Skin Health Acne Daily Skin Care How to Create the Best Skin Care Routine for Acne Easy 4-Step Regimen By Angela Palmer facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Angela Palmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on July 19, 2020 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD on July 19, 2020 Print A good acne skin care routine is important when you're prone to breakouts. Your daily skin care regimen can help to remove excess oil, keep pores clear, and help speed healing of existing blemishes. With so many products available, and with so much conflicting information out there, creating a skincare routine for acne can seem confusing. But your daily skin care routine for acne doesn't need to be complex to be effective. In fact, you'll need just a few minutes twice a day—and often you'll have everything (or almost) everything you need already. What you don't have you can buy at the drugstore: There's no need to invest in expensive products. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Here's a quick snapshot of things you should and shouldn't do when you're putting together a skincare routine for managing acne. The step-by-step instructions that follow offer more details. 1. Cleanse Gently but Well Using only your fingertips or a soft washcloth, thoroughly cleanse your face, including your jawline, neck, and in front of and behind the ears. There's no need to use rough pads or scrub aggressively; this won't get your skin any cleaner. Make sure you're using the right cleanser for your skin. An over-the-counter acne treatment wash is a good choice if you have mild breakouts. Pick one that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If you're currently using prescription acne medications, you'll need a gentle, non-medicated cleanser instead. Unscented Dove, Cetaphil, or the old school amber Neutrogena bar are all good choices. If you wear face makeup, or if your skin gets extra dirty or sweaty during the day (like if you play on a sports team or after you work out) do a double wash at night: cleanse, rinse well, and repeat. This ensures you cleanse away all traces of makeup, sweat, and dirt every night. Don't use harsh bar soaps, antibacterial hand washes, and the like on your face. Harsh soaps won't clear your acne, but they will irritate your skin. 2. Use Toner or Astringent Depending on the ingredients they contain, astringents or toners can help remove excess oil, tone, and hydrate, or help fight blackheads and blemishes. Apply toner to a cotton ball or pad and gently smooth over the face and neck to help remove any leftover makeup, cleanser residue, and oil. Astringents are designed to remove excess oil from the skin so, obviously, they are best for oily skin types. If your skin tends to be dry, either naturally or because you're using drying acne treatments, a hydrating toner is a better choice for you. Also, pay attention to the alcohol content in the product because alcohol can be drying and irritating, especially for sensitive skin types. Alcohol-free products are the best choices if your skin is dry, or irritated by acne treatments. Be aware that even if your skin isn't incredibly dry or sensitive, alcohol-based toners can sting open pimples. Regardless, if toners or astringents seem to over-dry or irritate your skin, simply don’t use them. Ditto if you're using prescription acne medications that are super drying (like isotretinoin or topical retinoids). You aren't going to harm your skin by not using a toner. Astringent vs. Toner: Which Is Right for Your Skin? 3. Apply Acne Treatment Medications After your toner has dried completely, or after you've washed and thoroughly dried your face, smooth on your acne treatment creams as directed. This could be a medication prescribed by your doctor, or an over-the-counter acne gel or cream. Let the medication absorb or dry completely before proceeding to the next step. Need help choosing an acne treatment medication? Give your dermatologist or family physician a call. 4. Apply an Oil-Free Moisturizer or Gel It may seem counter-intuitive to moisturize already oily skin, but don't skip this important step. Acne medications can dry out skin, leaving it thirsty for moisture. To reduce dry and peeling skin, apply a light moisturizer twice daily. Your moisturizer doesn't have to leave you feeling slick and greasy. There are many moisturizers for oily skin types available today that absorb fully and won't aggravate acne. Moisturizing gels and lotions are generally lighter than creams. Either way, choose one that is labeled oil-free and noncomedogenic. You may need to try a few different brands to find one that you like. How to Find a Moisturizer That Won't Cause Breakouts Bonus Step: Sun Protection This step you won't need for your before-bed skincare ritual, but it's a must in the morning. In addition, many acne treatment medications and exfoliating ingredients make your skin more susceptible to sun damage (called photosensitivity). You don't necessarily need an additional sunscreen product, though. Many moisturizers contain SPF, giving you sun protection while you moisturize. If your moisturizer doesn't contain SPF then you should consider a separate sunscreen product. Look for one that is designed for the face, rather than an all-over sunscreen product. Facial sunscreens tend to be less oily and don't have that sunscreen aroma. Acne Medications That Make You More Sensitive to the Sun A Word From Verywell You really don't need the most expensive products on the market to get good results from your skincare routine. The most important step in your skincare routine is consistency. The more consistent you are with your regimen, the better results you will get. Conversely, if you're only applying your acne treatments every once in a while, and rarely wash your face before bed, you're never going to get ahead of the breakouts. While skipping a day here and there isn't going to irreparably harm your skin, you'll definitely want to stay as regular with your daily skincare regimen as possible. Make a commitment to take care of your skin. If you need help getting acne breakouts under control, or you just need some guidance on choosing the best skincare products for you, don't hesitate to give your dermatologist a call. Extras like masks and peels aren't cure-alls but they can be used to pamper skin or give it an extra boost. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037