Progress through three levels of skincare routines—from healing severe acne to maintaining clear, youthful skin. Each level builds on the previous one, backed by dermatological research.
Gentle, effective routines that work. No complicated steps, no expensive products—just what your skin needs.
"Our goal is not to irritate the acne. Be gentle, be consistent, be patient."
Once or twice a day—in the morning when you wake up and in the evening. You don't want to clean too often as cleaning can irritate your face and worsen your acne.
Use cool to lukewarm water to wet your face. Cup the water with both hands and splash over your face two to three times. Don't rub your face with your hand while doing this. We do not want to irritate the acne.
Apply the cleanser onto your hand and rub the cleanser between both of your hands two to three times. 1 teaspoon or 4 ml of cleanser will do. When unsure about the amount of cleanser, feel free to use a bit more.
Using both of your hands, gently rub your face two to three times with the cleanser. It should take you anywhere between 5 to 10 seconds. Don't use any towel, cloth, or cleansing device. Again, our goal is not to irritate the acne.
Rinse your face with cool to lukewarm water to wash off the cleanser. It should take you roughly 10 seconds to clean your face. Let the water do its job with minimal rubbing on your face with your hands. Don't over-wash your face as it'll strip away the essential oil on your face and irritate your acne.
Very gently pat your face dry with a towel. Don't pat too hard and it's okay if your face is just 90% dry. Don't rub or scratch your face with the towel again as we don't want to irritate the acne.
I recommend CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. As we already have acne, we have to be really careful with the cleanser we use.
Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, pH balanced, and allergy tested. It's by far the most comforting cleanser and is the one I use daily.
View ProductFragrance-free, oil-free, pH balanced, and for sensitive skin. It's slightly stronger and I use this when I feel my face is more oily than usual.
View ProductAfter it's dry, we can transition to moisturizing our face. Don't stop or wait for your skin to dry completely before applying your moisturizer. Your skin barrier is most likely damaged, and after cleansing, the water in your skin will evaporate, which will give you a skin-tightening sensation.
Apply the moisturizer onto your finger and dab it on your forehead, nose, chin, left and right cheek. 1 teaspoon or 4 ml will do. Just like the cleanser, when unsure about the amount, feel free to use a bit more.
Using both of your hands, gently spread it evenly across your face. It should take you anywhere between 5 to 10 seconds. Don't use any towel, cloth, or device. Again, our goal is not to irritate the acne.
I recommend Complex 15. While there are numerous choices available in the market, I cannot stress how important it is to choose the right moisturizer without being swayed by family members' or friends' recommendations, advertisements, or social media influencers.
Hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and oil-free. This is what works for me.
View ProductI spent decades trying everything. What I learned: consistency beats intensity. Start at your level, be patient, and listen to your skin.
These routines are based on peer-reviewed research and my personal experience. Always consult a dermatologist for personalized advice.