I have tried a lot of products but not all of them were effective in healing my acne. Therefore, I will only list down the products that are truly effective to deal with acne.
Note: Although the products listed helped to treat my acne, it may not have the same effect on you because our skins are different and react differently to products. Hence, you have to keep on trying products to find the best products that work for your skin.
Tip: As our skin type do change over time, I would advise to observe your skin from time to time and modify your skin care routine when necessary. This is to ensure that what you use supply all the needs your skin may need.
Past Skin Care Routine (dated: End of Year 2011 to Year 2012)
Day:
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples + when I stay at home)
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner
- Hiruscar Gel
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner
- Hiruscar Gel
- Etude House AC Clinic Pink Powder Spot (only use it when I stay at home)
Night:
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples)
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner
- Hiruscar Gel
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner
- Hiruscar Gel
Past Skin Care Routine (dated: Year 2013 to Year 2014)
Day:
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples + when I stay at home)
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner
Night:
Past Skin Care Routine (dated: Year 2015)
Day:
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples)
Night:
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples)
- Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Skin (Toner)
- Etude House AC Clinic Intense Pink Powder Spot
- Benzac AC Gel 2.5% B.P (only use it on cystic acne)
- Benzac AC Gel 2.5% B.P (only use it on cystic acne)
Current Skin Care Routine (dated: Year 2016)
Day:
- Etude House AC Clean Up Daily Cleansing Foam 
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples)
- Etude House AC Clinic Liquid Spot
-Etude House AC Clean Up Liquid Patch (use it under makeup)
- Benzac AC Gel 2.5% B.P (only use it on cystic acne)
-
- Benzac AC Gel 2.5% B.P (only use it on cystic acne)
Night:
- Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples)
- Benzac AC Gel 2.5% B.P (only use it on cystic acne)
Facial masks that I find it effective to treat acne:
- Etude House AC Clean Up Sheet Mask
- Etude House AC Clean Up Pink Powder Mask
-Etude House AC Clinic Intense Mask Sheet
- Etude House AC Clean Up Pink Powder Mask
-
Other facial masks that I always use:
- My Beauty Diary Hyaluronic Acid Mask
- My Beauty Diary Strawberry Yogurt Mask
- Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
- Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
- My Beauty Diary Black Obsidian Moisturizing Black Mask (Year 2015)
- Innisfree Super Volcanic Clay Mousse Mask (Year 2015)
Make-up Remover:
- Biore Hydra Clear Make Up Remover (Discontinued)
- Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover
- Etude House AC Clean Up Cleansing Water
*Daily Make-up Products (base):
-
- Etude House AC Clean Up Mild BB Cushion
- Dr. Jart+ Ctrl-A Beauty Balm
-
- Dr. Jart+ Ctrl-A Spot Cover concealer
- Etude House AC Clean Up Mild Concealer
*P.S: Check out "My Makeup Routine" page to find out more.
**(last update: 10th July 2016)**
thank you for this detailed sharing on your routines :D i have a lot of scars and pimples (a lot of scars on my legs too) and i am thinking of trying snail cream/ spot serum but i am afraid if they re expensive :'(
ReplyDeleteYou can get them from Qoo10(Gmarket) at a cheaper price. :)
Deletecan you recommend a seller? thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI got mine from...:
Delete- Mizon Snail Cream: Link
- Skinfood Tomato Spot Serum: Link
xoxo :D
I feel that since I have changed my diet, and supplement regime, my hair and skin has stopped degrading as much but I havent seen much noticeable improvement. I'd be interested to hear anyone else's skin care routine, particularly anything that can increase elasticity and improve collagen production (topical or internal) - i've considered buying a derma roller but i'm not covninced at this stage.
ReplyDeleteI was given the Etude House AC Clinic Pink Daily Spot. Did you try it before? :) Was it good? I have been searching reviews on blogs and most of them talked about the pink powder spot but not the pink dailyyyy spot. Hope you can help me! Thanks a zillion.
ReplyDeletereplied via email :)
DeleteThank you for sharing your beauty regimen. I'm almost out of hope right now with my acne, not to mention when people keep on commenting about them. It makes me feel worse. How did you cope up with that? I mean the tormenting feeling when they remind you of something obviously unpleasant?
ReplyDeleteDon't give up~!
DeleteWell, we can't control what people say but we can control how we react to it. So, you have 2 choices:
1) ignore what people say about your acne and move on.
OR
2) take their words to your heart and allow their words to hurt you.
