I designed this skin care routine for acne-prone and oily skin by following this principle. Don't target the acne. Target what your skin really needs. A lot of times, people become really harsh on their skin especially those who have acne-prone skin. Scrubs, over-exfoliation, over washing the face, not moisturizing (believing that oily skin does not need moisturizers because it's only for dry skin type), and refraining from oils (Not all oils cause breakouts. In fact, some are beneficial for acne-prone and oily skin. We will discuss it on our future blog posts.) These are the common misconceptions and practices of people with acne-prone skin and can be the reason why they still have acne.

AM Skin Care Routine

1. Water-Based Cleanser

Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash with Neem and Turmeric for Occasional Acne, 5.07 oz (150 ml)

My current cleanser is the Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash, a soap-free herbal face wash that claims to be effective in preventing pimples by removing impurities and excess oil while being very gentle on the skin. Dispense a dime size amount of the product into your palm then work it into lather then massage onto the skin. It does not lather that much compared to common foaming cleansers. It is free from harmful chemicals like paraben, SLS/SLES, and phthalates. It has neem which is proven to have antibacterial and purifying properties, and turmeric which can control and prevent pimples. Turmeric is widely used in DIY masks intended for acne-prone skin.

Price: ₱176.00

Content: 150 mL

How long does it last: It can last up to 4 months

Where I bought mine: Watsons

TIP: Choose a gentle gel cleanser that is designed to remove excess oil and restore the pH balance of the skin. Foaming cleansers contain surfactants like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) which are not good for the skin.

2. Toner

3. Moisturizer

4. Lip Balm

1. Makeup Remover

2. Water-Based Cleanser

Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash with Neem and Turmeric for Occasional Acne, 5.07 oz (150 ml)

Even though the product label of your makeup remover says that it is a no-rinse formula, still, it has surfactants in it which is not good the skin especially if you leave it on your face for an extended period of time. I use the same cleanser which is the Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash.

3. Exfoliator/Toner

 

SOME BY MI Aha.Bha.Pha 30Days Miracle Toner 150ml (5oz) Anti-acne Exfoliation Hydration Brightening

I only use an exfoliator every after 3 days. Yes, exfoliating products help with acne by removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores but too much exfoliation can irritate and sensitize the skin. I use the Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner. I put some on a cotton pad then swipe it across the face. Please be careful not to apply pressure or it will produce friction that could irritate the skin. It is an exfoliating toner with a low concentration of exfoliating acids (AHA, BHA, PHA) so it will not sensitize the skin that much. If I don't use an exfoliating toner, I will use the Celeteque Hydration Alcohol-Free Toner. If I want to be extra clean that night or if I am wearing makeup during that day, I use a cotton pad soaked with this product and swipe it across the face. You can also put toner on your face without using a cotton pad. Put some on your palm then spread it before patting in onto the skin. I just love it for one reason. It is very hydrating.

Price: Lowest price at ₱450.00

Content: 150 mL

How long does it last: It can last up to 1 year if you are using this every after 3 days

Where I bought mine: Shopee

TIP: Please don't use scrubs if you want to exfoliate the skin. It only gives you that satisfying feeling of shredding off dead skin cells but is not effective in unclogging the pores from excess oil and dead skin cells. Besides, some scrubs have crushed walnut shells as the exfoliating ingredient that has sharp edges which can cause micro-tears to the skin.

4. Essence

 

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (Renewal), 100ml / 3.38 fl.oz

I am using the CosRx Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence. With it having 96.3% of the active ingredient which is the snail mucin or snail slime, I treat it as a serum. Unlike any other essences, this product has thicker consistency so there is no need to layer serum on top of it. Although snail mucin does not treat acne, it fades hyperpigmentation and acne mark which is another problem to deal with if you have acne-prone skin. It gives me that bright, glowy, and dewy skin when I wake up in the morning. I already noticed that it faded my acne marks in just a matter of one week.

