Breakouts
Focus on unclogging pores while keeping your barrier comfortable.
♡ ingredient-first skincare, minus the overwhelm
your skin,
decoded.
Tell us your skin type and what’s bothering you. GlowGuide turns the ingredient chaos into a simple, beginner-friendly routine — from hydrating hyaluronic acid to breakout-friendly salicylic acid.
✿ simple routines♡ ingredient education☼ SPF always included
01 — skin match
What is your skin asking for?
Choose a skin type and one or more concerns. We’ll suggest ingredient categories — not specific brands — so you can shop smarter.
What do you want help with?
02 — glow goals
Choose the concern, not the hype.
Think in ingredient families. A good routine is usually gentler and simpler than the internet makes it look.
Dry + dehydrated
Layer water-attracting humectants under a moisturizer that helps seal comfort in.
Uneven tone
Prioritize daily sun protection, then add gentle tone-supporting ingredients.
Dullness + texture
Support smooth turnover without stacking too many exfoliants at once.
03 — ingredient dictionary
Your little glow glossary.
Search by ingredient or concern.
Hyaluronic Acid
A humectant that helps skin hold onto water, making it a great supporting ingredient for dehydrated-feeling skin.
- Best for: dry, dehydrated, sensitive-feeling skin
- Use: AM or PM, usually after cleansing
Pairs nicely with: ceramides, glycerin, niacinamide
Niacinamide
Vitamin B3 used in skincare to support the skin barrier and help improve the look of uneven tone and oiliness.
- Best for: combination, oily, uneven-looking skin
- Use: AM or PM
Pairs nicely with: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, sunscreen
Salicylic Acid
An oil-soluble beta-hydroxy acid often used to help unclog pores and manage blackheads and acne.
- Best for: oily, acne-prone, clogged pores
- Use: start a few times weekly
Go slow with: other strong exfoliants or retinoids
Azelaic Acid
A versatile active that can help with acne and the appearance of post-breakout marks, while often fitting sensitive-skin routines.
- Best for: acne + uneven tone
- Use: introduce gradually, AM or PM
Pairs nicely with: moisturizer + sunscreen
Vitamin C
An antioxidant ingredient often used to support brighter-looking skin and defend against environmental oxidative stress.
- Best for: dullness + uneven-looking tone
- Use: often in the morning under SPF
Beginner tip: pick a gentle formula and patch test
Ceramides
Skin-identical lipids that help support the skin barrier and reduce that tight, stripped feeling.
- Best for: dry, sensitive, over-exfoliated skin
- Use: in moisturizer, AM and PM
Pairs nicely with: basically every routine
Benzoyl Peroxide
An established acne active that reduces acne-causing bacteria and can be found in washes and leave-on treatments.
- Best for: inflamed pimples / acne
- Use: start low and slowly; it can be drying
Heads up: can bleach towels and fabrics
Lactic Acid
An alpha-hydroxy acid that exfoliates the surface and can help rough, dull-looking skin feel smoother.
- Best for: texture + dullness
- Use: PM, not every night at first
Go slow with: retinoids and other exfoliating acids
Retinoids*
A family of vitamin-A derivatives used for acne and photoaging. Potency and pregnancy guidance vary, so personalized advice matters.
- Best for: acne, texture, photoaging
- Use: usually PM, introduced gradually
*Important: ask a dermatologist/clinician if pregnant, trying to conceive, or highly sensitive
04 — routine map
A routine you’ll actually follow.
The basics do the heavy lifting. Treatments sit in the middle — and you don’t need every active at once.
Skin safety note: This guide is educational and does not diagnose or treat a medical condition. Patch test new products, introduce one active at a time, and stop if you develop significant burning, swelling, blistering, or a persistent rash. See a dermatologist for severe, painful, scarring, or persistent acne/pigmentation, or if you’re unsure what is safe for you. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is especially important when your goal is improving uneven tone or when using exfoliating/renewal ingredients.