Sephora

Lilas194 · ‎05-16-2023

Hii

I have acne-prone/oily and very sensitive skin

I'm looking for advice for a skincare routine

Thx!

Westcoasty · ‎05-22-2023

@Lilas194 I thought your question was very interesting, because often acne products are very strong - likely the exact wrong thing for your sensitive skin. So I've come at this from the angle of dealing with your sensitive skin first, and acne second. I think it's possible that your blemishes may be reduced with the right set of products, because sensitive skin is prone to breaking out when stressed. I'd also recommend trying Clean at Sephora brands first, as they will have fewer chemicals.General advice for acne-prone skin is to be gentle with it, use non-comedogenic products, don't scrub, use lukewarm water when cleansing, and be sure to moisturize.

EDIT 5/22/2023: I did some additional research on acne "best practices", so have modified this post to improve my recommendations.

Here's what I suggest for a routine, with some cautions as discussed below:

1. Cleanser

2. Exfoliant

3. Toner

4. Moisturizer

5. Sunscreen

6. Overnight repair

7. Spot treatment

Cleanser: The wrong cleanser will badly stress your skin, and although you need to remove excess sebum, you don't want to dry your skin out too much. For this reason, I adore Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip French Green Clay Cleanser 5 oz/ 150 mL but if that doesn't cleanse enough for you, I'd suggest Farmacy Clean Bee Ultra Gentle Facial Cleanser 5 oz/150 mL

Exfoliant: Part of acne treatments includes removing dead skin from time to time. How you do this will depend on what your skin prefers. I don't suggest a physical exfoliant, since you're not supposed to scrub your skin. You could try a peel-off mask or a chemical exfoliant. You may find some chemical exfoliants too strong, so see what your skin prefers. The Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One AHA Lactic Acid Treatment has a well-deserved reputation, but don't use it morning and night, even though they say you can. Ask me how I know. LOL. If you use a chemical exfoliant with retinol, be scrupulous about applying sunscreen every time you're going outside.

Toner: Toner is useful for oily skin, but I feel that this is something to add in down the road if desired. If you find a brand that works well for your skin, try their toner. I like Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner with Moringa + Papaya 4.0 oz/ 120 mL

Moisturizer: Your best bet, keeping your acne in mind, is likely a gel oil-free moisturizer. If your skin likes the Farmacy cleanser, I suggest trying their moisturizer Farmacy Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer with Moringa and Papaya 1.7 oz/ 50 mL If a moisturizer feels like it's clogging your pores, stop using it, as this will exacerbate your acne.

Sunscreen: I recommend this step not only for the general protection of your skin, but also because sun can exacerbate break-outs in sensitive people. I'd suggest a physical sunscreen instead of a chemical one as being easier on your skin. I'm a fan of Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 40 PA +++ myself.

Overnight treatment: The reason I suggest this step is that there are some products out there specifically intended to relieve stressed skin. While I haven't tried these myself, both are on my list: the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass line, and the fresh Floral Recovery Overnight Mask with Squalane 3.3 oz/ 100 mL You may not need these once you have the more critical components of your skincare routine dialed in, depending on what has been stressing your skin. But taking a little extra care with your skin isn't ever going to be a bad thing! And moisturizer is a key component of acne care.

Spot treatment: Because acne products are so strong, I suggest sticking to spot treatment only. The trusty standby is a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, but if you want something stronger, you could try Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots or Blume Blume Buds - Power Patches for Acne-Prone Skin

I hope this helps. It will take some trial and error, but hang in there! 💋