So I’ve been wanting to share some more Lifestyle reviews, basically just about products I’m using or places I’m going. I thought it would be fun to start with a Skincare Series, and today specifically; how to clear skin from acne!
Acne sucks. But I promise that other people aren’t noticing it as much as you notice it on yourself. We are always our own worst critic.
I’ve struggled with deep cystic acne on my forehead since high school, but for the most part have always been able to clear it up within a couple of months with medicine and then when it’s going good, it’s going great. In full transparency, I have taken multiple rounds of antibiotics since then to get it back under control when it’s gotten bad. This has been so important for my skin since my bad acne was deep under the skin and inflamed. The antibiotics helped kill the bacteria but also reduced inflammation. If you’re struggling with acne and have access to a dermatologist or PCP, I 100% recommend it.
So I’m going to explain what my Derm recommended to me during my most recent bad breakout at age 25 *scream*. These are the steps I took to fight my acne! YMMV. I’m not a doctor; this is just what worked for me, and some amazing products you can incorporate into your routine.
** I was given a prescription for antibiotics that I took for 1-2 months and given a topical antibiotic. These definitely aided in getting my acne under control, but the steps below, I still follow with a few adjustments to keep my skin clear and clear up hyperpigmentation and scarring. Look out for part 2 to see the adjustments & how to help get rid of scarring! **
How I Cleared Up My Active Acne
Step 1. GO BACK TO BASICS. Put away the fragrances. Stop using 100 million products.
Step 2. A Gentle, Hydrating Cleanser. Instead of trying to use the harshest and most drying cleanser under the sun to dry out your skin, a gentle non-stripping cleanser might be a better choice. I suggest La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.
PM Routine
Step 3 (optional). Snail Mucin. *wait, what?* Step 5 is going to make your skin dry, flakey, and peel-y. So prep the skin with some moisture first. I fell in love with Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence after going deep into /SkincareAddiction on Reddit. It’s a K-beauty brand and cruelty free. It adds a little extra oomph to your moisturizing routine. It’s fragrance free and a bottle literally lasts forever. What’s not to love.
Step 4. Moisturizer! A pro-tip to using a retinoid is to put on moisturizer first. Or even “sandwich” with moisturizer before and after applying your retinoid. This helps reduce irritation, dryness, and peeling, while not impacting the effectiveness over time!
I use Clinique’s Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Lotion+. I have for over 10 years, so “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” as they say! Another moisturizer I will use, especially to sandwich is the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. It has amazing ingredients and is a top drug store brand!
Step 5a. Differin. It’s an over-the-counter, prescription strength retinoid. My advice is to start using it every 3rd night, and work your way up to everyday if your skin will allow. My skin got super flakey when I started this and would sometimes get red and irritated. This is normal and just means you might need to take an extra day or two off from it.
Retinoids, in general, make your skin cells turnover super quickly so your skin is pushing out the dead skin cells faster, and the dead cells don’t turn into acne from clogging up your pores! This was a game-changer for me!!
Oh, and *warning* – you might “purge” which basically means it might get worse before it gets better because your skin is pushing out acne that would be coming up weeks or even months later in a much shorter timeframe. Give it 2 months to see results. Don’t quit!
Also, don’t apply too closely to your eyes or the corners of your mouth!
Step 5b. Benzoyl Peroxide. On the off nights from Differin, I used a benzoyl peroxide cream that was ~5%. 10% was too strong for my skin. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne causing bacteria on your skin, so you want to get in on this ingredient. But watch out, it bleaches fabrics!! Another option is to use a benzoyl peroxide face wash, no more than once a day, in your routine. You get the benefits of BP, without as much irritation and less opportunity to bleach your clothing/sheets!
Step 6. Vaseline (optional). If your skin is super dry/flakey/peeling, you can try applying a thin layer of Vaseline/Aquaphor all over your skin to “lock in” moisture overnight. It’s not as messy or gross as it sounds. It has a cult following and many recommendations on Reddit and is lovingly named “slugging.” If you’re worried about this causing more acne, it’s non-comedogenic so it won’t be sinking into your pores.
Step 7. Lips. Don’t forget to moisturize those lips! I swear by Vaseline to lock in your moisture or Dr. PAWPAW Multipurpose Soothing Balm. I also use some great lip balms like Aquaphor and Burt’s Bees among others.
AM ROUTINE
Step 3 (Optional). Snail Mucin!
Step 4. Moisturizer.
Step 5. SUNSCREEN. Do not forget sunscreen. This is critical in every skincare routine. Sunscreen helps prevents wrinkles, and we do not want wrinkles, plus retinoids make your skin more susceptible to sunburns. I recommend a physical sunscreen. They’re typically less irritating than chemical sunscreens, and they’re better for the environment!
I currently use Clinique’s Pep Start Daily UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 50, but they’ve discontinued it. I stocked up. But a dupe, that’s similarly priced per ounce would be the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50. The ingredients are actually super similar.
Another option that I actually do use already is the EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41. You get more product for your money with this. I don’t love it as an everyday sunscreen for my face because it shows peeling more easily in my case. I use it at the beach or if I’m just going on a run where I’ll be washing my face again soon afterwards, and that way, I don’t waste my more expensive sunscreen.
Step 6. Continue with your normal makeup routine!
Okay, so these are the steps I followed to clear up my active acne breakouts. It took about a month to see noticeable results. And within 2-3 months, I had a smooth, acne free face. Like I said, your mileage may vary, but these are great products that could set you on the right track to winning the fight against acne.
Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon on how to maintain clear skin and deal with hyperpigmentation and scarring.
