Best products for acne without spending a BAJILLION dollars for my younger sister(12)

[MYLAJAMEEES]

Spoiler

Does anyone know any good products for dry acne skin? My younger sister has been complaining about her skin and I don’t want any products that have stuff like retinol or stuff that will ruin her young skin. She’s a very pretty girl but in her words “I’m broke- broken  out so now my face card declines”. Her self esteem is at the bottom of the barrel and I wanna help her but our skin is very different so I don’t know how to help her. 

[sciencesam]

I have a dry to combination skin type that is sensitive and acne prone. I struggled for over a decade even with the help of dermatologists. I feel your sister's pain. The advice provided here in this forum will be varied and is also dependent on how bad and what type of acne she has.

For cleansing

Try something with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These can be drying but are less so when used a cleanser since it’s not on your skin all day.
CeraVe makes an excellent cleansers with both  of these ingredients at very reasonable price points. Right now at Sephora, skinfix offers a similar 2% salicylic acid wash.

Protip: Benzoyl peroxide bleaches items so use white cloths and sheets.

If a cleanser is not enough..

Toners and serums with BHA (salicylic acid), PHA, and AHA’s are good options.

The most hydrating in my opinion is glow recipe watermelon toner with BHA and PHA. Skin 1004 pore tight is an excellent toner with PHA and willow bark BHA that is totally free of fragrance and super gentle at a more reasonable price point that is not sold at Sephora.

I use and recommend either of these

Serums 

 
CeraVe does a BHA AHA serum that is great but if overused can dry a little. This can be offset by using once a week or every other day until her skin adjusts to the exfoliation from this product. 
Sunday Riley’s good genes 5% AHA lactic acid serum is a cult fave at Sephora. Personally my skin has adjusted over time to the drying and exfoliating effects of acids that help treat acne; so my favorite is drunk elephants protini 10% AHA lactic acid serum. Like the CeraVe serum she may need to use sparingly and start slow. I have not tried it personally but for an in between price point glow recipe has a BHA serum.

Moisturizers

If she dry she wants something that’s more oily this comes with the con that many oils and emulsifiers are comedogenic.

Pacifica does some great ones like dreamyyouth peptide and vegan ceramide at much better price point than what you can find at Sephora. For whatever reason Sephora stopped selling this brand though. Hero rescue balms are excellent at a great price point too. At Sephora my favorites are the drunk elephant protini and their ceramide moisturizer. DE moisturizers are not totally free of comedogenic ingredients though, they claim it is formulated in such a way that it’s not comedogenic. 

As much as I love drunk elephant and other Sephora products I’ve found that shopping outside of Sephora has met my acne needs better saved me quite a bit of money.

Also an important note you should always wear sunscreen but it is especially important when using acids. 

Be careful with any makeup you may use too as these can be irritating and comedogenic.

[beautyhelper22]

@MYLAJAMEEES  Hi try this for your sister. Also some of the things are not at Sephora. (Bubble is cheaper at Walmart).

PM skincare:

1. Cleansers:

Bubble fresh start cleanser 

Youth To The People Mini Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser 2 oz/ 59 mL 

2. Facial mists:

Bubble bounce back mist (optional)

Tower 28 Beauty Mini SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray with Hypochlorous Acid 1 oz/ 30 mL 

3. Serums: 

Bubble super clear serum 

Byoma hydrating serum (if she has dry skin) 

Byoma clarifying serum (if she has oily skin) 

4. Spot treatment:

Bubble fade away treatment (apply a little bit on pimple and/or zit and let it dry for 2 minutes before applying moisturizer) 

5. Moisturizers:

Bubble cloud surf moisturizer 

Byoma moisturizing gel cream 

AM skincare:

1. Spot treatment,

Bubble spot treatment (let it try for 2 minutes then apply sunscreen)

2. Sunscreen:

Hero. Force shield sunscreen 

hope this helps!

[PineappleCow]

As an other young acne dry girl I would suggest the creamy jelly cleanser from byoma. It’s not at Sephora but it cleans my skin without stripping it dry would recommend.

[Bxterfly]

I would use the Glow recipe watermelon Toner, the price ranges from 16-35 dollars.