best skin care!

[oliviabxo]

hey girls! i have pretty acne prone skin, it isnt horrible but it will break out at least once a month (normally it’s a couple on my cheeks or around my mouth) and all the time my skin is decently red. my question is, what is the best skin care for this type of skin? thank you!

[quspork]

What's your skin type, @oliviabxo? And do you have any products that you are currently using?

[oliviabxo]

a bit of a combination. oily and dry. where it’s oily i get the breaks out and the rest is dry. right now i just use st. ives to exfoliate and makeup remover pads by maybelline .

[quspork]

@oliviabxo  Honestly, I'd start by getting rid of the St. Ives- their exfoliating products are not usually good for the skin. You'll want something gentler, especially for everyday use. 

Some things that really helped me get control of my acne-prone, oily/dehydrated skin involved incorporating Korean beauty skincare steps and products. I'm a big believer in the double cleanse- using an oil-based cleanser to take off sunscreen and makeup and following that with a gentle non-foaming cleanser to wash the skin. Makeup wipes are ok in a pinch, but you'll get a better result, in general, from an oil-based product for that step. For this, I love Shiseido's Perfect Oil and then for the second cleanse either Philosophy Purity or First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser. Both of those are gentle on the skin and won't dry you out. Light hydrating layers of toners, essences, or serums will also help balance your skin. 

Also you'll want occasional exfoliation. I love Sunday Riley's Good Genes and First Aid Beauty's Radiance pads, but sometimes my skin reacts better to a little physical exfoliation, like a light scrub. Products that contain salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and snail mucin have all been really beneficial for my acne issues. Clinique's Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is a great spot treatment. A lot of people have also had success with over-the-counter Differin gel as a treatment step for acne-issues. Don't forget that with any active ingredients (exfoliating products), you'll want to use sunscreen every morning!

Ending my routine with a good moisturizer (and sunscreen in the mornings) helps to keep my skin hydrated and balanced.  My favorite moisturizers are CosRx Oil-Free Moisturizing Lotion (in the a.m.), Belif Aqua (and Moisturizing in the winter) Bomb (in the p.m.), and Caudalie's Vinosource Sorbet Cream (also p.m.).