Skincare Routine For Acne-Prone Skin
Dr. Deepthi Prasad, MBBS.
Written by Our Editorial Team
Contrary to popular belief acne isn't just something that fades after your carefree teenage years, sometimes and well in some cases most of the time, it revisits and transports you back to the dusty little hallways of your high school. It's like a bitter friend, always striking harder than the last time. Thus, it's important to strike back and stand your ground which brings us to the aim of this article, tips, tricks and hacks to be added to your pre-existing skincare routine or to guide you in your skincare journey. We've outlined a preliminary list of steps or procedures to be followed along with other helpful ingredients supporting you all the way.
First, let's start with defining what we mean when we say acne-prone skin, there's a high chance that your acne is precise because of your age right? So when does it become a point of concern instead of a regular age thing?
There are two kinds of acne- inflammatory and non-inflammatory. Blackheads and whiteheads that are mainly caused by clogged pores come under noninflammatory. While, on the other hand, anything with a red, sturdy and more robust appearance would be classified as inflammatory acne. Primary causes of acne include excessive production of oil, bacterial build-up or even accumulation of dead cells in the pores.
So, now that we're clear with the basics let's start with creating a skeleton of the skincare regimen. For that, we need a basic idea of certain products and the order in which they should be.
Basics of skincare routine for acne-prone skin
It’s important to build a prototype for your skin which can be used time and time again with slight variations depending on weather conditions, any unwanted and unforeseen skin breakouts or even if you want to pamper yourself and indulge yourself. We’ve broken down skincare regimens into 3 primary steps that are absolutely essential and feasible for everyday and occasional events. These steps would even be enough for the days when you don’t feel like getting out of the house or if you’re running late for a meeting but still have to look presentable.
- Cleansing- wash your face
- Toning- balancing the skin
- Moisturizing- hydrating and softening the skin
- Sunscreen- optional depending on other factors but highly recommended
The process behind a skincare routine is to bring out the natural tone of your skin and work on any areas that are problematic and itchy. One thing that you should always keep in mind is whenever trying a new product, give it some time and constant effort. So for example- testing a new sunscreen would require using it at least once or twice daily for 6 weeks to get optimum results.
Also Read : Debunking Acne Myths: 10 Things You Need to Stop Believing if You Want to Clear Your Acne
Focused routine for acne-prone skin
- Cleanse- exfoliating foaming facial cleanser, that we've on our website has proven to be really popular, effective and beneficial for the customers. With its gentle formula that removes any acne-causing bacteria, it has become a product to definitely keep a lookout for.
- Toner- our Pore Minimizing Ultimate Toner, as the name suggests, has been really effective for minimizing the size of open, wide and huge pores. Using it regularly will also help you with skin sensitivity and irritation and dehydration too. All in all, this is a must-have in your skincare routine.
- Moisturizer- now that we're halfway in, we need to be even more cautious of the products that we're thrusting upon our skin right? So there's no such thing as a perfect moisturizer for your skin, you can choose whichever one has decent SPF and other ingredients which suit your skin. To further help you guys out, we've arranged a list of important ingredients that should be in your moisturizers- humectants, emollients, glycerine, occlusives, and retinoic acid are just a few names that come to mind.
- Sunscreen- the Ultralight mineral-based sunscreen gel with SPF 50 is a great fit for you. It's not only delicate and gentle on your skin but also is suitable for all weather conditions so you don't have to keep changing your regimen with the changing climate. It helps correct and even skin tone and dullness through HA and polyglutamic acid.
Products to make a run for
1. Exfoliating foaming facial cleanser
Review Shared By Amit Kumar
"Wanna get glowing skin - so use this facial cleanser to remove dust, oil, dirt and also remove dead skin from your face Which makes your skin gentle and glowing. It boosts collagen & restores radiance. This is helping to keep pores clear and prevent skin conditions such as acne."
The wonderful combination of AHA+BHA gently exfoliates by clearing dust settlement and congested skin starting from the first wash itself. Exfoliating foaming facial cleanser is ideal for acne-prone skin as it targets and removes acne-causing bacteria and eases up on irritation and inflammations as well.
