Ughh… acne… at one point in our lives we all struggle with it.

What worked to fight acne once might not get you the same results a second time around. At least that’s what happened to me.

As I entered adolescence I was never really one to get pimples on my face. However at around 16 I started having little break outs from time to time and eventually I had a phase where I had pimples all over my face.

I tried a couple of different soaps and routines but I wasn’t really sticking to any of them because if I wasn’t seeing results in a week or two I would just give it up.

At the time my sister was treating her face with proactive and it was working well for her so we decided to let me try it. IT WORKED! I remember seeing results fairy quickly. I used it for years until one day I stopped, and would only really order it when my face was going through break outs.

However, this year I noticed it wasn’t helping me as much anymore. I was going through a very bad acne phase despite using the products regularly, so I wanted to find a solution that wasn’t as expensive and that would obviously help me this time.

I spoke to my sister about it, and she told me she did a LOT of research and came up with a routine that was really working for her and the best part is that it was not expensive at all!

Honestly at first I was a bit hectic about it because no routine that I’ve come up with in the past has really worked for me but after listening to her and all the research she did, I was actually excited to try it myself.

Let me just say that I started seeing results within two days! And trust me, my face was breaking out bad!

I’ve stuck to this routine since the beginning of April so it’s been about three months and a half. It’s important to mention that I try to be as consistent with it as I can. I do this routine every single morning and before bedtime. Sometimes I’ve skipped it when I’ve gone out at night and come back too tired but I try to at least wash my face and then continue the routine the next morning.

Follow this plan using these products and I guarantee you will see a difference. If you have been struggling with acne you should definitely give this a try, and the best part is that these products are very affordable.

Here it goes:

MORNING ROUTINE:

1. St. Ives Acne Control Scrub Apricot

• Wash your face using this
• Rinse with cold water

I’ve seen some videos on Tik Tok where some dermatologists say that this doesn’t really work, but it has honestly been a great scrub for me and it has definitely worked!

I get it for about $5 or $6 at CVS.

2. Carbon Theory Tea Tree Oil and Citric Acid toner

• Apply it with a cotton pad after drying your face

Best, most effective toner I’ve ever used.

I get it from Ulta Beauty for $19.99.

3. Benzoyl Peroxide

• At the beginning apply to the whole area, especially focusing on where you’re breaking out. Be careful not to use so much that it burns.
• When you see results and the acne subsides use it only on where you get pimples. At least that’s what I do now and it works well.

Currently I am using this because I did not want to let it go to waste since I still had it from when I was using proactive. However, any product that has benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient should work fine.

After this bottle is over I will begin using the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment Gel which is 10% Benzoyl Peroxide. You can get this on Amazon for $7 or at your local pharmacy:

4. Neutrogena clear face break-out free liquid lotion sunscreen

VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE SUNSCREEN, ESPECIALLY AFTER USING BENZOYL PEROXIDE. DO NOT FORGET TO USE SUNSCREEN!

I chose this sunscreen because it says it is break-out free. In deed it is, it does not make me break out and does not feel greasy at all. I don’t step outside without this. I use it daily even when I’m staying inside. You can get it at CVS for $14.99.

That’s all for the morning routine. It only takes me about three minutes to do it.

BEDTIME ROUTINE:

Same as morning routine with the scrub and toner, but instead of the benzoyl peroxide you will use Adapalene Gel 0.1%

3. Differin Gel: Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment

I use this every night. Although some prefer to use it around three times a week because it is a strong treatment. I suggest you start by applying it twice or three times a week, and see how your face reacts until you can eventually do it every night or every other night.

Do not get scared or discouraged if you break out at the beginning of using this product. Keep using it and eventually you will get amazing results. The reason why your acne might appear worse at first is because this product works on pimples inside the skin. Be patient and you will see how worth it it is.

In my personal experience my acne did not get much worse, so this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will break out more. It’s a different experience for everyone, so do not get discouraged. All the other products from my routine will help subside the acne if this product does make you break out at first.

TWICE A WEEK:

–The Ordinary Peeling Solution

• Twice a week incorporate this product into your night routine
• After you wash your face with the scrub, apply this all over your face and let sit for 20 minutes (the bottle says 10 but I do 20 and it works for me).
• After 20 minutes, rinse with cold water.
• Apply toner
• Apply adepalene

The first week you start using this product, I suggest you apply it every night. That’s what I did and I saw a significant difference after that first week.

WARNING: It will eventually sting. In my experience and as it usually is, at the beginning it does not really sting at all because of how bad the face is breaking out but after a while when you begin to see a difference it can start to sting. However, do try to leave it on for 20 minutes. No more than that. If it burns too much try to stand in front of a fan until the stinginess goes away, but do try your best to leave it on for 20 minutes.

I now do this on Thursdays and Sundays.

This is a HOLY GRAIL! WOW! This product cannot ever go missing from my routine.

You can get it al Ulta Beauty for $7.

Once a week if needed:

-Vitamin C

• If you feel like your face is getting too dry, apply vitamin C once a week in the middle of the day.
• Do it after a while of your morning routine because vitamin C and benzoyl peroxide cancel each other out.

I get this vitamin C+E serum at Sephora for $20. There are other options you can get from amazon that are a bit cheaper but this is my favorite serum ever. So refreshing and leaves skin looking and feeling radiant and soooo hydrated. I sound like a commercial but it’s true.

Well that is it as far as my facial skin care routine goes. Please try it and really do stick to it. BE CONSISTENT and you will thank me. Trust me!

Let me know how well it goes 🙂

Here is a picture of my results. The top three pictures are the ones from the first day I started this routine and the bottom ones are after a month and currently. However, I did see major changes within the first week, and felt like it was already working on the second day.

GOOD LUCK AND TRUST THE PROCESS!