Skincare routine for acne-prone skin
Cleansing toners with salicylic acid and BHA help clear out blackheads and breakouts, while serums and moisturizers with niacinamide and vitamin C help fade post-acne marks.
The morning routine prepares the skin for the day: it cleans off the night, hydrates, and protects, with sunscreen as its last step. The evening routine removes sunscreen, makeup, and the day's oil, then treats the skin while it rests and is away from the sun. The weekly routine takes the place of the evening routine once a week to add deeper steps that address breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks.
Experimental Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Products are rated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For a routine based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Morning
Step 1Cleanser
Cleansers with salicylic acid and tea tree oil help clear out pores and manage breakouts, while cleansers with niacinamide and glycerin keep acne-prone skin calm and hydrated. These cleansers are used every morning and every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
B.LAB
Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
€11.99
-
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
€20.50
-
Paula's Choice
CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
€29.00
-
PURITO
From Green Deep Foaming Cleanser
€14.59
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Foam
€8.99
-
Fresh
Soy Face Cleanser
€39.80
-
Kate Somerville
DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
€29.44
-
Cetaphil
Daily Facial Cleanser
€24.59
Step 2Hydrating Toner
This hydrating toner step is used every morning and once a week, in place of the evening routine. Toners with hyaluronic acid and glycerin help hydrate skin, while ingredients like niacinamide and licorice root extract may help calm breakouts and fade post-acne marks.
-
Paula's Choice
Advanced Replenishing Toner
€34.00
-
belif
Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner
€25.00
-
Pyunkang Yul
Calming Deep Moisture Toner
€11.30
-
Paula's Choice
Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
€36.00
-
Torriden
Dive-In Toner
€20.94
-
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Essence Water
€12.50
-
Etude House
Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
€17.29
-
TIRTIR
Milk Skin Toner Light
€17.99
Step 3Moisturizer
Moisturizers with niacinamide, centella asiatica extract, and ceramides help calm inflammation, reduce breakouts, and improve texture on acne-prone skin. This step is used every morning and every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
SKIN1004
Centella Cream
€17.49
-
Some By Mi
Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream
€13.67
-
d'Alba
First Spray Serum
€16.99
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream
€17.49
-
Torriden
DIVE-IN Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Multi Pad
€17.90
-
COSRX
Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule
€17.00
-
Perricone MD
High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum
€68.00
Step 4SPF
In the Lovi routine for this skin the sunscreen step is used every morning. Sunscreens and lotions with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and niacinamide help defend against UV rays while reducing breakouts and oiliness, and formulations with centella asiatica extract and madecassoside help calm the skin and fade post-acne marks.
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Plus
€12.94
-
d'Alba
Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
€16.99
-
Dear, Klairs
All-day Airy Sunscreen
€21.00
-
d'Alba
UVessence Mild Waterfull Sun Cream SPF 50
€16.99
-
EltaMD
UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
€72.80
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen
€16.00
Evening
Step 1Pre-Cleanser
Makeup removers with Camellia Seed Oil, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Centella Asiatica Extract help clear away oil-based debris and soothe acne-prone skin. These products are used every evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
Shu Uemura
Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
€97.52
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Oil
€18.99
-
MISSHA
Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
€10.97
-
Dermalogica
Precleanse
€56.00
-
Nuxe
Very Rose Creamy Make-up Remover Milk
€16.69
-
Cetaphil
Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes
€22.99
-
Clé de Peau Beauté
Cleansing Oil
€73.58
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Clear Cleansing Balm
€14.41
Step 2Cleanser
Cleansers with salicylic acid and tea tree oil help clear out pores and manage breakouts, while cleansers with niacinamide and glycerin keep acne-prone skin calm and hydrated. These cleansers are used every morning and every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
B.LAB
Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
€11.99
-
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
€20.50
-
Paula's Choice
CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
€29.00
-
PURITO
From Green Deep Foaming Cleanser
€14.59
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Foam
€8.99
-
Fresh
Soy Face Cleanser
€39.80
-
Kate Somerville
DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
€29.44
-
Cetaphil
Daily Facial Cleanser
€24.59
Step 3Cleansing Toner
Cleansing toners with lactic acid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide help clear breakouts and manage blackheads. This step is used every evening.
