I've got oily, acne-prone, sensitive, dehydrated skin: Here is some advice
Disclaimer: It's based on my personal skin care experience, and I'm not some skin professional
1. Gentle cleanser: It should be really gentle and not stripping, just to clean the face, because you are already using chemical exfoliation (bha/lha ). I personally recommend the moisturizing face wash from Simple. Though the micellar gel wash is also good if you want a better cleanse specially at night when you are removing the sunscreen.
2. BHA/ LHA serum: Yeah, it must be a serum, not a cleanser, trust me, I also used a cleanser, but it doesn't clear acne much, and the acne keeps coming back fast. If you have sensitive skin, then start with LHA as it's a gentle version of BHA, but if you can't find it, then use BHA ( I started with 2% BHA serum from Cos de Baha, and it's still the best for me ). Not only that, but it also reduces whiteheads and blackheads. This is the part that cleared my acne for real. Start with 3 nights a week.
3. Toner: Now this step is optional, but a rice water toner really helps calm your skin, specifically if you face chronic skin dehydration and flakiness. I keep mine in the fridge for an extra cooling effect, though you should do whatever you feel better with. For example, you might like cantella/madecassocide soothing toners ( to calm burning sensation or irritation ) or Hyaluronic acid toners ( to focus solely on skin dehydration ). I like rice water toners because they do both with an added brightening/glowing effect.
4. Moisturizer : Now this , again , is a compulsory step . Picking the right moisturizer was the hardest part for me, girl. Fragnanced moisturizers are definitely out of the wish list. I mostly recommend gel-cream texture, which has niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and cantella, and is mentioned to be for sensitive skin. My moisturizer has ( hyaluronic and niacinamide as I couldn't find 3 in one ), and this is again from Cos de Baha as well ( The HG gel cream ). If you have too hot weather, then you might be fine with hyaluronic gel moisturizers instead of gel-cream. If you pick a hyaluronic acid toner, then a simple cantella gel should be enough , it depends on how dry or oily your skin gets. Remember, the moisturizer should be lightweight and make your skin comfortable.
5. Sunscreen (SPF 50): Bha makes your skin sensitive to the sun, so there is a risk of sunburn, so it's a must for every day morning, even indoors. It must be consistent. Sunlight also increases melanin production, so acne scarring becomes more pronounced. Personally , I prefer ( lightweight , no white cast , gel-like, hydrating ) sunscreens .
6. Spot correction serum: This is optional if you don't have brown/dark post-acne marks or existing scars from acne ( PIH ). The best option is an azelaic acid serum ( 5-10%). The one from Nineless is really beginner-friendly as it almost feels like water on the skin. Now, you should know that azelaic acid works really slowly and needs a very consistent use, so patience is important. You should wait for results for at least 3 months of consistent use. Now, if it still doesn't show much improvement, then you might consider tranexamic acid or niacinamide ones. You may start with 3 days a week, then gradually shift to every day if your skin allows.
Last advice: I mostly use Korean products (especially the serums as they are the main part for clearing acne ), they never disappoint, but if you find better products from different origins, then listen to yourself. And you don't need any other type of exfoliation if you are consistent with BHA ( which is the best option ), too much exfoliation can lead to a breakout again. You may like a clay mask if oiliness still bothers you, and that too must be once a week or once every 2 weeks.
