We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. First thing first: apply sun protection every 👏darn 👏 day 👏! Thankfully, this Maybelline BB cream doubles as makeup by providing sheer, matte coverage *and* SPF 30. Meaning: you'll never forget about this crucial step again.
2. And! Be sure to regularly REAPPLY sunscreen. When spending the day indoors (like the office), you only need to apply in the morning and before you leave work. But if you'll mainly be outside, you should reapply every two to three hours. Luckily, you can use a Shiseido sun protection spray that *won't* mess up your makeup.
3. Heal breakouts FAST and without causing scarring (or letting you pick) by simply slapping on a Rael pimple patch. They're gentler than acne cream, speed up recovery to practically overnight, and do all the ~heavy lifting~ for you. Aka pop-up pimples no longer mean weeks of scarring.
4. Cleanse your skin immediately post-workout (or if it's just impossibly hot outside) to easily prevent body acne. A few swipes with Goodwipes hygiene wipes will kill sweat-caused bacteria to keep backne away for GOOD.
5. Learn the ever-popular Korean skincare routine to address e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from healing tough breakouts (hello, clarifying serum) to brightening skin (and bonjour, snail mucin toner). It may seem like a lot of steps, but each one brings *results* that just face wash + moisturizer simply do not.
6. Try retinol, a fancy name for vitamin A, to balance your complexion, stimulate collagen, and fade hyper-pigmentation. If you've ever so much as sat in a dermatologist's chair you've probably heard of this — but there are a lot of topical over-the-counter options for a light treatment.
7. Pick your toner based on your skin type — it's not a one-fits-all situation! For example, Foxbrim's orange blossom toner treats oily complexions ~head on~ by balancing your pH levels and providing the level of hydration your skin needs. But! Mario Badescu's aloe vera toner works wonders for dry skin by soothing irritated complexions with its mild formula.
8. Speaking of! Take a skin-identity quiz to learn what works best for your skin and nix any risky trial-and-error. It'll take things like your age, typical routine, stress levels, and even diet to figure out what your complexion will actually benefit from using.
9. Treat your blackheads with a healthy dose of EFFICIENCY by using a pore vacuum. It's just as effective as it sounds — it suctions buildup hidden in clogged pores, exfoliates dead skin cells, and removes excess oil (so they can't come back). Talk about productive.
10. Study up on beauty ingredient definitions so you can accurately pick and choose which products are best for you. The sooner you understand the label, the sooner you'll find things that truly WORK for your skin.
11. Try out apple cider vinegar with this wildly popular Aztec Secret clay mask if you're struggling with cystic acne, a.k.a. the toughest of underground pimples. It's not *proven*, but there are at least 13,565 (!!!) people on Amazon alone who have seen major improvements from this formula.
12. Tackle puffy under-eyes and dark circles with a dose of The Inkey List caffeine eye cream. Honestly, what better to send a wakeup call to endlessly baggy under-eyes than their own cup of coffee?
13. Increase the effects of your usual face wash by deep-cleansing AND exfoliating your entire face in only ~60 seconds~ thanks to the Foreo Luna Mini 2. It gently vibrates (you can pick from eight speeds) so even those of us who wear a full layer of makeup are squeaky clean and fresh-faced after just a minute.
14. Know your different types of acne — they're like snowflakes, except so much more unwelcome. Whether yours is more of a whitehead (which needs salicylic acid) or the hormonal type (usually a cyst which needs sulfur-based products), the first step to treating acne is knowing what the heck they are!
15. Brighten your complexion (a goal that people usually think needs 10,000 steps and products) from face wash *alone* with some Acure brightening facial scrub. This'll become your go-to to exfoliate away excess oil and treat breakouts — all while bringing out a clear, glowing complexion from underneath. One step = BIG results.
16. Put an official end to going to bed with makeup on (TSK TSK). Luckily, this Heimish cleansing balm boasts a ~three texture~ procedure to get you squeaky clean fast. It goes from a solid balm to silky oil cleanser as you lather, then ends as a milky gel when you rinse to effortlessly remove makeup — making this the ultimate ahhhmazing ending to your day.
17. Research what essential oils will work best for *your* skin. Everyone has their own goal so it makes sense that everyone needs a different formula. Two popular choices: tea tree oil (for acne-prone yet v sensitive skin) and rosehip oil (for dry, red, and irritated skin).
18. Calm redness once and for all with just a flick of the wrist with Cosrx one-step toner pads. Its combo of green tea and witch hazel minimize pores, decrease excess oil, and soothe both redness and dehydration. Color. Me. IMPRESSED.
