The Ordinary Anti-Acne Routine 

Acne is a skin condition characterized by the presence of pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Acne can appear on the face and is caused by the overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands, leading to clogged pores. My opinion on The Ordinary and its many cosmetic products effective against acne and blemishes. 

The Ordinary morning anti-acne and anti-blemish routine

Exfoliation with salicylic acid

And start with your anti-blemish routine. In the morning, I recommend you begin by applying the 2% salicylic acid solution. This lipophilic exfoliant works deep into the pores to improve their appearance and reduce blackheads. It's also an anti-inflammatory ingredient that can help prevent blemishes from worsening or clogging further! The product's PH ranges from 3.2 to 4, giving it good efficacy without being too irritating. 

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Azelaic acid: the underrated active ingredient

You can then continue with the 10% azelaic acid suspension. This azelaic acid solution is an effective product for those with blemishes, brown spots or redness. I advise you to start by using it every other day, as it may sting at first. The downside of this product is that it can fluff up, as Catherine pointed out when she gave her review. If this is your case, I advise you not to use it in the morning, but in the evening. 

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Sun cream

To complete your morning routine, don't forget your sunscreen. Of course, the sunscreen should be light and adapted to your skin type. Sunscreen is essential, because pimples often turn red and then brown if you don't apply sun protection.

The Ordinary evening anti-acne and anti-blemish routine

Facial cleansing

Facial cleansing is essential when you're prone to acne. Squalane cleanser is a very gentle cleanser, and can be too gentle for acne-prone skin. 

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Niacinamide serum

In the evening, after cleansing your face, you can apply the serum with 10% niacinamide and Zinc 1%, which helps reduce acne symptoms by lowering sebum production. Niacinamide is also a powerful antioxidant that reduces the transfer of melanin from your cells to protect against hyperpigmentation, and strengthens the skin barrier with the production of ceramides. As for zinc, it has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action, but scientific evidence of its efficacy is more modest.

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Retinol and granactive retinol serums

To continue your routine I'd recommend using retinoids, as retinoids are an excellent choice for people with blemishes or acne-prone skin, in fact they have a keratolytic action that removes dead cells, unclogs pores and regulates sebum production. Most of The Ordinary's retinol serums are formulated in squalane, and as part of an anti-blemish routine this is not ideal, but fortunately there is one that is formulated without squalane: granactive retinol emulsion at 2%.

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Granactive retinoid is like a retinol ester, requiring 3 transformations to become an active molecule, but it also appears to act on receptors without transforming into tretinoin. This allows the product to be effective without being too irritating. This product also contains pure retinol.

Moisturizing cream:

You can apply natural moisturizing factors, a light cream that will perfectly moisturize your skin. It is formulated with a good ratio of moisturizing and emollient ingredients, including 11 amino acids, hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, phospholipids, saccharides, fatty acids, triglycerides, glycerin, ceramides and urea... This cream is perfect for oily and combination skin.

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Salicylic acid mask

To complete this type of routine, you can use the salicylic acid mask from the Ordinary, which helps to reduce skin imperfections and deep-cleanse your skin. It's particularly interesting for those with combination to oily skin, as it contains charcoal powder and clay, as well as moisturizing ingredients like glycerine and squalane to avoid over-drying the skin.

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This is just an example, but it can serve as a basis for creating your own skincare routine.