You can get clear skin in as little as seven days if you follow this skincare routine. It is a straightforward routine with minimal products. I like a minimal skincare routine and do not like piling products on top of each other. Most often, when you pile on different ingredients, you will find that some of these ingredients turn to cancel each other out, and we want to steer clear of situations like that.
In this routine, I will share some of the essential ingredients you can use to clear your skin if you have acne or acne scars. Let’s jump in.
Morning Routine –
Cleanser – Cosrx Salicylic Acid Cleanser
This cleanser has 0.5% salicylic acid and soothing botanicals to treat the skin of acne. Salicylic acid cleans deep in the pores to remove oil, bacteria, impurities, and dead skin cells. In short, this cleanser removes acne plug from your pores. In addition, the soothing botanicals provide antioxidants that help to destroy free radicals that cause pre-mature aging. Salicylic acid also exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells from the skin to reveal new, fresh, and radiant skin.
Toner – Thayers Rosewater Toner
I love the Thayers rosewater toner for how it hydrates and refreshes the skin. Rosewater has been used for centuries by women to beautify the skin. It helps clean excess dirt and makeup, balance the skin’s pH, hydrate the skin, and gently exfoliate the skin. Within days, you will see your complexion brighter and radiant.
Antioxidant Serum – Niacinamide, Vitamin C
Niacinamide and Vitamin C are antioxidants that protect the skin from free radicals. Free radicals are oxidants that gnaw at the skin and cause premature aging, when you use antioxidants; they destroy the free radicals and protect the skin cells from degradation. Free radicals are found from environmental toxins, smoking, pollution, and other stuff. Niacinamide and Vitamin C are great antioxidants, plus they help treat acne, oily skin and fade ane scars.
Treatment Serum – Alpha Arbutin, AHA serum, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Kojic Acid, Vitamin C, Salicylic Acid, Azelaic acid
You can choose any of these serums to help treat your acne scars. In addition, any of these ingredients will work to clear your skin. Serums are designed to treat skin issues because a serum has active ingredients concentrated and works very fast.
Spot Treatment – Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is a potent ingredient with many functions for the skin. If you have sensitive skin, I will stay clear of this ingredient. Azelaic acid treats acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, psoriasis. Azelaic acid stings very bad, so I will advise you NOT to apply it all over your face. It is best to use it as a spot treatment. You can dab a little bit on your acne or acne scar or problem area, and within 72 hours, you will see your skin healed.
Moisturizer – Hyaluronic acid, Ceramide, Aloe Vera, Squalane, Glycerine
When you buy a moisturizer, look for these ingredients. These ingredients provide hydration and moisturization to the skin. For example, hyaluronic acid attracts moisture and holds it in your skin, thereby leaving your skin hydrated and plump. Likewise, ceramides treat skin barrier that is damaged and help your skin maintain a healthy skin barrier. All these ingredients work to provide maximum hydration for the skin.
SPF Sunscreen
Sunscreen is like the umbrella of skincare products; it shields the skin from the harmful sun rays that damage the skin. Unfortunately, with too much sun exposure and little skin protection, your skin can age faster through the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. Your skin can also suffer from hyperpigmentation and melasma with excessive sun exposure, and more damaging, you can get skin cancer. With that being said, don’t forget to apply sunscreen anytime to set out all year round.
Night-time Routine –
Cleanser – Cosrx Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Toner – Thayers Rosewater Toner
Retinol – The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid Emulsion
Retinol is a powerful ingredient that works by penetrating through the epidermis into the dermis and treats the cells in the dermis. Retinol treats the skin from acne scars because it is a potent exfoliating ingredient that removes dead skin cells from the skin surface; it also turns skin cells over to reveal newer cells for more radiant skin. Additionally, retinol boosts collagen and elastin production to help reduce the appearance of deep-set wrinkles, fine lines, laugh lines, smoker’s lips, and sagging skin. However, retinol can make your skin super-sensitive to the sun. So it is recommended to use it at night and to use sunscreen during the day.
Collagen Serum
Collagen is the foundation that keeps the skin’s structure. It is an essential protein that behaves like a spring that holds the skin structure in place. They work to reduce wrinkles and lines on the skin, making the skin firm and bouncy.
Spot Treatment – Azelaic Acid
Night Cream – AHA, Hyaluronic acid, Resveratrol, Green tea,
A good night cream is a cream with ingredients that work with your skin repair system to treat your skin as you sleep.
This simple routine with minimal but active ingredients will have you seeing clear skin in no time.
