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Want to know how to get acne-free and plump skin? Today you will learn how to get rid of acne while still caring for your dry skin.
As most of you will already know, acne treatments and products can definitely be irritating and incredibly dehydrating. Dealing with dry acne-prone skin is no joke.
I want you to gain your confidence back and live a happy acne-free life, this is why I researched like crazy to come up with a powerful routine that is able to address your acne concerns, minimize irritation as well as keep your dry skin perfectly plump and healthy.
It’s still possible that you experience irritation with some of these products but in a way that is tolerable and also only temporary.
Disclaimer
if you are using any prescription products already, talk with your provider first. it is good practice to talk with your Dermatologist before you start any new products.
How to shop for acne products that will clear your skin
Before we get to the routines, I want to give you some vital information. I want you to be educated on the products I recommend, this way you can also do your own research.
Also, it’s really easy to get overwhelmed by all of the skincare products out there these days, so it’s essential that you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Basically, there are four main ingredients you absolutely need to include in your skincare routine for acne: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids, and sulfur.
Benzoyl peroxide
Products containing benzoyl peroxide can be used to treat mild to moderate acne (jump to this article to know which acne type you have).
Benzoyl peroxide is anti-inflammatory which means it can be your best friend especially if you have inflammatory acne. It is also comedolytic, meaning it prevents the formation of comedones. In other words, it is also able to treat whiteheads and blackheads.
This ingredient is anti-bacterial as well but it does not cause bacterial resistance. Basically, even if you use benzoyl peroxide regularly bacteria won’t be able to defeat it as it can occur with antibiotics for example.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant, specifically, it is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) that is able to unclog pores, therefore, is awesome for clearing acne.
There are a lot of other ingredients that work similarly but salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This means it is able to be absorbed in your oil glands to unclog pores more efficiently.
It is anti-inflammatory and comedolytic and it can work in just a few days.
Retinoids
Retinoids are wonderful ingredients. They are best known for their anti-aging properties but they are able to treat acne as well. Honestly, I think these should be among your top choices.
If you want to know more about retinoids and retinol check out this article on how to introduce retinoids and retinol into your skincare routine.
Sulfur
Honestly, I think sulfur is not talked about enough when it comes to acne. Sulfur has anti-bacterial properties and helps peel away dead skin cells avoiding the clogging of your pores as well.
Implementing this ingredient just a few times a week into your skincare routine could work wonders for your acne.
Ingredients to avoid for acne-prone skin
We covered the amazing ingredients you should look for, now let’s talk about what ingredients you definitely need to avoid when it comes to acne.
- Coconut oil: it is extremely comedogenic.
- Physical exfoliants can cause more inflammation and spread more bacteria around your face, causing more breakouts.
- Denatured alcohol: it can break down your skin barrier
- Shampoos can contain ingredients that will cause acne over time, here is what you should avoid
- Isopropyl Myristate
- Isocetyl Stearate
- Isodecyl Oleate
- Isopropyl Isosterate
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Isostearyl Isostearate
- Isostearyl Neopentanoate
- Some ingredients in makeup products can also cause acne. In particular, avoid blushes and powders with the D&C Reed Dyes.
Morning skincare routine for acne-prone sensitive skin
1. Treatment cleanser
To start your morning I suggest a treatment cleanser, we start by addressing acne right away.
For this purpose, I suggest a salicylic acid cleanser, as you read above this ingredient is phenomenal with acne. I have two absolute favorites for this purpose.
The first one is the CeraVe SA cleanser. Even if it contains salicylic acid this cleanser will not totally strip your skin of its oils because it also contains niacinamide and ceramides.
These two ingredients will take care of your skin nicely, this is why I love this cleanser for acne-prone dry skin.
Another one I absolutely love is the Yepoda bubble double. This also contains salicylic acid and it comes with a pump that delivers directly foam. I don’t find it to be drying at all if followed with a proper moisturizer.
