My Current Skincare Routine

What I use on my skin now that my face is clear |

Since my acne cleared, I have been less aggressive with my skin care routine. For instance, instead of using an acne treatment product every single day, I've cut back to once every two days. It's kind of like going into a maintenance regimen for post-acne skin.

How my skin looks today

I've changed the products I use on my skin from when I still had pimples, but the basics remain the same: gentle cleanser, no-frills moisturizer, treatment products, sunscreen/makeup remover, makeup, and sunscreen. These are the only things I ever put on my face. As I get older though, I will probably try to wean my skin onto retinoids again for anti-aging benefits.

For those interested, here's my most current skin regimen that keeps my face 98% clear and under control (I have dry, acne-prone, clog-prone, pigmentation-prone, redness/flushing-prone skin and still get zits every now and then):

AM

Cleanse with Albolene (wipe off with tissue)
If feeling greasy after using Albolene, splash face with more water ~~or wash with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser~~*
Apply ~~Shiseido SPF 55 Lotion~~ Shiseido Anessa SPF 46+++ Mild Face Sunscreen*
Apply foundation (Shiseido UV White White Skin Liquid) and makeup if going out (I don't wear makeup if I'm staying in)

PM

Remove makeup/sunscreen with Albolene (I do this twice with tissue paper to make sure everything is removed)
If feeling greasy, splash face with some water ~~or wash with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser~~*
Apply Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid
~~Apply clindamycin gel to any spots~~*
Cover any spots with DuoDerm
Moisturize with Albolene or Cetaphil Cream

Other

Daily supplements: omega-3 (fish oil), multi-vitamin

Hygiene Habits

Every day: Wash glasses with old cleaners
Once every two days: Change pillow case cover
Once a week: Wipe down everything with alcohol pad (cell phone, keyboard, mouse, steering wheel, etc); Clean makeup brushes and other beauty tools; Clean room
Once every two weeks: Wash sheets
Once a month: Deep clean room and house

UPDATE*:

I ran out of Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser and decided to see how my skin would react if I just used Albolene and water as my cleanser. So far so good! After not using Cetaphil for 3 months, my skin is still pretty much the same. There has been no increase in breakouts or clogged pores. Some mornings I will use Albolene, but if I'm in a hurry or running late, I'll just splash my face with water. In the evenings, I remove my sunscreen/makeup with Albolene before jumping in the shower. Water from the shower seems to remove enough of the cleanser to make my skin feel moisturized but not overly greasy compared to when I just tissue off and rinse at the sink.

I also wanted to see what effect the clindamycin gel was actually having on my skin, so I took it out of my routine for a few months. My skin was no different, so I stopped using clindamycin gel after I ran out since my skin seems indifferent to it. This is good news because it will save me some extra money!

Having used up my previous sunscreen, I decided to test out some other ones. I settled on Shiseido's Anessa SPF 46+++ Mild Face Sunscreen. It does not break me out or make my skin feel greasy or heavy. I like the finish (you can't even feel it on your skin) and it doesn't sting my eyes. The only downside is that you pay a lot of money for a really tiny bottle and Shiseido Anessa sunscreens are not available in every country.

You might notice that I use a lot of Shiseido products. It's not that I am loyal to one brand or anything, but I am averse to changing products when I know something works for me. Of course I get curious and sometimes want to try something else just to see if there's something better out there. But, usually these experiments leave me with more irritated skin and less money, so I try to stick to my rule of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."