Left Continue shopping
Your Order

You have no items in your cart

Acne Skincare Treatments You Can Do at Home

Acne Skincare Treatments You Can Do at Home

Acne can be debilitating and demoralizing. I find that so many people would rather try to just go about working on an acne skin care treatment at home rather than reach out for help from a professional esthetician. If these people are like me when I had acne, there’s shame and embarrassment about how our skin looks; like it’s a personal failing that we can’t clear up our skin ourselves.

Acne Skincare Treatments: It’s All about What You Know

If you are looking to clear your skin and make it as healthy as possible, you need the right information on what products to use and how to use them.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about how to treat acne. Many of the products that claim to help acneic skin actually make it worse. So, I decided to put some lists together of products that I recommend to clients for their acne skincare woes.

Acne Skincare Treatments: Always Approached in Steps

The first step in any acne skincare treatment protocol is to eliminate all comedogenic, inflammatory products. Just throw them out! If your products aren’t working after a couple of months, they probably never will. Plus, they may be making your skin worse.

The next step is to get the basics; products that are acne safe and help to heal and strengthen your barrier before adding in extra hydration and active acne targeting products.

Acne Cleansing Choices

As with most treatment options, you need to start with a cleanser. The following cleansing products are ones that I frequently recommend to my clients who have any level of acne.

Look through these options and the descriptions for each product to determine which one you would like to try based on your skin type.

Barrier Restoring Products

Your skin barrier is your first line of defense. It basically keeps moisture in and irritants out. When it's weakened, you may notice redness, tightness, sensitivity, or breakouts that just won't go away. That's why, when I work with clients on acne, I often find an impaired barrier at the root of the problem. Two products I love for helping strengthen it are:

Corthe Bifida Ampoule
This ampoule combines a probiotic with plant-based brighteners and ingredients to boost hydration, improve texture, and help reduce the look of hyperpigmentation, leaving skin with a healthy glow.

Purcell Pixcell Biom
This serum features a patented blend of two probiotics in a high concentration, which helps skin bounce back quickly. Apply it right after cleansing and before your toner or essence.

Corthe Bifida Ampoule is a great fit if you want to support hydration and texture while brightening tor a healthy glow. Purcell Pixcell Biom is ideal if your skin needs extra help bouncing back. Either way, a healthy barrier is the foundation of clear, calm skin, so start there.

Every skin is different, so reach out to me to see what product is best for you at this time.

Moisturizer and Sunscreen Choices

I am frequently still surprised by how many people with acne believe they should steer clear of moisturizers and/or SPF. They think their skin is too oily and moisturizer will just make it oilier. BUT…there is a big difference between oily skin and moisturized skin. 

When skin isn’t properly hydrated, it tries to compensate by creating more oil. Healthy skin has the proper balance of hydration and lipids that prevents this excess production of oil. If you have acne, you want the right kind of moisture to tell your skin it doesn’t have to produce as much oil. And you want the sunscreen to prevent drying your skin out more and damaging it further with UV rays. Acne prone skin is particularly susceptible to UV damage, making breakouts more frequent and worse.

These are the moisturizer and SPF products I would recommend for acne skincare:

Moisturizers to Heal the Skin Barrier 

Then if your skin barrier is super impaired or if you live in a cold, windy area I like to recommend this product to be placed on top of the moisture to really lock in the hydration. It is not enough to be used on its own as a moisturizer.

SPF Choices

Hydration Add-Ins

Once you feel you have the basics down and the products you chose are working well with your skin, you can add in additional hydration. Below are some additional hydration products you can choose from. It is always best to only try one at a time. If you feel that your skin needs additional hydration support, you may try adding an additional product after a couple of weeks.  So many of these products do more that just add hydration.  Some have ceramides, some brighteners, barrier support and more.

Next Steps

Once your barrier is healthier and stronger now it is time to add in the products that will target your acne. 

Exfoliation

Sometimes our skin might need a little extra exfoliation help.  This is where we might add one of these products or a combination to help once to three times a week depending on how your skin is responding.  

Dermathod Priming Peel Booster Pads
These are lovely gentle pads to help exfoliate for acne prone skin, hyperpigmentation and fine lines.  These can be used 1-3 times a week at night after cleansing.  You would use the textured side of the pad first by pressing into the face, neck and décolleté avoiding the eyes.  Then flip the pad over and use the soft pillowy side in the same fashion. Give it a minute and then apply essence/toner, serums and moisturizer and wake up to radiant smooth skin.  ✨These can also be used on the body.  

Dr. Ceuracle - Pro Balance Night Enzyme Wash
Another super gentle product that can be used a couple times a week at night to cleanse impurities from your pores, smooth out the texture and strengthen the barrier with probiotics.  Use after cleansing and just add a small amount of water to the powder in your palm and work it together with your other palm to create a foam and massage well into your skin and rinse well.   Then apply essence/toner and the rest of your ritual.  

Final Acne Skincare Treatment Advice

While all of these products are fantastic and non-comedogenic, everyone’s skin is different. Your skin may react to an ingredient that someone else will not have a problem with. If you have been using products that dehydrate the skin, your skin will purge. Once we add in hydration, all those closed comedones will come to the surface. Contrary to what you might think, this is a good thing. Those closed comedones were already there and they need to come out to heal your way to healthy glowing skin.  During this time you will want to ice, use any of these masks:

Do not pick and you can apply these hydrocolloid patches to keep the area clean and away from prying fingers:

Be sure to pay close attention to how your skin reacts with each new product you introduce. Sometimes you have to just go with your gut. If you suspect your skin is reacting strangely, stop the product and note the changes.

And, as always, if you want a more customized, hold your hand approach; please reach out! I am here to help you in any way I can.

Kimberly Rose
Posted on February 27, 2025
Kimberly Rose
Older Post  
Back to News
Newer Post