Face Cleanser

6-Step Skincare Routine For Acne-Prone Skin

Skin / By

Table of Contents:

I had been struggling with acne-prone skin for years before I discovered Korean skincare products. You see, I didn’t want to use the typical products you buy from your local drugstore because they are filled with chemicals and all sorts of other ingredients that can irritate your skin.

Many effective Korean skincare products can help treat both mild and severe acne. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on different skin-care products, and these specific products may help give you the best results if you combine them into one single routine as a part of your typical daily facial care regimen.

There is not a single person who wishes to have acne. If you find yourself suffering from acne, you will have tried every remedy that you have heard from friends as well as what you read on various websites. Today, I’m going to share with you the list of Korean skincare products for acne-prone skin that I have accumulated to help keep acne at bay and for good.

A basic skincare routine looks like this:

  • Oil cleanser (PM)
  • Gel cleanser
  • Toner
  • Treatments
  • Moisturizer
  • Sunscreen (AM)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through the link.

1. Heimish –  All Clean Balm

This balm is from a Korean brand named Heimish (hey-mish), which focuses on bringing you products with natural plant-based ingredients.

Use this product as the first step in your skincare routine to remove makeup, sunscreen, and dirt.

The brand’s website states that the product removes waterproof products, and I have read a few reviews supporting that claim.

Benefits: 

  • Removes waterproof products
  • Super gentle for sensitive eyes
  • Vegan
  • Comes with a scooper
  • Natural non-irritating fragrance

2. COSRX – Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

Low-pH-Good-Morning-Gel-Cleanser

Use this cleanser as the second step in your night skincare routine to wash off any excess makeup or oil residue from the first cleanse.

A gentle cleanser with low pH (mildly acidic) cleanses the skin without stripping it of its natural oils and drying it out. Perfect for acne-prone skin, breakouts, and pH balancing.

You can read more about this cleanser in my previous article: Top 10 Popular Korean Skincare Products 2022

Benefits:

  • Gentle cleanser
  • pH is similar to that of skin
  • Refines the skin’s texture
  • Cleans blackheads
  • Gentle on the sensitive areas of the skin

3. Isntree – Green Tea Fresh Toner

isntree green tea toner

This step is all about protection and balance. This toner is infused with 80% green tea extract that will help nourish, brighten, and revitalize the skin.

Toners are usually applied to the skin to minimize the visibility of pores, and restore hydration to your skin.

Benefits:

  • Protects the skin
  • Balances out the skin’s pH
  • Minimizes the appearance of pores
  • Tightens the skin temporarily
  • Controls oil production
  • Has Centella extract which is a great ingredient for acne
  • Moisturizes the skin

4. Glow Recipe – Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum

This step is where you need to apply the treatments and serums to address certain skin concerns. This powerful lightweight serum gently smooths rough textures and clears out pores and breakouts.

Benefits:

  • Visibly refines pores
  • Hydrates the skin
  • Gently smooths rough textures
  • Soothes and decongests skin
  • Helps prevent blemishes
  • Minimizes breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads

5. Isntree – Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream

After cleansing and treating your skin, it is crucial that you moisturize it and provide hydration, and this product will do just that! It will thoroughly hydrate the layers of the skin while still being lightweight and long-lasting.

Benefits:

  • Lightweight
  • Long-lasting hydration
  • Strengthens the moisture barrier
  • Brightens skin
  • Fades hyperpigmentation

6. Isntree – Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++

As the last step in your AM routine only, apply sunscreen. This step is non-negotiable if you are going out, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen must be applied every day.

Benefits:

  • Broad-spectrum
  • Blocks harmful UV rays
  • Long-lasting
  • Some say it feels hydrating
  • No white-cast
  • Does not pill
  • Does not sting the eyes

Acne is a skin condition that can be caused by many factors, including genetics, hormonal changes, and stress. It is not always easy to find the right acne care routine and products for your skin type. However, with a little research and patience, you can find the perfect products for your needs.

Why Skin Cycling is Actually Good for Your Skin + 4 Common Pitfalls

1 Comment / Hair, Lifestyle, Skin / By

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through the link.

With all the ingredients in the market and beauty trends on social media, how can we build a consistent skincare routine? It can be hard to get a steady regimen but we all want glowing, glass-like skin!

