Break Free From Breakouts!
Your Ultimate Guide to Beating Acne, FAST!
- Understand the direct & root causes of acne
- Understand they key anti-acne ingredients
- Build the perfect anti-acne skincare routine
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Ellie's Story
Ellie Lau, a dental hygienist from Naples, Florida, can’t recall a time when she didn’t have acne.
In high school, pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads dotted her face. When store-bought acne products didn’t work, she sought a dermatologist. By the time she was 18 and ready to leave for college, her skin was clear and stayed acne-free for years.
Then when she was in her mid 20’s, Ellie developed cystic acne. This type of acne causes cysts (pus-filled pimples) that lodge deep in the skin. The cysts can be painful and large and when they clear up, they tend to leave acne scars.
The cysts started on her cheeks, but it wasn’t long before she saw acne breakouts on her jawline and neck. She also developed cystic acne on her back.
“The lower half of my face was covered with acne.” - Ellie painfully recalls. Although it wasn’t completely unexpected Ellie remembers being abnormally upset, perhaps even angry at her acne flair-up.
“I dealt with acne for years, and I thought I had finally reached a stage where I didn’t have to worry about it. I just couldn’t envision fighting acne into my 30s, it just didn’t seem fair.” - says Ellie
She tried dozens of off-shelf creams, gels, scrubs and products with little to no success.“I would exfoliate almost every day. You just want to scrub everything off. I was using clay masks and everything that I could get my hands on that had any chance of clearing acne.” - recalls Ellie.
The treatment that ended up working for her was a 2 prescription drug combination:
1) Spironolactone - an oral antibiotic that is mostly used to lower blood pressure
2) Isotretinoin - also known as Accutane, a topical retinoid derivative
But the excitement of finally finding a solution to her long-standing acne issue came crashing down when she experienced terrible side effects.
“I would go into this deep depressive spiral, my mood swings were scary and my blood would get so thin that my nose would bleed for hours.” - recalls Ellie.
There are other well-documented side effects isotretinoin and spironoloactone such as potential kidney failure, Addison’s disease and exczema, which is why ethical dermotologists will only recommend these two drugs for treatment after a patient has exhausted all other treatment options.
That's when Madelyn, a colleague at work referred Ellie to a Korean skincare brand called Saranghae (which means I Love You in Korean), and their approach to acne treatment combines key concentrated anti-acne correctives within a holistic 5-step skincare routine. Madelyn had been a long time customer of Saranghae's anti-aging skincare routine, but more importantly, Saranghae's acne skincare routine helped clear up her daughter Jessica's skin within a month.
Ellie liked Saranghae's approach to acne skincare because Saranghae’s method seemed like something she could maintain long-term without side effects.
What is acne?
Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles (your pores) become clogged with oil (called sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria. It often results in a variety of skin lesions such as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts.
Acne primarily affects areas where you find a lot of sebaceous (oil) glands, such as the face, chest, shoulders, and back.
Acne can affect people of all ages, but it is most common during adolescence due to hormonal changes that increase oil production.
However, adults can also experience acne, especially due to factors such as stress, diet, and hormonal fluctuations (such a pregnancy, pre and post)
There are 3 different types of acne
1Non-inflammatory (Comedonal) Acne:
Whiteheads and blackheads look like their names sound, so they’re fairly easy to spot.
Blackheads:
Occur when a pore is clogged by oil and dead skin cells but remains open. The surface darkens due to oxidation, giving it a black appearance. It’s often described as acne with open comedones.
Whiteheads:
Similar to blackheads, but the pore remains closed, trapping oil and dead skin inside, resulting in a white or flesh-colored bump. It’s often described as acne with open comedones.
2Inflammatory Acne
Inflammatory acne is the clinical name for pimples. There are two types.
Papules:
Small red bumps that form when oil or excess skin cells blocking a pore mix with bacteria on your skin. The infected contents of the blocked pore spill out into the surrounding skin tissue, causing an inflamed lesion.
Pustules (pimples):
Red, inflamed bumps with a white or yellow center filled with pus, often forming after papules.
3Nodulocystic (also inflammatory)
Nodulocystic acne is when severe breakouts happen much deeper in the skin. This type of acne can be painful and leave permanent scars.
Nodules:
Consists of flesh-colored, brown, or red bumps. They’re larger than papules and located deep under the skin’s surface. These occur when papules get more inflamed and grow bigger and deeper. A nodule is different from a cyst in that it doesn’t have any pus, so it feels hard to the touch.
Cystic Acne:
Acne cysts are pus-filled bumps that are red or violet in color. They’re larger than pustules and located deep under the skin’s surface. They’re more inflamed and can be quite painful. Cysts are usually the same size as nodules, but they’re softer. This is because cysts are pus-filled and can burst, infecting the surrounding skin.
We fully understand the direct cause of acne
When our sebaceous glands in the skin overproduce an oily substance called sebum that helps moisturize our skin, it can mix with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog and then inflame pores.
No matter the root cause, the mechanism of acne formation always leads to the same direct cause.
We don't yet fully understand the root cause of acne. Understanding the root cause of acne is far more complex because it's still not fully understood.
