care Steps Into the Reality TV Spotlight

The moisturizer behind Kourtney Kardashian's man. 

Is Scott Disick leaving reality TV to become a skincare crusader? Probably not. But the main squeeze of Kourtney Kardashian and father of their two children recently became an unlikely hero in the beauty world. 

In the season finale of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Disick made a random comment about skin care that set social media ablaze. The buzz came about when he and Kardashian started making overnight hospital plans for the impending birth of their daughter Penelope, who arrived last July. 

Kardashian: "What are you going to pack?" 

Disick: "A tuxedo...toiletries and probably an oil-free moisturizer."

The exchange created such a stir on Twitter and Tumblr that beautynistas urged Disick to run for president. However, before anyone starts actively campaigning, we think it's the perfect opportunity to underscore the benefits of oil-free skincare products. These water-based formulations help regulate oil production and soothe inflammation. They also keep the skin from drying out, prevent pores from clogging, and minimize breakouts for people with oily or acne-prone concerns. 

We don't know Disick's skin type or which oil-free products he uses, but we've compiled the ones that deliver the best results. They include top moisturizers, SPFs, serums, mattifiers and peels. Keep in mind, if you suffer from acne, you may need to experiment with different oil-free products before you find the ones that suit your skin the most.

SHINE: Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF 30. BEAUTY: Provides defense against the sun, and prevents shine without powdery residue with caffeine, grapefruit peel, yeast extract and vitamin E. BEACON: Free of artificial fragrances and colors. Supports Skincare for Kids in Need and joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship). 

SHINE: Elizabeth Grant Exclusives Light 99% Oil Free Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Algae extract, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera leaf juice promote radiant skin without the use of additional oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Children's Diabetes Foundation and Hollyrod Foundation.

SHINE: Kate Somerville CytoCell P299 Oil Free Anti-Wrinkle Serum. BEAUTY: Counteract signs of aging by strengthening and smoothing the skin with hyaluronic acid, peptides and algae extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: LATHER Blemish Control Cleansing Gel (for oily or problem skin) and Shine Control Face Lotion. BEAUTY: Witch hazel and aloe vera extracts help balance and soothe skin to prevent blemishes from forming. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no sulfates or parabens.

SHINE: M-61 Hydraboost Oil Free Firming Serum. BEAUTY: Plump and replenish skin with tamarind seed extract, peptides, aloe vera leaf juice and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances and dyes. Supports Action Against Hunger. 

SHINE: Murad Clarifying Cleanser, Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel and Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15. BEAUTY: The cleanser maximizes antibacterial protection with salicylic acid, the gel reduces breakouts with glycolic acid, and the mattifier controls oil production with willow bark and argan extracts. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Naturopathica Glycolic Purifying Peel (normal to oily skin) and Rosemary Oil-Reducing Moisturizer (normal to oily skin). BEAUTY: The peel minimizes irritation with glycolic, salicylic and hyaluronic acids, while the moisturizer nourishes skin with rosemary leaf oil and aloe vera leaf juice. BEACON: ECOCERT seal. Free of sulfate detergents and parabens. Supports the Stop Global Warming Virtual March. 

SHINE: Phytomer Hydra Original Non-Oily Ultra Moisturizing Fluid. BEAUTY: Algae, glasswort oil and vitamin E maximize the skin's resilience and water-retention capacity. BEACON: No animal testing. Collects seaweed from natural forests to respect periods of reproduction and local regulations.

SHINE: Sanítas Oil Free Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Promotes supple skin and a non-shine finish with vitamin A and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

SHINE: SkinCeuticals LHA Solution (for oily or problematic skin). BEAUTY: This toner removes dead skin cells and excess residue to help decongest pores with glycolic and salicylic acids. BEACON: Free of parabens.

SHINE: Soy Doctor by Nature Pure Labs Oily Skin Rectificator. BEAUTY: Increase the skin's natural resistance to inflammations with cranberry extract, hyaluronic acid and a patented soy complex. BEACON: Contains no parabens.