Clean Skincare Recommendations- Removing Inflammatory Ingredients

Annie Kroll
7 days ago
4 min read

Three brown bottles with labels, surrounded by green leaves and flowers on a soft, abstract pastel background.

I have been trying to reduce inflammation in my body as I adjust to Crohn's while also making new routines for myself that are centered on self-care. This week, I want to share the clean skincare products I use for anyone looking for skincare that is good for your skin, texture-friendly, and free of harmful or inflammatory ingredients.

For context, I have sensitive combination skin, some hormonal acne, and more dryness in the winter than in the summer. I am trying to build a good skincare routine as a form of self-care and to drastically reduce the amount of makeup I wear. By sharing the products I use, I hope to get some recommendations and to highlight the importance of clean skincare as someone with an autoimmune disability. Lastly, skincare is for anyone!

1: Copper Peptide Serum

Black bottle with rose gold accents, labeled "Golden Hour Facial Beauty Serum." Features text: "with Copper Peptide," set against a plain background.

I use this once a day to help manage hormonal acne. Now that I get a monthly cycle regularly, this can help address the hormonal acne I get around my period. I have repurchased this multiple times because I like the price point and how easy it is to use. This is the product that got me started on my skincare journey.

2: Hyaluronic Acid Serum

OSEA Hyaluronic Acid serum with green liquid inside and a grey cap.

This serum adds moisture to any routine. I use it after the shower, after other serums, and before moisturizer to give my skin extra hydration. I tried a cheaper Trader Joe's hyaluronic acid serum, but I prefer this one. I try to have some products that aren't exfoliating or specifically designed to dry out acne, to give my skin a break. I also don't want to strip my skin too much, which is a concern I learned from asking Google AI some questions about skin care.

3: Toner

Green bottle of Farmacy Deep Sweep, a 2% BHA pore cleansing toner with moringa and papaya. Text in English and French.

I apply this before any serums, and use it to help prep my skin and address acne concerns. I bought a pack of reusable cotton pads from amazon to be sustainable, and I think it makes using this product easier. I read about using acids to exfoliate the skin and figured I needed a product to help. I have mostly been using products from this Farmacy brand, and so far I have enjoyed using their products. While I like this and recommend it for anyone who needs a toner, it is not one of my top recommendations.

4: Brightening foam

Orange bottle of FARMACY Bright On Daily AHA Foam with text detailing ingredients. Simple white background, clean and vibrant design.

I figured I could help brighten my skin. I am not sure if my skin is dull or not, but this was a type of AHA I didn't have in my skincare routine, so I thought I would add it in. This works by lathering onto your face, sitting for 30 seconds, and rinsing off, revealing brighter skin. I added it in addition to acne-based products to help my skin look bright without needing concealer or foundation. I use this a couple times a week, and have been enjoying it. However, I am not 100% sure what results are supposed to look like.

5: Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C plus serum in a grey bottle with a black label.

I bought this after getting a facial. It goes under sunscreen and contains additional ingredients like salicylic acid. I don't know if I should have bought the pure vitamin C serum instead, but I thought this would be good if I used a more gentle cleanser. This product helps with sun protection and anti-aging. I like the price point and so far have not had any issues with it.

6: Moisturizer

Jar of Farmacy Honey Cloud moisturizer with wooden lid, white frosted glass, and text detailing lightweight barrier-repair properties.

I have struggled to find a moisturizer that isn't too thick, doesn't burn, and doesn't make my skin feel worse. I think I finally found it with this. It has clean ingredients, is lightweight, doesn't hurt when I apply it, and is eczema-approved. I don't like the sensory experience of having thick products on my face, so moisturisers and sunscreens are harder for me to wear.

7: Sunscreen

White tube of Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen with SPF 50. Yellow cap, holographic text. Descriptive text highlights water resistance.

I have not consistently worn sunscreen on my face, maybe ever. I hate the texture; it always seems greasy, and I break out no matter what sunscreen I use. I have a sample of this one, and so far it has been the best sunscreen for me. It has a gel consistency; I don't feel it once I blend it in, and I only slightly hate the texture instead of majorly hating the texture. I still don't wear it every day, but I am working towards it.

Bonus: Cleansers

CeraVe Renewing AS cleanser with clear bottle and blue accents

CeraVe foaming cleanser for normal and oily skin. White bottle with green accents.

I use Cerave cleansers, which are good for sensitive skin but are not considered clean skincare. I am currently looking for a replacement, but am unsure where to look. In the past, if I wanted something for sensitive skin, there seemed to be an assumption that I also have dry skin, and I do not.

Skin care is an important part of health because your skin is your largest organ. As I am on my health journey, I want to look at all parts of health, including skin care. Thank you for reading about my clean skincare product recommendations! If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!