Skincare routine for acne-prone skin
Cleansers, toners and enzyme powders with salicylic acid and glycolic acid help clear breakouts and blackheads. 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 for acne-prone skin removes sunscreen, makeup, and the day's oil, then treats the skin while it rests and is away from the sun. This weekly routine takes the place of the evening routine once a week and adds the deeper steps to target breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks.
Experimental Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
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 help clear out pores to manage breakouts and blackheads. These cleansers with glycerin, niacinamide, and centella asiatica extract help keep skin calm and hydrated, and they are used every morning and evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
B.LAB
Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
€13.43
-
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
€24.75
-
Dr. Althea
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
€13.50
-
Paula's Choice
CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
€29.00
-
COSRX
Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser
€17.99
-
PURITO
From Green Deep Foaming Cleanser
€12.89
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Foam
€15.48
-
Clinique
Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam
€21.90
Step 2Hydrating Toner
Hydrating toners and essences with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and centella asiatica extract help calm breakouts and keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth. The hydrating toner step is used every morning and once a week, in place of the evening routine.
-
La Mer
The Tonic
€103.91
-
Paula's Choice
Advanced Replenishing Toner
€59.90
-
Pyunkang Yul
Calming Deep Moisture Toner
€15.16
-
belif
Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner
€44.67
-
ROUND LAB
Birch Juice Moisturizing Toner
€16.90
-
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Essence Water
€14.39
-
TIRTIR
Milk Skin Toner Light
€12.90
-
Etude House
Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
€20.59
Step 3Moisturizer
Moisturizers with yuja extract and niacinamide help control oil and brighten post-acne marks, while formulas with birch sap juice, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin deliver hydration without feeling greasy. These moisturizers are used every morning, every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
Some By Mi
Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream
€18.06
-
COSRX
Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
€18.47
-
Drunk Elephant
Protini Polypeptide Cream
€92.92
-
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
€12.09
-
MISSHA
Premium Cica Aloe Soothing Gel
€10.00
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Ferment Micro Essence
€37.38
-
belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb
€35.00
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule
€18.99
Step 4SPF
The sunscreen step is used every morning to defend against UV damage on acne-prone skin. Sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide help protect against UV rays, while formulas with centella asiatica extract and niacinamide help calm breakouts and post-acne marks.
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Plus
€16.03
-
EltaMD
UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
€73.90
-
d'Alba
UVessence Mild Waterfull Sun Cream SPF 50
€20.40
-
make p:rem
UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun Cream
€40.49
-
ZO® SKIN HEALTH
Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50
€70.46
-
Purito
Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen
€12.98
-
make p:rem
UV Defense Me Daily Sun Fluid SPF 50+ PA++++
€40.49
Evening
Step 1Pre-Cleanser
Makeup removers with camellia seed oil, squalane, corn germ oil, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, helianthus annuus seed oil, tocopherol, centella asiatica extract, low molecular hyaluronic acid, panthenol, witch hazel extract, allantoin, hyaluronic acid, beeswax, orange peel oil, mandarin orange peel oil, orange peel extract, grapefruit peel extract, glycerin, olive oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, apricot kernel oil, cucumber fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice, rosa damascena flower water, chamomile, green tea, and vitamin e help clear out oil-based debris and makeup. This makeup remover step is used every evening and once a week, in place of the evening routine.
-
Shu Uemura
Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
€40.00
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Oil
€25.00
-
Torriden
DIVE IN Cleansing Water
€27.17
-
MISSHA
Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
€15.90
-
DHC
Pore Cleansing Oil
€32.00
-
Dermalogica
Precleanse
€73.00
-
Estée Lauder
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
€32.00
-
Cetaphil
Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes
€22.99
Step 2Cleanser
Cleansers with salicylic acid help clear out pores to manage breakouts and blackheads. These cleansers with glycerin, niacinamide, and centella asiatica extract help keep skin calm and hydrated, and they are used every morning and evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
B.LAB
Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
€13.43
-
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
€24.75
-
Dr. Althea
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
€13.50
-
Paula's Choice
CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
€29.00
-
COSRX
Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser
€17.99
-
PURITO
From Green Deep Foaming Cleanser
€12.89
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Foam
€15.48
-
Clinique
Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam
€21.90
Step 3Cleansing Toner
In the Lovi routine for this skin the cleansing toner step is used every evening. Cleansing toners with lactic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid help clear breakouts and blackheads, while formulas with panthenol, aloe vera and centella asiatica soothe the skin.
