Hi, everyone! Accutane, the discontinued brand name for the drug Isotretinoin, is an internal acne treatment dermatologist prescribed for people dealing with consistent acne that refuses to subside despite other treatment and medications, such as a good skincare routine, antibiotics, dietary changes, and other lifestyle changes. Well, I was one of those people. Acne was, by far, one of the most difficult and all-consuming things that I’ve ever dealt with in my life. I know that probably sounds dramatic, and considering truly life-altering circumstances occurring throughout the world, acne can sound trivial—but, that said, acne is something that can truly diminish your self-confidence. Acne can make it difficult for you to even want to go out and about and carry on with your everyday life. I know, because I was there. And while yes, plenty of people have, and have had, it much worse than I did, it doesn’t diminish the fact that it truly warped my sense of self-confidence and my self-esteem.
Do not diminish the effects that acne can have on you and your quality of life. Investing in your skin and your health is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
As a final resort, I finally decided to see a dermatologist. My dermatologist and esthetician took one look at my skin on the very first day they saw me, and told me that I was an Accutane candidate. So, after a bit of thought, I decided to take the plunge. And what a blessing it was! Truly, I couldn’t be happier with the results, and I couldn’t be happier and more myself than I have been in years, in general. Without further ado, below are 10 ESSENTIAL products that I used nearly daily, and without, I would not have made it through my Accutane journey quite as comfortably as I did.
Water (3L Daily!): how hard is it for most of us to drink even the minimum recommended amount of water daily? I know that I was one of those people. That said, the most important and beneficial thing that you can do for yourself throughout your Accutane journey is to drink water. And boy, did I ever. In fact, my husband rolls his eyes every morning he sees me with my 1.5 liter bottle of water and repeatedly asks, “are you serious? Do you really need that!”). Yes, yes I do. Because Accutane will make you DRY—it will make your skin dry, it will make your lips dry, it will make your life dry. Not only will drinking a significant amount of water help balance out all that dryness, but it will make you feel GOOD, in general, and it will help you establish good water-drinking practices for the future. It will give you energy, make you feel more awake, and make you pee clear! Keep in mind that you should not only drink water, but you should drink a lot of it. I personally drank 3 liters of water DAILY during my course of Accutane, and it absolutely made all the difference in the world. On the occasional days that I failed to drink a full 3 liters daily, there was a marked difference in the dryness of my lips and skin, and how my body felt overall. And now that I’ve gone 5 months drinking an average of 3 liters of water a day, I’ve established that habit and practice for the future. I now consistently drink that amount, and my body constantly feels fresh and flushed out, despite my husband’s protests!
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm: if there’s anything that you can do for your skin—whether you’re on Accutane or not—is cleansing your skin. If you’re wearing makeup, or even just SPF, you need to make sure you get the SPF, makeup, and grime and dirt that builds up throughout the day OFF your skin. The best way to do this is through the double cleanse method, where you use an oil or balm to remove your makeup, followed by a cleanser to actually cleanse your skin. The Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm is the best that I’ve found! I’ve used this every single day throughout my Accutane journey, and I couldn’t be happier with it. It’s a solid balm that softens and emulsifies beautifully when applied to the skin and rinsed with water. It really gets everything off your skin so that you can properly cleanse your skin, which is the entire point of a cleansing balm. I’ve never experienced any irritation, breakouts, or sensitivity from this cleansing balm, and I will 100% continue to use this after Accutane! One thing to note, however, is that it does contain polyethylene (“plastic”), which some people don’t like. So, if that’s something that you’re trying to stay away from, just be mindful of that. For me personally, I don’t mind that, because it works so well for my sensitive, reactive skin that I’ve had so much trouble with in the past. I will, without a doubt, continue to purchase this for the foreseeable future. Easily a 5/5 and highly recommended!
Avène Clean-Ac Cleanser & Moisturizer: the cleanser and moisturizer that I used throughout my entire Accutane journey are the Avène Clean-Ac Cleansing Soothing Cream and Avène Clean-Ac Soothing Cream. These came specifically recommended to me by my esthetician and dermatologist, because these products were created specifically for people undergoing harsh acne treatments. The products are formulated with specific ingredients that soothe the skin and diminish redness and irritation (because Accutane can make you very red, very sensitive, and very irritated!) The products personally worked fabulously for me. They did not cause me any additional breakouts and they didn’t cause any irritation. In fact, I found the opposite—they are incredibly soothing, redness diminishing, and apply like a dream. The only ingredient that I don’t care for in the the products, however, is the added fragrance. Many Avène products are formulated with added fragrance, which can be sensitizing (both short-term and long-term), and which I try to avoid. Notwithstanding, I did continue to use the products because they were specifically recommended by my medical professionals, and because they worked so well for my skin! That said, I’ll be switching to different, fragrance-free products following my course of Accutane.
