As a teenager, I had pretty good skin. I’d be dramatic and freak out over a single hormonal pimple but then I got into my 20’s and oh was I in for a treat. Around the age of 22~23, I started developing chronic cystic acne. We’re talking the painful kind of acne that forms under the skin (so you can’t pop them which you shouldn’t do regardless) all over my face, shoulders, and down my back. Delightful, right?
With the help of my dermatologist, I was able to get all of this nastiness to clear up for my wedding but that involved taking antibiotics and using really strong topical creams, gels, along with other various potions. While it was great to have perfectly clear skin, I’m not interested in taking that strong a course of medication all the time. So with the help of my derm, I honed in on products that would help clear up my situation without being as harsh that I could use long term. She encouraged me to use the “less is more” mentality when it came to my skincare, meaning to use fewer products that you know will do their job rather than trying out every new product and hoping something happens.
After several years, I’ve found a handful of products that I know work to keep my acne prone skin in check. Yes, I still get breakouts but it’s not as bad as before. When I’m sick (as I’ve been for several weeks already this year), the cold/flu/virus also expresses itself in my skin or when I’m stressed, it shows through my skin. Just about any disruption in my daily life (travel, not enough water, too much junk food, not enough sleep, you get the picture), will cause my skin to flare up but I can feel confident that there are a handful of drugstore products that will help me get my skin back to normal. So just keep reading for my drugstore skincare routine for adult acne prone skin!
Drugstore Skincare Routine (for adult acne prone skin)
Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
This is both my morning and evening face wash. It’s gentle enough to not irritate my skin but also helps keep my oily skin in check. If I need to remove my makeup, I’ll simply wash my face with this twice in a row. Once to remove the product, and a second time to actually wash my face. That’s a trick I learned from Lisa Eldridge (see her Youtube channel here)
I’ve found that this is the best moisturizer that also doesn’t immediately turn my face into an oil slick. The AM version is SPF 30 and I use one pump’s worth of product. With the PM version, it has a gel consistency and absorbs quickly into the skin so I’ll use a little more product (especially in the winter)
Ok so this isn’t for my acne but as someone who sees 30 in the not so distant future, I’ve recently started to incorporate this CeraVe eye cream into my routine. I’ve heard mixed reviews of it (mainly from people who think eye creams need to be expensive and fancy so I’m taking it with a grain of salt) but so far I like it just fine. It’s really thick and doesn’t make my eyes look puffy in the mornings.
Neutrogena Clear Pore Daily Scrub
Once or twice a week, I like to go in with a scrub that contains Benzoyl Peroxide. This one from Neutrogena was recommended to me by my dermatologist but I think they have recently discontinued it (I haven’t been able to find it in stores anymore) so let me know if you have any recommendations because my stock is dwindling. I’ve found that while Salicylic acid will cause my skin to dry out and peel in a rather gross way, benzoyl peroxide doesn’t have that same effect.
Neutrogena Clear Pore Facial Cleanser/Mask
While this product is too strong for me to use as a mask, when I’m having a breakout I like to use it as a secondary wash after the Cetaphil. It speeds up the healing process after a breakout versus just sticking to the Cetaphil alone. I only use it as needed versus as part of my regular routine.
Sugar Scrub
When I really want to get my skin really squeaky clean (about once or twice a month), I’ll opt for a sugar scrub. For this, I’ll just use regular granulated table sugar and mix it in with a pump of Cetaphil to create a paste that I then can take into the shower with me and use on my face and body. I’ve recently also been mixing granulated sugar with some of the Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser as my Daily Pore Scrub is running out.
What are your favorite drugstore skincare products? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
Ana Luiza