-
Medicube
Zero Pore Pad 2.0
€17.15
-
Pixi
Glow Tonic
€19.50
-
SKIN1004
Tea-Trica Purifying Toner
€27.03
-
the SAEM
Derma Plan Peeling Toner Pad
€21.99
-
The INKEY List
PHA Toner
€13.99
-
The Ordinary
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
€13.30
-
COSRX
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
€13.89
-
Beauty of Joseon
Green Plum Refreshing Toner
€15.49
Step 4Serum or Treatment
Serums with niacinamide, ferulic acid, zinc PCA, vitamin B5, green tea extract, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, kakadu plum, vitamin E, salicylic acid, centella asiatica extract, and ceramides help target breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks while keeping oily skin balanced and calm. These treatments are used every evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Niacinamide 15% Firming Serum
€37.99
-
innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum
€37.56
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Vitamin C Serum
€35.10
-
L'Oreal Paris
Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum
€14.21
-
Purito
Centella Unscented Serum
€17.60
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Probio-cica Intensive Ampoule
€18.04
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule
€16.64
-
SKIN1004
Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule
€24.75
Step 5Moisturizer
Moisturizers with yuja extract and niacinamide help control oil and brighten post-acne marks, while formulas with birch sap juice, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin deliver hydration without feeling greasy. These moisturizers are used every morning, every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
Some By Mi
Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream
€18.06
-
COSRX
Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
€18.47
-
Drunk Elephant
Protini Polypeptide Cream
€92.92
-
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
€12.09
-
MISSHA
Premium Cica Aloe Soothing Gel
€10.00
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Ferment Micro Essence
€37.38
-
belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb
€35.00
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule
€18.99
Once a week
Step 1Pre-Cleanser
Makeup removers with camellia seed oil, squalane, corn germ oil, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, helianthus annuus seed oil, tocopherol, centella asiatica extract, low molecular hyaluronic acid, panthenol, witch hazel extract, allantoin, hyaluronic acid, beeswax, orange peel oil, mandarin orange peel oil, orange peel extract, grapefruit peel extract, glycerin, olive oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, apricot kernel oil, cucumber fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice, rosa damascena flower water, chamomile, green tea, and vitamin e help clear out oil-based debris and makeup. This makeup remover step is used every evening and once a week, in place of the evening routine.
-
Shu Uemura
Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
€40.00
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Oil
€25.00
-
Torriden
DIVE IN Cleansing Water
€27.17
-
MISSHA
Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
€15.90
-
DHC
Pore Cleansing Oil
€32.00
-
Dermalogica
Precleanse
€73.00
-
Estée Lauder
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
€32.00
-
Cetaphil
Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes
€22.99
Step 2Cleanser
Cleansers with salicylic acid help clear out pores to manage breakouts and blackheads. These cleansers with glycerin, niacinamide, and centella asiatica extract help keep skin calm and hydrated, and they are used every morning and evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
B.LAB
Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
€13.43
-
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
€24.75
-
Dr. Althea
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
€13.50
-
Paula's Choice
CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
€29.00
-
COSRX
Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser
€17.99
-
PURITO
From Green Deep Foaming Cleanser
€12.89
-
Pyunkang Yul
Deep Cleansing Foam
€15.48
-
Clinique
Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam
€21.90
Step 3Enzyme Powder
In the Lovi routine for this skin the enzyme powder step is used once a week, in place of the evening routine. Exfoliating steps and enzyme powders with salicylic acid, papain and rice bran extract help clear out pores, manage breakouts and reveal smoother skin.
-
Dermalogica
Daily Microfoliant
€49.00
-
VT
Cica Mild Powder Wash
€10.00
-
FANCL
Facial Washing Powder
€19.30
-
Dermalogica
Daily Superfoliant
€76.00
-
Good Molecules
Pineapple Exfoliating Powder
€54.73
-
By Wishtrend
Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash
€16.79
-
DHC
Face Wash Powder
€21.91
-
NEEDLY
Mild Enzyme Cleansing Powder
€39.99
Step 4Cleansing Mask
Cleansing masks are used once a week in place of the evening routine. Cleansing masks with Kaolin and salicylic acid help clear out breakouts and blackheads, while masks with centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid calm the skin and keep it soft.
-
VT Cosmetics
Cica Purifying Mask
€19.79
-
Clinique
Acne Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask
€29.99
-
Sand & Sky
Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask
€50.91
-
ANUA
Heartleaf 70 Mud Cream Mask
€25.29
-
Kiehl's
Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque
€54.99
-
Papa Recipe
Eggplant Clearing Mud Cream Mask
€23.50
-
MZ Skin
Cleanse & Clarify Dual Action AHA Cleanser & Mask
€79.31
-
REN Clean Skincare
Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
€42.51
Step 5Hydrating Toner
Hydrating toners and essences with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and centella asiatica extract help calm breakouts and keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth. The hydrating toner step is used every morning and once a week, in place of the evening routine.
-
La Mer
The Tonic
€103.91
-
Paula's Choice
Advanced Replenishing Toner
€59.90
-
Pyunkang Yul
Calming Deep Moisture Toner
€15.16
-
belif
Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner
€44.67
-
ROUND LAB
Birch Juice Moisturizing Toner
€16.90
-
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Essence Water
€14.39
-
TIRTIR
Milk Skin Toner Light
€12.90
-
Etude House
Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
€20.59
Step 6Serum or Treatment
Serums with niacinamide, ferulic acid, zinc PCA, vitamin B5, green tea extract, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, kakadu plum, vitamin E, salicylic acid, centella asiatica extract, and ceramides help target breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks while keeping oily skin balanced and calm. These treatments are used every evening and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Niacinamide 15% Firming Serum
€37.99
-
innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum
€37.56
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Vitamin C Serum
€35.10
-
L'Oreal Paris
Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum
€14.21
-
Purito
Centella Unscented Serum
€17.60
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Probio-cica Intensive Ampoule
€18.04
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule
€16.64
-
SKIN1004
Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule
€24.75
Step 7Moisturizer
Moisturizers with yuja extract and niacinamide help control oil and brighten post-acne marks, while formulas with birch sap juice, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin deliver hydration without feeling greasy. These moisturizers are used every morning, every evening, and once a week in place of the evening routine.
-
Some By Mi
Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream
€18.06
-
COSRX
Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
€18.47
-
Drunk Elephant
Protini Polypeptide Cream
€92.92
-
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
€12.09
-
MISSHA
Premium Cica Aloe Soothing Gel
€10.00
-
NEOGEN Dermalogy
Real Ferment Micro Essence
€37.38
-
belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb
€35.00
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule
€18.99
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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