Acne is one of the most persistent skin problems. Inflammation of the surface and the intermediate layer of the skin causes damage to the collagen, which increases the risk of scarring and blemishes.

Daily facial skincare is crucial for her health and protection against irritation or acne. Many people are misled that acne is a problem only for children and teenagers, but in fact, adults are no less threatened by its appearance.

In order to help you, we need to look at the problem in two different ways. What are the little details that we can improve in your skincare routine? Which products are good for our oily, acne-prone skin? 

Related: 20 Best Overnight Masks for Every Budget and Skin Type

Acne-prone skin Do’s & Don’ts 

Apply the products in the correct place

It is no coincidence that each product is designed for a specific area of ​​the face. Many women apply eye cream on the cheekbones or forehead, and vice versa. Some even put hand cream or body lotion on their face, which significantly worsens the condition of the skin and can even cause irritation. You can use one product for multiple purposes only if it’s specifically stated on the label like the CeraVe Body Lotion & Facial Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides

Take quick measures at the first signs of acne

The earlier acne measures are taken, the more successful the treatment will be. If you allow the inflammation to spread over a large area of ​​skin, it becomes increasingly difficult to control. Adequate treatment of acne also protects against deep and incurable scars. With the first signs of acne be sure to visit your dermatologist and seek the proper treatment. 

Be gentle with your skin and especially pimple extractions 

We know… It’s so tempting to get rid of the annoying cyst on our faces. Squeezing the pimples can cause inflammation of the surrounding tissues if it’s not done correctly.  If you happen to extract a pimple make sure your hands are sanitized, apply a warm compress to open your pores, and use the correct tools like a Blackhead Remover Tool. After that, you can wear an acne sticker like the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch.

Try to keep a healthy diet

Treat your skin kindly fill your meals with antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, healthy fats like Omega 3 and nuts. This should give optimal levels of the nutrients that are in the root of glowy, clear skin. Other great ingredients are beta carotene (found in carrots), vitamins C and E, collagen, etc. Try to stay away from junk food. The bad fats in your food will make your skin oily and can break you out. Eliminate it from your menu and very soon you will feel relief and improvement from skin problems. For some extra care, you can try incorporating vitamins and supplements into your diet like the OLLY Glowing Skin Gummies or the NeoCell Super Collagen with Vitamin C.

Always use moisturizer even if you have oily skin or pimples

Moisturizer is your best friend. Remember that. One of the most common misconceptions made by people with oily skin is the lack of moisturizer in facial care. A common myth is that once the skin is oily, it does not need extra moisturizing. Your skin will produce extra oil and sebum if it feels dry. Therefore never forget to apply a light moisturizer morning and night. In the second part of the article, we will point out our favorite products. Make sure you check out the moisturizer propositions.

Simplify and minimize your cosmetics

Less is more. Do not apply more than detergent or make-up. Overconsumption of products can have the opposite effect. Follow the instructions. They are mentioned for your benefit, and after a series of tests for proper and useful use. If the serum says use pea-size amount – don’t slap a hand full of product on your face. Your routine doesn’t have to be complicated to be efficient. 

Be mindful when you use retinol while having acne

Retinol is a holy grail in the skincare industry. It will help with stimulating cell regeneration, cell division, acne-prone skin, and preventing wrinkles. But you have to be careful with it. If used excessively or in large quantities, it can cause redness, painful lesions, scaling, and irritation.

To prevent this, apply a moisturizer before retinol and start with a lower percentage of retinol like 0.2%. It will protect the skin from the aggressive effects of retinol. 

Always use SPF products

USE SPF daily! We can’t stress enough that point. It is important to protect your skin from the sun at any time of the year, including winter and cloudy days. Always apply sunscreen to exposed areas before leaving the house. You can re-apply your SPF throughout the day. There are great powders with SPF that you can keep in your purse and reuse

Use chemical exfoliants rather than physical ones

Exfoliation is useful but we need to be mindful of it. Once a week exfoliation is all your skin needs. Use chemical exfoliators rather than physical exfoliants. Since chemical exfoliants do not involve rubbing the skin, they are generally safer than many physical exfoliants. This disrupts the texture of the skin, makes it dry and irritated, creates conditions for inflammation, and interferes with its natural functions.  The COSRX BHA 4% Blackhead Power Liquid is a great gentle option for a chemical exfoliation of your skin.