Even if some of the products we use can be a bit irritating, like chemical exfoliants and retinoids, there is still a way to use them steadily!

Grab a FREE printable skin cycling calendar!

Not sure what chemical exfoliants are?
Check out this blog post.

This is how the social media skincare trend “skin cycling” has gone viral. But what is skin cycling? How can I incorporate it into my skincare routine? Who would it benefit the most? Continue reading to learn more.

In this article I will discuss:

How & why to cycle your skincare products

What is skin cycling?

Skin cycling is a term that was coined by Dr. Whitney Bowe, a board-certified dermatologist.

It is a skincare method that is based on a 4-day skincare cycle to achieve maximum efficacy with minimal irritation.

The concept behind it is not new, dermatologists have always been saying to not overdo it with active ingredients as these ingredients take time and multiple applications to get your skin used to them.

Dermatologists always recommend applying these ingredients every third night and using a gentle ingredient in between until your skin can tolerate strong topicals every night.

The goal of retinoids is to help clarify your skin.

skincare routine - moisturizing under eyes
Photo by MART PRODUCTION – Pexels.com

It is basically keeping your morning skincare routine consistent while rotating the possibly irritating ingredients at night, mixed with a period of recovery and rest (AKA lots of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients).

The recovery and rest period can be subjective and personalized according to each person’s own skin type and routine. However, it is very helpful for people with sensitive skin since the skin has time to recover and regenerate after using the active ingredients.

Skin cycling schedule

AM routine stays the same, and PM skin cycling routine looks like this:

Night 1: exfoliate

Night 2: retinol

Night 3: recovery

Night 4: recovery

Repeat.

retinoid night - skin cycling
Photo by Ron Lach – Pexels.com

This schedule is suitable for all skin types but you may need to tweak the cycle up or down according to your own optimal skincare routine.

For example, if you have overly sensitive and dry skin or rosacea, your skin might not tolerate the exfoliants and retinoids, therefore, you may want to cut down on these ingredients or add a third recovery night.

On the other hand, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you may need to dial up the frequency of exfoliants and retinoids or reduce the recovery nights to one night instead of two.

Benefits of skin cycling

There are many benefits that come from adding this method to your regimen. The most important one is that your skin builds tolerance to active ingredients.

Chemical exfoliants and retinoids can cause skin sensitivity, irritation, and dehydration. By cycling them throughout the week, you help bring out the benefits of the ingredients in your skincare routine without irritating and dehydrating your skin.

Chemical ingredients can:

  • brighten skin tone
  • bring radiance to the skin
  • boost collagen production

Recovery days are key to allowing your skin barrier to repair fully.

woman doing her skincare routine - skin cycling
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio – Pexels.com

Chemical exfoliants get rid of any dead skin cells and will give you an immediate glow, this will increase the effectiveness of using retinoids the next night, it’s like working on a new sheet of skin.

How can I incorporate skin cycling into my skincare regimen?

Night 1: exfoliation

  1. Double-cleansing: LANEIGE – Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser and COSRX – Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
  2. Use chemical exfoliants (acids) on clean, dry skin: The Ordinary – Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution or The Ordinary – Salicylic Acid 2% Masque or SOME BY MI – AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum
  3. Apply a moisturizer: COSRX – Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream or Dr. Jart+ – Ceramidin Cream

Night 2: retinol

  1. Double-cleanse your skin
  2. Optional if you have sensitive skin or are new to retinol: apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer under your eyes, smile-line area, and below the mouth, this dilutes down the strength of the retinoid and allows your skin to adjust (known as the sandwich technique)
  3. Apply a pea-sized amount of retinoid by dabbing it onto the face, chest, and neck: IOPE – Retinol Expert 0.1% or The Ordinary – Retinol 1% in Squalane
  4. Apply a rich moisturizing cream

Night 3 & 4: recovery

  1. Use a gentle cleanser (or double-cleanse)
  2. Pat dry but keep the skin damp
  3. Apply a powerful humectant: The Ordinary – Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 or Haruharu WONDER – Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti-wrinkle Serum
  4. Moisturize immediately: COSRX – Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream
  5. Optional: pat an oil on your skin
skincare beauty products
Photo by Karolina Grabowska – Pexels.com

Common pitfalls of skin cycling

  1. Sensitive and burning sensation on the eyelid area, around the mouth and nose, and neck

Solution: if you have sensitive skin, before using chemical exfoliants and retinoids, apply a thin layer of moisturizer on top of the sensitive areas to act as a barrier so that your skin can adjust, and avoid applying the active ingredients to those areas as well

  1. No improvement for oily acne-prone due to improper skin cycling

Solution: use a three-night cycle. Exfoliation night, retinoid night, recovery night, repeat. For exfoliation night, use a product with the ingredient salicylic acid. For the retinoid night, apply a higher percentage of retinol by seeing your dermatologist for a prescription strength product.

