The best acne skincare routine is a short one: cleanse, treat, moisturize, plus sunscreen in the morning. Most people need only four or five products in total. The treatment step does the real work, with benzoyl peroxide, a retinoid such as adapalene, or salicylic acid. Everything else is there to keep your skin comfortable enough to stick with it. This guide gives you a starter morning and night routine, a four-week plan for starting an active without wrecking your skin barrier, and variations for different skin types.
The four steps that matter
1. Gentle cleanser
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your face twice a day and after sweating, using a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser and your fingertips. A washcloth, sponge or scrub adds irritation without clearing pores. A small randomized trial published in 2006 found twice-daily washing improved acne more than once-daily washing, while washing more often didn’t add benefit.
Choose a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, or a medicated wash with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid if that’s your treatment step. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.
2. One treatment (to start)
This is where acne actually gets treated. Over-the-counter options include:
- Benzoyl peroxide (2.5–10%) for red, inflamed pimples. See the concentration guide and our guide to choosing a benzoyl peroxide face wash.
- Adapalene 0.1% gel, a retinoid that prevents clogged pores, available over the counter through an FDA Rx-to-OTC switch. See our adapalene gel guide.
- Salicylic acid (0.5–2%), mainly for blackheads and whiteheads. See our salicylic acid guide.
Start with one. You can add a second later.
3. Moisturizer
Acne treatments are drying, and dry, irritated skin is the top reason people quit. The AAD notes that using a moisturizer can make acne treatments easier to tolerate. Look for “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores,” and fragrance-free if your skin is sensitive. Gels and lotions suit oily skin, and creams suit dry skin. Our guide to moisturizers for acne-prone skin goes further.
4. Sunscreen (morning)
Retinoids and exfoliating acids can make skin more prone to sunburn, and UV exposure darkens the flat marks acne leaves behind. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning. Choose a non-comedogenic or oil-free formula; gels and fluids feel lighter on oily skin. Our guide to sunscreen for acne-prone skin covers what to look for.
Starter routine: morning and night
This is a common, evidence-aligned setup for mild acne with a mix of clogged pores and red pimples. It follows the combination approach in the 2024 AAD guidelines, which pair a retinoid with benzoyl peroxide.
| Step | Morning | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cleanse | Gentle cleanser, or a benzoyl peroxide wash (rinse off) | Gentle cleanser (remove sunscreen and makeup) |
| 2. Treat | Benzoyl peroxide leave-on, if not using a BPO wash | Adapalene 0.1% gel: a pea-sized amount for the whole face, on dry skin |
| 3. Moisturize | Light, non-comedogenic moisturizer | Non-comedogenic moisturizer (a richer one if dry) |
| 4. Protect | Broad-spectrum SPF 30+ | — |
Why split them? Both are drying. Using benzoyl peroxide in the morning and adapalene at night spreads the irritation out. If you use prescription tretinoin instead of adapalene, keep it away from benzoyl peroxide at the same time of day, because benzoyl peroxide can break down some tretinoin formulations. Ask your pharmacist about your specific product.
Get our free 8-week acne routine course when it launches
Join the AcneRid list: we'll email you when our free 8-week acne routine course launches, plus heads-ups if a common acne product is recalled.
Your first four weeks: introduce one thing at a time
Starting everything at full strength on day one is the most common way routines fail. Here’s a gentle ramp-up if you’re adding adapalene and benzoyl peroxide:
| Week | Morning | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen | Cleanser, adapalene every 2nd or 3rd night, moisturizer |
| Week 2 | Cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen | Adapalene every other night if your skin is comfortable |
| Week 3 | Add benzoyl peroxide (a wash, or 2.5% to 5% leave-on) every other morning | Adapalene most nights |
| Week 4+ | Benzoyl peroxide daily if tolerated | Adapalene nightly if tolerated |
Mild dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are normal. Stinging that lasts, raw-feeling skin or a rash mean you should step back a stage. The Differin label also notes acne may look worse in the early weeks. Our guide to purging vs. breakouts explains how to tell the difference.
Variations by skin type and acne type
Mostly blackheads and whiteheads
A retinoid at night is the most effective single step for comedones. A salicylic acid cleanser in the morning can help, too. Benzoyl peroxide is less important if you have few red spots.
Sensitive or dry skin
- Use a rinse-off benzoyl peroxide wash or a low strength (2.5%) instead of a leave-on 10%.
- Apply moisturizer before adapalene (a “buffer”), or use it every other night long term.
- Skip toners, scrubs and extra acids.
- Consider niacinamide in your moisturizer. It’s generally well tolerated.
Oily skin
- Gel or foaming cleansers and gel moisturizers usually feel better.
- Still moisturize. Skipping it doesn’t reduce oil, and it makes treatments harder to tolerate.
- A salicylic acid leave-on can be added later if blackheads persist.
Acne on the body
Use a benzoyl peroxide wash in the shower, left on for two to five minutes before rinsing, as the AAD advises. See our body acne guide.
Darker skin tones prone to dark marks
Irritation itself can trigger dark marks, so a slow ramp-up matters even more. Daily sunscreen helps marks fade. Ask about azelaic acid, which can help with both acne and discoloration; see our azelaic acid guide.
Habits that support your routine
These habits, most of them drawn from the AAD’s acne skin care advice, support whatever treatment you use:
- Don’t pick or pop. It raises the risk of dark marks and scars.
- Don’t scrub. Use fingertips and gentle products.
- Remove makeup before bed, and choose non-comedogenic makeup and hair products.
- Wash after sweating, and keep hair products off your face.
- Test new products first, as the AAD suggests, and add them one at a time, so you know what caused any reaction.
- Cut down on friction. The AAD notes that anything rubbing against acne-prone skin, such as straps, helmets and tight collars, can make breakouts worse.
Not sure whether two products belong in the same routine? Our “Can I use X with Y?” guides answer the most common pairing questions, such as retinol with benzoyl peroxide and retinol with hyaluronic acid, with a verdict and layering steps for each.
What you can skip
- Toners and astringents with alcohol, which dry and sting.
- Scrubs, brushes and peel pads, when you’re already using a retinoid or acid.
- Multiple serums. Each extra product is another chance for irritation or clogging.
- Home remedies such as toothpaste, lemon juice or baking soda. See acne myths vs. evidence.
How long to give it, and what comes next
Stick with a routine for about 12 weeks. The AAD says a working treatment usually shows improvement in 4 to 6 weeks, with clearing taking two to three months or longer. Take a dated photo every two weeks in the same light.
- Clear or nearly clear? Keep going. Many people keep adapalene a few nights a week for maintenance, since acne often returns when treatment stops.
- Better but not there? Consider adding the second active, if you started with one, or check your routine for irritation.
- Not better, or getting worse? It’s time for prescription treatment. See our step-by-step acne treatment guide, and try our acne treatment path quiz for a suggested next step.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist or your doctor if you have deep, painful nodules or cysts, scarring or dark marks, acne that hasn’t improved after about three months, or acne that affects your mood. Also see one if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18 and want to start treatment. See when to see a dermatologist for acne for more detail.