People tell me it’s not good to change your skincare routine too often, but I believe that it’s important to understand what your skin needs at that moment and apply what’s targeted for it. I actually have a set routine for dull skin, anti-aging, hydration and acne care which is a different mix of products to suit those needs. Yeap, I do have more than 2 types of everything in my skincare stash 😂
I don’t have acne prone skin but this skincare routine has helped me through my maskne breakouts for the past several months as well as during my pre-period days with hormonal breakouts. My acne is usually small bumps or the regular kind that usually form around my t-zone or chin areas.
*Disclaimer: I’m not an expert with skincare, however this routine is based on my personal experience and results may vary depending on individual.
#1: Cleanser
It’s really important to get the cleaning part done well and thorough because no matter how great your skincare products are, it wouldn’t be as effective if your skin is not cleansed well to absorb those benefits. I really pay close attention to this step because I have seen my skin improve gradually through the years.
Oil cleanser – Heimish All Clean Balm
Whenever I’m having breakouts, I swap out my usual double cleanser Eucerin Dermato Clean Mild Cleansing Milk to an oil cleanser instead as it’s more gentle to remove both makeup and excess oil without stripping, drying, or irritating the skin. Heimish’s All Clean Balm smells like a spa with a super calming scent while effectively deep cleansing all the nitty gritty left on the skin after a long day out. This balm doesn’t give me an oily after feel and it’s definitely effective in cleansing. Try to avoid using makeup during your breakouts, but if you have to, always oil cleanse it after.https://www.hermo.my/mall/29035-eucerin-dermato-clean-mild-cleansing-milk-200ml?utm_source=beautymemo&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=eucerin-dermato-clean-mild-cleansing-milk-200ml
Facial cleanser – Neogen Real Fresh Foam Cleanser (Green Tea)
After my double cleanse, I’d go for Neogen’s Real Fresh Foam Cleanser for some light and foamy cleaning action! I love the green tea one as it soothes my skin while cleansing it well and keeping the moistures intact. It has real green tea under the bottle which was what intrigued me to get it in the first place. When Neogen mean fresh, they really mean it! 😂
#2: Morning mask – Natural aloe vera gel
On days I get up earlier, I’d do a quick 10-15 minute aloe vera mask from natural aloe vera harvested from my garden. I’d then rinse it off before proceeding with my skincare routine. I try to do this every morning if I’m hard working enough 😂 Natural aloe vera has been known to contain antioxidants, enzymes, Vitamins A and C, and it is highly anti-inflammatory, great for treating acne and sunburn. If you plan to use natural aloe vera, be sure to let its latex drip off for 10-15 minutes before rinsing, cutting into slices and using it on the skin. Latex may cause irritation if not rinsed properly.
If you don’t have natural aloe vera, here are some alternatives:
Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel – it was extremely popular years ago and is a good affordable, soothing gel mask for daily use.
The Face Shop Jeju Aloe Soothing Gel (Jeju Aloe Ice) – I only tried the sample for this but I really love it and I’m planning to get the full sized one soon! Get the Aloe Ice one because it has a satisfying cooling effect that calms my skin really well. I’d recommend using it every alternate day as it may be too rich to use daily.
#3: Toner – Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
This toner is quite watery but it does calm and moisturise the skin well. I use it even when I don’t have acne breakouts because I enjoy a soothing toner. It is very lightweight though so if you prefer something more intensive to help with your serious acne issues, you can try Cosrx’s AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive.
#4: Essence – Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence
This helped me with my acne scars as it was able to speed up the healing time with small doses daily. Read my full review here.
#5: Chemical exfoliator – Cosrx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid
When I spot my acne about to appear, I use this to either speed up the process or slowly tame it down, depending on the maturity of the acne. If the acne popped, I dab some on it (though it stings a little), but I do notice it healing much faster than usual.
#6: Serum – Nacific Fresh Cica Plus Clear Serum
This serum is gel-like and really easy to spread across my skin. I always opt for anything with Cica also known as Centella Asiatica as this ingredient is known for calming inflammation, speeding up wound healing, stimulating new cell growth, building collagen, and improving circulation.
#7: Ampoule – Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule
This has helped me with my scarring and calmed my redness. It also gives me the nicest glow ever after using it continuously for a week! Some days when my breakouts are really bad, I’ll soak a thin cotton pad with some of this ampoule on my affected area just to do a quick calming mask. Read my full review here.
#8: Cream – Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream
This cream lives up to its name with its calming effects during application. Don’t be frightened over its blue shade, it’s not going to turn you into a smurf! 😂 It’s one of my favourite creams to use because it soothes and hydrates my skin well, perfect for this Malaysian weather.
#9: Sunscreen – Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50 PA++++
I try to keep my skin light and makeup free as possible, so I steer clear from all sunscreens with white casts, tints or any skin correcting properties to avoid clogging my pores. Biore’s UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence was one of the first purchases I got from Hermo and I really loved that it was lightweight, colourless and fragrance free. The best part? SPF50 PA+++!
#10: Treatment
Pre acne maturity – Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream
This is my go-to spot cream before my pimple is about to pop. On good days, it subsides and I’m happy because no scarring whatsoever.
Post acne maturity – Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch
This is for the bad days for when the pimple pops. I’d leave it on for a couple of hours and it absorbs all the pus well with super minimal scarring. Don’t go forcefully squeezing your pimple with a tissue anymore, use this!
#11: Night mask
Pre acne maturity – Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2X
As mentioned above, having well cleansed skin is the most important part of skincare. I use this clay mask after a long day out or when I feel my pores are clogged because it really helps deeply cleanse while reducing the chances of acne spreading.
Post acne maturity – Dr.Jart+ Dermask Vital Hydra Solution & Faith In Face Jelly Sheet Mask (Cica Jelly)
Once my pimple pops, I’d definitely need a sheet mask saviour and these are my ultimate choices for calming my breakouts and hydrating my skin. Read my full review here – Dr Jart+ Dermask & Faith in Face Cica Jelly.
Hope you enjoyed reading my acne skincare routine! 💖 Though it may seem pretty intensive, but coming from personal experience, it’s worth the time and investment when you notice your skin become much more controlled and improved.
If you are facing maskne issues like me, I would highly recommend this routine, alongside a mid-day face wash (especially if you are in the office or out and about) and monthly facials for professional extractions to slowly keep it under control. My skin was flaring up crazily due to the friction and long hours of wearing masks, but it took me about 2 months to fully recover from it.
