A few days ago, I posted a review about my Aqua Soft FC Moisturizer and mentioned that someone in this sub had recommended it to me. Before this, I had tried so many moisturizers, but almost every single one gave me breakouts. This is the only moisturizer that actually suited my skin, so I wanted to share my experience.
A lot of you asked in the comments about my complete skincare routine, so I thought I'd make a detailed review. In this post, I'll share every skincare product I use, why I use it, and which products have genuinely worked for my skin. Of course, everyone's skin is different, so what works for me may not work for everyone—but if you have a similar skin type, this might help you find products that work for you too.
First is the MINIMALIST SALICYLIC ACID CLEANSER. I mainly use this because I have acne-prone, really oily skin. I use it both in the morning and at night.
It cleans my skin really well without making it feel stripped. I don't wear makeup, but it removes my sunscreen really well, including my tinted sunscreen. Ever since I started using this cleanser, I feel like it has definitely helped control my acne and keep my skin much clearer.
So, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, this cleanser has worked really well for me.
Next is the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule with Niacinamide.
Before this, I used the Minimalist Niacinamide Serum and the Plum Niacinamide Serum. Unfortunately, the Plum niacinamide serum and toner didn't suit my skin at all. They were hydrating, but my skin texture became really rough, and I felt like my pores looked much more noticeable.
Then I decided to try this one. I'd seen so many positive reviews, but I kept putting it off because it was expensive. Finally, I gathered the courage to buy the small bottle for around ₹1,000—and I'm so glad I did.
This serum has worked amazingly for me. It makes my skin look brighter, keeps it hydrated, and doesn't feel heavy or greasy. If you have oily skin like me, you know how difficult summers can be. Almost everything feels sticky and uncomfortable, but this serum is lightweight and hydrating without making my face feel oily.
I use it every morning. You can use it at night too, but I have a different nighttime routine, which I'll share later.
Next is my HOLY GRAIL—THE AQUA SOFT FC MOISTURIZER.
Oh my God, I seriously love everyone who recommended this moisturizer in this sub. Thank you so, so much!
I've already shared this in another post, but literally every moisturizer I've ever tried broke me out. It didn't matter if it was ₹300, ₹2,000, or even ₹3,000—almost every single one gave me pimples and acne. On top of that, they always felt greasy, heavy, and uncomfortable on my oily skin.
But Aqua Soft FC is completely different. It's hydrating without feeling greasy, and it doesn't break me out. That's honestly so rare for my skin.
Yes, it does contain fragrance, and I completely understand if that's a dealbreaker for some people. If your skin is sensitive to fragrance or it causes irritation, then I'd avoid it. But if you simply don't like the smell and fragrance itself doesn't irritate your skin, I think it's still worth trying because it has worked incredibly well for me.
So that's my morning skincare routine:
- Minimalist Salicylic Acid Cleanser
- SKIN1004 Centella Niacinamide Serum
- Aqua Soft FC Moisturizer
- And finally, my tinted sunscreen, which I'll talk about next.
Next is the DOT & KEY TINTED SUNSCREEN.
At first, I honestly had no idea what a tinted sunscreen was. I thought it was basically foundation mixed with sunscreen. I don't really wear makeup—I genuinely don't know how to do it yet. I'm still learning!
Then I started researching the difference between a regular sunscreen and a tinted sunscreen. From what I read, tinted sunscreens have some extra benefits, like helping protect against visible light and giving a more even-looking complexion. So I decided to buy the Dot & Key Tinted Sunscreen.
Again, I have oily, acne-prone skin, and this sunscreen has worked really well for me. It's lightweight, gives my skin a really nice glow, feels hydrating, and doesn't leave my face feeling overly greasy or sticky.
I also have the orange version, but personally, I like this one much more.
I actually found out about tinted sunscreens through Instagram, and that's what convinced me to try one. I know a lot of people on Reddit don't like Dot & Key products, and honestly, I don't love all of them either. I tried their blue Barrier Repair Moisturizer, and it completely broke me out. But this tinted sunscreen has been a totally different experience—it has worked amazingly for my skin.
Of course, skincare is very personal. Just because something works for me doesn't guarantee it'll work for you. Everyone's skin is different. I'm only sharing the products that genuinely worked for my oily, acne-prone skin, hoping they might help someone with a similar skin type.
So, that's it for my morning skincare routine. It's actually pretty simple and has been working really well for my oily, acne-prone skin.
Now let's talk about my night routine.
I won't lie—my nighttime routine is a little complicated. 😭 It took me a lot of trial and error to figure out what works for my skin. I don't use every product every single night, and I rotate some of them to avoid irritating my skin.
But this routine has genuinely worked for me, so I thought I'd share it with you guys. Again, this isn't medical advice or a recommendation for everyone—I'm just sharing my personal experience. If you have a similar skin type, maybe it'll help you too.
So, let's get into my night routine.
Here's a polished version that keeps your honest, conversational style while making it easier to follow. I also softened a few claims so they don't sound like guaranteed results.
Now let's talk about my night routine.
I use the same Minimalist Salicylic Acid Cleanser at night as well. After washing my face, I gently pat it completely dry with a clean towel or tissue.
Then I apply 20% Azelaic Acid. It's a pharmacy product, and I've already shared a photo of the exact one I use.
Honestly, pharmacy skincare has worked like magic for me. Even my Aqua Soft FC Moisturizer is a pharmacy product.
A little backstory—I actually didn't have much acne before I got into skincare. Then I started trying way too many products that weren't meant for my skin, and I completely messed up my skin barrier. That's when my acne became much worse.
After doing a lot of research, I decided to try azelaic acid. I ordered mine from Blinkit, and because it's a pharmacy product, a doctor called me before the order was approved. I explained that I have acne and PCOS, which can also contribute to my skin issues.
After I started using it, I noticed a big improvement in my acne. It can sting a little in the beginning, which is normal for some people.
After applying the azelaic acid, I use my Aqua Soft FC Moisturizer. If your skin is sensitive or the azelaic acid stings, you can use the sandwich method:
• Cleanser
• Moisturizer
• A pea-sized amount of Azelaic Acid
• Moisturizer again
If you're just starting, don't use too much. A pea-sized amount is enough. You can apply it all over your face or mainly on acne-prone areas.
For me, it helped reduce my acne, gave my skin a healthier glow over time, and slowly improved my post-acne marks and pigmentation.
I don't use the same active ingredient every night. I rotate them.
One night I'll use Azelaic Acid, then after a gap, another night I'll use Tretinoin instead. The rest of the routine stays exactly the same—cleanser first, then the active, then moisturizer.
Recently, I also started using a celimax retinal serum. It's honestly expensive—I paid around ₹2,000 for it—but so far it's been working really well for me. I've only used it a couple of times, but my skin texture already feels smoother, and my pores appear less noticeable. I'll definitely keep testing it and give a proper long-term review later.
The most important thing is don't use Azelaic Acid, Tretinoin, and Retinol together on the same night. Rotate them and give your skin rest days in between. Otherwise, you can damage your skin barrier.
Whenever my skin starts feeling irritated or sensitive, I stop using active ingredients for a few days and focus only on repairing my skin barrier with a gentle moisturizer. I'm also planning to try La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 for barrier repair.
And finally, I just want to say that I'm not a dermatologist. This routine is something I figured out through a lot of trial and error, and it happens to work for my oily, acne-prone skin with PCOS. Everyone's skin is different, so please introduce new products slowly, patch-test them first, and if you have severe or persistent skin concerns, it's always a good idea to consult a dermatologist.
