Milia bumps tend to appear out of nowhere and can be pretty annoying. The worst part is that these pesky little white bumps might be here to stay for a while. It can be difficult to get rid of them, as they are unpoppable. There’s no pain, no blood, no pus, zip, zero, nada. So what’s the deal with milia anyway? Why are they here, and what can we do to get rid of them? 

According to an interview with Neil Alan Fenske, MD, professor and chair of the department of dermatology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, milia appear as the skin cells “get trapped below the skin and create a really hard, little, white ball.”

While milia look quite similar to whiteheads, there are no more similarities between the two beyond that point. Milia appear when your skin grows over a pore, and there is skin debris trapped underneath. So, you are going to need the right products if you want to treat these uninvited guests. Here are the best products for milia seeds that might just be the solution you’ve been looking for.

What are Milia Seeds?

Image credit: © Richard Usatine, MD (sourced from MedicineNet)

Milia seeds, also known as milk spots, are small cysts that feature a white to yellowish colour. This skin condition occurs when dead skin cells are trapped under the skin, giving it a bumpy appearance. It commonly appears on the face, specifically around the cheeks, nose, and eye area. Due to its appearance, milia seeds are often mistaken for whiteheads, which are a form of acne.

What Causes Milia Seeds to Appear? 

There are various reasons that cause milia seeds to form on the skin. As mentioned earlier, they occur when dead skin cells are trapped under the skin, leading to the formation of cysts. As the body tries to eliminate them through shedding and generating space for new cells, the old skin cells become trapped underneath, further hardening and forming cysts. However, other factors may also contribute to their formation, including:

  • Usage of beauty products that clog the pores
  • UV damage
  • Skin injury
  • Steroid topical creams or ointments
  • Genetic conditions 

How To Get Rid of Milia Seeds

Although milia seeds aren’t harmful, they can affect your overall skin appearance due to their visibility. If you’re considering undergoing treatment to remove them, talk to your healthcare provider, as several procedures such as cryotherapy, chemical peels, laser treatments, manual extraction and surgical removal are available. For at-home treatments, you can focus on improving your skincare regimen by following these steps:

  • Use sunscreen
  • Use exfoliating-based products that contain ingredients like AHAs
  • Cleanse your face every day
  • Consider over-the-counter prescription creams like tretinoin

The Best Products for Milia

1. Eminence Organic Skin Care Naseberry Eye Exfoliant

The Eminence Organic Skin Care Naseberry Eye Exfoliant is one of the best products for milia. This eye cream is something you need for milia removal as it contains lactic acid in its formula. Thus, it is able to break down any plugs and smoothen out your skin. Furthermore, its formula also contains several natural oils and extracts that are both nourishing and hydrating. 

Why we love it:

  • Gentle formulation
  • Hydrating
  • Contains lactic acid 

Cons:

  • Pricey

Price: $$390.00

Where to buy: Lazada

2. SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense

products for milia

Whether it is acne or milia, the SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense is a serum that will treat all. It even has the benefits to help slow down any signs of premature ageing. Its formula is thin and gentle with only 1.5% of salicylic acid present. This small amount is used to slowly dissolve milia plugs over a period of time. With the help of glycolic acid, it also helps exfoliate the skin. 

Why we love it:

  • Exfoliates the skin
  • Slows down premature ageing
  • Gentle formula 

Cons:

  • Slightly pricey

Price: $185.00

Where to buy: SkinCeuticals 

3. Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream with Retinol

The Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream with Retinol is a hydrating face cream that contains many anti-ageing ingredients. The reason it has the ability to help treat milia is thanks to the ingredient retinol. As one of the best products for milia, it contains peptides that help improve the function of skin and prevent premature ageing. 

Why we love it:

  • Prevents premature ageing
  • Anti-ageing properties
  • Keeps skin hydrated

Cons:

  • The texture might be too creamy for oily skin type

Price: $59.00

Where to buy: Paula’s Choice

4. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel

Another great product for milia is the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel – Packettes. These are two-step peel pads that are great at treating milia. The first step is to exfoliate with the first pad. It contains both salicylic acid and glycolic acid to get rid of dead skin. Using the second pad, you can nourish, brighten and renew your skin with vitamin C and retinol. 

Why we love it:

  • Improves skin texture
  • Exfoliates the skin
  • Removes dead skin cells

Cons:

  • Can irritate the skin

Price: $29.00

Where to buy: Sephora

5. PCA Skin Clearskin

The PCA Skin Clearskin is one of the best products for milia. This moisturiser both prevents and treats milia. It is also quite light and contains vitamin A within its formula to help eliminate skin texture issues and renew the skin. Even for those with acne-prone and oily skin, this is a great moisturiser to have. 

Why we love it:

  • Suitable for oily and acne-prone skin
  • Renews the skin
  • Eliminates skin texture 

Cons:

  • Can be slightly drying

Price: $95.00

Where to buy: Zoe Nissi

6. Avene Akerat Smoothing Exfoliating Cream

Although the Avene Akerat Smoothing Exfoliating Cream may be on the thicker side of creams, it actually has a unique composition that is suitable for eliminating milia. Its formula is also super moisturising and contains salicylic acid for exfoliation purposes. Furthermore, it also contains urea, which is an ingredient known to soften keratin and break it down. 

Why we love it:

  • Contains urea
  • Moisturising
  • Exfoliating 

Cons:

  • Texture may be slightly thick

Price: $63.90

Where to buy: Oz Cosmetics

7. Murad Clarifying Cleanser

If you have oily skin and are trying to get rid of milia, try the Murad Clarifying Cleanser. This is a gentle anti-acne cleanser that can help prevent milia from forming. Its formula contains salicylic acid to help with exfoliating. Aside from that, its formula also contains green tea extract, which is soothing for the skin. Another benefit is that this cleanser is also free from sulphate. 

Why we love it:

  • Sulphate-free
  • Soothing on the skin
  • Suitable for oily skin 

Cons:

  • May cause slight dryness

Price: $54.00

Where to buy: Shopee

8. NeoStrata Skin Active Exfoliating Wash

The NeoStrata Skin Active Exfoliating Wash is an anti-ageing cleanser that has the benefit to help prevent milia. This is all thanks to the polyhydroxy acids (PHA) and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) present in its formula. This is one of the best products for milia as it is gentle and free from SLS. Therefore, it can keep your skin looking refreshed, clean and youthful. 

Why we love it:

  • SLS-free
  • Contains AHAs and PHAs
  • Youthful skin 

Cons:

  • Foam texture that can cause dryness

Price: $70.96

Where to buy: Neoasiaderm

9. Differin Gel

Differin gel is a water-based product that is one of the best products for removing milia. Its non-comedogenic formula has the ability to help reduce milia and acne lesions visibly. At the same time it also has the ability to help restore your skin and enhance its texture. It works because the gel stimulates the turnover of cells to target clogged pores, causes of acne and inflammation. Furthermore, this cool and mild formula is gentle on the skin. 

Why we love it:

  • Mild formula
  • Water-based product
  • Enhance skin texture 

Cons:

  • Can irritate the skin

Price: $30.93

Where to buy: iHerb

10. The Inkey List Retinol

While retinoids aren’t typically the first choice for milia removal, they do have the benefit of helping to prevent further formation. The Inkey List Retinol is an excellent product for this purpose, as it features retinol as its star ingredient. It works by addressing the signs of ageing, smoothing rough skin texture, and brightening a dull complexion.

Why we love it:

  • Gentle product
  • Prevents lesions from forming
  • Reduces signs of ageing 

Cons:

  • Oily texture

Price: $25.00

Where to buy: Sephora

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