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If I could go back in time and give my beginner self some skincare advice, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Trust me, I made SO many mistakes, and I don’t want you to make them too. Here are some of the best skincare tips I really wish I knew earlier — and maybe they’ll help you save some frustration!

1. Oil Cleansers Are Game-Changing for Makeup Removal

When I first started, I was all about micellar water and makeup wipes, but now I swear by oil cleansers. They break down waterproof mascara, sunscreen, and even heavy makeup without rubbing your face raw. The best part? They leave my skin feeling soft and clean without that tight, stripped feeling. I use about 5 to 7 pumps (this might be a bit extra to some, I know).

As someone who HATES feeling like the makeup is wearing me instead of the opposite, I have to ensure that every bit of makeup is off before bed. Looking back, this was the main reason why my acne got so bad in the first place. I never removed my concealer properly and still wondered why my skin kept breaking out.

I use the Skin1004 Oil Cleanser as I realised that this doesn’t break me out at all — It’s gentle but still powerful enough to remove makeup and not dry out your skin.

2. Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable (Even Indoors!)

When I was a skincare newbie, I thought sunscreen was only for beach days. Big mistake! UV rays can sneak through windows and damage your skin indoors, too. Here’s the breakdown: UVA rays age your skin and cause wrinkles, while UVB rays give you sunburn. So, sunscreen is a must every morning — rain or shine. It helps with dark spots, premature aging, and keeps your skin looking fresh.

I use the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen — Lightweight, non-greasy, and it blends great under makeup.

3. Toners Are Underrated

At first, I totally ignored toners because I thought they’d be drying. But when I finally tried a hydrating toner, I realized how much they actually help. They prep your skin to absorb all the other products, so everything works better.

I highly recommend Anua Heartleaf 77% Toner — It’s soothing and helps calm any redness. I’ve purhcased it about 3 to 4 times already.

4. Layering Products in the Right Order Matters (And Layering by Priority Works Too!)

I used to just slap on products in whatever order, but trust me, layering them right is super important. Start with watery stuff like toners, then go to serums, and finish with your moisturizer and sunscreen. That’s a game changer.

Bonus tip: You can also choose to layer by priority. For example, if acne’s your biggest concern, apply your acne treatment serum first. This way, your treatments penetrate properly, and you get the best results.

5. Spot Treatment Products

Rather than blasting my entire face with harsh acne treatments, I started spot treating individual pimples. It’s way gentler, and my skin stopped getting super dry and irritated. Plus, my breakouts healed faster.

Recommended Product: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 — Perfect for calming irritation and speeding up spot healing.

As someone who has suffered from horrible eczema growing up, this gave me temporary relief and stopped my skin from itching. It is literally my holy grail.

6. Don’t Sleep on Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid totally changed my skin game. It’s perfect for fading acne scars, evening out your skin tone, and calming redness — especially for Post-Inflammatory Erythema (PIE), which are those annoying red spots that stick around after a breakout. If you haven’t tried it yet, definitely add it to your routine.

I use the Anua Azelaic Acid 5% — It’s super gentle but works wonders for brightening and balancing your skin.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar for Soothing Acne

One of my go-to acne tricks is mixing apple cider vinegar with water and applying it to my face after showering. It’s soothing, reduces inflammation, and helps balance your skin’s pH. I would pour just a little bit of apple cider vinegar into a tupperware, then fill the rest of the tupperware with water.

Just make sure you dilute it properly to avoid irritation! Never, ever just use the concentrated apple cider vinegar directly onto your skin. I’m not joking when I said I saw a difference in my acne in just one week.

8. Don’t Get Swayed by Every Trend You See Online

When I first started, I was all over the place, trying whatever products I saw influencers recommending on TikTok. But the problem? Just like what works for me may not work for you, what works for them doesn’t always work for me. I found myself constantly switching products and never sticking to a simple routine. Once I finally got a fixed routine that suited my acne-prone skin, I started seeing real and consistent improvement.

So, resist the urge to jump on every new skincare trend — find what works for YOU and stick with it.

9. Stop Touching Your Face!

Okay, this one’s a huge bad habit I had: I kept touching my face. Whether I was stressed or just bored, I’d pick at my skin, and I swear it made everything worse. While I would admit that I still do that sometimes now, whenever I remind myself to avoid touching my face, I noticed a huge improvement in my skin. My breakouts slowed down, and my skin felt less irritated.

10. Change Your Pillowcase Often

This is another simple one that helped my skin a lot: changing my pillowcase regularly. I used to use the same pillowcase for way too long, but it turns out, your pillowcase can collect oils, dirt, and bacteria. Changing it every few days helps keep your skin from breaking out, especially if you’re prone to acne.

Final Thoughts

If I had known these tips earlier, I could’ve saved myself from so many bad skin days! But skincare is a journey, and everyone’s skin is different. So, take these tips with you and find what works best for YOU. The key is to experiment smartly and stick to a routine that your skin loves.

If you want to learn more about how to layer your skincare routine, free to check out my other blog on the essential steps of every skincare routine.