3 Things Thursday: Skincare Edition
My 3-step skincare routine for acne-prone skin
I’ve been striving for more simplicity in my skincare routine, and I think I finally have it down to the basics. Despite what many influencers would have you believe, you don’t need a 10-step skincare routine. In fact, the less stuff I put on my face, the better it feels and looks. So for this 3 Things Thursday, I’m sharing my 3 main steps, how I define them, and my favorite products for each step. Even though there are subcategories within these 3 steps, I usually don’t use more than 4 products on my face during either my morning or evening routine. I often skip steps or use multi-purpose products to keep it as simple as possible. Since my skin is more acne-prone, I use oil-free products to keep my skin balanced and minimize breakouts. What works for me may not be nourishing enough for you if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Step 1: Cleanse
This step is self-explanatory. I guess you could also put a toner or facial mist in this category too, but I’m only referring to facial cleansers. I noticed a big difference in my skin when I stopped using face washes with actives like salicylic acid, so all of these are very simple and gentle. I stick mostly to fragrance-free face washes, although I’ve used some with essential oils for scent and skin benefits.
La Roche Posay Purifying Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin: This is widely available at many drugstores, and also has refill pouches available to reduce single-use plastic consumption.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin (Fragrance Free): This is an excellent affordable drugstore option. Nothing fancy, but it works so well!
Prequel Gleanser: This glycerin-based cleanser is incredibly nourishing. Using it as my only face cleanser causes me to break out, so I actually use it most as a body wash and shaving soap. When I do use it to wash my face, it’s as a first cleanse in my double-cleansing routine when my skin is feeling dry. If you have dry, acne-prone skin, this may work wonderfully for you!
My routine: I wash my face twice a day, morning and night. I sometimes double cleanse in the morning, but I always do it at night to make sure all dirt, makeup, and sunscreen is fully washed off. I’ve been using disposable Clean Towels from Clean Skin Club to wash and/or dry my face to avoid bacteria from used towels and washcloths. While it seems unnecessary, this change has helped reduce my breakouts, so I think it’s worth it. After washing and drying my face, I use the cloth to wipe down the counter, mirror, and floor so I’m getting the most use out of it. You can also use clean washcloths if you’re better at keeping up with laundry than I am. :)
Step 2: Treat
This includes any toner, facial mist, spot treatment, or serum that I apply to address targeted skin concerns.
Face Mists: I use these interchangeably depending on the other products I’m using (more on that later). They also work great for refreshing underarms before applying deodorant, which is a great bonus.
Hypochlorous acid: This recent addition has been a game changer for reducing my breakouts! This substance is naturally produced by our skin to fight infection and bacteria, so applying it as a topical spray can help with acne, eczema, and other skin conditions. Because it’s an oxidant, combining it with antioxidant serums such as vitamin C can cancel them out and reduce their effectiveness. Some dermatologists say that you can use them safely together if you let the hypochlorous acid spray dry completely before applying vitamin C. However, if you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time to let it dry, or you’d rather stay on the safe side, I would use them at different times of the day, i.e. vitamin C in the morning and hypochlorous acid at night.
* Hint: There are so many affordable hypochlorous acid brands out there that are incredibly effective. I’ve tried e11ement, LivaClean, Prequel, and Think Smarter, and I’ve also heard good things about SkinSmart, Hypochlorous Company, and Briotech.Thayer’s Witch Hazel rose petal toner: If I use a vitamin C serum in my routine, I apply this after cleansing instead.
Serums: I rotate between these depending on what my skin needs in the moment.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Acne Treatment Serum: This is one of my favorite acne serums, including salicylic acid, lactic acid, and postbiotic ferment.
Vitamin C Serum: I’m still testing different vitamin C serums to see which one I like best, but right now Prequel and Geologie are my top contenders. I’ve also heard great things about Timeless, but haven’t tried it yet. Prequel and Timeless are more affordable options if you’re looking to try vitamin C on a budget.
Bliss Spot Treatment: This is great for active breakouts. I rotate between this and SilvrSTAT First Aid Gel to help calm and heal acne.
