my current skincare routine
↠ for acne-prone oily skin people
↠ for people who live in hot and humid climates

disclaimer: i am not a dermatologist or a skincare expert. im simply sharing the products that worked for me as someone who battled acne for 38383728282 years

currently, this is how my bare face looks like. it's not perfect, i still have some pigmentation and acne scars but other than that, i only seldom get acne now.

bare face: mid-2019 vs now

tbh that wasn't the worst of it. there were times back when i was in college (stressed and sleep deprived), i would get LARGE PAINFUL CYSTIC acne and i would get so insecure so i'd cover it up with copious amounts of makeup i can already hear my skin screaming at that lol

getting to know skincare youtuber liah yoo changed my life. i always wanted to get into skincare, specifically korean skincare and she helped me a lot. korean skincare isn't about having 10+ steps, but rather using the CORRECT PRODUCTS for your face and ADDRESSING ITS NEEDS

to anyone who has been using lots of harsh products on their face to get rid of acne, i advice you to go on a skincare diet. most likely, your skin barrier is sooo damaged hence, any product won't go well on your face.

basically, a skincare diet is using the essential products only which is:

AM routine: cleanser -> moisturizer -> sunscreen
PM routine: cleanser -> moisturizer

do that for a few weeks or months to let your skin barrier heal. pls give you skin a break

i did a skincare diet for a few months before jumping into building my skincare routine. here are some videos that might help you understand it better:
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sooooo a few months later, i was ready to jump into building my skincare routine. honestly, it took me a long time before finding products that worked for my skin. it entailed lots of research on yt and reddit, trial and error and patience.

remember, skincare is YMMV. products might work for some but it won't for you. be patient, don't expect your skin to be magically clear after trying a product. it takes MONTHS before you see results. hence, concluding if a product works or not should take you weeks or months.

OKAY STARTING WITH MY
AM ROUTINE

Cleanser - believe it or not, i don't use a cleanser in the morning. i only wash my face with water because i don't feel like my face is "that" dirty... some people do it and it works for me but if i feel particularly greasy, i go ahead and use my night cleanser

Toner - Etude House Soon Jung pH5.5 Relief Toner
one of my HG products!! i've been using this for 2 years and i love how hydrating and mild it is plus it is pH balanced. btw in applying toner, i only use my hands to pat it all over my face.

Serum - The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
another HG product!! niacinamide is a game changer for my acne I SWEAR!! it tightens pores, improves uneven skin tone and reduces the appearance of blemishes among others. i really recommend adding niacinamide in your routine

Moisturizer - HOLIKA HOLIKA Aloe 99% Soothing Gel
since mantika mukha ko, i need a light moisturizer in the morning. ive been using aloe vera gel as a day moisturizer for years but i love holika holika bc it's 99% aloe vera, doesn't have alcohol and has good ingredients

Day Acne Spot Treatment - Sulfur Ointment
if i have any active acne, i apply sulfur ointment on those areas. i use the one from bioderm and this product helps in drying out my acne. note, this product leaves a white cast so make sure to apply it well

Sunscreen - Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF50+ PA++++
YA'LL WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! another HG, i super love biore's sunscreen because it doesn’t leave a white cast and it’s in this watery or gel-like consistency so it doesn’t feel heavy on my face

i forgot to attach the picture but here it is!! this product is hard to come by now. sa shopee ko lang nabibili so good alternatives would be from tony moly and etude house. pwede din nature republic but it has alcohol huhu
https://twitter.com/lovelykoopjm/status/1306215580735647745?s=20

Lip Mask/Lip Balm - Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
i know lip "sleeping" mask siya but i just love using this bc it really makes my lips smooth and moisturized. it also smells good! it's small lang but it goes a long way for me

btw, i know the products i'm mentioning aren't the cheapest but building a skincare routine is really about investing in good products. however, this does not mean you try them all at once. NO, try products ONE AT A TIME.

one of my biggest mistakes was trying multiple new products at the same time and let's just say, my skin suffered a lot..... so i recommend you buy just 1 product and test it for a few months and if it doesn't work, you can give it away or sell it.

