MORNING REGIME

Step 1: Facewash

Removing excess oils, dust, dirt, and pollutants from your face is essential. However, your face should not feel dry and stretched after face wash. You can wash your face a maximum of three times a day. You can choose from the following list based on your skin type:

• Best face wash for normal skin
• Best face wash for oily skin

Here are a few brand suggestions: 

• SebaMed Clear Face Cleansing Foam for combination skin prone to sensitivity breakouts
• Bioderma Sebium Cleansing Gel for oily skin type prone to sensitivity breakouts
• Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser for non-sensitive oily skin
• Mama-earth Tea Tree Foaming Face Wash for red pimples.
• Cera Ve Renewing SA Cleanser is a good choice for very oily skin.
• Homemade face wash for oily skin is worth a try for organic lovers.

Step 2: Morning treatment product

 In the morning, you can use Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, or Vitamin C.

• The Ordinary Niacinamide is best for sensitive skin types. It has anti-acne, soothing, and skin-lightening benefits.
• Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Cream is good for red pimples and post-acne marks.
• La Roche- Posay Pure Vitamin C10 for skin brightening and post-acne marks in non-sensitive skin.

Step 3: Sunscreen

Thick sunscreen can increase acne. Therefore, use a lightweight sunscreen in gel or fluid form. Re-apply it 30 minutes before stepping out in the sun. Avoid using sunscreen indoors to avoid unnecessary clogging of pores. Here is a lightweight sunscreen that is less likely to occlude your pores:

• Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Moisturising Lotion
• Bioderma AKN mat fluid 

In addition, avoid heavy makeup or layering of products. You can put lightweight makeup on top of the sunscreen.

AFTERNOON REGIME:

Wash your face in the afternoon if your skin feels oily. Suppose you can’t wash your face at the workplace, then wipe your face with cotton dipped in micellar water to remove excess oils and give an instant matt look. Re-apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.

NIGHT REGIME

Remove makeup with micellar water rather than a cleansing lotion and apply the night treatment product. You can either use salicylic acid or tretinoin.

Salicylic acid 

You can use Salicylic acid at a concentration of 2% for oily skin and 0.5 % for sensitive skin.

• The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution for non-sensitive oily skin
• Cetaphil Gentle Clear Serum has 0.5% Salicylic acid. It is a good choice for sensitive skin types. 

Adapalene or tretinoin gel: 

In stubborn cases of comedones, dermatologists prescribe adapalene or tretinoin gel. Adapalene is available OTC in the United States with the name of Differin gel. 

Kindly note: If your skin feels dry and stretched after morning or night treatment products, apply Sebamed face clear gel. However, immediately discontinue morning and night treatment products in case of redness, burning or itching. Apply Sebamed face clear gel until the skin recovers. Introduce the morning product first and then the night product at a gap of 3 days.

WEEKLY

Once or twice a week, scrub your face gently and apply a face mask or pack.

Step 1: Scrubs reduce build-up and prevent black/whiteheads. Neutrogena blackhead eliminating scrub is a good choice.

Step 2: Apply face pack/sheet with multani mitti to tone up your skin and temporarily shrink the pores. MamaEarth Tea Tree Face Mask is a blend of Tea tree oil and Salicylic acid that controls excess oil secretion and prevents pore clogging and acne growth.

MONTHLY:

You can also do an at-home peel monthly to exfoliate debris clogging the pores. However, follow the exact guidelines to avoid any side effects. The Ordinary AHA BHA peel is a good choice for beginners.