Got Acne-Prone Skin? 5 Skin Care Routine You Should Be Doing

If you have acne-prone skin, it's essential to follow a proper skincare routine. Discover five effective skincare steps and tips to help tackle acne.

Having acne-prone skin is no joke. Apart from the pain that comes with those angry, red spots, you’ll also have to deal with the inflammation and the blemishes that come after.

For someone who just wants to look good, these things can be frustrating.

Fortunately, there are tons of things you can do to put an end to your breakouts. The trick is in establishing a proper skin care routine.

If you are wondering what exactly you should do, here are 5 easy steps.

1. Cleanse

Cleansing is a must if you have acne-prone skin. You need to make sure that there are no dirt, excess oil and makeup residues that can clog your pores.

Cleansing, however, is a tricky business for your skin type. If you over-cleanse your skin, you’ll leave it dry and dehydrated.

Once this happens, your skin will “think” that there’s not enough moisture to protect it. As a result, your skin produces more oil.

And more breakouts happen.

For your skin type, you have to find a cleanser that can thoroughly cleanse your skin without stripping it off of its natural oils.

In the case of body acne, you can get a salicylic body wash. Since the skin on your body is a bit thicker than the skin on your face, you need a product that can work twice as hard.

Apart from medicated body washes, you can also invest in the best antibacterial body wash. This is particularly important if you work out or sweat a lot.

2. Exfoliate

Breakouts can happen if your pores get clogged and irritated. Most of the time, it’s due to dead skin cells.

This is where proper exfoliation plays a big role.

When you exfoliate, you reduce the buildup of dead skin cells. This helps reduce your acne by keeping your pores clog-free.

Plus, you also get to smoothen out and brighten up your complexion.

For your skin type, it’s best to stay away from mechanical exfoliants. Although they can help you literally buff away dead skin cells, they can be too harsh for your skin.

Your best option includes chemical exfoliants. They are very popular and they work without any abrasive ingredients.

Instead, they rely on enzymes to break down the bond that holds dead skin cells together.

3. Tone

A lot of people find toners unnecessary. However, if you really want a healthy skin, you should consider adding it to your routine.

For acne-prone skin, toners are great for shrinking pore size. By minimizing your pores, there would be less pollutants and impurities that can get trapped there.

Toners can also help your skin regain its natural pH balance which is often disturbed by using alkaline soaps.

Take note, however, that not all toners are the same.

For your skin type, skip toners that contain alcohol. They can be too drying and irritating for your skin.

Skip those toners with fragrance, too. Fragrances, especially the artificial ones, have the potential to trigger hypersensitivity reactions.

4. Moisturize

When you have acne-prone and oily skin, it’s easy to think that you don’t really need a moisturizer. After all, your skin already has too much oil.

Why would you add more?

Frankly, there are a lot of reasons why you need to moisturize, especially with your skin type.

For one, moisturizing helps your skin keep its balance. When it feels too tight and dry, it is forced to produce more sebum in an attempt to protect itself.

Using a good moisturizer can also help reduce the appearance of blemishes, like your acne spots. It keeps your skin plump which can slow down the signs of skin aging, too.

In choosing a moisturizer, find one that has acne-fighting ingredients. Your options include salicylic acid and alpha hydroxyl acids. One of the best moisturizers out there include a korean moisturizer for oily skin.

Apart from ingredients, you should also check if it’s non-comedogenic, oil-free and fragrance-free.

5. Apply serums and oil

Having oily and acne-prone skin shouldn’t make you feel fearful about applying serums and oils on your skin. The truth is that they can actually be your skin’s best friend.

Serums contain a high concentration of skin care ingredients. They are thick in consistency and they tend to be more expensive than your average moisturizer.

Despite the consistency, serums are actually formulated to easily penetrate your skin’s layers. They are best applied before your moisturizer and after your toner.

In choosing the best serum, go with a product that won’t leave you feeling greasy. There are serums formulated with lighter consistencies that can work with your skin type.

One good example is pure vitamin C serum for face.

Vitamin C serums are great for acne-prone skin. They can protect your skin from free radical damage which you can get from being exposed to pollution and the sun.

They also have the ability to tone down inflammation and fade acne spots and hyperpigmentation. They are a great help in boosting your skin’s collagen production, too.

Collagen is what makes your skin supple, younger-looking and elastic.

Apart from vitamin C serums, products formulated with glycolic acid and retinol are great as well. These two can prevent clogged pores, improve your skin’s texture and speed up your skin’s turnover rate.

As for application, you can actually use more than one serum. However, since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, it’s best if you do a sensitivity patch test first.

Test and see how your skin will react. If you’re still unsure, you can seek your dermatologist’s help.

Conclusion

Establishing a proper skin care routine is important, no matter what your skin type is. When your skin is properly taken care of, its ability to perform its function, defend and repair itself gets better, too.

Keep in mind, however, that a routine is just as important as the products you are using. Choose products carefully and read labels thoroughly since not all brands and companies are honest with their claims.

Be aware of what you’re putting on your skin.