There's a reason why your products are breaking you out.

You know what sucks? When you spend all your money on a bunch of new skincare products, only for your skin to repay you with a bunch of clogged pores and white spots.

Sigh.

So, what's the go here? Is this a normal thing?

Well, on a recent episode of You Beauty Q&A, our fabulous hosts Leigh Campbell and Kelly McCarren answered just that when they shared their thoughts during this week's 'listener dilemma'. 

A listener asked, "I had a visit to the dermatologist the other day and on the way out I just asked them what those little white-looking pimple things on my face when she told me they were either milia or clogged pores. What am I doing wrong with my skin care?"

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According to Leigh, these 'while-looking pimple things' are most likely milia — which kinda look like pimples, but they’re not. 

As she explained, "Milia is a little build-up of protein that looks like a little white ball under the skin. A lot of people think that they are pimples."

Those little white dots can often occur on the face and around the eyes because that skin is so thin, and it's easier to over clog the pores with product.

"Now, the dermatologist also said you've got clogged pores," said Leigh. "So this could be sebaceous filaments — a lot of people mistake those for blackheads," continued Leigh.

"Essentially they're little darker pores, and are oftentimes found on your nose sometimes on your cheek. What's happening is the sebum is hitting the air when it comes out the pore, and it's oxidizing with the outside world, making it look 'dirty'."

"But it's actually not dirty, and you're not dirty. It's just that the oxidization causes the colour to change from a clear or yellow shade to a darker colour."

Why are my products making my skin breakout?

So, are there any types of products that cause your skin to break out? And could the way you're applying them cause these bumps and dots?

According to Leigh, there are a few things you could do. Firstly, look at what kind of products you're using on your skin — are they suitable for your skin type?

"You could switch out some of your products — you may be using creams that are too rich either on your face or your eye cream might be too rich."

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"Switching to thinner textures that are more easily absorbed by your skin is a way to help that. Particularly eye cream."

"A lot of people pile on really heavy eye creams, particularly if your eye cream is very thick. You only need a teeny tiny rice-sized amount and tap it on."

Guiltyyyy. 

"I remember when I was first in beauty and I was like 'oh, I want to use Creme de La Mer' — and I can use it now in my 40s. But in my 20s way it was way too thick and rich for my skin," said Leigh.

So, thinner eye creams and potentially thinner face creams.

To help clear clogged pores and also milia, you could also use a beta hydroxy acid chemical exfoliant a few nights a week — such as a product with salicylic acid.

"Just pop it on a cotton pad or even on your fingers and apply to your skin after cleansing. Just really kind of work it into those areas and then follow with your skincare," said Leigh. 

"That will help clear out those pores if it is sebaceous filaments or if it is even blackheads and even maybe slough away the milia depending how deep it is."

Whatever you do, do not squeeze it yourself. Milia don’t have an opening onto the skin, which is why they can’t be removed by squeezing or popping (this can lead to unwanted scarring). 

"You can go and have it professionally extracted — they will literally just pop it out. It's like a tiny little ball of like a hard, white protein," explained Leigh.

"I've squeezed pimples myself all the time and I know I'm not supposed to but I definitely would not do my own milia. Having them extracted doesn't hurt and leaves a tiny little mark which will go away — particularly if you are using a beta hydroxy acid a couple of nights a week."

"Overall, use products with thinner textures and if you have dry skin, use layers of hydration instead of slapping on a big thick cream," said Leigh. (Check out our episode on 'skin flooding' here).

"Also, add a beta hydroxy acid a couple of nights a week and you should be good!"

Tell us, have you experienced breakouts when using certain products? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Getty; Canva.