Help me make a new routine for my boyfriend

[ThatsPeachy]

Hi everyone,

for Christmas I decided to give my boyfriend a little skincare routine since he's struggled with acne and it's affecting his confidence. He hasn't really had a routine before since he thinks it's too much work so I want to give him something short with not to many steps so he can do it consistently. However I'm not super good at finding what product does what or is good for which concern so that's what I would like to get help with.

Now for my question, what would be a good 3-4 step routine for him? He has oily skin and his skin concerns are acne, acne scarring and hyperpigmentation.

I would be grateful for any and all help ❤️

Thank you all!

Spoiler

[quspork]

@ThatsPeachy I would keep it simple with the basics- gentle hydrating cleanser, gel or gel cream moisturizer, and sunscreen. Then a salicylic acid treatment to target acne that he could use two or three nights a week, plus a vitamin C serum for use two or three times a week in the morning. So morning- rinse with water, vitamin C (just 3 days a week), sunscreen; evening- cleanser, BHA (2x a week), moisturizer. Nothing too complicated. 

Cleanser options- fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser Cerave Hydrating Cleanser

Vitamin C options- Tiam My Signature C Source, OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum Hydrating Vitamin C Serum 1.0 oz/ 30 mL 

BHA- SEPHORA COLLECTION Clarifying Peel Pads 60 Pads Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Moisturizer options- Etude House Moistfull Collagen Emulsion, Neutrogena HydroBoost Gel, CosRx Oil-Free Moisturizing Lotion, Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream 1.7 oz/ 50 mL belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Hydrating Moisturizer With Squalane 

Sunscreen options- COOLA Mineral Sun Silk Crème SPF 30 1.5 oz/ 44 mL Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 40 PA +++ 1.7 oz/ 50 mL MDSolarSciences 50 Mineral Creme or Etude House Sunprise Airy Finish

[JoSometimes]

Hi @ThatsPeachy! A simple routine can consist of cleanser, serums, moisturizer, and sunscreen. There’s plenty of great suggestions here already.

If you want to piece something together to create a more specific routine for his concerns, I would suggest something like Inkey List’s Niacinamide Serum (I would normally tag the product but there seems to be issues with Sephora today.) It’s dual purpose: it helps control oil production and also helps reduce hyperpigmentation.

If he finds the salicylic acid cleanser that someone suggested is too harsh and his skin is feeling irritated from it, he can alternate between  that and Inkey List’s Hyaluronic Acid cleanser. It’s a very gentle cleanser. It might also help with oiliness if the cause is due to skin dehydration. Skin will produce oily sebum to help combat excessive dryness. Hyaluronic acid can help draw moisture back into the skin to prevent that. 

And just because he’s got oily skin doesn’t mean he should skip moisturizer. He can get away with a light one. In keeping with the Inkey List theme I have here, there’s a nice Vitamin B,C, and E moisturizer.

Lastly, sunscreen. If he’s an active, outdoorsy guy, he might already have something he uses. Just make that the top layer. If not, Inkey List also has a sunscreen. The polyglutamic acid in it is a moisturizing ingredient, so depending on how he feels, he could alternate between using the sunscreen during the day and the moisturizer in the evening. 

My last tip to help the routine stick would be doing it together, whether in-person or over a video call. You can guide him through in the evening before bed every other day for a week, then go daily in the evening for another week, then add the morning in the third week. This will also give his skin some time to grow accustomed to some of the active ingredients and prevent irritation that might otherwise turn him off from the idea. Yes, we’re playing some mind games here but this is how I started off with my wife and it worked! Now I’m a skincare junkie.

I hope this helps! I’d love to hear updates if you have a chance!

[modr142002]

Hi! @ThatsPeachy 

Getting a routine is hard. I love using The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Acne + Blackhead Cleanser and Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sunscreen SPF 50 when i have bad breakouts. They are great for sensitive skin like mine. Definitely recommend both brands!

[danielledanielle]

Aww, this is kind of sweet and niche idea @ThatsPeachy 

I've had some decent luck with the Ordinary and they do have sets to address specific concerns.

The Ordinary The Acne Set 

I would also encourage an SPF, even though he has acne, everyone benefits from SPF

Clinique also makes a good set. CLINIQUE Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Kit 

If that's too many steps, get him a nice gentle, gel cleanser, a lightweight moisturizer and acne dots.  

Hyper Skin Gentle Brightening Gel Cleanser with Mandelic Acid 5 oz / 150 mL 

Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution™ Water Cream Glow Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid 1.69 oz / 50 mL 

Peace Out Acne Salicylic Acid Day & Night Duo 20 Acne Day Dots / 20 Acne Healing Dots 

belif The True Cream - Aqua Bomb Sunscreen 2-in-1 SPF 50 and Moisturizer