+Why does our skin overgrow oil-producing cells in some but not in others?
+Why does our dead skin not get removed properly for some but not others?
+Why does bacteria multiply for some but not others?
Diet and lifestyle factors can be lead to minor acne flair ups but these factors are minor. The 2 significant root causes of acne are:
1) Large hormonal changes or shifts (ex. Teenage years or pregnancy)
2) Our genetics
This is why almost all acne treatments deal with the direct cause or mechanism or acne and not the root cause, because you really can’t treat genetics. You can treat hormonal changes but as you will learn next, there are side effects to taking in hormones.
The problem with current acne treatments
If you suffer from mild to severe acne, the current and most popular treatment involves a some combination of these 4 off the shelf or prescription medications.
Spironolactone
Spironolactone is an oral medication originally developed to treat high blood pressure. It works by blocking aldosterone, (an androgen hormone similar to testosterone) responsible for retaining sodium and water in the body. It is this androgen-blocking effect that helps control acne.
The side effects are numerous. It is not recommended at all for males because it triggers the development of breast tissue. It is not recommended for pregnant or breast feeding women because it can negatively affect fetal development. It have been shown to cause chronic fatigue, depression, migraines in some newer studies, link with cancer. Sprionolactone is usually prescribed for those with severe acne who have tried all other alternatives
Isotretinoin (aka Accutane)
Isotretinoin is another oral medication used to treat severe acne, prescribed when all other treatments have failed. Although effective, it comes with severe negative side effects.
The most severe of these are birth defects if taken during pregnancy, severe depression and anxiety that can lead to suicidal thoughts. In rare cases, it can lead to serious skin conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a life-threatening skin disorder) and risk of bone degradation leading to premature osteoporosis.
In short, it is highly recommended that oral Isotretinoin or Accutane be left as a final and last choice for severe acne treatment.
Adapalene
Adapalene is a synthetic, topical retinoid available over the counter (0.1% concentration) and prescription (0.3%). It targets acne formation by affecting skin cell turnover. It has a decent track record for mild acne but it’s not enough by itself to treat moderate to sever acne. It is considered one of the safer acne options but you can still get sun sensitivity, mild scalding and extreme dryness and peeling.
It should always be used as part of a skincare routine because it can leave your skin sensitive, flaky and extremely dry leading to a breakdown of the skin barrier.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Probably the most widely used acne medication today and it works by killing acne-causing bacteria called Cutibacterium Acnes.
Unfortunately, Benzoyl Peroxide is not always effective and can lead to post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.
It’s also not recommended for sensitive skin.
Safest & most effective skincare routine for oily & acne prone skin:
Saranghae Acne 5-Step Skincare Routine
There is no one miracle product that can effectively treat, prevent, and maintain oily and acne-prone skin.
A foundational acne-focused skincare routine is essential because it helps address multiple factors that contribute to breakouts such as excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation.
A foundational acne-focused skincare routine also prevents new break outs, improves skin texture, and reduces the risk of long-term scarring or pigmentation.
The Saranghae Acne 5-Step Skincare Routine is the most effective acne-fighting formula that is safe for sensitive skin.
There are 5 Key Steps:
step 1: Cleansing excess oil & removing impurities without stripping
step 2: Deeply exfoliate & clear pores while killing bacteria
step 3: Reduce inflammation & regulate sebum production
step 4: Heal, hydrate and moisturize skin
step 5: Optimize skin barrier function & seal
Saranghae Acne 5-Step
- Nourishing & Moisturizing Oil + Foam Cleanser
- 2% AHA/BHA Pore Minimizing Exfoliant
- Advanced Pore Minimizing & Skin Tone Corrective Serum with 10% Niacinamide + 1% Glutathione
- Calm & Glow Snail Mucin Serum 96
- Orora Bioactive Collagen Cream
Let's break down each step in detail
Cleansing is the foundation of any acne-fighting regimen. The goal is to remove dirt, oil, sweat, makeup, and pollutants from the skin’s surface, which, if left untreated, can clog pores and contribute to breakouts. Effective cleansing helps to:
Unclog pores: By removing debris, a cleanser reduces the likelihood of sebum and dead skin cells building up and creating blockages in hair follicles.
Control excess oil: Acne-prone skin often produces too much sebum. A good cleanser can reduce oil without stripping the skin of its natural moisture barrier.
Prevent bacterial growth: Proper cleansing reduces the accumulation of bacteria on the skin that can trigger inflammatory acne.
A proper cleansing routine normally involves 2 steps, an oil cleansing step and a foam cleansing step. This is because oil binds with oil (sebum) and foaming washes away the excess. Sarangahe Nourishing & Moisturizing Oil + Foam Cleanser combines these 2 steps in one, providing a more comprehensive and cost-effective solution.
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) are chemical exfoliants commonly used to treat acne.
AHAs (lactic acid) are water-soluble and primarily exfoliate the skin’s surface by dissolving dead skin cells. They are particularly useful for treating surface-level acne like whiteheads and improving skin texture.
BHAs (salicylic acid) are oil-soluble, which allows them to penetrate deep into the pores, where they dissolve oil and dead skin cells that may clog the hair follicles and cause acne. Salicylic has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, reducing redness and swelling associated with acne.
