My Complete Skincare Routine for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin in My 30s
Updated: Sep 3
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TL;DR for my fellow skimmers đź’•
This is your one-stop hub for everything I do as a 30-something year old black woman with oily, acne-prone skin. My morning routine is below in full, and every other routine has its own dedicated blog post linked with it. Start here and click through to whatever routine you need. My entire skincare routine includes:
Morning routine
Two different nighttime routines, an active/exfoliant one and a soothing one
Effectively using pimple patches for active breakouts, and
Sunscreen strategy that works for deeper skin tones.
Welcome to My Skincare Hub
Like a lot of women, I didn't start dealing with significant acne until I was in my early-mid 30s and it quickly sent me down a rabbit hole of figuring out what actually works for my skin. And this journey wouldn't exist if I hadn't reset my life and built up my self-worth a few years ago at 31, you can read more about that journey here. But as a quick reminder I'm not a dermatologist and everything below is what works for my skin.
Consider this your starting point and central hub for all things skincare in the Pivot & Pink world! Click through to whatever routine or skin concern you want to address and save this blog post so you can come back to it!
My Morning Routine (The Easy 2-Step One)
My morning routine is short and to the point because I don't enjoy long, drawn-out tasks in the morning (hello fellow night owls):
I wash my face with water only, my skin gets irritated otherwise
I put two drops of the Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Serum into the palm of my hand, a little goes a long way
I squeeze out a pump of the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair UV Face Moisturizer SPF 30 into the same hand, as much as you need
I rub my hands together and apply the mix to my face and neck for an instant glass-skin effect!
That is it, just two products applied in under two minutes. The vitamin C helps with brightening and the sunscreen protects everything I'm working on in my evening routines. I talk more about why this specific sunscreen is my holy grail and why it matters so much for Black women in this post here.
My Soothing Night Routine (4 to 5 Nights a Week)
This is the routine I come back to most nights. It's 7 short steps, all focused on hydration and keeping my skin barrier happy. It's simple, soothing, gives me insane glass skin, and works in every season.
Read the full soothing night routine here!
My Active Nights Routine (2 to 3 Nights a Week)
Two to three nights a week, I switch from soothing to actives. One or two nights are for retinol, one night is for exfoliation. These are the nights that are actively targeting my hyperpigmentation and helping my skin turn over faster.
How I Manage Active Breakouts
When a breakout shows up, I have a tried and true method for using pimple patches. The trick is timing. Most people (including me for a long time) either apply them too early or don't leave them on long enough. I also include the tip that helps you save money while getting way more patches.
Why Women Get Acne in Our 30s and How I'm Treating My Dark Marks
If you're wondering why your skin started acting up in your 30s when it was fine before, I got you! I wrote about the hormonal connection and why so many of us are dealing with this right now. That post also covers the specific products I use for fading my dark marks.
My Sunscreen Strategy (Non-Negotiable)
None of what I do at night for my skin works if I'm not protecting it during the day. I have my two holy grail sunscreens that disappear into deeper skin tones with zero white cast, don't leave a greasy finish, and don't have a heavy scent. If you want your retinol, exfoliants, and soothing toners to work, you absolutely cannot skip sunscreen (and that includes the days you stay indoors too).
Track All of This With the Glow Skincare Log
If you're building out your own skincare routine and want to easily track what's working and what's not, I built the Pivot & Pink | Glow Skincare Log for exactly that! It's a beginner-friendly Notion template where you can log your products, track your skin patterns, keep an ingredient library, and use my personal Pause & Reset Protocol when your skin randomly acts up. It's only $3 and it pays for itself the first time it stops you from buying a product that would have broken you out or done nothing for your skin's needs.
A Few Things Worth Remembering
Consistency is more important than following an elaborate 25-step routine. I didn't see real progress until I stuck with the same products and routine long enough to actually know if they were working for me.
Your skin is going to change. What works in summer might need adjusting in winter. What works in your early 30s might shift as you get older. That is completely normal and is another reason why I love tracking everything.
And I know I sound like a broken record but please, do not skip your sunscreen! Every single step, technique, and product mentioned in this post depends on that one step.
If something here helped you, drop a comment on whichever post resonated most. I love hearing what's working for you and what you're still trying to figure out!
The journey to a life that you truly love doesn't have to stop here!
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