-
Medicube
Zero Pore Pad 2.0
€16.98
-
Caudalie
Vinopure Purifying Toner
€16.90
-
Isntree
Chestnut BHA 0.9% Clear Toner
€15.99
-
The INKEY List
PHA Toner
€10.00
-
COSRX
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
€14.11
-
The Ordinary
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
€13.90
-
Beauty of Joseon
Green Plum Refreshing Toner
€10.99
-
Anua
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
€20.49
Step 4Serum or Treatment
Serums with niacinamide, zinc PCA, and green tea extract help manage breakouts and calm inflammation for acne-prone skin. These treatment steps are used every evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
€5.20
-
innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum
€37.00
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Spot Cream
€18.49
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Vitamin C Serum
€29.76
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule
€14.98
-
L'Oreal Paris
Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum
€15.99
-
Purito
Centella Unscented Serum
€17.39
-
MISSHA
Vita C Plus Spot Correcting & Firming Ampoule
€20.66
Step 5Moisturizer
Moisturizers with niacinamide, centella asiatica extract, and ceramides help calm inflammation, reduce breakouts, and improve texture on acne-prone skin. This step is used every morning and every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
SKIN1004
Centella Cream
€17.49
-
Some By Mi
Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream
€13.67
-
d'Alba
First Spray Serum
€16.99
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream
€17.49
-
Torriden
DIVE-IN Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Multi Pad
€17.90
-
COSRX
Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule
€17.00
-
Perricone MD
High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum
€68.00
Once a week
Step 1Pre-Cleanser
Makeup removers with Camellia Seed Oil, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Centella Asiatica Extract help clear away oil-based debris and soothe acne-prone skin. These products are used every evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
Shu Uemura
Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
€97.52
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Oil
€18.99
-
MISSHA
Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
€10.97
-
Dermalogica
Precleanse
€56.00
-
Nuxe
Very Rose Creamy Make-up Remover Milk
€16.69
-
Cetaphil
Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes
€22.99
-
Clé de Peau Beauté
Cleansing Oil
€73.58
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Clear Cleansing Balm
€14.41
Step 2Cleanser
Cleansers with salicylic acid and tea tree oil help clear out pores and manage breakouts, while cleansers with niacinamide and glycerin keep acne-prone skin calm and hydrated. These cleansers are used every morning and every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
B.LAB
Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
€11.99
-
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
€20.50
-
Paula's Choice
CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
€29.00
-
PURITO
From Green Deep Foaming Cleanser
€14.59
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Foam
€8.99
-
Fresh
Soy Face Cleanser
€39.80
-
Kate Somerville
DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
€29.44
-
Cetaphil
Daily Facial Cleanser
€24.59
Step 3Enzyme Powder
Exfoliating steps with papain and salicylic acid help clear out pores and manage breakouts. This step in your routine is used once a week, in place of the evening routine.
-
Dermalogica
Daily Microfoliant
€48.55
-
FANCL
Facial Washing Powder
€19.99
-
Dermalogica
Daily Superfoliant
€77.00
-
By Wishtrend
Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash
€17.32
-
Anua
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
€16.85
-
DHC
Face Wash Powder
€36.45
Step 4Cleansing Mask
Cleansing masks with salicylic acid and kaolin clay help manage breakouts and clear out pores for acne-prone skin. This mask step is used once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
VT Cosmetics
Cica Purifying Mask
€16.79
-
Origins
Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
€28.50
-
Clinique
Acne Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask
€22.85
-
ANUA
Heartleaf 70 Mud Cream Mask
€15.35
-
Kiehl's
Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque
€35.90
-
Grown Alchemist
Deep Cleansing Facial Masque
€37.95
-
innisfree
Jeju Volcanic Color Clay Mask
€22.31
-
Neutrogena
Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask
€3.95
Step 5Hydrating Toner
This hydrating toner step is used every morning and once a week, in place of the evening routine. Toners with hyaluronic acid and glycerin help hydrate skin, while ingredients like niacinamide and licorice root extract may help calm breakouts and fade post-acne marks.
-
Paula's Choice
Advanced Replenishing Toner
€34.00
-
belif
Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner
€25.00
-
Pyunkang Yul
Calming Deep Moisture Toner
€11.30
-
Paula's Choice
Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
€36.00
-
Torriden
Dive-In Toner
€20.94
-
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Essence Water
€12.50
-
Etude House
Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
€17.29
-
TIRTIR
Milk Skin Toner Light
€17.99
Step 6Serum or Treatment
Serums with niacinamide, zinc PCA, and green tea extract help manage breakouts and calm inflammation for acne-prone skin. These treatment steps are used every evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
€5.20
-
innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum
€37.00
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Spot Cream
€18.49
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Vitamin C Serum
€29.76
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule
€14.98
-
L'Oreal Paris
Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum
€15.99
-
Purito
Centella Unscented Serum
€17.39
-
MISSHA
Vita C Plus Spot Correcting & Firming Ampoule
€20.66
Step 7Moisturizer
Moisturizers with niacinamide, centella asiatica extract, and ceramides help calm inflammation, reduce breakouts, and improve texture on acne-prone skin. This step is used every morning and every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
SKIN1004
Centella Cream
€17.49
-
Some By Mi
Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream
€13.67
-
d'Alba
First Spray Serum
€16.99
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream
€17.49
-
Torriden
DIVE-IN Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Multi Pad
€17.90
-
COSRX
Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule
€17.00
-
Perricone MD
High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum
€68.00
Research behind this routine
Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
Salicylic acid treats acne vulgaris by suppressing AMPK/SREBP1 pathway in sebocytes
Behind this routine
Lovi builds every routine from each product's full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
Get a routine for your skin
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