For proper treatment, we need BOTH AHA & BHA working together. The optimal concentrations when considering acne prone sensitive skin is salicylic acid at 2% and lactic acid at 1%.
The combination of niacinamide and glutathione not only addresses active pimples but also prevents future breakouts by regulating oil production, calming inflammation, minimizing pores, and promoting skin healing.
Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, is a versatile ingredient in acne care. Key benefits include:
Anti-inflammatory action: Niacinamide reduces inflammation, which is crucial in calming down active breakouts and minimizing redness and swelling.
Sebum regulation: It helps control excessive oil production, a major factor in the formation of acne.
Minimizes pores: By controlling sebum, niacinamide can also help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, often a concern in acne-prone individuals.
Supports the skin barrier: It strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier, preventing dryness and irritation, which can exacerbate acne.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant made from amino acids glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid. It helps protect our skin from oxidative stress, which can worsen acne by contributing to inflammation and skin damage. In acne treatment, glutathione offers the following benefits:
Reduces oxidative stress: Acne can be worsened by free radical damage from environmental factors like pollution and UV radiation. Glutathione neutralizes free radicals, reducing their harmful effects.
Brightens the skin: It can help fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots) that often follow acne breakouts.
Promotes skin repair: Glutathione aids in cellular repair, which can help the skin heal faster after acne-induced inflammation.
Snail mucin has been Korea’s number 1 skincare ingredient for 25 years. It is rich in proteins, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and other compounds that can help the skin heal from existing acne while keeping it hydrated and protected from future breakouts.
Healing properties: Snail mucin promotes wound healing, which helps repair skin damage from acne lesions and reduces scarring.
Hydration: It is an effective humectant, which helps retain moisture in the skin. Proper hydration is crucial to maintaining the skin’s barrier and preventing excessive oil production.
Anti-inflammatory: Snail mucin has soothing and anti-inflammatory effects, which can calm irritated skin and reduce redness from active acne.
About 10 years ago, chemists at a well-known Korean skincare brand tried to create a synthetic version of the snail mucin. They found that even through their creation was chemically identical to snail mucin, the effects were not the same. Snail mucin collected naturally always performed better in skin healing, hydration and calming-inflammation. To this day, chemists cannot explain the reason why. Our answer? That’s the power of mother nature.
Many people with oily or acne-prone skin avoid moisturizing because they fear that it will lead to more oil and breakouts. However, proper moisturization is critical in any acne treatment plan. Orora Bioactive Collagen Cream is a lightweight, completely unscented, and non-comedogenic moisturizing cream essential to lock in moisture and seal without clogging pores or causing additional breakouts.
Hydration balance: Orora Bioactive Collagen Cream helps maintain the skin’s moisture levels, preventing it from becoming too dry or oily. Dehydrated skin can trigger more oil production, leading to further breakouts.
Skin barrier support: Moisturizers reinforce the skin’s protective barrier, which is often compromised in acne-prone skin, especially with the use of strong acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or retinoids.
Helps Balance Skin Microbiome and Heal: Bifida ferment filtrate is a probiotic ingredient derived from a specific type of yeast obtained by the fermentation of Bifida bacteria. Helps sensitized skin become less sensitive to environmental aggressors by strengthening its microbiome. Centella Asiatica is sometimes referred to as tigers grass or gotu kola. It is a powerful antioxidant with noted skin soothing and healing properties.
Saranghae Acne 5-Step
- Nourishing & Moisturizing Oil + Foam Cleanser
- 2% AHA/BHA Pore Minimizing Exfoliant
- Advanced Pore Minimizing & Skin Tone Corrective Serum with 10% Niacinamide + 1% Glutathione
- Calm & Glow Snail Mucin Serum 96
- Orora Bioactive Collagen Cream
Frequenty Asked Questions
If your question is not listed here, please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on the button below.
Our team of skincare and collagen experts are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Our Customers Say
Bhavini P.
Verefied Reviewer
Skin type: combination
Age range: 19 to 24
Overall concerns: acne & acne scarring
I tried Proactive, Orindary and bunch of other products but they didn't work for me.
The Saranghae Acne routine was the only line that cleared up my skin. Not only did it clear up my skin, now skin looks brighter and more glassy. I love how my skin looks now and I feel so much more confident when I go out.
Mathilde R.
Verified Reviewer
Skin type: oily, sensitive
Age range: 24 to 34
Skin concerns: acne & acne scarring, pigmentation
My acne has gotten a lot better and I've only had one outbreak since I started using it 6 months ago. My scars are still there but it does look like it's improving. I'm hoping that they will fade over time.
Wendy L.
Verified Reviewer
Skin type: sensitive
Age range: 35 to 44
Skin concerns: acne, pigmentation
I used proactive decades ago when I first started dealing with acne. But it just didn't work for me this time around. My niece suggested I try your acne skincare routine and I'm really glad that I did. My skin has never felt more balanced and healthier. I think my breakouts stopped because my skin is just better overall.
No side effects at all, never dry and always plump. I'm a fan and will be recommending Saranghae to everyone!