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How I Finally Cleared Adult Acne

In My 30’s No Less!

Emily Olson
2 min readOct 30, 2024

It’s been six months since I’ve had a single breakout, and that’s crazy to me because I used to have new spots almost every day. I was practically a walking Proactiv ad (yes, I was even in a Proactiv commercial!).

But these are the things that finally cleared my acne — for good, not just a few weeks. Forever!

Don’t Wash Your Face in the Morning 🫧

First, I stopped using face wash in the morning. Instead, I reach for toner — Glycolic Acid from The Ordinary is my go-to.

Apply Tretinoin at Night 🧴

Tretinoin is a prescription-strength retinoid that speeds up cell turnover, helping to clear acne and smooth skin!

Topical Tretinoin (.5%) has been a game-changer for me.

It took a few months for my skin to adjust, but it’s so worth the wait. Tretinoin can be drying, so I always use castor oil after I apply.

Seriously, castor oil every day is key!!!

Serums, Serums, Serums! 💦

Serums are another secret weapon: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C — those are my 3 faves I use daily!

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