- Cleanser: I have nothing bad to say about the Clean-Ac cleanser, except for the fact that it has added fragrance. The product foams up oh so slightly, but does not cause any stripping of the skin and leaves my skin feeling so incredibly cleansed. It is formulated with Dextran Sulfate, which Avène says, “helps soothe skin agitated by harsh acne treatments while moisturizing and reinforcing skin’s natural barrier.” While I don’t prefer products with fragrance, the fragrance is about halfway down on the ingredient list, which is not excessive. Nonetheless, I still prefer products without added fragrance and will be switching to a cleanser without fragrance once I finish this. 4/5 because of the added fragrance.
- Moisturizer: this moisturizer is fabulous, don’t get me wrong, but the fragrance is STRONG. Lovely, but strong. I’ve always felt adequately moisturized with this product, and it glides over the skin beautifully. I typically apply my Juno face oil (see below) over top of it at night, and sometimes in the morning as well. This moisturizer wears beautifully under makeup and I never had any problems, but it does tend to pill under sunscreen if it is not 100% dry! 3.5/5 for pilling and strong fragrance.
Sunday Riley Juno: Sunday Riley Juno has been a true lifesaver for my dry skin. In fact, I still use it and adore it! Juno is a combination of 7 different seed oils, without the addition of any other ingredients—no fragrance, no essential oils, nothing. The simplicity of this face oil is largely why I love it so much! I use this at the end of the night after my moisturizer before I go to bed, as well as under my makeup during the day. I swear it calms redness and irritation in my skin, plus it applies so wonderfully. It wears beautifully under makeup and ensures that my skin is nice and moisturized throughout the day, without having to deal with issues of flakiness and skin dryness. Keep in mind, though, that it may be difficult to wear the face oil under an SPF, because your face should be dry before applying your SPF to ensure full sun protection. 5/5 and highly, highly recommend!
SPF: SPF IS THE MOST BENEFICIAL THING YOU CAN PUT ON YOUR SKIN, especially during a course of Accutane. Do not diminish the importance of SPF! It can help with hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and the overall quality and health of your skin. Not using SPF is just giving the sun a license to age your face exponentially faster than it would if you used SPF. That said, I have used SPF all throughout my Accutane journey. My skin while during my course of Accutane is SO sensitive, so much thinner, and therefore so much more prone to damage from the sun. PLEASE WEAR SPF! I used the below two SPF’s while taking Accutane, and I love them both so much for different reasons.
- Avène Hydrance Optimale SPF 25: My dermatologist and esthetician recommended the Avène Hydrance Optimale SPF 25. It is a moisturizer with SPF 25, and it’s amazing! However, SPF 25 is not enough in my opinion, especially while on Accutane, and especially if you’re unable to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day. I absolutely loved this moisturizing sunscreen, as it applies well and wears beautifully under makeup. I even still use it as my moisturizing base on some days, but I always apply another SPF over top of it for added protection! Please note, however, that this sometimes pilled when I put it on top of my Clean-Ac moisturizer. 4/5 because there’s not quite high enough SPF and for occasional pilling.
- Elta MD UV Clear 46: HERE COMES THE CULT FAVORITE. This SPF is truly one of a kind. This applies like a unicorn flying onto my skin straight from the clouds. It doesn’t even feel like a sunscreen! I’ve experienced zero irritation, zero breakouts, and zero sensitivity from it. This sunscreen is SPF 46 (amazing) and formulated with niacinimide and lactic acid, which are both amazing brightening ingredients that also help to keep acne at bay. I will say, however, that this product is formulated for acne prone and rosacea prone individuals, which means that the finish is fairly matte, rather dewy or glowy. Given my dry skin, this sunscreen can sometimes make me feel a tad bit dry at the end of the day. It can also sometimes pill depending upon the moisturizer you have underneath it, and whether your skin is perfectly dry before you put it on. Nonetheless, this SPF wears so well, applies so beautifully, and provides such great sun protection, that I will continue to repurchase it over and over. And I know that once I am finished with my course of Accutane, my skin won’t be *quite* so dry (though it will still be like a small desert), which means that this product will probably work even better for my skin, especially during the summer months. 4.75/5 for the occasional pilling!
Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation: while I am slightly (but not entirely) clueless when it comes to makeup, this is the first foundation that I truly fell in love with. It helped me discover what foundation can do for your skin and imperfections, and therefore your self-confidence in going about your day. I used this foundation when my acne was at its worst, and I continued to use it a few months into my Accutane journey while my skin was still purging a bit and beginning to heal. It provides amazing full coverage, and I was able to find such a perfect shade match for me. It really helped me feel more comfortable in my skin when my skin was eating away at my confidence to the point that I didn’t even want to look people in the eye. It does dry fairly matte, which was perfect for my initially oily-combination skin. But as my skin began to change to dry, I now wear my Juno face oil underneath it, which gives the perfect amount of moisturization underneath to keep me from feeling excessively dry, given its matte finish. It wears beautifully over skincare and sunscreen, though I did wish it had SPF! 4.5/5 because I wish it was a tad bit dewier and contained SPF!