Price: ₱599.00

Content: 100 mL

How long does it last: It can last up to 8 months

Where I bought mine: Shopee

TIP: A little goes a long way with this product. I only use two pumps for the whole face but it depends on the size of your face. I've read that some users only need 1 pump. 1 pump is not enough for a big face like mine LOL. Just spread it across your face then pat it for better absorption. You can use a serum or an ampoule on this step as long it will address your skin issue. I suggest that you only choose one from the three: essence, serum, or ampoule. Layering too many products is not ideal for acne-prone and oily skin. Less is more.

5. Moisturizer

I use the same moisturizer which is the iWhite Korea Whitening Vita Aqua Moisturizer. Again I put dots of this product onto the different parts of my skin (cheeks, forehead, chin, nose) then spread it and gently pat for better absorption.

TIP: Be careful when choosing a moisturizer. Some moisturizers have pore-clogging ingredients especially the occlusive ones which can cause breakouts. Opt for gel-type moisturizers.

6. Lip Balm

I use the same lip balm which is the Apollo Lip Balm. You can layer more of this product during nighttime and you will wake up to a plumper and supple lips.

TIP: You can use a lip sleeping mask at night for soft and supple lips.

Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

I had my first pimple when I was in Grade 4 and I was only 11 years old during that time. Thankfully, it emerged from my forehead so I still managed to hide it with my hair.  I know how awful it is to have pimples all over your face because my mother still had acne even in her 40’s. She was always conscious about the appearance of her face. She tried to consult a dermatologist but it didn’t work. She also tried different products including those advertised on televisions. Because of fear of experiencing that kind of scenario, I used a foam cleanser, which is the Celeteque Hydration Facial Wash that my mother was using during that time, believing that it could get rid of that one pimple on my forehead. Bu after some time of using it, it got worse. I got new small pimples on my forehead so I stopped using the product.

I went back on using bar soap but this time, I got really harsh on my skin. I wash my face twice every morning and evening and once in the afternoon. I had read on a textbook that washing your face twice every morning and evening will keep your skin clean and clear. But still, my skin did not improve. I already developed acne on my cheeks.

My mother was really worried because I am already having pimples at a very young age. She decided that I should use foam cleansers “formulated” to treat acne. For years, I had been using Pond’s Acne Clear Face Wash. It was not that bad but I still do get pimples from time to time. I just got used to my acne and never tried to get rid of it because trying another product might make it worse again.

When I was in high school, I felt really self-conscious about my face. Even my friends made fun of it. I experienced being bullied because of my acne. I lost my self-esteem and even developed social anxiety. Their comments would be like; “Nahulugan ka yata ng langka sa mukha.” (Maybe a jackfruit fell on your face.), “Naghihilamos k aba?” (Are you washing your face?), or “Yung pimple ko tatlong araw lang wala na, yung sayo dumadami pa.” (My pimple only took three days to disappear, but yours keep multiplying.)

Hearing these words almost every day, I became desperate to get rid of my acne. I used Proactiv for two months but all I got is dry and irritated skin, and even made my acne worse. It has benzoyl peroxide which is an acne medication and this ingredient made my skin very dry and flaky. Acne, irritatated, dry, and flaky skin. Name it all.

I also tried using the whole Beauche set which was recommended to me by my cousin. It did improve my skin. It dries out the pimple pretty fast and it also gives your skin that glow. But after some time, it is not effective anymore. Some of the products were too heavy for my skin as they contain petroleum, if not, it is too harsh because of exfoliating and bleaching ingredients, and their products contain a lot of alcohol and fragrance in it. And then, I continued to use only one of their products which is the clarifying solution, an astringent.

My tito from Korea sent me this TonyMoly Clean Dew Tea Tree Seed Foam Cleanser. I have high hopes on this product because Koreans really do have beautiful skin. Indeed, it worked well for my skin. It minimized the appearance of pimples on my face, and it became smoother and brighter in complexion.