I choose 1. How about you? :)
This is my first time visiting your blog and it really helps me a lot! Thank you for giving me hope again for having a looooot of acne. I've been searching through for almost a week about how to lose acne but none of them really gives me a good and convincing post but your blog is my answer to my question. Thank you very much. :))
ReplyDeleteGlad that you find it helpful :)
DeleteIts kind of late, but I'm so glad to have come across this post! I just ordered the products that I think will work for me. I'm having terrible acne probs since just a year and its so heartbreaking and hurtful to hear ppl pass comments about it! I really hope it works <3
ReplyDeleteHey, thank you for passing by my blog~~^^
DeleteLet me know your progress yeah? :D
Did u tried Etude House AC Clinic White-Trouble Bubble Cleanser? i want to try it instead of Etude Ac Clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser but i dont know which one of them better
ReplyDeleteSorry for the extremely late reply... ><
DeleteFrom what I know, AC Clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser is more stronger and effective against pimples than AC Clinic White-Trouble Bubble Cleanser. If you have very veeeeeery mild, non-inflamed acne(whiteheads), you can try the AC Clinic White-Trouble bubble cleanser. If you are super prone to acne and you always get inflamed zits, get the AC clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser.
Hope this helps. :D
Thank you for posting such a detailed list of your past and present skincare routine. I too suffered severe acne when I was in college. And it had a negative impact in my life. Low self-esteem, that kind of thing. But then stupid of me, I tried to hide it with makeup and did not focus on skincare. It became worse. Now, I've learned. And thanks to a very good dermatologist, I'm mostly acne-free now. Yay! My only problem now is acne scars, the icepick ones. Can I ask you a product to recommend based on your experience. My derma suggests laser, but it's too expensive for me. Thanks a lot, sweety! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry for the extremely late reply... ><
DeleteI'm currently using Hiruscar Post Acne Gel and it's quite effective for me. You might want to give it a try... :x
Hi, um... i'm still in my teen days and you know, hormones are out of their minds. I go to a boarding school, so you dont really have much choice what to eat, when to sleep. Since I went to boarding school, my acne got much worse. More pimples popped up on my cheeks and foreheads and breakouts were coming more than ever. My mum wanted to buy me a new cleanser so I did some research about Korean brands (typical K-Pop fan♥) and Etude & Face Shop appealed the most as they both had good reviews (thru my research). So I was sondering if you could help me? With what products, and the routine, and all? Thanks a lot♥
ReplyDeleteHello there,
DeleteThis is going to be a long reply, mind if I email you instead?
Please leave your email address here OR you can email me at bitsdiaries@live.com
xoxo,
Ashley
Thanks for such a detailed post. My skin condition is also nt very good, quite a lot of pimples (big ones) esp on my forehead , nose and cheek. And another thing that always bother me is those acne scars. Due to my skin condition i just tend to take very long (>3 months) to heal. I'm still using the AC Clinic series products. And i realised the foam cleanser makes my skin so dry that my nose area the skin started to peel off. I realise the cleanser makes my skin dry instead of the lotion. Thn i stopped using it for a while and use the collagen moistfull series, and my skin does gets a lil better as in nt so dry bt my pimples still nt getting better so i kinda use both the AC CLINIC and collagen moistful series. I think it's been a month only. And i wanna ask you what product do you recommend for acne scars? And what bb cream u using?
ReplyDeleteHello there~, acne products usually contain anti-acne ingredients that dry out the skin... I would say that's the side effect. :x so..., did your skin condition get better after using both ac clinic and collagen moistful series?
DeleteFor acne scars, I would recommend Hiruscar Post Acne Gel. Review: http://bitsdiaries.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-hiruscar-post-acne-gel.html
I use Power Perfection BB cream from The Face Shop. It works great for me without causing any breakouts.
Hope this helps.
xoxo,
Ashley
thank you for ur sharing, i have a bad skin and i don't know how to buy that stuff, i'm Indonesian. nice to know u , Ashley :)
ReplyDeleteI was actually waiting to see until the end of the post an exfoliating face product you might suggest. You're right on citing that each of us have different skin types and what works for you might not work for others. Your routine definitely won't work for me. I tried a complete skin care routine. I have done a complete set which has foaming cleanser, toner, brightening mask, zinc mask, acne scrub, whitening and hydrating moisturizer. It is a whole lot of products and it irritated my skin. I thought a complete set would cure my acne problems it turns out my face just needed some time off from all the products I use. I eliminated everything except for the facial cleanser and moisturizer. My daily routine is composed of that and once to twice a week I put on a brightening face mask. My skin's clear from pimples but I still have some acne scars left. I was searching for exfoliating facial scrubs. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeletewould like to ask about the hada labo product... so moisturizing lotion = toner? moisturizing milk = moisturizer? which means i bought the wrong product too O_O? cos i just bought mine... and i came across this blog after ><...
ReplyDeleteSorry for the extremely late reply... ><
DeleteYes! The term might be confusing though... Initially I also bought the wrong one... lol
Thank you so much for this!! T T I swear I cry every night about my acne, my skin type is exactly same as yours and my acne looks exactly like yours did back in 2009. I have tried many Etude house products and sometimes I feel like my skin's condition improves then it worsens is like a roller coaster,, up and down !
