Man. I have written COUNTLESS skincare routines over the last six years. I do my best to keep you guys up to date on what I’m doing for my acne routine. If you didn’t know: I have PCOS and one of my most severe symptoms is cystic acne. I have met with my dermatologist and esthetician and between the two of them, we’ve come up with a system that works for me and is helping my acne.
NOTE: Nothing I’ve tried has managed to get rid of my acne completely. I have discussed harsher treatments like Acutane and similar, but since we are actively trying to have another baby, neither I or my doctor believe that is the safest route to go right now. I have also adjusted my diet to reduce anything that causes inflammation or increased acne and drink LOTS of water.
CURRENT ACNE ROUTINE: DERMATOLOGIST RECOMMENDATIONS
PRODUCTS IN MY ACNE ROUTINE COLLECTION:
- Vivant Skincare Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser
- This cleanser has been a serious game changer. It uses Mandelic Acid which is a natural skin lightener (aka: it is super effective at targeting acne scars and hyperpigmentation), green tea extract (vitamins C & E which combines to provide anti-inflammatory + astringent properties), grape seed oil (a hydration agent), kiwi fruit extract (collagen + moisture booster) and honey (a natural humectant and hydration agent). It gently exfoliates and is ideal for blemish prone skin. THIS IS PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Vivant Skincare Wink Eye Rejuvenation Cream
- I am not gonna lie: I haven’t always been very good about being consistent with eye cream. It was a step in my system I just didn’t invest in because it wasn’t directly helping my acne. HOWEVER. I am finding that I’m starting to get fine lines + dark circles (hi motherhood) around my eyes and if I’m going to have a full skincare routine, I’m going to include something really good for my under eyes. THIS IS PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Vivant Skincare Spin Trap Antioxidant Serum (Vitamin C & E)
- This has been a really big addition to my routine. Vitamin C & E gently exfoliates and brightens away hyperpigmentation – which, if you struggle with acne, you know all too well. The active ingredients are Vitamin E, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid + Alpha Hydroxy Acids. THIS IS PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- If you’ve been around here for a while – you know that this is not a new product in my routine. In fact, it’s probably one of my favorite products of all time. It is another exfoliator which almost instantly leaves my skin looking smoother and brighter, which acne spots less inflammed and reduced in size. 10/10 recommend. THIS IS NOT PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Prescription Azelaic Acid Gel 15%
- This is my prescription acne medication. I use it once a day on my acne spots. I have a gel vs cream/foam. It does take some time to start working because it actually clears your pores of bacteria that cause irritation and breakouts. It reduces inflammation and it encourages cell turnover so your skin heals faster and scarring is minimized. THIS IS PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Avani Derm Spa Weekly Glow Exfoliating Pads
- These are expensive – but last over a year so in my opinion, worth the price tag. I use one a week and there are 60 pads in a container. This particular pad specifically treats sun damage, melasma and post-acne hyperpigmentation. THIS IS NOT PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Banish Vitamin C Creme Moisturizer
- This moisturizer was created specifically for reversing dark spots and skin damage from acne scarring. This works well with oily and acne-prone skin, obviously, which is hard to find in my experience. It isn’t heavy or greasy and quickly absorbs into my skin. THIS IS PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
- Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
- This mask is a 15-minute exfoliating mask that is formulated with natural pumpkin enzymes, AHAs and glycolic acid. It is formulated to specifically work to reduce oily skin appearance, improve dullness, reduce fine lines and brighten skin. This mask tingles when you put it on for about the first 5 minutes and then feels totally normal. That is exactly what it is supposed to do so don’t panic! THIS IS NOT PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING SAFE.
I mentioned above that we are actively trying to another baby, so you may be wondering why I am using some of the products marked NOT SAFE for pregnancy + breastfeeding. I have worked with my doctors to develop this routine, and for now, until I get a positive pregnancy test, I’m okay to use the above routine. PLEASE talk with your doctors if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or may become pregnant. If I do get pregnant in the future, we will work to change out some of the above products. None of these have been confirmed UNSAFE but they haven’t been confirmed 100% safe either, so we are honestly being overcautious. Always talk with your doctor before adding something new into your routine!
Morning Routine:
- Cleanser
- Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliant
- Antioxidant Serum
- Eye Cream
- Vitamin C Creme Moisturizer
Evening Routine:
- Makeup Remover
- PUMPKIN ENZYME MASK**
- Cleanser
- WEEKLY GLOW PADS**
- Antioxidant Serum
- Eye Cream
- Azelaic Acid Gel
- Vitamin C Creme Moisturizer
** = This is a step I do once a week – but I do not do them on the same day! My pumpkin enzyme mask is on Wednesday and my Weekly Glow Pad is on Sunday!
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS:
Have you ever been on antibiotics for your acne?
No. I was prescribed antibiotics in the beginning when I started seeing my doctor, but they were giving me constant UTIs (an unfortunate side effect) so I stopped taking them.
Are these products safe for pregnancy/breast feeding?
MOST of these things are pregnancy/breast feeding safe. I have italicized everything that is NOT SAFE above. Please see those notations + the disclaimer above!
How long was it before you saw a dermatologist for your acne?
YEARS. Much too long. I should have started seeing a dermatologist right away when I went off of birth control originally because that’s when it started getting cystic. But I was stubborn. I could have saved myself a lot of headache and scarring if I had tried to get it under control sooner!
How long did it take for this routine to start kicking in?
The general rule of thumb is 6 weeks to start seeing real results but with a lot of these products, you’ll start seeing them work a lot sooner. I would say for me, it was around the 3-4 week mark I started seeing a big difference.
If I have to get one item at a time, which should I start with?
I would start with the cleanser and then the Vitamin C creme. Those are the “buns” of your skincare sandwich – and a good cleanser and moisturizer can do wonders on their own. Then slowly start adding the rest of the items: toner, serum, eye cream, mask.
Does this routine help fade your acne scars, too?
YES! That’s what ALL the exfoliation + vitamin C products are doing! Fading the acne scars is a HUGE part of this routine.
Do you also do other things like laser treatments, etc. to help your acne?
I have in the past, but I am not currently doing any medical treatments. I do see an esthetician every 6 weeks for a deep exfoliation, acne extraction, Microderm abrasion and facial peel.
Do you use pimple patches / what is your favorite?
I do not use it as part of my routine right now – I haven’t found any that work exceptionally well!
PIN THIS FOR LATER:
If you are struggling with acne – I hope these progress pictures + morning/evening routines help. Going to the dermatologist can be expensive (I totally get it) – but it’s what has helped me the MOST when it came to getting a routine that is customized to my skin. You can absolutely start with these products (sans the prescription azelaic acid – you will need a doctor to prescribe that for you) and see how your skin likes them!
