Skincare for Acne in 2025 and beyond. By Graceful Lilly Body Scrubs

This is the WHOLE reason why Graceful Lilly Body Scrubs was invented in the first place. I had terrible acne. The skincare i was recommended was excellent, but after a couple of months of using this product, it proved too expensive. Especially for a 17-year-old who worked once a week. 

I had the worst case of acne that you have ever seen. 

As a result, I was after a product that was reliable, of a quality that I could rely on and of a reasonable price. Hence I started making my own products. 

I spent hours upon hours in my school library researching natural products that were really good for the skin. I went shopping, took the raw products home and came up with a few concoctions of my own. 

This was the birth of Graceful Lilly Body Scrubs. 

"I've dealt with hormonal acne on and off since I was 13 years old, and the single most effective thing I've done over the years to help keep my breakouts is following skincare routine with products specifically designed to treat and prevent acne. Sure, cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen are the hero steps in every skincare routine, but if you've got zits, incorporating acne treatments and ingredients like a gentle soap, natural face scrub and moisturiser are essential for clearing your skin.

And to take it even further, "your skincare routine should be adjusted based on the type of acne you have," says dermatologist Margarita Lolis, MD. But that doesn't mean you need a 10-step routine (lookin' at you, TikTok). "Using too many active ingredients at once—like layering multiple treatments with AHAs, retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide—can be too harsh and irritate your skin, which can end up making breakouts worse," Dr. Lolis adds. "It's often best to keep it simple: a gentle cleanser, a treatment product, and a non-comedogenic moisturizer, along with sunscreen during the day."

Need some more info to start, though? I gotchu. I tapped Dr. Lolis on her go-to acne skincare routines for patients, plus compiled my favorite tips and ingredients I’ve learned over the last decade and a half of my life dealing with zits. Keep reading for all of my findings:

What causes acne?

Acne is caused when your pores get clogged with acne-causing bacteria, dead skin, and excess oil (which is triggered by hormone fluctuations). “Fundamentally, everyone’s skin is the same—everyone has hormonal fluctuations, oil productions, and acne-causing bacteria in their skin that could cause a huge breakout at any time,” dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, previously told Cosmo. But some people’s oil glands are more sensitive to those triggers, simply based on their genetics, causing more frequent inflammation and breakouts, Dr. Gohara added.

If you have acne, your skincare routine should include three basic steps—cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF—but you can also include a few others to help exfoliate dead skin, kill acne-causing bacteria, and/or bring down inflammation. See below for a full dermatologist-recommended skincare routine for acne:

"For topical ingredients to absorb properly, you need clean skin that’s totally free of oil and grime,” Dr. Gohara once said. Meaning you've gotta start your routine with a clean face, no matter how tired you are before bed. No, a sad little face wipe doesn’t cut it (in fact, using one actually lead to more breakouts on acne-prone skin). Use the same cleanser you used in the morning to remove all the gunk that accumulated on your skin during the day.

Side note: If you’re a makeup wearer, I highly suggest double cleansing—which is when you first use an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm to break down your foundation and eye makeup (so long as the oils are non-comedogenic, they shouldn't clog your pores, but try a patch test first to be sure) and then use your gentle cleanser to rinse everything away. It’s way more effective at cleaning your pores and dissolving heavy makeup than a face wash alone."

STEP 2: Apply Chocolate/Coffee scrub. https://www.gracefullillybodyscrubs.com.au/products/2-jars-of-body-scrub-500g

This is the best part of Graceful Lilly Body Scrubs. Your favourite scrub is the Coffee Scrub and the second favourite is the Chocolate Scrub. If you would like to try one, for free please go to https://www.gracefullillybodyscrubs.com.au/products/free-sample-of-coffee-scrub for a coffee trial, or https://www.gracefullillybodyscrubs.com.au/products/free-sample-choc-scrub-70g for a free chocolate trial. 

If you like both and can't decide, then please go to https://www.gracefullillybodyscrubs.com.au/products/2-jars-of-body-scrub-500g

STEP 3: Moisturise https://www.gracefullillybodyscrubs.com.au/products/your-new-moisturiser-90g

Wait a minute or two for whatever acne treatment you’ve just applied to sink into your skin, and then layer the same moisturiser (remember, your skin needs all the hydration it can get) you used in the morning right on top. And before you ask, the answer is no, you don’t need a separate night cream. Most night creams contain active ingredients, and your skin should already be getting what it needs for acne from step 2. Plus, mixing and matching too many actives can lead to irritation—or even render your products ineffective if the ingredients don’t play well together." https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a32239886/best-acne-skincare-routine/

STEP 4: SPF 40

Unfortunately, very few people even bother to use the SPF. The sun is our worst enemy. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the sun, but please use the good old SPF for protection.  Better still, look for a Body Butter or moisturiser that has a built-in SPF; It saves you time and expense.

Why should you trust us?

Simply because Graceful Lilly has been there ourselves. We know what you are going through and are 100% confident in our products. Hence our 100% money-back guarantee. If you aren't 100% satisfied with your product, please return the unused portion and we'll give you a 100% refund. No questions asked.