Skincare That’s Been Great for My Breakout-Prone Skin

Ah, breakouts.

Unfortunately for me, they’re not something I left behind in my teens - I’m still dealing with breakout-prone skin into my mid-twenties.

It’s taken years for me to grow into someone confident in my skin regardless of what graces it.

But golly, it can be disheartening when a fresh red spot arrives on your cheek on the day of an important event.

Because that’s always when they arrive.

Now I’m of the firm belief that breakouts are a natural part of life and not something to beat myself up over (so, shock horror, I don’t think you should beat yourself up either if you deal with breakouts like me).

But my reconciliatory approach stops at my inner monologue.

I’ve got some tried and tested products that help calm my skin so that the spots don’t overstay their welcome - and they get whipped out any time my skin gets a bit testy.

Before I go into my fave products though, I do need to flag that, unfortunately, I am not a professional dermatologist, so this is what works for me and my skin.

All skin is different, and that’s normal. I recommend seeking professional advice if you’re not quite sure where to go.

But with that said, let me take you through my faves!

1. Cleanser.

First up, we’ve got a cleanser.

Now, double cleansing is a staple in my routine, and the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel is a staple in my double cleanse when my skin throws a tantrum.

I cannot live without it, seriously.

This cleanser is, in my opinion, a fantastic daily-use cleanser that works to eliminate excess sebum and tighten the pores of oily skin without drying it out.

I recently bought a bottle of this away with me on a short holiday and walked away having influenced a friend of mine to buy it.

It’s that good.

2. Toner.

Next up we’ve got a toner.

I have an old fave and a new fave to choose from, depending on what my skin is feeling like on the day.

My old is the La Roche-Posay Serozinc Toning Mist, a gentle mist that aids in reducing oil and aids in anti-irritation.

It’s also lovely and cooling when you spray it on, which is nice to use throughout the day if you’re feeling a bit sensitive.

A new fave though? The Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturiser 170ml

This is definitely heavier than the La Roche-Posay mist, however, it adds an extra layer of gentle hydration with white leaf tea extract and cerapeptides to build back up my irritated barrier when I’ve got some spots going on.

3. Serum.

Now we have some of my favourite products ever, serums!

First up is the GOAT of all acne serums (IMO), the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum.

This serum contains LHAs, AHAs and BHAs to effectively reduce the appearance of blemishes and breakouts - in other words, it's the star of the show.

This serum is a bit spicy if you’ve never used acids before, so a gentle approach is always best if you’re unsure.

Another non-negotiable in my ‘Help I need to save my skin!’ routine is a niacinamide serum.

I’m currently using and loving the Viviology Niacinamide + HA Serum 30mL, but I have previously used and loved the super-affordable The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

Niacinamide is a great ingredient to have in your routine as it helps restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier, while gently brightening and regulating oil production.

4. Moisturiser.

Now we have my favourite moisturisers to help tackle breakouts, and my go-to is the iconic La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) Acne Moisturiser

It's an advanced anti-blemish moisturiser specifically designed for oily and blemish-prone skin.

It’s been formulated with cutting-edge microbiome science to tackle multiple things at once - think blackheads, blemishes and post-blemish marks.

It’s actually just been reformulated, and from one die-hard fan to another, IMO it’s even better than before.

Next up is a moisturiser I add to my routine if I need some extra moisture or to touch up hydration levels throughout the day.

It’s the Sulwhasoo Essential Comfort Balancing Emulsion 125ML, a super light fluid that helps moisturise, soften and soothe the look of redness.

Plus its packaging is bathroom-vanity approved.

5. Treatment.

But wait, there’s more!

It wouldn’t be a blemish-focused article if we didn’t talk about treatments.

Now normally the above routine takes care of everything for me, but sometimes my skin needs an extra helping hand with a rogue spot or two.

For the flaky aftermath of a spot, I love to use a smidge of the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ 100ml+ on the skin affected by the blemish to intensely hydrate and reduce irritation.

No flaky skin here.

For active spots, I love a good pimple patch, and the SOME BY MI 30 Days Miracle Clear Spot Patch do a phenom job.

They stick on all night and remove the gunk you don’t want while helping to protect the skin you do want to keep healthy.

And after everything has settled down, I love to do a hydrating sheet mask to really bring my skin back into its happy place.

The COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask is the perfect way to give your skin some love and added hydration while laying back in bed to read a good book.

Final Thoughts.

Now with all of that considered, I hope my foray into taking care of my breakout-prone skin can somehow help you look after yours!

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