Korean skincare left a good impression on me. I started using their cosmetics to hide the imperfections of my skin. I used Laneige BB cushion, the pore control variant. It did not break me out. It also has a smooth and nice finish.

I already emptied the foam cleanser that my tito had send me and I was not able to get a new one. So I used random soaps claiming that they can clear acne and the clarifying solution from Beauche. I discovered that among all these random soaps, the Olay Total Effects Foaming Cleanser works the best with the clarifying solution.

My routine became stable. I wash my face with the Olay foaming cleanser, then clarifying solution. This routine is for the evening. In the morning, I wash my face with the foaming cleanser then apply the Laneige BB cushion.

Although my skin was a lot better, and makeup played a huge role on that, I still wanted to have clear skin and be makeup-free. I still do get breakouts from time to time. That is when I stumbled upon this Korean skincare youtuber, Joan Kim. She had acne before and after she used Korean skincare, her skin became clear and flawless. You will never think that she suffered from acne before. From her, I learned about the 10-step Korean skincare. It is composed of an oil cleanser, a water-based cleanser, exfoliator, toner, essence, serum, sheet mask, eye cream, moisturizer, and sleeping mask. The products that I tried from her recommendation for acne-prone skin are the Banila Co. cleansing balm, CosRx Good Morning Gel Cleanser, and Son & Park Beauty Water.

And this made my skin the worst! This was my worst breakout throughout my life. I had really big pimples on my forehead and cheeks. They are so big that three pimples collided as one. Covering my face with makeup won’t make it look better. I was tempted to pop those big pimples. Gross. Afterwards, it left me with really deep acne scars.

I went back to my old routine. Olay foam cleanser then the Beauche clarifying solution. Then I wear makeup during the day but it doesn’t look on my skin anymore. I had really deep acne scars and putting makeup on will make those scars more visible.

And then my mother saw this product, Some By Miracle Toner on Facebook. It was the hype during those times. Before, when trying a new product, I get really excited. But this time, I was almost hesitant to try that product. Then my mother asked me to order that product online. On the first day that I used it, I was afraid to see new pimples emerging from my skin the next morning. But it was gentle, I did not expect an exfoliating and acne product to be this gentle. It does not sting and dry the skin. I stopped using the clarifying solution and replaced that with this toner. After some time of using it, I heard compliments saying that my skin was getting clearer. They even asked what product I used.

Because of that product, I trusted Korean skincare brands again. I realized that using the right products is critical to achieve results. What works for others may not work for you because each of us have different skin types.

From that, I tried to build my own 10-step Korean skincare. I add products gradually so I would know what products work best for me. So here is my skincare routine which I am still improving.

1^st Step: I remove my makeup using a cotton pad soaked with Nivea Acne Clear 0% Alcohol MicellAir Water.

This product is 0% alcohol so it won't dry out your skin. Very gentle yet very effective in removing your makeup.

2^nd Step: I wash my face with Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash.

SHOP: Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash with Neem and Turmeric for Occasional Acne, 5.07 oz (150 ml)

This is by far my favorite cleanser. Free from parabens, SLS/SLES, and phthalates. Very gentle and won't dry out your skin.

3^rd Step: I exfoliate using the Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner.

SHOP: SOME BY MI Aha.Bha.Pha 30Days Miracle Toner 150ml (5oz) Anti-acne Exfoliation Hydration Brightening

Exfoliating is necessary if you have acne-prone skin. It removes dead skin cells which can clog pores and cause breakouts. Thus, leaving a flawless, smooth, and radiant skin. 

4th Step: I use CosRx Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence to nourish the skin.

 

SHOP: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (Renewal), 100ml / 3.38 fl.oz

5th Step: I moisturize using iWhite Korea Whitening Vita Aqua Moisturizer.

6th Step: Don’t forget the lips. I am using Apollo Lip Balm