NIGHT ROUTINE

my night routine is quite extensive. this is really when i apply a lot of products, the actives and serums because.... it's night so don't be overwhelmed with that mount of products i will mention lol

Makeup Remover - Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for oily, acne-prone skin + Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Make-up Remover
these are the products i use if i have makeup. they're mild, don't break me out and removes makeup well

Oil Cleanser/Cleansing Balm - Human Heart Nature Gentle Cleansing Oil
if you know korean skincare, you've probably heard of the double cleansing method. i dont always double cleanse but if i feel dirty, i use a cleansing oil as my first cleanse +

+ i don't really have much to say about this product bc it simply removes the makeup and gunk on my face but honestly, it's just sooooo oily. i'll have to try other cleansing balms like from banila co. or heimish.

Cleanser - COSRX Low-ph Good Morning Cleanser
another HG, i've been using this for 3+ years. i love this because it contains tea tree oil, salicylic acid and is in gel form which is great for my oily and acne-prone skin. also, it's ph level is low which is good for your skin.

Exfoliator 1 - Luxe Organix Bentonite Clay Indian Healing Clay
after cleansing, this is the part where i exfoliate my face. i do this twice a week pag di ako tamad lol. first one, indian healing clay is great for detoxifying and tightening skin, clears acne and tightens pores

Exfoliator 2 - The Ordinary AHA 30% BHA 2% Peeling Solution
i believe this product really helped in lightening my pigmentation and improving my skin's texture. note, this product contains high amounts of BHA and AHA so be careful!!

Toner - Etude House Soon Jung ph 5.5 Relief Toner
after exfoliating, i apply my toner. i use the same one with the same type of application. i just love this toner SOOO MUCHHH

Face Mask
if im not feeling lazy, i apply a face mask twice a week. these are some of my favorites!! tysm bts for introducing me to mediheal. i super love their masks

Serum - SOMEBYMI Yuja Niacin 30 Day Blemish Care Serum
yuja is rich in vit c so this product is great in removing blemishes and pigmentation as well improving the skin’s tone and texture. it definitely helps in lightening my scars and marks from recent acne.

Moisturizer 1 - Rosehip Seed Oil
i use rosehip seed oil because it hydrates and moisturizes skin, boosts collagen formation and reduces inflammation and hyperpigmentation. ive heard good things about this and ive been using this for about 1+ years already

Moisturizer 2 - Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
ceramide creams are amazing. basically, using them helps in reinforcing the skin’s barrier and increasing hydration. so if you have dehydrated or dry skin, ceramide creams are the way to go!! +

+ although, this product can be quite thick and heavy on the skin. this is why i only use it at night but if you feel it's too heavy, feel free to switch to lighter moisturizers. i just really like use creams as my final moisturizer at night.

Acne Spot Treatment - AcneCare Drying Lotion
if I have any active acne, i apply a drying lotion/pink powder on those pimples to dry it out. this is also HG for me bc whenever i would use this product, my acne would visibly reduce in size the next morning.

Lip Mask - Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
AYAAAAN correct time na. the last step of my night routine is to apply the laneige lip sleeping mask. if may gana ako, i exfoliate my lips with a lip scrub first then apply the product. yaaan kissable lips na chz

so that's my skincare routine! i know i mentioned a lot of products but take note it took me YEARS before i was able to finally settle on these products and this routine. i am not telling you to buy and use all of these products. i am merely suggesting that these may work for you

i know how frustrating having tons of acne can be but trust me, as someone who had loooots of them before, you'll be able to treat them as long as you are patient, invest a little and exert some effort. be religious in your routine. don't touch your skin!! drink lots of water!!

if you have questions or you need help in building your routine, feel free to DM me
again, i am no derma or skincare expert. i made this thread to help my fellow acne-prone oily skin people.
YA'LL WE CAN CONQUER THE BATTLE WITH ACNE