3 Easy Steps to Perfect Your Routine for Acne-Prone Skin

If you’re new to skincare, it can be pretty intimidating at first. There’s a ton of noise out there on how to choose the right products, how to use them and how do it all in the right order too. So, we’re here to make it easy, by picking out the three most important ways to improve your skincare routine, with a step-by-step guide on each. These 3 steps work as a great foundation for any skincare routine, but we’ve included suggestions particularly for those with acne-prone skin! 

1.    Cleansing Your Face

Even if your face looks clean to the naked eye, if you’re not cleansing, it’s pretty safe to say – it’s not. There’s so much dirt, grime and bacteria floating around in the air, and it builds up on your face. If you don’t clean your face daily, it will build up and cause irritation and clogged pores. 

Plus, if you're using any skincare products to improve your skin, without washing your face, you’ll just be adding the product on top of the dirt, and it will never reach the surface of your face.  

There are four main steps to properly clean your face. First, wash your hands. You don’t want to be rubbing even more dirt on your face while trying to clean it. Next, give your face a rinse with warm (but not hot) water. 

The third step is to use a face cleanser formulated for your skin type or skin concerns. Take a small amount of cleanser and rub it onto our face gently, creating a lather with the water left over from rinsing your face. If you have blemish-prone or oily skin, a cleanser with Salicylic Acid is what your skin might need, such as CeraVe’s Blemish Control Cleanser.

Targeting ingredients like Salicylic Acid are key because they help to target blemishes and visibly reduce breakouts. If you have dry skin, try a cleanser formulated with hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, a good example is CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser.    

All CeraVe products:  

• Are non-comedogenic (meaning the ingredients are shown to not clog pores – this is particularly important if you have acne-prone skin)  

• Are fragrance-free (some fragrances can irritate your skin, so if you have sensitive skin, it’s good to avoid these)  

• Have ceramides (which are natural compounds that strengthen your skin barrier). If you think of your skin barrier as a brick wall, ceramides are the “mortar” that hold the bricks together, helping to keep moisture in, and keep external irritants out. 

• Are developed with dermatologists!  

Finally, rinse your face a second time and pat it dry with a soft, clean towel. Simple as that! 

2.    Targeting blemishes

There are a variety of skin concerns that you might want to target, but one that is super common is blemishes.  

For mild-acne prone skin, CeraVe’s Blemish Control Gel after cleansing is a great option to visibly reduce blemishes. 

It combines the powers of AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acids), BHA (Salicylic Acid), Niacinamide and 3 Essential Ceramides to target blemishes and help prevent future breakouts. BHA’s work to target blemishes and help prevent future breakouts, whereas AHA’s work to smooth the skin’s surface. The effective blend of these ingredients visibly reduces blemishes in 3 days, leaving skin looking more radiant and smoother, while strengthening the skin barrier. It also reduces blackheads by 45% in 4 weeks!^ 

Or, if you’re dealing with uneven skin tone and dullness, try CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum to help visibly brighten complexion and promote a more even skin tone. Use Vitamin C during your morning routine.  

Do you have post-acne marks? Try a retinol serum like CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum. Formulated with encapsulated Retinol, Niacinamide, Liquorice Root, and 3 Essential Ceramides to be gentle yet effective. This formula helps smooth skin texture by reducing the appearance of post-blemish marks and minimising the look of pores, while locking in moisture and strengthening the skin barrier. The MVE technology ensures efficient delivery within the skin’s barrier, to provide 24H hydration. If you’ve never used retinol before, start with a pea-sized amount 3-4 times a week at night, until your skin builds up a tolerance to it.  

After a few weeks you can start using it daily. It’s very important to apply your preferred SPF50 sunscreen in the mornings if you are using retinol (or even if you’re not using retinol, sunscreen is always recommended!). 

3.    Moisturising

Moisturisers are one of the most important staples of skin care. They are key for hydrating the skin, and those containing ceramides are important as they strengthen your skin barrier (remember that brick wall we spoke about earlier?). Even for those who have oily, acne-prone skin, moisturising is a very important step or else your skin can overcompensate by producing more oils. Just make sure to pick the right products.  

Moisturising your skin is most effective when it’s still slightly damp from cleansing. Apply a small amount of moisturiser on the tips of your fingers and gently rub it into your skin. Look for moisturisers formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, like CeraVe’s AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF15, and PM Facial Moisturising Lotion. Both help strengthen the skin’s barrier while hydrating your skin throughout the day! Don’t forget the body, too! CeraVe has a Moisturising Lotion (for those who prefer a lightweight texture), and Moisturising Cream (for those who prefer a rich cream texture). Both are fast absorbing and non-greasy formulations, ideal for sensitive, dry to very dry skin, that provide 48-hour hydration*. They are also suitable for use on mild eczema-prone skin.  

In the morning, once you’ve moisturised, do yourself (and your skin) a huge favour and (gently) slap on some sunscreen as well. Give the moisturiser a few minutes to soak in before applying sunscreen, then apply SPF50 in the same way you moisturised. 

Building your skincare routine is as easy as these three steps. The key is to keep it simple and consistent, with accessible products that you know, with formulations that work. 

Want to hear it from an expert? See what leading Australian dermatologist Dr Samantha Davidson has to say: 

“Skin care doesn't need to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent. A skin care routine should aim to use gentle yet effective ingredients that cleanse, protect and repair without irritating your skin or confusing you! 

Ceramides are naturally occurring fatty acids that make up our natural moisture barrier. In many skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis, ceramides are known to be decreased (this also occurs naturally with ageing and sun damage). Using ceramides in your skin care, in conjunction with power active ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide will promote a healthy barrier and provide your skin the support to either repair or just maintain youthful glow.” 

 

If you’re keen to upgrade your acne-prone skincare routine, check out the CeraVe Blemish Control Range, from the #1 Dermatologist Recommended Skincare Brand in the US** 

^Cosmeto-clinical evaluation, 52 subjects, aged 13-45 with mild to moderate acne and normal to oily skin. 

*Cream = Instrumental test, 25 subjects. Lotion = Instrumental test, 28 subjects.  

** IQVIA ProVoice Survey, US Dermatologists, 38 skincare categories, rolling 12 months to October 2023.