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30: HOLY. GRAIL. Let me tell you guys, I have been waiting for YEARS to feel comfortable enough in my skin to wear a product like this—a tinted moisturizer. This product is a favorite among many bloggers! I originally came across this product from my absolute favorite blogger, With Love, Leena. She raves about this product being a perfect everyday product for light coverage when you don’t want a full face of foundation, or when you just want to add a bit of life to your otherwise drab and lifeless face (kidding!). She is SO right. I will say, though, I was not able to wear this until the end of my Accutane journey—actually, not until the last month of my course of Accutane. The reason being is because it’s VERY light coverage, and I simply wasn’t comfortable wearing such light coverage with my skin in the state that it was. Despite the light coverage, it gives you such a brightening, dewy effect, and brings so much life to your face. Not to mention, it has SPF 30! I just can’t get enough of it and will purchase it forever. 5/5 easily, especially given the SPF 30!
Lip Balms/Creams: if there is anything that will happen during your Accutane journey, it’s that YO LIPS WILL BE DRY. You guys, DRY. While increased water consumption will significantly help with the dryness, occlusive, rich lip balms and moisturizers are absolute must-haves and non-negotiables while you’re on Accutane. These are the best two that I’ve found!
- Lansinoh Nipple Cream: this is called nipple cream, because… it’s literally for nursing mothers with dry, cracking nipples from breastfeeding. SERIOUSLY! I mean, if it’s good enough for my nipples then it’s good enough for my lips, am I right? Yes, I am, because this is by far my favorite product for my dry Accutane lips. This product gives the perfect amount of occlusiveness, hydration, and moisture to your lips for hours at a time. This is the balm that I wear on my lips at night before I sleep at night, and I always wake up with supple, hydrated lips. 5/5 and will continue to repurchase!
- Aquaphor: this is a cult favorite! I think everyone is familiar with Aquaphor and the incredible benefits it gives. This is the balm that I used mostly throughout the day in the beginning of my Accutane journey, and I do enjoy it so much and find it incredibly beneficial. Note that I did not buy the Aquaphor specifically designed for lips, though! I used the regular Aquaphor because it’s much more occlusive and hydrating than the product specifically designed for lips. I will say, though, that compared with the Lansinoh Nipple Cream, it is less occlusive and moisturizing, especially for my dry Accutane lips. Notwithstanding, I still LOVE Aquaphor and continue to use it daily, it’s just a lighter, different feel than the Nipple Cream, and my lips do not stay moisturized and hydrated for quite as long. Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference. 5/5!
Sephora Lip Exfoliator: if there’s a tool that you should invest in for your poor, dry Accutane lips, it’s this lip brush exfoliator. MY, MY! I stumbled upon this by accident, and I’m so so glad that I did. This truly saved my lips and kept them nice and exfoliated while I was on Accutane, and I will absolutely continue to use it even after Accutane for those smooth, plump, supple lips. I use this in the shower at night (with the lip scrub mentioned below) by gently brushing it all over my lips. By physically exfoliating all of the dead skin, it helps keep my lips so baby smooth after they become a bit dry and flaky throughout the day. Applying my Nipple Cream onto my warm, exfoliated lips following my shower is just an experience that you have to… experience. The best thing about this is it’s from the Sephora Collection, which means it’s SO affordable! 5/5 and an amazing $9.00 investment!
Sara Happ Lip Scrub: this is another product that I accidentally stumbled upon by winning a giveaway on Instagram with another of my favorite bloggers, A Day in the Lalz! This product is never something that I would’ve thought to invest in or buy myself, especially with the $24.99 price tag. BUT, using the product has made me think twice about that, and I will absolutely repurchase it once I’ve gone through it all (I’m almost out!). And, the price tag is worth it given that it’s lasted me for 6+ months, even using it nearly nightly. I use this along with the lip exfoliator mentioned above by dipping the exfoliating brush into the lip scrub, and I can’t tell you how much this moisturizes and helps heal my lips. Not to mention, it smells fabulous. I avoid fragrance in my skincare products, but I don’t mind a yummy smelling product to use in the shower and wash off of my lips! 4.5/5 just because it may be a tiny bit pricey.
And that’s it! Those are my 10 essential products that I used during my Accutane journey. These products greatly alleviated what could have been a fairly miserable experience. I’ve linked the exact products that I used below, but please comment or send me an email or message on Instagram if you have any questions!
Links:
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm: here!
Avene Clean-Ac Cleanser: here!
Avene Clean-Ac Moisturizer: here!
Sunday Riley Juno: here!
Avene Hydrance Optimale SPF 25: here! (possibly being discontinued)
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46: here!
Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation: here!
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue SPF 30: here!
Lansinoh Nipple Cream: here!
Aquaphor: here!
Sephora Lip Exfoliator: here!
Sara Happ Lip Scrub: here!
