I have never been a girl with perfect skin. I have had acne for around 10 years, eczema since I was a baby, and perioral dermatitis flare-ups when I work out. *eyeroll* I know, right? In addition, I have incredibly sensitive skin; exfoliants and medications often make my skin flake and red/raw. I’ve had tried almost every single product on the market, from the entire Sephora store to prescription medicines from the dermatologist. At the end of the day, my skin is not perfect, but I have perfected the routines I use for each type of flare up.
Remember, eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and practicing good hygiene are important factors in your skin health. But if your skin is like mine and doing EVERYTHING that is on the internet doesn’t help, try these products and tips:
Acne
Acne has plagued my life, and was detrimental to my self-confidence. I’ve tried every oral drug and topical ointment and have found that it didn’t make a difference. At the end of the day, finding the correct birth control and simplifying my routine did the trick.
Remember, that acne oftentimes is connected to your insides- your hormones and your gut health. I have found that working on balancing my hormones and gut microbiome has helped with cystic acne breakouts. People love tretinoin but I have tried every dosage from 0.025% – 0.1% – all causing my skin to fall off of my face and severe dryness that didn’t resolve itself.
Whenever I am breaking out, I simplify to these products:
iS CLINICAL – Cleansing Complex ($48)
I first discovered this cleanser from my facialist. I always thought iS Clinical was too expensive and I previously had a bad reaction to their famous pro-heal serum. But, it was recommended to me by Amazon on prime day and I decided to try it out. And I am so glad I did! It is gel to foam/bubble cleanser that is medical-grade and deep-cleaning – yet, gentle at the same time. It truly makes my face feel cleansed and not stripped tight. I wouldn’t use this every day, but just on the days where I feel like I need that extra cleanse. I know some people use this everyday, so it just depends on your skin sensitivity!
Round Lab – 1025 Dokdo Toner
Toners are a crucial step if you have sensitive skin. Toners are important for balancing the pH of your skin and clearing off the gunk on your face that your cleanser may have missed. I like to use the Shiseido Facial Cotton Pads because they are soft and gentle. I soak 1/3 of the pad and gently swipe my face and neck in upwards motions.
Tip from my Korean mom: If you are feeling extra dry: soak multiple cotton pads in the toner and lay them across your face for 10 minutes. It’s like an impromptu face mask!
Jan Marini – Bioclear Face Lotion
Holy grail, for real. I have tried every exfoliating serum on the market. I mean it. This truly is the only exfoliating serum I’ve used that hasn’t left my skin screaming for help. Its notable active ingredients are glycolic, azelaic, and salicylic acids. It gives a slight tingle feeling when you first start using it, but I like to think of it killing the bacteria in your pores. After you use it consistently, the tingling goes away. Jan Marini is a great brand to buy from in general, but this serum is my favorite by far.
La Roche-Posay – Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Classic for a reason. This moisturizer can single handedly keep my skin barrier smooth and soft. It contains ceramides and glycerin which keep your skin moisturized. The niacinamide and world-famous prebiotic thermal water help detox and protect your skin.
SkinCeuticals – Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Cream
This world-famous, patented moisturizer is a staple is most women’s skincare routine. It is a rich cream that deeply penetrates the skin barrier, moisturizing the driest of skins. The cream’s patented 2:4:2 ratio mimics the ratio of your natural skin barrier. It is typically used for anti-aging but I like to use it on days where my skin feels especially dry, or during the winter time. My skin always feels plump and supple after using. But, if you are acne prone, make sure not to use it everyday otherwise you can have some build up in your skin.
Eczema
Eczema is a fickle thing. It can be triggered by what you eat, the environment you are in, the stress you feel – pretty much anything in life. I typically get eczema on my neck and behind my knees.
I used to religiously go to hot yoga sculpt at Corepower, but I discovered on accident that the hot room and sweat was the main cause of my neck eczema. I sprained my ankle in a class and was out of commission for a week. I started going to pilates classes to rehabilitate my ankle and other joints and found that my chronic neck eczema patch had miraculously disappeared! I thought for the longest time that I was allergic to jewelry and that necklaces triggered atopic dermatitis; but, nope it was the sweaty, hot rooms.
Since then, I shower in warm water, ending in a cold rinse. I have found that it keeps my skin calm and less inflamed. I now religiously moisturize my entire body. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it’s important to keep it maintained as well as you keep your face!
Mustela – Hydra Bebe Body Lotion
I first discovered this brand in a Parisian drugstore. I decided to give it a try and it has become an essential part of my daily routine since. Mustela is a French baby skincare brand and prides itself on making gentle skin products from natural ingredients. It is gentle, hypo-allergenic, and non-greasy. I like to lather it on after a shower on damp skin and let it absorb while I dry my hair. They also make eczema creams called Stelatopia. This could be a better line for you if you have moderate to severe eczema.
SkinSmart – Antimicrobial Eczema Therapy
I was on the hypochlorous acid wave way before it became trendy on TikTok, ok? #Trendsetter But seriously, this spray has been a holy grail for years. I carried it around to spray on after every work out, shower, and morning/evening routine. It stings a little bit if your eczema flare-up is raw but it helps keep the bacteria at bay so that your flare-up can dry and scab up. I had a serious issue with itching my eczema and they would always get infected and I had to put on topical steroids which only worsened eczema. This spray single-handedly helped my constant infections so that my skin could finally heal!
Perioral Dermatitis
I thought that I had hormonal acne around my mouth for the longest time, only to discover that I had a case of perioral dermatitis. So, what is perioral dermatitis? It’s a rash that can form around your mouth and chin – often, dry, flaky, and covered in bumps called pustules.
I tried to treat the area with actives/acids, niacinamide, and tretinoin – all of which worsened the problem. Once I realized that I had perioral dermatitis, I stopped all of the acne treatments. I found two things did the trick:
De La Cruz – 10% Sulfur Treatment
This little drugstore mask is pure heaven on Earth. The label says “acne treatment” but it is purely a sulfur mask. Yes, it can be used to treat cystic acne, but it also treats perioral dermatitis. Sulur has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It deduces redness, clears infections, and fights acne. I like to use this treatment once a week.
The Ordinary – Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Azelaic acid is one of the first forms of defense that you can use for perioral dermatitis. It isn’t a common ingredient; you can ask your dermatologist for a prescription. This Ordinary version is my favorite, because it works and is cost-effective. Some other popular serums are from Paula’s Choice ($38), The Inkey List ($18), and Tula ($38). I’ve found azelaic acid to be great for my sensitive skin; it clears redness and my small bumps when I get a flare up!
At the end of the day, skincare is incredibly personal. It’s easy to stick to the labels of “oily, combination, vs. dry” and “sensitive vs. normal” but we should all remember that these labels don’t define us.
If you’re lucky, skin care products are easy to use and your skin doesn’t react. But, otherwise, you have to find what works for you by trial and error. It can be frustrating and demoralizing; but, just like life, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. I’ve struggled with skin problems for a decade, and am only starting to see the end of the tunnel now. I hope my recommendations can help you find what works best for you!
Thanks for reading.
XX,
Isabelle