ReplyDeleteI have tried some expensive routines like proactiv and while it did work for a while, it started to irritate my skin and as soon as I'd stop using it my acne would come back right away... we're about to cancel the service.
Anyway, I am so glad I found about you, I'm 18 and you can only imagine how depressed I have been feeling as off lately .. my prom night is soon, I got my dress and everything already however I kind of don't want to go anymore due how bad my face looks... but, thanks to you I feel as if a light have just hit me! You've given me so much hope!! thanks thanks thanks!! I am so grateful to you for sharing your story and your routine, I might try some of the products you use and hope for the best!! You're an angel!! FIGHTING♥!
Thank you for this very detailed tips in taking care of our skin. I believe that our skin's texture and condition depend on what we eat and our lifestyle. Having beautiful skin adds up beauty to our personality. Hence, we should take care of our skin for it also defines our personality.
ReplyDeleteMacy Rivers @ http://wrinklesolution.com.au/
Hey ashley., Im fang., and im suffering terrible acne., and its seriously terrible., by referring to your experience., i bought the Ac Clinic product line., hope this will work., and thank you for that reviews., its encouraging., still i dont lose hope :')
ReplyDeleteHello there~
DeleteGood luck with your acne journey! Keep on fighting and don't give up hope! xo :)
hi ashley! your review is sooo good,esp the skincare routine.i'm using ac clinic too,but the gel lotion discontinued now.can u help me to give lotion/moisturizer recommend that good for acnes?thanks (:
ReplyDeleteHello there~ thank you for visiting my blog~ :)
DeleteDiscontinued? Hmm... I do not think so. Where did you hear that from? o.O
really?i heard it from one online shop.so i'm busy to find any other anti acne lotion for days..hehe..well,thank you for the info.and thanks for sharing.you're helping many acne sufferers.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I'm glad I could help. :)
DeleteYeah, it's not discontinued. I guess you have to buy the gel lotion from other online shops...
Hey there, thanks a lot for your review!!
ReplyDeleteI will definetely try the Nexcare patch, seems very promising :D Do you think it will also help against those nasty-cystic-acne-chin-pimples/bumps that usually last for weeks and hurt :(?
It seems like you stopped using hadalabo products all together, would you still recommend a acne prone person to combine it with an ac skin care routine?
Thanks a lot!!
Hello there~
DeleteFrom my experience, it does help. However, individual results may vary.
Well, it depends on individual's skin condition. If you experience dry skin, then you may want to consider adding products that are slightly more hydrating into your routine.
Hope this helps. :)
Hi, my face is almost clear from pimples but sadly i've got scars and some blemishes left. Do you apply makeup? Can you suggest makeups that wont broke me out? I've tried a lot and i still fail to find one that wont give me those scary pimples again. I've tries those powders and foundies claiming that they are non comedogenic etc.. Please help me -.- it's really frustrating.
ReplyDeleteWe have similar problem Ice Makz. Is it possible for acne marks to fade?
ReplyDeletexo,
~Pauline @Nars Philippines
Hi there, i read abt AC clinic, but I am still not too sure abt. I'm 30 acne prone skin, ppl mention that étude house are more for teenager, innisfree is more for my age. What do u think?
ReplyDeleteHello there~
DeleteI'm not sure about the targeted age group for Innisfree Trouble Care line so I can't make any comments. Hmm...Have you heard of Laneige's Trouble Relief line? It is more for adult acne. You may want to check that out.
Hope this helps. :)
for teenagers with normal skin. which etude house product will you recommend for me?
ReplyDeletehey :), i found ure blog a while ago and it's been really useful, it's summer right now and i live in australia (>_< literally the worst summer country ever, super high uv and dry environment). I'm having these small pimples on my face everywhere. Do u know how i can prevent this?
ReplyDeleteHello, ashley any recommend product for pore treatment? :( btw I like your post ^^
ReplyDeleteI love your skin care tips. Yes, a nice shower gel really can make a difference to our daily routine. My skin is soft, touchable and glowing with Sakare’s body shower!
ReplyDeletehi there! lately, I've been eyeing on etude house ac clinic daiily acne foam. but since u changed your routine to innisfree, so im wondering which one should i try first. any suggestion, please?
ReplyDeleteIs the innisfree jebujia product line good? or AC clinic ? Thanks for your reply ^^ and also, what products do you recommend yo treat acne scars?
ReplyDeleteBoth lines are good in treating acne. As for which one is better, it all depends on how your skin reacts.
DeleteFor post acne marks/scars, I recommend to try out Hiruscar Post Acne Gel. Check out my reviews: Review #1 & Review #2
Hope this helps. :)
How to get rid of acne scars?
