Skincare is all about knowing how to give your skin what it needs. Those needs may change over time or with the coming and going of seasons or weather conditions, so having a handle on what can work best for your skin will carry you a long way. Acne can be a particularly frustrating thing to have to deal with, but we’ve got skincare suggestions that will wipe away any blemishes and get you through to the other side of breakouts with not so much as the bat of an eyelash! Let’s take a look.

What Can Cause Acne?

So your skin is acne-prone — but why? Acne appears on your skin when your pores become clogged with debris like dead skin, excess oil, or facial bacteria. Your skin might be permanently acne-prone, or it might be a hormonal issue or weather-based (excess heat causes excess sweating and, therefore, more clogging), so understanding that from the offset will help you treat the condition well.

What Should Your Skincare Routine Consist Of?

1. Cleanse Your Face: Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash by Fresh

Face cleansing in the morning and the evening is a non-negotiable, unmissable step in your skincare routine if you have acne issues. Your morning or evening cleanse should include an exfoliator. In particular, this exfoliating face cleanser by Fresh is such a great choice. This scrub removes all excess oil and traces of makeup or impurities and also exfoliates away any clogging or buildup in your pores to open them up and minimize the changes of a breakout. The sugar in the face wash smooths any uneven skin, leaving your face smooth and supple; grapeseed oil softens, and strawberry extract maintains an even complexion.

2. Treat Your Acne Directly: Pore Release Blackhead Clearing Solution by Hero Cosmetics

Targeted acne treatment will be your best friend if your skin is struggling. If your acne is very severe, we recommend paying a visit to your dermatologist to ask for their recommendations. If your breakouts are nothing unusual, a treatment like Pore Release by Hero Cosmetics unplugs any pores blocked by blackheads and keeps them from coming back. A hard-working combination of alpha, beta, and polyhydroxy acids works from the inside of the skin without stripping any moisture from the service. Aloe vera and lotus water come in after the acids to hydrate and retain that moisture. You can use this treatment on certain spots or all over your face 2 to 3 times every week.

3. Moisturize Your Skin: Acne Oil-Free Moisturizer by Peach Slices

If your skin has hit a bad patch, you may be tempted to skip the moisturizing step if you’re under the mistaken impression that moisturizer will contribute to already too-oily skin. Your skin may only be oily as an overcompensation for being too dry (which may result from skipping your daily moisturizer), so moisturizing is essential for the health and balance of your skin. 

If naturally oily skin is the reason for your acne, you just need to use the right moisturizer to help balance that- like this oil-free cream by Peach Slices. The lightweight formula doesn’t leave any shine behind and sinks into the skin quickly, making it perfect for morning or evening use. This combination of ingredients in this cream is clinically proven to work. Salicylic acid helps clear current breakouts, prevent future breakouts, and removes any excess oil. Hyaluronic acid provides and retains moisture without any added heaviness and helps minimize the potential for acne scarring. 

4. Protect Your Skin from the Sun

This step is only necessary during daylight hours, but it is necessary every single day. Even if you’re indoors, sunlight still sneaks in the windows and bounces off all kinds of objects to make its way to the delicate skin on your face. EltaMD’s UV Daily Face Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 40, is an excellent choice for normal or combination skin. That hero ingredient, hyaluronic acid (HA), is back again to help minimize fine lines and wrinkles and keep skin moisturized; vitamin E reduces the impact of free radicals, and zinc oxide works as a sunscreen agent by reflecting harmful rays.

If your skin tends to be oilier, Colorescience’s Total Protection Face Shield Matte SPF 50 is the way to go. The formula featuring the brand’s patented EnviroScreen Tech absorbs excess oil and leaves your skin shine-free and silky. Mineral UV protection keeps skin safe while the appearance of pores is minimized.

5. Remove Makeup: 2-in-1 Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover by First Aid Beauty

Your focus in evening cleansing should be removing dirt, oil, and any makeup you’ve worn during the day. Since you’re already getting a daily exfoliation with the Fresh scrub in the mornings, choose a completely non-comedogenic product for evening cleansing. This oil-to-foam product from First Aid Beauty simply melts makeup and impurities away. Glycerine hydrates and smooths your skin, calendula soothes any stressed-out patches, and oatmeal relieves dryness.

6. Treat Your Acne Again: Acne Treatment Gel by Differin

An evening acne treatment is often slightly more potent, so coordinate your daily and nightly treatments with care. The retinoids in this nightly treatment will mean that your skin is a little bit more sensitive to sun exposure, especially at the start of using the product, so don’t forget your daily SPF! The product aims to penetrate deep into your pores and prevent acne before it even forms. The ingredients help normalize skin cell turnover to promote fresh, healthy skin. Since the formula is water-based and created with Adapalene, it’s easier on your skin than other retinol options.

Save Our Skins

Acne might be irritating and stressful, but it’s something you can handle when you have the right products in your arsenal. Keeping products like these in your daily rotation will help balance and treat your acne-prone skin and keep it in its best possible condition. 

 

Feature Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash