Skin Concerns

Dear Soko: Should I Change Treatment Products Often for Sensitive, Acne-Prone Skin?

by The Klog

What are the best treatment products for acne-prone skin? Welcome to Dear Soko, a new series dedicated to answering your biggest skin care question with advice from Soko Glam’s skin experts. Whether you’re confused about specific ingredients or what you need to do to achieve healthier skin overall, these experts are here to guide you.

This week’s question comes from Alyssa who asked the following on our last Dear Soko:
I am new to the K-beauty scene and I really don’t know where to begin! I have an oily skin and I get acne mostly around my forehead, cheeks, and in between my eyebrows. I literally get all three types of acne. I also have sensitive skin and redness around my cheeks and forehead. I do go to the dermatologist to get rid of deep scars and hyperpigmentation.
So far, I’ve started double cleansing at night but I am not sure what kind of toner, essence, and other treatments to use. Since I have a lot of concerns I want to tackle (acne, redness, uneven skin tone, and blemishes), is it okay to change up my products every once in a while? Or should I stick to one routine?
Hi Alyssa,

If I had a tail, it would be ferociously wagging in excitement for your new skincare adventure—you’ve come to the right place!

For many with oily/sensitive acne prone skin types, your first rational thought is to use products that will dry your skin out—in fear of that mid-day oil slick; but it doesn’t need to be so. Healthy, clear and balanced skin is possible for you. Just because you feel that your skin is oily, it does not mean it’s properly hydrated. When it’s dehydrated, your skin may produce even more oil to make up for the water loss—which can then lead to breakouts.

Luckily, Dr. Oracle just joined the Soko Glam family of brands. The A-thera line is formulated for your exact skin type: sensitive acne-prone. Please note: You do not have to use all of the items in this line in order to see results. As skin is uniquely our own, it’s important to tailor your routine specifically to your skin care needs.

To help treat acne, key ingredients to look out for are tea tree oil, green tea extract, centella asiatica extract, and (my personal favorite) snail mucin. To start, I would recommend double cleansing (like you’re already doing), exfoliating, toner, serum, and moisturizer. In your case, I would recommend this routine after your double cleanse:

To allow your products to properly do it’s job, it’s important to be consistent for at least two to three weeks, so don’t change up your products until this time has passed. And you may notice that they are doing such a good job at managing your acne while keeping your skin balanced that you won’t want to risk changing up your products. “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” is a good motto to have with skin care, and you should only change your treatment products if your skin is having a bad reaction or you’re just not seeing results anymore.

Warmly,
Your Skin Expert