Simple routine

Morning

1. Gentle cleanser
   Use a mild, non-scrubbing, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid cleansing brushes, harsh scrubs, and pore strips.
2. Optional: niacinamide serum, 2%-5%
   Helpful if you are oily, shiny, or prone to redness. Start once daily.
3. Lightweight moisturizer
   Choose a non-comedogenic gel or lotion. Moisturizing helps protect the skin barrier, which reduces irritation from active ingredients.
4. Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30+
   Use daily, including indoors near windows. UV exposure breaks down supportive collagen and can make pores and texture more noticeable. The AAD sunscreen guidance recommends broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher.

Night

1. Gentle cleanser
2. Choose one main active treatment
   • Adapalene 0.1%: Best overall option if you have blackheads, acne, uneven texture, or visible pores. Apply a pea-sized amount to the whole dry face, avoiding eyelids, corners of nose, and lips.
     Start 2 nights weekly for 2 weeks, then alternate nights, increasing to nightly only if comfortable.
   • OR salicylic acid, 0.5%-2%: A good alternative if clogged pores and oiliness are your main issue. Use 2-3 nights weekly at first, as a leave-on product or cleanser.
   Do not begin both at the same time. Using too many actives often causes irritation, which can make texture look worse.
3. Moisturizer
   Apply after the active, or before and after it if you are sensitive.

Example weekly schedule

Avoid

• Physical scrubs, harsh exfoliating gloves, and frequent peels
• Picking blackheads or squeezing pores
• Heavy, pore-clogging oils or pomades near the face
• Starting retinoid, acid, vitamin C, and benzoyl peroxide all at once
• DIY high-strength chemical peels

Important safety notes

• Avoid adapalene and other retinoids if pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding unless your obstetric clinician or dermatologist specifically approves it.
• Mild dryness, stinging, or peeling in the first few weeks is common. Reduce frequency or pause if you develop persistent burning, marked redness, swelling, or eczema-like scaling.
• Expect gradual improvement over 8-12 weeks, not overnight.

Routine tailored to this

1. Gentle low-foam cleanser.
2. Niacinamide 4%-5% serum if it suits you. This can help with oiliness and the look of texture.
3. Lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer.
4. Broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen every day. Use a generous amount for face and neck. Sunscreen is the most important long-term step because sun exposure can make texture and pores look more prominent. The AAD recommends SPF 30+ with broad-spectrum, water-resistant protection.

1. Gentle cleanser.
2. Start with 2% salicylic acid only twice weekly, focused on your nose and inner-cheek pore area, then moisturize. It works inside oily follicles to help clear comedones and is available OTC up to 2%.
3. On all other nights, use only moisturizer for the first 3-4 weeks.

Add this after 3-4 weeks, if your skin is comfortable

• Use a pea-sized amount for the whole face, not a thick layer only on pores.
• Start 2 nights a week, on nights when you are not using salicylic acid.
• Follow with moisturizer. If sensitive, apply moisturizer first, then adapalene.
• Increase slowly to alternate nights after 4 weeks only if there is no significant dryness or stinging.

Best weekly start

• Mon: Salicylic acid + moisturizer
• Tue: Moisturizer only
• Wed: Adapalene + moisturizer
• Thu: Moisturizer only
• Fri: Salicylic acid + moisturizer
• Sat/Sun: Moisturizer only

Avoid

• Face scrubs, scrubbing brushes, pore strips, and frequent clay masks
• Combining adapalene with salicylic acid on the same night initially
• At-home chemical peels or high-strength acids
• Picking/squeezing the pores