Taking care of acne-prone skin can be challenging. From my personal experience, I can tell you that at times it can be truly frustrating! Sometimes it just seems like nothing works right. However, if you take care of your acne-prone skin consistently, you will see better results, and you won't think that it's so hard.
In this guide, I will share with you the ultimate skincare routine for your acne-prone skin, so let's begin!
Why you should have a skincare routine for your acne-prone skin
You might ask yourself, Do I really need to have a routine? The answer is, of course, no, but there are a lot of benefits to having a skincare routine for your acne-prone skin, and I can tell you that, surely, it is indeed better than not having one. The benefits that come from having a skincare routine for acne-prone skin are:
1. It reduces the chance of acne breakouts
Having a consistent skincare routine for acne-prone skin can largely reduce the breakout of acne on your face.
2. It improves the appearance of acne spots and acne scars.
This effect takes a lot of time; you have to be consistent and patient to achieve those results.
3. Improves mental health
Having a regular mental health routine can really improve your mental health. I didn't believe this until I tried it. I was going through a very difficult time and living under immense pressure. It was at that time that I started committing to my skincare routine, and it truly improved my mood.
4. Improves the texture of your skin
The natural result of taking care of yourself and your skin is that your skin will become softer and radiate a natural glow.
The Ultimate Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone Skin
There is a lot that goes into following a perfect skincare routine for acne-prone skin. It's not just about what you put on your face; it's rather a holistic approach to taking care of your skin.
1. Eat healthy and drink healthy
Hang on, I see you rolling your eyes at this. Well, it's true! But keep in mind that I'm not saying that you shouldn't enjoy a tasty meal when you feel like it or have some junk food from time to time. What I'm saying is to incorporate healthy ingredients into your diet. Things that contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that really benefit your skin, such as vegetables, fruits, and herbal teas like hibiscus tea and rosemary tea, All of those would be a valuable addition to your daily diet that won't only benefit your skin but they benefit your hair and your whole body.
2. Sleep well
I bet that you hear the phrase "beauty sleep" a lot. Beauty sleep is not a myth, and you probably know that from personal experience. All you need to do to confirm this is take a look in the mirror after three days of poor sleep. What you will see is a hollow ghost that somewhat looks like I know. I know too; I have been there. So, make sure you get enough sleep, that you sleep regularly and atthe right time, and try not to stay up for too long.
3. Clean your face
Whether you prefer using face soaps, face washes, or foaming cleansers, the important thing is that you wash your face regularly and keep it clean. You probably already know that what causes acne are buildups of sebum, dead skin, and bacteria in your hair follicles. Cleaning your face regularly washes all this gunk out and freshens your skin, thereby reducing acne breakouts.
I don't advise you to go buy expensive cleansers because, in the end, the results are not that different, but there are cleansers with certain ingredients that are specifically useful for acne-prone skin, like:
Cleansers containing salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is an amazing component for those with acne-prone skin. It penetrates into the pores and cleans them, which makes it good for those with black and white heads.
2. Use a gentle bar soap
Even if your skin is oily, you don't want to strip it of all the natural oils. That's why you should try to avoid harsh bar soaps and use soaps that contain a high percentage of moisturizing agents, like glycerin.
4. Moisturize after washing
Don't forget to moisturize your face after you wash it. You can put the moisturizer on the bathroom shelf near your cleanser and use it right after. Again, you don't need to go buy fancy and expensive moisturizer; you can buy simple and cheap products that will give your face all the moisture it needs. The following are my favorites:
Glycerin
Glycerin is at the top of my moisturizers' list. It's a humectant that works by drawing moisture from the air to your skin, and it's used in many beauty products. You can use glycerin alone or mix it with other creams, like aloe vera face cream. You also mix it with natural ingredients; these days I mix it with tamarind because I'm trying to exfoliate my skin a bit. There are a lot of options when it comes to glycerin; you can also mix it with lemon or rose water.
2. Petroleum Jelly
Some of you might not like using petroleum jelly due to its thickness, but I recommend using it once a day, preferably when you are going to sleep. Applying petroleum jelly after you wash your face before going to bed locks the moisture in your skin for a longer time and gives your skin a soft and nice texture.
3. Products containing vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and an excellent moisturizer, which makes it a great option for moisturizing your skin after washing it.
5. Apply face masks
The fourth step in our acne-prone skin routine is to apply face masks. Face masks nourish your skin, supply it with useful nutrition, and also hydrate it. Unlike the previous steps, you don't need to apply face masks on a daily basis; three times per week is more than enough. After applying a face mask, you will feel that your skin is really soft and hydrated. When it comes to face masks, we have ready-to-buy face masks and homemade face masks. For me, I prefer the homemade masks. Maybe I just like making my own things, but they always feel better on my skin and make me feel more refreshed. I will share with you some of my favorite recipes for natural homemade face masks:
Honey and coffee
Honey and coffee work amazingly together. While the coffee scrubs off the dead skin, the honey moisturizes your skin and makes it soft.
Honey and lemon
Another favorite remedy. Both the honey and the lemon have lightning properties that make them good for removing acne spots while hydrating your face at the same time.
Lupine mask
Lupine mask is a remedy that's traditionally used for acne in my country. My grandmother told me about it when I was just a teenager, but it wasn't until recently that I knew how great lupine is for acne-prone skin. Lupine has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it reduces the redness and inflammation that come with acne. It is also used as a treatment for acne and to maintain the skin's youthfulness and glow. You can prepare it by adding water to the lupine powder until you make a paste, then apply it to your face, relax, and wait for it to dry before washing it.
5. Try to avoid makeup as much as possible
Makeup exposes your skin to more irritants, not to mention that it adds to the bacteria that's already on your skin and makes your acne worse. You want to specifically avoid using brushes and sponges as much as possible because those provide the perfect medium for bacteria to proliferate. And, no matter what, do not share your makeup with someone else.
When you apply makeup, make sure to remove it once you get back home, and then moisturize your face.
6. Apply sunblock
UV and sun rays will make your acne-prone skin worse. Wash your face and then apply the sunblock fifteen minutes before you go outside. Opt for an SPF of 50 to get better protection, and reapply the sunblock if you had to wash your face or if your time outside exceeded two hours.
Commit to this routine for the long term to repeat all the benefits. Adjust it according to what's best for you and for your skin type, because we don't all react the same. Try and decide how you want to modify it to suit you better.
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