LS / 2018 Skincare Ritual for Acne

Read about my skincare journey here.

Trial and error led me to my early (and consistent) beauty routine—messing it up for a few days doesn’t quite lead to a total meltdown, but I can tell when I’ve neglected my current ritual. I’m certainly one of those people that jump-starts multiple things at the same time then wonders which one of them was actually responsible for the improvement (or, in some cases, trauma). I defer to Occam’s Razor when it comes to my skincare; the simplest routine has proved time and time again to yield the best results. I’m not a twelve to fourteen step lady—I stay around five.

I talk about La Roche Posay all of the time but I promise I’m not #sponsored. This French skincare company has brought me really great results and I trust their ingredients.

I had heard about La Roche-Posay on r/skincareaddiction but never considered it a contender as I don’t love ordering beauty products online (except a few select brands, which you’ll pick up on in my makeup routines). During a bout of Epiduo-induced havoc, I read about the miracle that was a gentle moisturizer by LRP. Serendipitously, my local Target started selling the brand and I purchased a few products that I’ve now used for 2 years. Their line ranges (at Target) from $7.99 for a micellar water (100ml) to $56.00 for an anti-aging moisturizer (1.35oz) Side note, apparently I’m a brand loyalist. I prefer to use multiple products by the same manufacturer in a suite, rather than experimenting too much.

Reddit emphasized the importance of repairing the natural barrier of your skin (which Epiduo compromises as you start treatment), and LRP has multiple lines that fight to heal this issue. I primarily use the Toleriane skincare line for sensitive skin, all products of which are free of fragrance and parabens.

MORNING:

In the mornings, I simply wash my face with cold water and put on LRP’s Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer. It’s scentless, non-comedogenic and oil-free; the moisturizer also has prebiotic thermal water and Glycerin. I don’t enjoy SPF in my moisturizers and use EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 if I’m going to be in the sun.  After those steps, I move straight into my makeup routine for work, which is my same routine for going out. Like I said above, I keep it simple. 

NIGHT:

The brunt of my ritual occurs at night and starts in the shower. I wet my face and gently massage in LRP’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. It smells faintly of peaches, which concerned me due to a few odd fruit allergies I’ve had since childhood. However, no reactions! This cleanser removes all of my face makeup and rarely stings, an issue I've had with multiple cleansers and moisturizers. My boyfriend thinks it’s too gentle to actually be cleaning your face, so for those of you with sensitive skin, this is likely a good sign. If I had been in the sun, it certainly stings and causes redness. Prior to finding LRP, and prior to my more severe acne, I enjoyed oil cleansers (like the Cosmedix Purity Solution), applied to dry skin. However, I felt that I needed something to address my skin’s barrier and pH. I massage the LRP cleanser into my skin with my hands, and sometimes use my Foreo Luna mini on my chin and forehead. About once a week, I use the LRP Ultra-Fine Scrub after my cleanser.

After my shower, I pat my face dry with a clean washcloth. I use a cotton pad to apply Thayer’s Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel with Aloe-Vera Formula Toner. I really enjoy the lavender due to antibacterial properties. I then apply the Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer again, or—if my skin is incredibly unhappy, if I’ve accidentally received too much sun exposure—the LRP Cicaplast Baume B5.  I cover my whole face in this, which is a thick white soothing balm with Pathenol, Shea Butter and Glycerin. This will turn you somewhat slug status, so prepare for a shiny next day. If I want an extra moisture boost without the balm, I opt for the LRP Hydraphase Intense Mask. This leaves me with a natural bounce and glow to my skin, as opposed to damage control moisturizing to return my face back to normal. I use a thin layer over my entire face and sleep in it. Instructions say to wipe off excess after 10 minutes, but I hardly have excess.

THE REAL CHEMICALS:

I don’t use my Epiduo on nights where I use the balm or mask, but if I feel that I need to, I avoid putting the mask or balm on my worst areas. My biggest hesitation and fear is how different products interact. If I have a night with my regular moisturizer, I apply the moisturizer and let it sit for about 20 minutes before applying my Epiduo gel. Then, I try my hardest to not touch my face and switch out my pillowcase at least once a week. I only use white bedding after ruining my first grey comforter due to bleaching from skincare. Epiduo also completely bleached out my freckles—unless this was a result of no longer going in the sun for extended periods. Very powerful stuff, and I don’t foresee stopping my treatment anytime soon.

MISC:

If I need to clean my skin during the day (and I don’t want to go into my full routine), I opt for the witch hazel only. This comes in clutch immediately after my yoga classes, as leaving sweat on the skin for too long makes breakouts inevitable for me. Whole Foods sells a travel size, and I apply with a cotton pad. I recently purchased the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, which I apply after my toner. So far so good—my skin is supple and soft. As a reminder, you don’t want to combine a retinol (which is in the Sleeping Night Oil) with my Epiduo, or we have double the intensity.

As I age, my skin composition changes as well. Products come and go, and some solutions on the market have brought others great improvement. A rule of thumb for me is to generally use up a product before I purchase something with the same function, and this was worked well for me over the years.

What have you been using as your go-to acne ritual?