Clearing Blemishes
Facial skincare for pimples, blackheads and clogged pores
Blemishes often develop when excess sebum and dead skin cells build up in a follicle. This can lead to blackheads, clogged pores and inflamed pimples. Hormones, stress, increased sebum production and disrupted shedding of dead skin cells can also affect your complexion.
Targeted skincare should therefore do more than simply “dry out” the skin. It should clarify pores, loosen dead skin cells, regulate excess sebum and strengthen the skin barrier at the same time.
Our Effective Products for Blemished Skin
How Do Skin Blemishes Develop?
Blemishes can occur at any age but are particularly common during puberty and periods of high stress. The main causes include:
Excess Sebum Production: Hormonal changes—especially during puberty—can lead to increased sebum production. Excess oil can clog pores and contribute to blemishes.
Clogged Pores: A buildup of sebum, dead skin cells, and impurities can block the pores. These blockages can result in blackheads, pimples, or acne.
Bacteria: The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) thrives in clogged pores and triggers inflammation, leading to red, swollen breakouts.
Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations—such as during menstruation, pregnancy, or as a result of certain medications—can influence oil production and promote blemishes.
Unhealthy Diet: Diets high in sugar and greasy foods can stimulate sebum production and worsen skin impurities.
Stress: Stress affects hormone levels and can overstimulate the sebaceous glands, increasing the likelihood of breakouts.
Inadequate Skincare: Using inappropriate skincare products or neglecting daily cleansing can result in clogged pores and blemished skin.
How Can You Combat Blemishes?
Anyone who wants to reduce pimples, blackheads, and clogged pores should address several causes at the same time.
Cleanse pores thoroughly:
Foam Intense removes excess sebum, makeup, and residue, and combines cleansing with exfoliating acids. Afterwards, Tonic Intense helps further clarify the skin and prepare it for active skincare.
Regulate sebum and reduce the buildup of dead skin cells:
Purifying Power Serum is the central active serum for blemishes. Azeloglicina® supports the regulation of excess sebum and counteracts the buildup of dead skin cells, while niacinamide and panthenol provide additional support for the skin.
Support skin renewal:
Retinol can help normalize keratinization processes and make the complexion appear more even over the long term. Depending on your experience, Retinol Sensitive or Retinol Intense may be suitable.
Exfoliate regularly:
Fruit Acid Peeling combines AHA and BHA and helps loosen dead skin cells, the buildup of dead skin cells, and excess sebum. Depending on the skin’s condition and tolerance, it can be used once or twice a week.
Effective Active Ingredients for Blemished Skin
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March 04 2024 – Dr. Luise Berger
SALICYLIC ACID (BHA)
Salicylic acid works by accelerating skin renewal and clearing clogged pores of excess sebum. This effect is particularly beneficial in treating acne, blemishes and oily skin. Salicylic acid also has...
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February 27 2024 – Dr. Luise Berger
GLYCOLIC ACID (AHA)
Glycolic acid, a member of the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), is derived from sugar cane and is known for its excellent exfoliating properties. It penetrates deep into the skin to...
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February 23 2024 – Dr. Luise Berger
RETINOL
Retinol works deep within the skin to combat the signs of aging. It helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin texture and promotes a more even skin tone. Retinol...
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April 03 2024 – Dr. Luise Berger
AZELOGLICINA®
Azeloglicina® is an advanced skincare ingredient that represents a synergistic blend of condensed azelaic acid and glycine. This ingredient is known for its cleansing and clarifying properties. Azeloglicina® is particularly...
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March 26 2024 – Dr. Luise Berger
NIACIN / NIACINAMIDE / VITAMIN B3
Niacinamide works at a cellular level to strengthen and protect the skin. It improves the skin barrier by promoting the production of ceramides, leading to better moisture retention and reduced...
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April 03 2024 – Dr. Luise Berger
TRANEXAMIC ACID
Tranexamic acid is an advanced skincare ingredient known for its specific action in preventing and reducing pigment spots. Originally used in medicine for blood clotting, tranexamic acid has gained recognition...
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FAQs
To combat blemishes, skincare should address several factors at the same time: regulate excess sebum, loosen the buildup of dead skin cells, clarify clogged pores, and support skin renewal.
Especially relevant active ingredients include salicylic acid, AHA fruit acids, niacinamide, Azeloglicina®, and retinoids.
Purifying Power Serum is a central product in this routine: Azeloglicina® helps regulate excess sebum and counteract the buildup of dead skin cells, while niacinamide and panthenol support the skin. In addition, retinol and regular chemical exfoliation can help clarify the complexion over the long term and prevent new blemishes.
Pimples and blackheads often develop when sebum and keratinized skin cells accumulate in the follicle. To visibly reduce blackheads and blemishes, skincare should therefore focus in particular on clarifying pores, regulating sebum, and promoting regular keratinization.
Foam Intense and Tonic Intense form the foundation of daily cleansing.
In the evening, Purifying Power Serum specifically complements the routine for blackheads, excess sebum, and the buildup of dead skin cells. In addition, retinol supports skin renewal and can help prevent new blemishes. Fruit Acid Peeling can be used once or twice a week to more intensively loosen dead skin cells and the buildup of dead skin cells.
A good serum for blemishes should not only address existing pimples, but also consider factors such as excess sebum, the buildup of dead skin cells, redness, and post-blemish marks.
Purifying Power Serum was specially developed for blemish-prone, reddened, and pigmented skin. Azeloglicina® supports the regulation of excess sebum and counteracts the buildup of dead skin cells. Niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, while panthenol soothes irritated skin.
