If you’ve been battling acne for a while, you know that sometimes it’s not about piling on treatments — it’s about making small, consistent changes that support your skin’s natural barrier. Recently I had a huge influx of close comedones all over my face, cystic hormonal acne, skin peeling… essentially an overall disaster. With a huge amount of trial and error, I’m sharing 7 acne-clearing habits that I have incorporated into my routine to help control acne and inflammation.
1. Never Skip Sunscreen (Yes, Even If You Have Acne)
If theres any tip that resonates with anyone it would be to wear the damn sunscreen! Without sunscreen, I would argue anything else you do for your skin is a total waste. In fact, not using sunscreen can make acne and post-acne marks worse. UV exposure inflames acne, slows healing, and deepens hyperpigmentation.
Look for a non-comedogenic, oil-free, and fragrance-free sunscreen — the one I like, and have used for a few years is Beauty of Joseon – Relief Sunscreen.
Pro tip: Daily SPF helps your skin recover faster from breakouts and prevents dark spots from setting in.
2. Use a Clean Face Towel (Or Skip It Entirely)
Reusing the same towel every day = spreading bacteria on freshly cleansed skin. This can lead to breakouts, especially around the jawline, cheeks, or forehead. I ended up buying a pack of face towels of Amazon and used a new one everyday. At the end of the week just wash them with the rest of your laundry.
3. Start Double Cleansing at Night
Double cleansing helps ensure you’re removing all sunscreen, makeup, and oil-based buildup before using your active ingredients. I’ve found even when not wearing any makeup, double cleansing to get the sunscreen and dirt off makes for a better clean.
Step 1: Use an oil-based cleanser or micellar water
Step 2: Follow with a gentle hydrating cleanser (like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser)
Even if you don’t wear makeup, SPF + pollution can still clog your pores.
4. Change Your Pillowcase Frequently
Think about it — your skin rests on your pillow for hours. Sweat, bacteria, oils, and hair products can build up fast. Now repeat pressing your face against all of that multiple times for days.
✅ Change pillowcases every 2–3 days
✅ Use fragrance-free detergent
✅ Consider silk or satin pillowcases if your skin is sensitive
5. Disinfect Your Phone Screen Regularly
Your phone touches your face, jaw, and cheeks throughout the day. It’s a breeding ground for bacteria, oils, and dirt.
🧼 Wipe your screen down with alcohol or disinfectant at least once a day
📱 Use earbuds or speaker mode to reduce contact
After the gym or simply leaving your house, wipe down you phone. Consider the same as washing your hands when you come home.
6. Choose the Right Actives for Your Acne
Acne isn’t one-size-fits-all. For real progress, you need ingredients that target your specific concerns:
- Blackheads/Clogged pores: Salicylic acid (BHA), retinol
- Inflamed breakouts: Benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, azelaic acid
- Hormonal acne: Retinoids (like SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 or 1.0, or Medik8 Crystal Retinal)
- Post-acne marks: Alpha arbutin, vitamin C, azelaic acid
Note: Always introduce one active at a time and give your skin time to adjust.
My main concern was hormonal acne and skin texture from closed comedones. So far incorporating retinol and azelaic acid has improved my skin significantly.
7. Slow Down — More Products ≠ Better Skin
The final (and possibly most important) tip: Don’t overload your skin. Overusing actives, changing routines too quickly, or adding too many new products at once can damage your barrier and make acne worse. As a serious offender of this, I cannot stress enough how important it is to give your skin time to heal. Its so frustrating to have to wait to get the results you want and are trying everything you can to fix your skin concern… But patience is key!
💡 Start slow.
✨ Be consistent.
🧴 Let your skin breathe and heal.
Final Thoughts
Acne can feel defeating, but small changes — like switching to a clean towel or introducing a single new active — can create lasting results over time. Stay consistent, stay kind to your skin, and don’t forget: clear skin is a journey, not a race.