  1. Skin cycling for rosacea

Solution: for exfoliation night, use acids with a total concentration under 15%. For the retinoid night, use a gentle fragrance-free over-the-counter retinol or retinaldehyde. Add a third recovery night to make sure that your skin barrier has enough time to repair.

  1. Applying moisturizer immediately after the exfoliating product

Solution: you need to wait until the tingling sensation completely subsides before applying a moisturizer

The importance of maintaining an alternate skincare schedule

Skin cycling is a helpful concept when you want to have a consistent skincare routine in a busy and hectic schedule.

It is very useful for all skin types because you can tweak it as you like according to your skin type and tolerance. You get the best of both worlds, exfoliation, and hydration.

Even if you have sensitive skin, it does not mean that you can’t use really powerful chemical exfoliants and retinoids, it just means that you need to learn how to incorporate them properly into your skincare routine.

Of course, it goes without saying, SPF is absolutely crucial when using active ingredients in your skincare routine!

Will you start skin cycling? Let me know in the comments!

Let’s do this!

Double Cleansing Complete Guide

Hair, Lifestyle, Skin / By

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through the link.

If you thought that the name suggests cleansing your face twice, then you’re mistaken. It is so much more than that and the benefits are plentiful.

This method is a very popular method of cleansing, especially as part of the K-beauty skincare routine, because it removes all the makeup, dirt, and bacteria that are on the surface of your skin without stripping the natural oils and drying it.

In this article, I will be going into the deets and benefits of the double cleansing method.

What is Double Cleansing?

As I have mentioned above, this method of cleansing skin is not about cleansing your face twice in a row. It is about using different types of cleansers to wash your face.

The first step is to use an oil-based cleanser.

This will remove sunscreen and makeup from your skin, including waterproof mascara.

Using an oil-based cleanser as a first step is highly effective for people with oily skin types as well as people who wear heavy makeup, for the reason that makeup and sebum dissolve in oil (lipophilic).

The second step is to use a water-based face wash to remove any remaining traces of makeup, sebum, and debris. It is important to make sure that you are using face cleansing products in order to avoid any irritation or damage to your skin.

Photo by Vitória Santos from Pexels.com

How to double-cleanse?

  1. Apply the oil-based cleanser to dry skin.
  2. Use your fingers or a cotton pad to massage the cleanser into your skin to help dissolve all the sebum, debris, and makeup.
  3. Wet your face with water.
  4. Apply the water-based facial cleanser by massaging it into the skin using your fingertips.
  5. Rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry, and follow with a moisturizer.

What are the benefits of double cleansing?

Having healthy skin always starts with a clean face. That is why face cleansers are a very important first step in any skincare routine. To add to that, it is crucial to choose the proper face cleanser that suits your skin type so you could actually benefit from it.

Applying the rest of your skincare routine products on a face with remaining sebum and debris is not as effective as applying them to a clean face.

Having a clean face with no debris or sebum left behind makes it better for your skincare products to be absorbed and benefit your skin.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels.com

How often should I double cleanse?

This depends on the type of skin you have and whether you wear makeup on a daily basis or not. But in any case, applying a proper moisturizer afterward is a must.

The double cleansing method should only be done at night when you want to remove all your makeup and sign off for the day.

It is possible to double cleanse your skin daily, but you should always choose the right products that suit your skin type because you don’t want to over-dry and over-wash your skin.

Is double cleansing for everyone?

Double cleansing is highly recommended for people who wear makeup daily and people with oily skin.

However, if you have sensitive or dry skin, double cleansing may not be the way to go, as it can strip the skin of its oils, unless you use face cleansers with skincare ingredients that are hydrating and moisturizing.


Photo by Harper Sunday from Pexels.com



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