2. Pore minimizing ultimate toner
Review Shared By Ujjawal
"I got the product on recommendation by one of my friend. It is refreshing and relaxing. I have used lots of toner but this something I was actually looking for."
As the name suggests pore minimizing ultimate toner not only balances the skin composition and gives it a glowing, bright look but also helps in shrinking the size of pores in the skin thereby, providing a much more even and smooth texture.
3. Ultra-light sunscreen gel
Review Shared by Saraswathy S
"I love the feel of the product on my skin. It is non- greasy, easily absorbed and doesn't leave a white residue."
Ultra light sunscreen gel offers protection against both UVA & UVB rays of the sun, thus, making it an appropriate choice for all seasons. No more emptying your wallets every other month just so you could get protection against the ever-changing tactics of the sun. It’s gentle and delicate on the skin, evens skin texture and repairs sunburned skin cells too.
Also Read : Is Sun Protection Essential ?
Now that we know what a basic skincare blueprint will look like, let's go ahead and check out some bonus tips that will prevent breakouts and help you maintain a healthy composition in your skin.
- Exfoliate- exfoliating is a must, while it'd be difficult and painful to do it sometimes when you have a train of acne left all over your face, just do it before it gets this worse. It's usually recommended to exfoliate once or twice a week, which helps in removing dead skin cells and makes the skin absolutely glow.
- Face masks- we know it's common knowledge that face masks are generally used before a big event but what if we tell you that your face mask stash would be put to good use if you use it even on regular bad days? They can just be the thing to pull you out from a rut on bad days and a calming and soothing end to a perfectly good day. Using face masks twice a week would be a good place to start.
- Hydrate hard- always remember water's your best friend. Keeping your skin hydrated and drinking plenty of water will ensure that you're fully prepared to combat excess oil secretion and an overabundance of dirt particles floating around your face.
- Wash your face a minimum of twice a day and after sweating. Also, remember to sculpt your face and use mild exfoliants gently.
- Opt for non-comedogenic products, usually, they come with other labels too such as, oil-free, non-acnegenic, etc. It basically means that they won't clog pores and be gentle on your skin. Make sure to check the ingredient list before you buy them and especially be on the lookout for fragrance, alcohol or any other ingredients which might irritate your skin.
- Don't pop or pick your acne. It's the most common yet very true and effective advice since doing otherwise would only lead to the infection spreading in different areas of your face and can become a heck of a deal than it previously was. However, if you can't control your urges, do it safely with a warm q tip gently pushing on either side of your blackhead or whitehead.
Ingredients to look out for
- Salicylic acid works to unclog pores, enhance blood circulation and reduce inflammation. We definitely recommend keeping an eye out for it while checking out the various products.
- Benzoyl peroxide sounds dangerous, looks dangerous and is dangerous. It kills the acne-oriented bacteria in the skin and thus, works amazingly well for inflammatory skin.
- Retinoids are practically a staple in any acne routine. It acts as an exfoliant, scraping the dead skin cells off the skin and reducing inflammation.
- Tea tree oil is known as an anti-inflammatory agent that's used to treat acne and excessive oiliness. According to some studies, its concentration should be at least 5% for it to be efficacious and operative.
Also Read : Dermatologists Recommend These Ingredients For Every Type Of Skin
This brings us to an end of the skincare routine for acne-prone skin and we hope you liked it. These are some of the most helpful tips to get you started but we'd suggest you not stop here and continue researching, experimenting and analyzing what works for you and what does not. That being said, before putting anything on your skin, firstly consult with your dermatologist for it's of the utmost importance since we don't want any unfortunate and unforeseen breakouts.
About Doctor :
Dr. Deepthi Prasad specializes in Dermatology, Cosmetology, and Aesthetic Dermatology and has been practicing for over 15 years. After completing MBBS from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences Andhra Pradesh in 2009, she earned a MD in Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad in 2014.
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