When it comes to skin health, acne and aging are two of the most talked-about concerns, but with all the acne treatments and anti-aging skin care products out there, it can be overwhelming to try to DIY your own skin care routine that keeps both breakouts and signs of aging at bay. In this blog post, we’ll cover:

• The benefits of a simple skin care routine for acne and anti-aging

• Simple skin care routines you can try at home for acne and anti-aging

The benefits of a simple skin care routine for acne and anti-aging

While some people may love opening their medicine cabinet to see a dizzying array of cleansers, lotions and serums, that’s not necessary—or even ideal—for most. “Sometimes, a simpler routine works better because it’s more achievable,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by too many steps or products, you’re more likely to throw in the towel and not stick to it—and you need consistency in order to see results when it comes to skin care.”

It can feel hard to keep things simple, though, when you’re juggling spot treatments and acne masks with brightening serums and crow’s feet-smoothing eye creams. However, it’s possible to simplify your skin care routine and address both acne and anti-aging with just a few products, if you choose the right ones.

Simple skin care routines you can try at home for acne and anti-aging

“I’m a big advocate of using products from the same skin care brand,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “This way, you can feel confident that all the formulas were designed to be used in tandem and complement one another.”

SkinCeuticals Clarifying Skin System is a simple, three-step routine designed to address acne and aging for oily and combination skin types. The first step is SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel, a clarifying face cleanser that helps minimize breakouts and smooth surface texture to minimize signs of aging with glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lipo-hydroxy acid. The next step is SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF Vitamin C Serum, which combines 15% pure vitamin C with ferulic acid and silymarin (milk thistle extract) to help balance your skin’s oil production, brighten skin tone and improve the appearance of fine lines. The third and final step is SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense, which employs salicylic and glycolic acids to further exfoliate skin.

Users in an eight-week study noticed a 50% improvement in inflammatory acne, a 63% improvement in the appearance of wrinkles and a 39% improvement in skin texture. SkinCeuticals also offers three-step skin care routines specifically for post-procedure skin (SkinCeuticals Post-Injectable System) and for targeting signs of aging without acne prevention (SkinCeuticals Anti-Aging Skin System).

Another effective way to treat acne while diminishing signs of aging is with products featuring afaLUXE from Dr. Schlessinger’s LovelySkin LUXE line. Made from a blend of amino-based filaggrin antioxidants, vitamin C and Dead Sea minerals, afaLUXE encourages natural exfoliation of the skin, which helps prevent future breakouts as well as improve the tone and texture of your skin.

The first step is the LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser, which matches afaLUXE with two acne-fighting alpha hydroxy sidekicks, glycolic and salicylic acid. Next, LovelySkin LUXE Toner Mist helps balance skin and improve hydration levels as well as support collagen production for smoother, firmer-looking skin. Finally, LovelySkin LUXE Exfoliating Gel is a power player when it comes to reducing fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture and adult acne. It comes in three different strengths: Mild (11% afaLUXE), Plus (15% afaLUXE) and Max (19% afaLUXE). You can start with the lowest concentration and work up from there, as tolerated. “I’ve seen my patients have great success using this skin care system,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “As an active ingredient, afaLUXE is extremely effective when it comes to improving acne and signs of aging without causing skin irritation.”

With its super-charged hydrating abilities, hyaluronic acid is one of the most-loved skin care ingredients out there. Learn about the best hyaluronic acid serums for beginners on the LovelySkin Blog.