If you feel like your skin could take it, meaning you have a tendency to dryness but is not extreme you could try the CeraVe acne foaming cleanser.
This one contains 4% benzoyl peroxide which can be more drying and irritating so be careful. Benzoyl peroxide is more effective than salicylic acid when it comes to acne so it could be extremely beneficial to you, just make sure you know your skin.
You could also use it on alternate mornings and when you’re not using this swap it with the cleanser you choose for your nighttime routine.
Another product that is extremely similar to the CeraVe acne cleanser is the PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide. Honestly, I don’t know which one I prefer, they are both really good but I’ve seen different dermatologists suggest the PanOxyl so I suspect there is a reason for that.
If you want to go even further, I suggest you try the PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash Benzoyl Peroxide 10%. The only difference is that this one is more potent. I don’t suggest you start with this, if anything I wouldn’t advise you to.
Once you built up a tolerance to the 4% benzoyl peroxide (give it a few months of consistent use) if you feel like your acne is being a little stubborn you can try the 10% formula. If your acne is clearing up though, don’t stress your skin pointlessly.
2. Moisturizer
Since you just washed your face with a treatment cleanser you absolutely need to moisturize your face properly. This is why we are going to follow with a hydrating moisturizer.
If you don’t have super dry skin and you want to avoid looking greasy I suggest the Aveeno calm and restore oat gel moisturizer. This is very moisturizing but it has a gel-like consistency which means it will absorb faster and will not leave you greasy. Also, it’s perfect if you also have sensitive skin.
If you do have sensitive skin I recommend you check out the skincare routine for acne-prone sensitive skin.
Instead, if you want a heavy-duty, rich moisturizer I would go for the same one but in a different version: the Aveeno calm and restore redness relief cream. I personally don’t like using it in the morning but if you have super dry skin you might.
Another one of my favorites, especially during winter is the La Roche Posay double repair face moisturizer. This is the heavier one among all of these but it will not leave you as greasy as you might think because it is oil-free. I absolutely love it! Also, it contains ceramides which are the dry skin type’s best friend.
3. Sunscreen
Of course, sunscreen is a must in every skincare routine and this is no different. Since you need to moisturize your dry skin my suggestion is La Roche Posay toleriane moisturizer with SPF. This is fantastic, it also will keep at bay any irritation you may have and it’s a heavy-duty moisturizer.
Another one of my favorites is the Altruist dermatologist sunscreen face fluid. This is wonderful for dry skin, it comes with a pack of two for 100 ml each.
If your skin is not immensely dry for example, if it tends to be on the drier side only during the cold months, you could skip the moisturizer and try using only a rich and moisturizing sunscreen such as the La Roche Posay toleriane moisturizer with SPF. Personally, this is what I do.
Night skincare routine for acne-prone sensitive skin
1. Gentle facial cleanser
You are going to start off your night with a nice, creamy, and hydrating cleanser. This is very important because you want to prep your skin minimizing dehydration and irritation.
One of my absolute favorites, this is the one I always seem to go back to, is the CeraVe hydrating cleanser. It has a creamy consistency I just love to lather on my skin, it feels kind of velvety.
After using this cleanser, even if I don’t apply moisturizer immediately after my skin doesn’t feel tight at all. I feel like this is kind of therapeutic for me, especially after a long day. It contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, also it is pretty cheap.
If you have super sensitive skin and you want to use a retinoid after I would avoid it at first. The hyaluronic acid in this is great to draw water deeper into your skin but it will also draw in other actives deeper making them more irritating.
Another one I adore, which is without hyaluronic acid and therefore suitable for more sensitive skin types is the Vanicream gentle facial cleanser. It is extremely gentle, hydrating, and also cheap, what a dream!
2. Retinoid treatment
Retinoids are wonderful for acne and for fighting signs of aging as well. They can be very irritating though so you want to start light and then go up.
