Ask Cult Concierge: The Best Skin Care Routine for Blemish-Prone Skin

Last Updated: 02/08/2022

Many of us will experience {breakouts} at some stage, and some of us have worse luck than others. If you’re prone to persistent pimples or you’re in constant battle with blemished skin, then despair not, there are plenty of products out there that will be your right hand person in the fight against spots.

In this guide we’ve outlined our recommended morning and evening {skin care} routine, including the best products for {acne-prone skin} at every step. A new skin care routine always takes a little while to get used to – give it a go for four to six weeks to allow your skin to acclimatise and to see how any potential purging settles.

Note: Purging is the term used to describe a reaction to an ingredient that increases your skin cell turnover rate – whereby excess sebum, dull skin flakes and the buildup that clogs your pores are forced to the surface, resulting in breakouts, dry skin, or even tiny ‘pre-pimples’. It’s not ideal, we know, but it can occur with any new routine and it’s worth it in the long run.

And remember, for proper acne treatment you should always consult your doctor or dermatologist.

MORNING SKIN CARE ROUTINE FOR BLEMISH AND BREAKOUT-PRONE SKIN

STEP ONE: CLEANSE

Start your day with a non-foaming {cleanser}. Most products we use as part of our evening routines are designed to regenerate and reset our skin whilst we sleep, so you don’t want to come in with something harsh a few hours later and disrupt all of the repair work that’s happened during the night. Choose a gentle morning cleanser (a gel, balm, oil, milk or clay) that’s packed with vitamins and minerals to prepare and protect your skin for the day ahead.

Decree’s {Light Cleanse} is one of those products you find yourself looking forward to using because it’s just so soothing and effective. It gently removes overnight congestion and excess oil thanks to its creamy blend of healing rose water and mineral-rich seaweed extract, and leaves your skin feeling soft, hydrated and beautifully prepped for your next skin care step.

Alternatively, use fresh’s {Soy Face Cleanser}. This creamy gel formula contains soy proteins, which work to deeply replenish your skin cells, improving its texture and tone, and borage seed oil, which is known to eradicate impurities and restore balance to your skin.

STEP TWO: TONE (AND MOISTURISE AT THE SAME TIME!)

Immediately follow this with a mist of Youth To The People’s {Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist}. A quick hit of hydration, this formula combines a beautiful blend of ingredients – think: antioxidant-rich adaptogens, hyaluronic acid, and soothing peptides – to impart your skin with lasting hydration without any irritating fragrance.

Top tip: It can also be misted on to your face throughout the day to refresh and relieve the skin.

STEP THREE: MOISTURISE AGAIN

For some added hydration, especially during colder months, applying a daily {moisturiser} on top can make all the difference in reducing the visible appearance of blemishes in your complexion. REN Clean Skincare’s {Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream} is one of the best moisturisers for acne-prone skin. This lightweight cream was created with combination skin in mind and is rich in potent antioxidants to protect against the elements. Omegas 3 and 7 instantly begin to reduce the appearance of redness and improve the balance of hydration in your skin, leaving it looking and feeling soothed and calm.

STEP FOUR: SPF

As the final step in your routine, you’re going to want to protect your skin with a well performing SPF. Murad‘s {Oil and Pore Control Mattifier SPF 45} is a lightweight formula that will sink into your skin without feeling or appearing greasy when layered on other products. Oleanolic acid delivers this SPF’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it the perfect choice to support your skin’s integrity throughout the day.

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EVENING SKIN CARE ROUTINE FOR BLEMISH AND BREAKOUT-PRONE SKIN

STEP ONE: CLEANSE

Wash the day away with Aurelia London’s {Miracle Cleanser} – also known as “truly the best cleanse your skin will ever have”.

The brand’s unique probiotic blend is the ‘miracle’ in this formula. It works to fix the root cause of the breakout/imbalance, activating your skin’s ability to repair itself and protecting it from further oxidative stress and damage with the addition of hibiscus, kigelia Africana and mongongo oil.

Top tip: You can even leave this cleanser on as a mask while you shower or take a bath to really allow the benefits to penetrate your skin and continue to heal it.

STEP TWO: APPLY NIACINAMIDE SERUM

Next, apply The INKEY List’s {Niacinamide} to your face. It contains a blend of niacinamide alongside vitamin b3 and hyaluronic acid to help regulate your sebum production, rehydrate your skin and visibly reduce the appearance of breakouts with continued use. This can be applied day and night to freshly cleansed skin, prior to moisturising.

Pour a little into your hand and gently press it into your face – if your skin feels sticky or tacky to the touch once it has dried, that means you’ve used a little too much!

STEP THREE: MOISTURISE

To moisturise, reach for The Nue Co.’s {Barrier Culture Moisturiser}, which uses clever patented technology to repopulate your skins microbiome (and so can help to accelerate the healing of your skin barrier) thanks to a restorative blend of prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, peptides, ceramides, squalane and niacinamide (and breathe!) that ultimately repair and strengthen your skin barrier.

Probiotics are not only trendy right now but are a powerhouse for helping to treat blemishes. This is because probiotics work to fix the root cause of the breakout/skin imbalance, as well as activating the skin’s ability to repair itself, instantly soothing and protecting it from further oxidative stress and damage.

STEP FOUR: FINISH WITH FACIAL OIL

Lastly, apply a facial oil as the final step in your evening routine at least once per week to allow its benefits to further heal your complexion while you sleep. One of the best face oils for acne-prone skin is Pai Skincare’s {Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil}.

A fan-favourite amongst celebrities and Cult Beauty staff alike, this non-clogging and fast-absorbing facial oil was created after the founder’s own struggle with her irritable skin, and promises to gently nourish even the most stressed-out of complexions without any aggravation. A beautiful blend of rosehip seed and fruit oil will encourage your skin to remain hydrated from within, naturally encouraging cell turnover (say goodbye to breakout scarring – this is one of our best products for acne scars) and boosting collagen production to reveal a more youthful complexion over time.

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