19. Regularly clean your makeup brushes (those things pick up acne-causing bacteria faster than you can say zit) with a finger scrubber board. Try to do this once a week — any longer and grime really starts to build up.
20. Discover the benefits of washing your face with oils by using an InnisFree cleanser. It's loaded with vitamin C to refresh clogged pores and remove makeup and excess oil (ironic, no?) without the help of other products. Aka as long as you're consistent about washing your face, your skin will be happy.
21. Be patient when it comes to skincare products — some are going to take time to work (like benzoyl peroxide acne treatments)! But there are other times when it's just not doing the trick, and it's important to know the difference. For example, ceramide moisturizers only need a few minutes to ~sink in~.
22. Adjust your routine to the season — your skin needs it! When summer and spring approaches, apply more sunscreen and regularly cleanse with a gentle face wash (there's more sweat in your life, sorry). As colder weather hits, moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize with a heavy face cream!
23. Drink 👏 water 👏. Aim for eight glasses a day. Sure, you're peeing more (like....a lot more), but you're also flushing out daily toxins, increasing your skin's elasticity, and brightening your overall complexion.
24. Don't worry, this extra-large water bottle is here to help. Its design will keep you on track by marking your progress throughout the day — along with some motivation for when the finish line feels too far away.
25. Understand that not every mask is for you. In fact, most are designed with a very specific skin type in mind (i.e. dry, acne-prone, etc.). Take our quiz to match your concerns and complexion with the best mask for you!
26. Don't forget that pucker! A Truly Organic lip mask not only ~brightens~ your routine with (vegan) glitter, but hydrates and temporarily plumps your smile courtesy of hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich aloe.
27. Discover the power of the snail! Yes, really. Mizon's black snail all-in-one cream brings the rewards of the lauded ~black snail~ right to your fingertips. It won't be slow to show you why it's usually so expensive: minimized pores, cleared blackheads, and a brighter complexion are just some of what this brings to the table.
28. STOP picking at your skin, for Pete's sake!! I know it's hard! I did it yesterday! But we need to stop! I don't think I really need to explain why. If you have a pimple you can't stop staring at, cover it with this acne treatment drying lotion.
29. Don't get mad at me — but you also can't pop your zits. I KNOW. So satisfying. But it leaves scars that last for weeks! Instead, gently bring out the whitehead by holding down a warm washcloth while bingeing GoT. In a few minutes you'll be able to slide the whitehead off with the cloth. No energy. No scabbing.
30. Relieve extremely dry and irritated skin (including rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis) at long last with some Honeyskin Organics cream. Manuka honey, amino acids, and vitamins C and E work together to seriously soothe, hydrate, and restore your skin's pH levels. A nightly routine with this will put you on the fast track to a MUCH calmer complexion.
31. Take little (and very manageable, I promise) steps to improve your overall skincare routine. It doesn't have to take over your life obviously, but even small changes will make a big difference for your overall clarity and health. An easy start: using a lavender spray that kills acne-causing pillow bacteria *and* helps to lull you to sleep.
32. Take your usual routine up a level by using a microneedle roller at the end of the day. When combined with a serum, it essentially accelerates the product's usual benefits to exfoliate, brighten, and repair irritated skin so that you're left with a dewy glow. Plus, you get to end the day with a soothing yet effective ritual.
33. Moisturize regularly, even if your complexion is oily. It might be tempting to avoid any possible triggers for MORE oil, but the right moisturizer will actually do the opposite. Enter: cult-favorite Glow Recipe pink juice moisturizer specifically formulated (hello, vitamin-rich watermelon extract and hydrating hyaluronic acid) to hydrate your complexion *without* setting off your T-zone.
34. Plan out your routine by product — there's a proper order for everything (your face can tell, even if you can't). For example, applying sun protection last is SUPER important otherwise it can't actually work.
35. Continue improving your skin even when you go to sleep! A Burt's Bees overnight mask will bring mornings of radiant skin by using avocado oil and prebiotics to replenish moisture while you catch up on your zzz's.
36. Conquer the scars of backne-past with a Korean exfoliating towel. This basically removes layers and layers of dead skin, a.k.a. what's keeping your scars present. It's also great for anyone who just wants healthier-looking skin!
37. Treat yourself to a professional facial, especially when your skin is looking a little stressed. Experts say you should shoot for once a month, but realistically every *few* months will still serve as a welcome fresh start for your face.
Your pimples when you finally learn how to fight back:
Need more for your skin? Check out Korean skincare products you need to know, drugstore products that actually fight acne, products to help deal with dry skin, or check out all of our beauty content for even more great stuff for your hair, skin, and more.
Shopping for something specific? Check out BuzzFeed Reviews to find the best things for every budget!
