Skincare to Treat and Prevent Acne
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items Morning: Hypochlorous Acid, Hydrating serum, One active (Azaleic Acid, Mandelic Acid, etc.), Sunscreen
Night: Active Cleanser (or gentle cleanser if you're experiencing irritation), Retinoid, Moisturizer
You can add more products once your skin has adjusted to the retinoid, but if things are starting to work, don't change anything. If there's anything I've learned from seeing dermatologists since high school, it's to keep things simple!
Cleansers
Even though I have oily skin, I've found that cleansing once a day with an active cleanser is best for me! Some of the products below target the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, one of the factors contributing to acne.
Hypochlorous Acid
One of my ALL TIME favorite, MOST versatile products out there! It targets the bacteria that contribute to breakouts. Instead of cleansing in the morning, I spray this, let it dry, and then continue with the rest of my routine.
Other use cases: Spray on the face post-workout to prevent breakouts, armpits to reduce body odor, back for bacne, razor blades or pillowcases to clean, clothes to reduce odor, etc. It can even help treat eczema rashes! The use cases are seemingly en...
All the options below are great, so pick whichever is most convenient or cheapest!
Retinoids/Retinol
There's a lot of complex science here, but simply put, retinoids are going to change the way your skin behaves for the better! This is why (when tolerated), they can treat cystic breakouts, closed comedones, dark spots, wrinkles, etc. My skin can tol...
Start by cleansing, applying the retinoid or retinol product, and moisturizing. That's it! You can add other complementary products later if your skin tolerates the retinoid well.
Also, retinoids are in the “most active” form and therefore are hardest to tolerate. If you're experiencing unbearable peeling or redness that isn't improving, try one of the retinol products I've included below. If you want something even stronger, ...
Start by applying 3x a week at night only. Cleanse, use, and moisturize. If your skin isn't peeling too much, dry, or red, go ahead and increase the frequency to every other day. Eventually, aim for 5-7x per week for maximum benefits (again, nighttim...
You also HAVE to wear sunscreen every morning because a retinoid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Luckily, I have some sunscreens that I LOVE under the sunscreen section.
Same rules apply: Start by applying 3x a week at night only. Cleanse, use, and moisturize. If your skin isn't peeling too much, dry, or red, go ahead and increase the frequency to every other day. Eventually, aim for 5-7x per week for maximum benefit...
You also HAVE to wear sunscreen every morning because a retinoid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Check out some sunscreens that I LOVE under the sunscreen section.
At night, cleanse, apply, and moisturize. Once you can tolerate this 5-7x a week, go ahead and switch to the adapalene product. However, if your skin isn’t sensitive and on the oilier side, you can probably skip this step and start with the adapalene...
Moisturizers/Hydration
You are DEFINITELY going to need a moisturizer at night if you are just starting a retinoid product, and you may need one in the morning, depending on your skin type (oily types may not need a moisturizer in the morning).
These are some of my favorite hydrating serums, light moisturizers, and even barrier creams! For us acne-prone individuals, I love a hydrating serum or gel moisturizer in the morning and either a light moisturizer or barrier cream at night (depending...
Sunscreen (Tinted, Pore-Blurring)
You NEED to be wearing sunscreen every day, especially if you are acne-prone! It's going to prevent your hyperpigmentation from worsening, prevent premature skin aging, and reduce your risk of skin cancer. Also, many acne ingredients can make your sk... Remember the general rule: 2 finger lengths for the face.
Here are some of my favorites, but finding your favorite sunscreen definitely takes some experimenting. As long as you're wearing it every day, it doesn't matter if it's a mineral or chemical formula.
Definitely layer a moisturizer under this, or it may be too drying. It also has a silky, silicone texture, which I find looks GREAT on oily skin types, BUT it may not be everyone's preference.