ReplyDeleteacne
It feels awe-inspiring to read such informative and distinctive articles on your websites.what are the best ingredients that treat acne?
ReplyDeleteHi dear~ I've been reading your blog especially reviews about acne cause I'm still fighting with acne and acne scars too. My skin type is oily, acne prone, and also sensitive. I've been thinking of buying innisfree jejubija facial foam and consider buying the complete line also, but then I'm still not sure whether to buy innisfree or etude house line.. can you suggest me which one you think is better in your opinion? And why did you change your skincare from etude to innisfree?
ReplyDeleteThanks before~
Hi dear~ I've been reading your blog especially reviews about acne cause I'm still fighting with acne and acne scars too. My skin type is oily, acne prone, and also sensitive. I've been thinking of buying innisfree jejubija facial foam and consider buying the complete line also, but then I'm still not sure whether to buy innisfree or etude house line.. can you suggest me which one you think is better in your opinion? And why did you change your skincare from etude to innisfree?
ReplyDeleteThanks before~
Hello there~
DeleteSorry for the extremely late reply... (｀_´)ã‚ž And thanks for stopping by my blog!
I changed to Innisfree Jeju Bija because I heard my friend raved about it, and I wanted to try something new as well.
Both lines are good in treating acne. However, whether it is good or not depends on how your skin reacts to it.
For my friend, Etude House AC Clinic line doesn't work well for her, but Innisfree Jeju Bija does. In contrary, Etude House AC Clinic works well for me, but Innisfree Jeju Bija doesn't (it broke me out). So right now, I've switched back to Etude House AC Clinic.
That said, I prefer Etude House AC Clinic. But bear in mind that it all depends on how your skin reacts.
Hope this helps. :)
Hi what are the crossed products in your routine?
ReplyDeleteHi what are the crossed products in your routine?
ReplyDeleteHi. Do you know someone who is selling hiruscar and next care acne patch through online except for ebay and amazon?
ReplyDeleteHello there~
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. :)
I'm selling them. For more information, you can send me a message via LINE app. (Add my LINE ID: bitsdiaries)
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteActually I have an acne-prone and combination-oily skin like you. I just read your good review about the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore and I am interested to buy the product but then I saw that you dont use it anymore.
do you think the product is good for acne prone skin like us? is it same with the Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Skin (Toner)?
thanks :D
Can you recommend product other than Hiruscar to fade the scars? Like Vit C serum or Niacnamide? Because Hiruscar is kinda pricey for me :( (pricey & the product isn't that much, so i have to think twice before buying it). Hope you reply, thankyou :Dxox
ReplyDeleteI have many pimples. I was so frustrated with my pimple. They always pop up and make my face even worse. I been using many product which is very expensive but no improvement. What product should I use. It have been three year I was suffering with all this aches. What should I do?
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, thank you for sharing your routine. It's really helpful to me as I am suffering from acne and scars.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit confused about your night routine since you use 2 acne treatment products at the same time: Nexcare Acne Patch (only use it on inflamed pimples)and Etude House AC Clinic Intense Pink Powder Spot. My questions is:
1. For what kind of acne do you apply each product?
2. What do you mean by inflamed pimples: Papule, Pustule or Cyst?
3. I have Papule quite often. Is there any product you recommend to prevent it grow into a pustule.
Thank you very much and longing for your response.
Hello Ashley! I just found out about your blog and I'm glad for having done so, because I've been really stressing over my acne marks lately. I'm sure I got them from a lot of sleepless nights and forgotten meals, but I'm fixing my lifestyle as well as trying to make the healing go faster.
ReplyDeleteI do have one question about your routine as I'm just a beginner...
What is more effective between the Hiruscar postacne gel and the Etude House new Pink Powder Spot? I don't think we have the 3-in-1 version in our country but if it's apparently really good then I would cave in and order online.
The latter (and the AC Clean Up line in general) is very accessible though but is it somehow targeted towards newer marks?
I'm heading to a local etude house store this weekend to pick up the cushion so if I manage to decide on the pink spot I'd like to pick it up on the same day.
Thank you so much!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI just shifted to new products (AC Clean Up) for a week already though the saleslady from The Face Shop said that what I have are just leftover from Blemishes. Then, I really love mask sheets that I hoard a lot of them from different brands and different purposes. Is it still okay to use those mask sheets? Or should I focus on treating the blemishes first?
Thanks!
hi would like to asked when you using the benzac ac? after toner? or gel lotion? and for blemishes which to used? thanks
ReplyDeleteSince T-zone cleansing mask is prone to clogged pores and blackheads so, do apply an oil absorbing clay mask to your fore head, nose and chin twice a week.
ReplyDeleteemily@revitol anti aging moisturizing cream