Skincare That’s Been Great for My Breakout-Prone Skin

Ah, breakouts.

Unfortunately for me, they are not something I left behind in my teens. I am still dealing with breakout-prone skin into my mid-twenties.

It has taken years for me to become someone who feels confident in my skin regardless of what is going on with it, but golly, it can still be disheartening when a fresh red spot appears on your cheek on the day of an important event, because that always seems to be when they arrive.

I firmly believe breakouts are a natural part of life and not something to beat myself up over, so, shock horror, I do not think you should beat yourself up either if you deal with breakouts like me.

That said, I do have some tried-and-tested products I reach for whenever my skin gets a bit testy to help calm things down so spots do not overstay their welcome.

Before I get into my favourites, I should say I am not a professional dermatologist, this is simply what works for me and my skin, and all skin is different, which is completely normal.

First up, we’ve got a cleanser.

Now, double cleansing is a staple in my routine, and the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel 200ml is a staple in my double cleanse when my skin throws a tantrum.

I cannot live without it, seriously.

This cleanser is, in my opinion, a fantastic daily-use cleanser that works to eliminate excess sebum and tighten the pores of oily skin without drying it out.

I recently bought a bottle of this away with me on a short holiday and walked away having influenced a friend of mine to buy it.

It’s that good.

Next up we’ve got a toner.

I have an old fave and a new fave to choose from, depending on what my skin is feeling like on the day.

My old is the La Roche-Posay Serozinc Toning Mist 150mL, a gentle mist that aids in reducing oil and aids in anti-irritation.

It’s also lovely and cooling when you spray it on, which is nice to use throughout the day if you’re feeling a bit sensitive.

A new fave though? The Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturiser 170ml

This is definitely heavier than the La Roche-Posay mist, however, it adds an extra layer of gentle hydration with white leaf tea extract and cerapeptides to build back up my irritated barrier when I’ve got some spots going on.

Now we have some of my favourite products ever, serums!

First up is the GOAT of all acne serums (IMO), the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum 30ml.

This serum contains LHAs, AHAs and BHAs to effectively reduce the appearance of blemishes and breakouts - in other words, it's the star of the show.

This serum is a bit spicy if you’ve never used acids before, so a gentle approach is always best if you’re unsure.

Another non-negotiable in my ‘Help I need to save my skin!’ routine is a niacinamide serum.

I’m currently using and loving the Viviology Niacinamide + HA Serum 30mL, but I have previously used and loved the super-affordable The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - 30ml.

Niacinamide is a great ingredient to have in your routine as it helps restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier, while gently brightening and regulating oil production.

Now we have my favourite moisturisers to help tackle breakouts, and my go-to is the iconic La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + M

It's an advanced anti-blemish moisturiser specifically designed for oily and blemish-prone skin.

It’s been formulated with cutting-edge microbiome science to tackle multiple things at once - think blackheads, blemishes and post-blemish marks.

It’s actually just been reformulated, and from one die-hard fan to another, IMO it’s even better than before.

Next up is a moisturiser I add to my routine if I need some extra moisture or to touch up hydration levels throughout the day.

It’s the Sulwhasoo Essential Comfort Balancing Emulsion 125ML, a super light fluid that helps moisturise, soften and soothe the look of redness.

Plus its packaging is bathroom-vanity approved.

But wait, there’s more!

It wouldn’t be a blemish-focused article if we didn’t talk about treatments.

Now normally the above routine takes care of everything for me, but sometimes my skin needs an extra helping hand with a rogue spot or two.

For the flaky aftermath of a spot, I love to use a smidge of the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ 100ml+ on the skin affected by the blemish to intensely hydrate and reduce irritation.

No flaky skin here.

For active spots, I love a good pimple patch, and the SOME BY MI 30 Days Miracle Clear Spot Patch do a phenom job.

They stick on all night and remove the gunk you don’t want while helping to protect the skin you do want to keep healthy.

And after everything has settled down, I love to do a hydrating sheet mask to really bring my skin back into its happy place.

The COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask is the perfect way to give your skin some love and added hydration while laying back in bed to read a good book.

Now with all of that considered, I hope my foray into taking care of my breakout-prone skin can somehow help you look after yours!