Facetheory Oil-Free Supergel: This is technically a moisturizer, but because it includes actives like salicylic acid and niacinamide, I often use it in the morning as a combination serum/moisturizer before applying sunscreen. This brand recently updated their packaging to put everything in eco-friendly aluminum tubes. While I love the environmental consciousness, the new packaging isn’t pleasant to use. For that reason, I’m not sure if I’ll continue to repurchase this after I finish my current supply. I like that it’s a multi-tasking product for my morning routine, so I may try emptying it into a reusable pump bottle to get around the annoying packaging.
INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum: This is something new I’ve been trying out to see if it helps with fine lines and hydration, especially in the winter. At the time of writing, I’m not sure how I feel about it yet or if it’s doing anything for my skin. I’ll update here if it suddenly becomes a new holy grail.
Bonus: LED Light Therapy
I incorporate this step after showering when my skin is still damp and before applying any facial mists or serums. I use New Body Beauty’s Bella Skincare Wand, which has 3 settings including red light (for anti-aging), blue light (for acne), and green light (for lymphatic circulation). I love the facial massage function, which helps me to intentionally slow down and be present. Is this step necessary? No. But I like it. :)
Step 3: Protect
This step includes either a moisturizer or SPF. I usually don’t need to apply both at the same time unless I need a little extra moisture. So I apply a SPF as the last step in my morning skincare routine and use a moisturizer as my last step at night.
SPF: AM
I’ve tried a lot of sunscreens, and here are my current favorites:
TULA Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel SPF 30: This was my OG go-to sunscreen that got me wearing it daily. While I’ve been trying out the other sunscreens below lately, I would still repurchase this. It’s lightweight, smells pleasant, and leaves you with a dewy, glowy finish.
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46: I love the feel of this sunscreen. It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast or make me break out. It’s a little pricey though, so if you’re on a budget, I got you with my other options. :)
DRMTLGY Broad Spectrum SPF 45: This is very similar to EltaMD and more affordable. It’s not an exact dupe, but it’s pretty close! They also have tinted SPFs and physical/mineral sunscreens, but I haven’t tried any of them yet.
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50: Can I tell you how hard it is to find a truly oil-free, untinted mineral sunscreen? Harder than you would think. While I do just fine with chemical sunscreens, I wanted to see if I could also find a mineral option that worked well for me. This fits the bill. I will say it’s not as cosmetically elegant as some of the other options I’ve tried. As with most liquid sunscreens, it has a more runny texture and you have to shake well before applying. It leaves a white cast at first, but the more I blend it in, this seems to dissipate. However, this might not work as well for deeper skin tones.
Cetaphil Redness Relieving Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 40: I’m just now dipping my toe into the world of tinted sunscreens. I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup, but sometimes I want sheer to light coverage to even out my skin tone. I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It’s a mineral sunscreen with a light to medium neutral tint. I literally never get compliments on my skin, but a complete stranger said I had beautiful, glowing skin while I was wearing this. Plus, it’s affordable.
Moisturizers: PM
La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer: This is one of my go-to moisturizers now that the weather is getting cooler, but I could see it working well all year round. It moisturizes, but doesn’t feel heavy. It contains ceramides and niacinamide, but otherwise has a pretty simple ingredient list.
Prequel Skin Utility Gel Multi-Purpose Skin Protectant: Another excellent choice for cooler months when my skin needs a little extra moisture. I love the gel texture, and the glycerin protects and hydrates without feeling greasy.
Sebamed Clear Face Care Gel: I use this if I need a simple, lightweight moisturizer without any actives to combine with treatments or serums. This seems to work well for me in the summer months when my skin isn’t as dry, but as the weather gets cooler I need a bit more hydration. Because some of the others I’ve mentioned also seem to be good choices all year round, I’m not sure if I’ll continue to repurchase this.
Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches: As needed
I apply one of these as the very last step in my routine after my skincare has had time to absorb and fully dry so they stick properly. I love the Mighty Patch Micropoint for early-stage underground blemishes, or Rael Miracle Patch for those that have been popped to help protect, heal, and absorb any gunk.
TL;DR
My skincare routine has 3 main steps:
Cleanse with a simple facial cleanser (no actives or fragrance)
Treat with a facial mist and serum or gel moisturizer with actives
Protect with SPF in the morning or moisturizer at night, using pimple patches as needed for breakouts
That’s it! This routine is super simple, and my skin has never been happier.
Does this surprise you? How many steps are in your skincare routine? Let me know!