Secret skincare routine: sensitive and acne-prone skin

Having sensitive skin can also mean having acne or a destroyed skin barrier.

For as long as I can remember, my skin has been acne-prone and oily with painful breakouts. I desperately wanted to wear makeup without breakouts and have that beautiful and flawless skin every preteen intends to have. In 6th grade, I finally convinced my mom to take me to a dermatologist to help me figure out how to achieve that. The verdict? That my acne and skin type were perfectly normal for someone my age, I just needed to use a medical-grade acne wash. So, I followed this advice for years and after all that time, trial, and error, destroying my skin barrier with harsh-chemical-based treatments, I finally realized the problem. I am allergic to many ingredients commonly used in skincare. It took so long to realize this that I thought I couldn't be the only one given product recommendations based on my skin type that did not work. So, I decided to share what took me over 15 years to learn about my sensitive skin in hopes of helping others struggling with narrowing down the right products to use.

The first step to reducing acne in your skincare routine:

The golden rule for skincare for acne-prone skin is "use oil-free products with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid," and I swore by that. But unfortunately, I found out that when you overuse benzoyl peroxide, you are stripping your skin of its natural oils that keep the skin's Ph levels balanced. My routine consisted of oil-free and acidic products, and all it did was make my skin worse. My acne was now red and burning, with the skin around it peeling; it was so dry. I had successfully destroyed my skin barrier. With my skin in this condition and a special event, I decided to splurge on a foundation that would help cover it up. So I went to my local Sephora and purchased a non-comedogenic mattifying foundation that became my go-to during those high school years. And you know what? After using it for a few weeks, my acne started to clear up. But, of course, no one believed me when I said that my foundations cleared my skin. Why would they? It's not supposed to; the over-the-counter medical-grade products were supposed to do that, not cosmetic products. I'm not saying that quality; the non-clogging foundation will help reduce acne for anyone. However, I realized this worked for my skin because it provided hydration and protection without clogging the pores. In addition, it gave me the added oils that I was constantly stripping it of, protection against environmental stressors, and protection from excess oils from sweat throughout the day. This brings me to the first step in reducing acne; finding the root cause and using a gentle product to balance your natural oil production, such as an aloe moisturizer or detoxifying serum.

Do you have combo skin, a destroyed skin barrier, or sensitive skin?

I know that sticking to one phrase your entire life to describe your skin is unrealistic. As you age and change throughout your life, your skin will develop different needs. If you have oily skin, maybe you have acne; if you have sensitive skin, perhaps you have destroyed your skin barrier. In my case, all of these things were true, so finding the proper skincare routine took some time.

If you google combination skin, you get: dry or normal in some areas and oily in others, such as the T-zone

destroyed skin barrier: dryness, dullness, redness, sensitivity, and breakouts

sensitive skin: red rash, red bumps, blushing and flushing, or even red dilated blood vessels

Depending on who you ask (Esthetician, Dermatologist, or Doctor), my skin is categorized as a "destroyed skin barrier," but my skin is hardly ever dry; in fact, most areas of my face are naturally the opposite, which brings me to the best part, the skincare routine that changed my entire face for good.

How my acne went away with just one serum

Desperate for a miracle product, I began a more organic search for something to help balance my Ph. A friend told me about a great brand called Mad Hippie. I tried their antioxidant facial oil after she raved about it for some time. Within two weeks of daily use, my skin was calm, clear, and acne-free. I had finally found a solution for my skin that, up until that point, had been oily, sensitive, red, and covered in acne. Once I understood that my skin needed balance and hydration, I had never thought acne and oily skin was the same.

My secret Skin Beauty routine for sensitive skin:

Not every product will work for everyone. Before purchasing a product, it is essential to determine if you are sensitive to certain acids, ingredients, perfumes, or dyes. Avoid fragrance and dye, especially if you have easily irritated skin or acne. By doing this, I saved my skin and found that less is more for any skin type. My secret Skin Beauty routine is from the first to the last step.

#1. Cleanser: A good cleaner sets the tone for clean skin that may be trapping bacteria, causing acne, if you do not altogether remove all makeup and dirt from your skin before starting your skincare routine. I use Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser.

#2. Toner. I can not stress enough how important this second step is. Toner is sometimes the difference in how well your skincare will soak into your skin and how well your skin will balance its Ph. Try to find a toner that you can spray onto your face (covering your eyes.) One to three sprays is plenty; remember to let it dry completely before applying the next step. I use Shira Shir-Organic Pure Pomegranate Toner.

#3. Serum. The best rule of thumb is to start with the lightest products and end with the heaviest. It is also helpful to remember that if you would like to use more than one serum or oil because your face is dry, that is okay. I tend to pick the serum that has the least potent ingredients first. If you have difficulty choosing, I will say that adding vitamin C to my routine brightened my skin and helped clear my acne and scars. I use Skin Script Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum.

#4. Moisturizer/SPF. I like to think of a good moisturizer as the difference between my makeup sliding off or my skin staying hydrated and sealed through the day. I use two products for this step because I generally apply a medium coverage foundation after. So do not leave the house without an SPF! I was sensitive to all kinds until I found Dermalogica! So first, I use Sakura Silk Magical Water Gel for added moisture and a nice matte finish. Then I apply my face-saving favorite SPF, Dermalogica Active Skin Clearing Matte Oil-Free SPF 30.

How to customize your sensitive or acne skincare routine

There are endless products for every imaginable skin condition, and narrowing it down can be overwhelming. I highly recommend finding a Master Esthetician who has worked with diverse skin types for a while before making any large purchases or dramatic changes in your routine. After all, they specialized in skin and helped change my routine for the best. As a result, I no longer struggle with acne, and my skin is less red after switching to the abovementioned products. I hope this has helped you on your skincare journey!