In addition, the formulation contains tranexamic acid and 4-butylresorcinol, which makes the serum relevant not only for active blemishes, but also for post-blemish marks and post-inflammatory discoloration.
Yes. Salicylic acid is particularly relevant for pimples, blackheads, and clogged pores. As a lipophilic beta hydroxy acid, it can penetrate especially well into sebum-rich follicular areas and help loosen excess sebum and keratinized skin cells.
This can help clear clogged pores and counteract the development of new blackheads and blemishes.
At DOC BERGER EFFECT, salicylic acid is an ingredient in Foam Intense, Tonic Intense, and Fruit Acid Peelings, among others.
Retinol can be a useful addition to an evening routine for blemish-prone skin, pimples, and clogged pores. Retinoids support natural skin renewal and can help normalize keratinization processes and make the complexion appear more even over the long term.
Retinol Sensitive is suitable for those new to retinol or with more sensitive skin. Those who already have experience with retinoids can use Retinol Intense.
Retinol is applied in the evening after Purifying Power Serum. If you are new to retinol, you should gradually increase use and consistently apply a high level of sun protection during the day.
For blemish-prone skin, blackheads, and clogged pores, chemical peels with AHA and BHA are particularly useful.
Fruit Acid Peeling combines glycolic acid and salicylic acid. While AHAs primarily loosen dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and smooth skin texture, salicylic acid is particularly suitable for sebum-rich and clog-prone skin due to its lipophilic properties.
Depending on skin condition and tolerance, the peel can be used once or twice a week. More exfoliation is not automatically better: if the skin is irritated by too many acids, peels, and active ingredients, the skin barrier can be weakened.
For oily and blemish-prone skin, facial skincare should regulate excess sebum and clear clogged pores without unnecessarily drying out the skin. Aggressive “degreasing” can stress the skin barrier and is therefore not the goal.
A useful routine is:
Morning:
Foam Intense → Tonic Intense → suitable active ingredient serums → Lifting Eye Wonder → Four Seasons Day Cream SPF 50+
Evening:
Foam Intense → Tonic Intense → Purifying Power Serum → Retinol Sensitive or Retinol Intense → Time Machine
In addition, Fruit Acid Peeling can be used once or twice a week.
For a detailed skincare recommendation tailored to your skin type, you can find further information on our facial skincare for oily skin page.
For clogged pores, skincare should primarily do three things: remove excess sebum, loosen dead skin cells, and counteract the renewed accumulation of sebum and dead skin cells.
Foam Intense and Tonic Intense are suitable for daily cleansing. Salicylic acid and other exfoliating acids help clarify sebum-rich skin and skin prone to a buildup of dead skin cells.
In the evening, Purifying Power Serum with Azeloglicina® helps regulate excess sebum and counteract the buildup of dead skin cells. In addition, retinol and Fruit Acid Peeling can contribute to a clearer, more even complexion over the long term. The manufacturer expressly recommends Purifying Power Serum for comedones and excessive keratinization as well.
Even after a pimple has healed, red or dark post-blemish marks can remain. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in particular can remain visible for an extended period.
Purifying Power Serum is particularly relevant here because it addresses active blemishes and their visible effects at the same time. Azeloglicina® supports sebum regulation, while tranexamic acid and 4-butylresorcinol are used specifically for pigmentation irregularities and post-inflammatory discoloration.
By supporting skin renewal, retinol can also contribute to a more even complexion over the long term. At the same time, consistent sun protection is essential, as UV radiation can intensify existing pigmentation irregularities.
A consistent skincare routine for blemishes should sensibly combine cleansing, sebum regulation, skin renewal, and sun protection.
Morning:
- Foam Intense
- Tonic Intense
- suitable active ingredient serums
- Lifting Eye Wonder
- Four Seasons Day Cream SPF 50+
Evening:
- Foam Intense
- Tonic Intense
- Purifying Power Serum
- Retinol Sensitive or Retinol Intense
- Time Machine
In addition, once or twice a week:
Use Fruit Acid Peeling for more intensive exfoliation and clarification.
Those who do not wish to put together the key products individually will find a coordinated 5-step routine with Foam Intense, Tonic Intense, Purifying Power Serum, Retinol Serum, and Fruit Acid Peeling in the Breakout Fighters Set.
For severely inflamed, painful, or persistent skin changes, a dermatologist should determine whether they are acne and whether medical treatment is required.
Find the right skincare for your skin in just a few minutes.
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Was zeichnet die Wirkstoffkosmetik DOC BERGER EFFECT aus?
20 years of experience. In every formula.
Luise Berger personally develops every formulation. She knows from her own experience how the skin’s needs change over the years – and what you then want from skincare. This understanding goes into every formula: with a focus on skin from age 40 and around menopause, and the aim of preserving skin quality over the long term and improving it through targeted care.
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Simply avoiding a few controversial ingredients is not enough for us. Every one of our formulas is free from unnecessary or controversial ingredients.DOC BERGER EFFECT is always free from: alcohols, silicone oils, paraffins, PEGs/PPGs, parabens, microplastics, nanoparticles, colorants, potentially allergenic fragrances and UV filters of concern. This makes development considerably more complex – but for you, we keep refining our formulas until they work without them. After all, the skin is our largest organ, and what we apply to it every day matters. Developed and manufactured in Germany*.
A wealth of active ingredients at the highest concentrations
More than a single hero ingredient: over 100 active ingredients from nature and biotechnology research, precisely balanced to work together. At the highest concentrations and designed as a skincare system, with more active ingredients per milliliter and products that complement each other.