Wash your acne-prone skin with lukewarm or cold water

By using cold or lukewarm water to wash your face you will slow down the aging process and help to fill out the wrinkles you have. If you don’t like the feeling of cold water on your skin you can always use warm water but never hot. Dermatologists claim that hot water is can be harmful to the skin since it can strip your skin out of its natural oils.

Best products and practices for acne and oily skin

Now that we know what bad habits to avoid, let’s talk about some good ones and find out the best products on the market. 

If our face is prone to inflammation – comedones, pimples, acne, it is important to choose the right products to treat the skin. First of all, we must trust quality cosmetics. Here are the steps we recommend for a day to day skincare routine:

Acne and oily skin routine Step 1: Cleanser

The first thing we need to do is wash our face well with a cleansing gel. Wet wipes do not replace this procedure because there are contaminants that would be difficult to clean otherwise. People swear by the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. It’s affordable and fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, non-drying, and non-irritating. Perfect for everyday use. Another staple you can try is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel – also, dermatologically tested and has a great payoff. The Clinique Liquid Facial Soap is oil-free, developed by dermatologists maintains optimal moisture levels, keeping oily skin balanced, refreshed, and smooth. As we stated earlier – thirsty skin produces more oil.

Acne and oily skin routine Step 2: Toner

So your skin is clean and free from any makeup, dirt, and excess oils let’s continue with toners. If you have oily skin make sure you implement these ingredients: salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid. Try using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, Bioré Pore Clarifying Toner with 2 Percent Salicylic Acid, or Gallinée Face Vinegar with Lactic Acid.

Acne and oily skin routine Step 3: Treatment 

This is the step that will make all the difference. The treatment will “attack” the problem directly. Use serums/treatments with niacinamide, zinc, and retinol for best results. The INKEY List Niacinamide is super affordable and you will see results after two/three weeks. 

When it comes to retinol be very careful. Start slow. Use a small amount of product once

a week in your PM routine. If you are using retinol for the first time, start with a product with a low concentration like The OrdinaryRetinol 0.2% to see how your skin reacts. Build it up as it goes. In a few months, you can start using The Ordinary Retinol 0.5%. Keep in mind that if you use active ingredients your skin will be more sensitive to the sun. Always, and we mean ALWAYS use sunscreen in the morning to make sure your skin is protected. 

Acne and oily skin routine Step 4: Moisturizer

For the moisturizers let’s keep it simple – lightweight, free of oils, and water-based that’s your best bet when you have acne and oily skin. The options are limitless. Paula’s Choice RESIST, CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing, Tea Tree Oil Face Cream by Majestic Pure, Acure Incredibly Clear Mattifying Moisturizer, and LilyAna Naturals Face Moisturizer are all great options. Use day and night and give your skin the moisture it needs.

Acne and oily skin routine Step 5: SPF

We will keep saying this over and over again – use sunscreen! There are a lot of options that are non-greasy, leave behind a matte finish, and won’t cause breakouts. Some of them are even tinted so you don’t have to use the foundation daily. Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Hydrating Fluid Face Moisturizer SPF 50 or the Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Lotion are great protective options. If you want something tinted we recommend EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Face Sunscreen Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid. Another favorite that you can reapply all day long is the Colorescience Total Protection Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen with Brush. It’s lightweight and will give your skin a matte finish. 

The bottom line

Love your skin no matter if it’s oily or with acne. Making sure you follow a daily skincare routine and seeing what works for you is a key first step. Listen to your skin!

Cleansing, toning, treating your skin, and moisturizing are the holy grail steps to reduce your skincare problems.

It can be frustrating and there are going to be “good” and “bad” skincare days but try not to be too hard on yourself. Choose the right products, wear sunscreen, use blotting papers, and don’t forget that people with oily skin get fewer wrinkles and age slower! There is always an upside!

We hope you learned something new and will take good care of your beautiful skin.

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