Best Acne Skincare Routine for Dry, Sensitive Skin
Over the last year, I’ve unfortunately had to deal with acne, particularly around my chin and jaw. My skin is dry and sensitive, so acne typically turns into scabs and scars that take forever to heal. I’ve sought help from dermatologists and estheticians, and while none provided the magic-wand solution, I was able to synthesize their advice and product recommendations and finally came up with a routine that has healed my acne and lightened scars, without drying out my skin or causing irritation. The best part is that most of the products are under $40 and it’s a shorter routine - just a few products at most. These are the products I swear by and will continue to repurchase for years to come.
PS - I do take hormonal birth control and did not change my diet whatsoever. I work out daily, drink protein shakes, and while I did try to stress less, I contribute the healing of my skin to these products for the most part (like 90% if I had to estimate it haha).
best acne skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin
acne skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin before and after
morning skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin
I was never one for a morning skincare routine; it just felt like the extra face wash step stripped my dry skin so I was more of a rinse with water and go type of person. I still do that sometimes to be honest, but sunscreen is always a non-negotiable. On days when I want to do my “full” morning routine (which is still super minimal), here’s what I do:
Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser - The best cleanser of all time. I used to prefer gel or foaming cleansers, but this feels really gentle yet still actually cleans my skin. It’s one of the cheaper medical-grade face cleansers and 100% worth the money if you have dry, sensitive skin. Even more than a toner or moisturizer, I really think this is the one product that keeps my dry, sensitive skin balanced regardless of diet, weather changes, etc.
Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33 - truth be told you can use any sunscreen; the most important thing is that you use one. This was given to me by my esthetician and I like that it’s lightweight, doesn’t sting my eyes, and wears well under makeup. As far as something you could get at Sephora or without an esthetician, I also love SuperGoop! Unseen or Play sunscreens, especially if I’m spending all day in the sun. For reapplying throughout the day, I like the Supergoop! (Re)Setting Mineral Powder.
evening skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin
One Love Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil - Best cleansing oil; this actually gets all of your makeup off yet doesn’t leave a film (especially in your eyes). It smells like a tropical vacation yet the fragrance isn’t irritating for dry, sensitive skin. I truly cannot live without this.
Face Reality Moisture Balance Toner - I sometimes skip this; I never really believed that a toner was worth the money and while my skin has cleared up since using this, I don’t think is the miracle, game-changer product. I do notice that it prevents my skin from feeling dry or tight, yet I also contribute that to the creamy cleanser, too.
SIV Biome Balancing Serum - This is a really cool product that uses spores to balance your skin microbiome. It brings your skin back to its homeostasis and creates an environment for repair and healing. Oftentimes acne-targeted skincare can be really drying and irritating for sensitive skin; SIV helps your skin heal itself as a whole (not just the acne). I credit this with lightening scars, healing the open scabs/ especially irritated acne around my jaw. I’ve also used this on burns and rashes and noticed that my skin heals way faster and is less likely to scar as a result.
Face Reality HydraBalance Gel - To me, this is more impactful than a toner and I really do love it. It smells incredible, reduces redness, cools my skin down a little, and helps the rest of my skincare fully absorb and work its magic.
Alastin HA Immerse Serum - Hyaluronic acid is really worth it, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. You can use any brand’s version; I’ve also used PCA and SkinMedica’s versions and there’s not really any difference aside from price. When you have acne, you sometimes focus on cleaning the acne rather than treating your skin as a whole; hyaluronic acid is going to deeply hydrate your skin while reducing inflammation and the redness of scars.
GlyMed Plus Comfort Cream - I’ve always needed a heavy-duty moisturizer until this one. It’s lightweight, feels so soothing on your skin, yet provides tons of hydrating and I never get dry spots or flakes anymore. It has aloe vera to help reduce irritation and calm skin, and feels like it should cost way more than $40.
weekly treatments for dry, sensitive skin
Jan Marini Age Intervention Duality - Although you can use this daily, I found it to be a little too intense for my dry, sensitive skin. Instead, I use this more as a spot treatment/ when I notice my skin starting to act up. I use it all over, not as a spot treatment and it really does give my skin a nice glow and help eliminate acne before it pops up.
GlyMed Plus Oxygen Deep Pore Masque - Most acne face masks are gimmicky; this is the real deal and worth the price. It’s like a deep clean for your pores, but doesn’t dry out your skin. This dislodges blackheads, reduces congestion, and has soothing ingredients to leave your skin refreshed and glowing. Getting facials is not a regular practice of mine, but this masque really fills in the gap.
