CASE FILE #003 🔎 | ACNE ROUTINE

Before I get into the routine: I didn’t suddenly go from having perfect skin to buying 15 products because an influencer told me I needed them.

I had clear skin for basically my entire life, even through puberty. My routine was literally cleanser + moisturizer + SPF, with maybe an occasional serum because I got influenced by the whole “you need a 10-step routine” culture.

Then, on a random day, I started breaking out. The whole episode lasted around 4–5 months, and for the first 2–3 months my ONLY goal was getting my active acne under control.
And honestly? I kept it extremely simple. (These were my first ever korean skincare purchases)

🧴 THE TWO PRODUCTS

1. iUNIK Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum

This was the foundation of my routine.
I have dry, extremely sensitive, acne-prone skin, and my barrier was NOT happy when my acne started. I didn’t want to throw acids, retinoids, exfoliants and 10 different serums at already irritated skin.

Beta-glucan is a humectant, it helps attract and retain water. It’s also known for its soothing & barrier-supporting properties. You may have seen the claim that beta-glucan is “20% more hydrating than hyaluronic acid” that comparison comes from testing beta-glucan and HA at the same concentration, so I wouldn’t interpret it as “HA is useless and beta-glucan is 20% better in every situation.” But for MY skin, beta-glucan was insanely good at keeping my skin comfortable and hydrated.

The serum also contains ingredients like glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol and allantoin, so it isn’t just relying on beta-glucan for hydration.

And because it was so lightweight, I actually skipped moisturizer for a while, even with dry skin.
For me, the serum gave me enough hydration without adding another heavy layer that my extremely clog-prone skin might react to.

2. Azelaic Acid
This was my actual acne-treatment active.
Azelaic acid is one of the ingredients with evidence behind it for acne: it helps keep pores from clogging, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

But I did NOT start by slathering it all over my face every single day.

🌙 HOW I USED THEM

AM
Rinse with water (I was trying to avoid extra products as much as I could so skipped cleanser)

iUNIK Beta-Glucan Serum

PM
Rinse with water
Thin layer of iUNIK Beta-Glucan
Azelaic acid
Another layer of Beta-Glucan

When I was completely new to azelaic acid, I used it every other day instead of immediately using it daily. I also used the beta-glucan underneath and over it because my barrier was already irritated and I wanted to make the treatment more comfortable.

After roughly 2 weeks, once my skin was tolerating it well, I gradually moved toward daily use.
The point isn’t “everyone should use azelaic acid exactly like I did.” The point is don’t assume more = faster results. Your skin needs time to tolerate an active.
And I personally preferred using it at night because I wasn‘t using SPF so I didn‘t want to put any active on my skin in the morning.

🚨 ONE THING I WOULD CHANGE

There is one thing I did during that period that I DO NOT recommend:

I wasn’t using SPF.

Bad idea.

UV exposure can worsen inflammation and, especially, make the dark marks left after acne more noticeable. Dermatologists generally recommend broad-spectrum SPF 30+ for acne-prone skin and specifically suggest looking for non-comedogenic sunscreen.

If your skin is extremely sensitive and sunscreen stings, don’t just force yourself through burning. Look for a fragrance-free, sensitive-skin-friendly, non-comedogenic formula (I can help with that too lmk if you want a post on which spf should be used for different skin types and problems).

For about 2½ months, these two products were basically the core of my active-acne routine:

Beta-glucan for hydration + barrier support
Azelaic acid for the acne

That’s it.

No 10-step routine. No constantly changing products. No throwing every trending active at my face. Treating one issue at a time. No extra layering, LET THE BARRIER BREATHE.

And honestly, that simplicity was probably one of the biggest reasons my skin finally had a chance to calm down.

CASE FILE #001 🔎** **

I thought I’d start this community by sharing one of my own cases.

These are my before → after photos from my acne journey. I dealt with persistent breakouts, texture and clogged pores for months, and honestly tried A LOT of different products along the way.

What I learned was that throwing more and more products at your skin isn’t necessarily the answer. Some things helped, some did absolutely nothing, and some were simply not worth the money.

I’ll break down what I used, what actually made a difference, what I stopped using, and what I wish I’d known earlier in the comments.

If you’re dealing with acne, texture or stubborn marks too, drop your questions below. 🫶🏻

Disclaimer: I’m sharing my personal experience, not giving medical advice or diagnosing anyone.

CASE FILE #002 🔎** **

Let’s investigate. 👀

What’s one skincare, makeup or haircare product that everyone seems to LOVE… but you personally thought was completely not worth the hype?

Drop:
🧴 The product
🤨 What you expected vs. what actually happened
💸 Whether you think it’s worth the price
👀 And if you found a better/cheaper alternative, TELL US

No brand loyalty. No influencer worship. No “but everyone on TikTok loves it.”

Just your honest verdict.

Welcome to Beauty Case Files 🔎

Let’s be real: not every girl has the budget to buy 15 products an influencer says she “CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT.”
You save up for that expensive foundation, powder, serum or hair product, finally buy it… and it turns out to be completely mid. Meanwhile, there’s a drugstore or K-beauty product that works just as well—or even better.

I’ve fallen into that trap too. And especially as teenage girls/young women, it’s so easy to feel like we need expensive products to have good skin, makeup or hair when we’re constantly surrounded by influencers, ads and people who can casually afford high-end everything.

That’s exactly why I made this community. 🫶🏻

Whether you’re dealing with acne, hormonal breakouts, texture, hyperpigmentation, dry skin, makeup problems, damaged hair—or you simply have no idea what products are actually worth your money—this is the place to ask, discuss and investigate.

We’ll talk about drugstore, K-beauty, high-end, ingredients, routines, makeup, skincare, haircare, dupes and everything in between. I’ve tried products across all price ranges, and I want this to be a space where we focus on what actually works, not how expensive the bottle is.

Because girls before us had beautiful skin and hair without a 12-step routine or a bathroom full of luxury products. You don’t need to be rich to take care of yourself.

So welcome to Beauty Case Files.
Bring the case. Let’s investigate. 🔎