If you want to use benzoyl peroxide in the morning I advise you to stay away from retinoids for a few months, you do not want to irritate your skin unnecessarily. Of course, you can also start with the retinoids and than, later on, introduce benzoyl peroxide.
If you have other skin concerns like wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots or acne scars I think you should start with retinoids since they are also proven to address these concerns.
If you are a newbie I think you should start with retinol, since it is less likely to be irritating. I suggest the CeraVe retinol serum this is the one I started with and it worked really well for me.
When I was first starting I also tried The Ordinary retinol 1%. It worked perfectly fine but I don’t have super dry skin, especially not during spring and summer, and this has an oil-like consistency that felt a bit too much for my skin. If you have super dry skin I think you would really like it though.
If you’re a more experienced retinol user or after you gave your skin time to adapt to retinol, now it’s time to use the big guns: Differin adapalene gel 0.1%.
Do not be fooled by the 0.1% this product is strong! This is not retinol, the active ingredient here is adapalene which is much stronger and, as such, it will give you faster results. The only problem here is that it can lead to more irritation compared to retinol.
Honestly, especially for sensitive skin types, when you start with adapalene you should follow a specific skincare routine for retinoids to minimize the possibility of irritation as much as possible.
If you can’t tolerate retinoids, you can’t use them – for example, you shouldn’t use them if you’re pregnant – or you just don’t want to, swap them with the same treatment you use in the morning.
In this case, I suggest you try the PanOxyl 4% cleanser and slowly built up a tolerance to the PanOxyl 10% cleanser if needed.
3. Moisturizer
After all of the stress your skin may go through with these treatments you need to show it some love with a thick moisturizer. Your night moisturizer needs to be hydrating and repairing, meaning you want it to target skin barrier repair.
Here are my absolute favorite moisturizers for barrier repair.
First off is the La Roche Posay cicaplast baume B5, I’m sure you’ve seen it on Tik Tok. This is perfect to use alongside retinoids since it’s thought for irritations.
Another super rich moisturizer is Kiehl’s ultra facial cream, they say it’s lightweight but it has a very thick consistency and a light smell I really enjoy. It’s perfect as your night moisturizer. It can be a bit on the pricier side though, so not perfect if you’re on a budget.
Next up we have one that, I have to be honest, I still haven’t tried. It is on my wishlist because one of my favorite dermatologist on youtube highly recommend it, she spoke so highly of it that I absolutely want to get my hands on it. I thought you may want to try it too. It is the Purito dermide relief barrier.
Another option for you is the Aveeno calm and restore skin therapy balm this is incredible at fighting irritation and dryness. Specifically, I love that it contains colloidal oatmeal because this is the ingredient that is going to work that magic for you. I highly recommend it.
Finally, my last recommendation is one of my OG products, the COSRX snail mucin 92% repair cream. This is just amazing! I absolutely love this, whenever I apply this my skin feels super plump and healthy the morning after.
It has a very dense consistency, as you would expect from snail mucin, but surprisingly it absorbs really well and also pretty fast.
Also, a fun fact, snails are not mistreated in the process whatsoever. Actually, if snails are in distress or traumatized they release dangerous toxins in their mucin making it unusable for cosmetic purposes.
Why you should trust me
I know you don’t know me and you can’t see me so here are a few reasons why I think I’m worthy of your trust.
- I’m not a dermatologist but I am a med student, which means I’m studying these topics right now or I studied them very recently. All the information is fresh in my mind 😂.
- I have suffered from acne in the past and I know the struggle also, for this reason, I have tried to clear my acne and failed many times which gave me a better understanding of what’s wrong and what’s right. Plus, now I know why what I was doing was wrong.
- I am a skincare junkie, I love talking, reading, and gaining new knowledge about this topic
- I am a research girlie through and through. Before I purchase ANYTHING I research it until I know exactly how to use a product and why I should use it.
- I follow some fantastic dermatologists on Youtube and many of today’s tips were taken from the budget dermatologist.
