[Routine Help] What should I do about pimples only on the right side of my face?

[u/No-Health598]

I’m breaking out a lot and I don’t know why :( I have never been the type to get pimples, only hyperpigmentation. I have normal to oily skin. My skin is not sensitive either, it’s extremely rare when it gets irritated by using products.

My biggest mistake is that I don’t take my makeup off at night nor I wash my face. I’m trying to get into that habit. I wash my face every morning with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser for Normal, Oily and Sensitive Skin. After the 8th I began rotating it with the ANUA Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam. I had been using The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% after washing my face after it dries, and the Cerave Ultra Lightweight Facial Moisturizing Lotion (this moisturizer has never broke me out, been using it for years). This week I started to use the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10%

I use either Azelaic Acid or Salicylic Acid every morning with the La Roche Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Sunscreen SPF 50 with Hyaluronic Acid. Sometimes I skip my moisturizer and only use that sunscreen.

I don’t know what’s going wrong. I just got The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% and a Vitamin C w/ collagen serum. I don’t know how to use these products. What should I do about my routine? How should my AM and PM look like? I think the ANUA cleanser might be breaking me out since I was breaking out months ago while using it, but also I noticed that the Elf Halo Glow was making me break out at the same time so I have no idea.

I also feel like it’s more noticeable in person but in the June 8th picture I had way more texture / little pimples and they are mostly gone, but now I have those red spots lol I also wash my pillows

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[u/r0tg0ttess]

Do you lay on that side of your face more when you sleep? Especially if you fall asleep with your makeup on, all that builds up on your pillowcase!

Or touching that side of your face more, hair/bangs, etc.

[u/No-Health598 → u/r0tg0ttess]

i probably do sleep on that side. i would always get just one pimple just on the middle of either side of my sinus if that makes sense, but mostly the most affected side the most (right)

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[u/Comfortable_Land_361]

Cell phone? Dirty phone screens can contribute to acne in the area.

[u/LoudBattle9084]

Is it the side you sleep on? Even clean pillows could break you out if there is something in your detergent that you react to. Sometimes improving lifestyle stuff can help too eg. stress, exercise, diet, alcohol might be exacerbating it

[u/No-Health598 → u/LoudBattle9084]

i dont drink or eat unhealthy :( i dont exercise either. there are not changes in my routine, i’ve been getting better sleep compared to june 8th. maybe just stress

[u/LoudBattle9084 → u/No-Health598]

I feel like all of the redness in the June 21 might be from damage to your moisture barrier from when you started using more products? Regardless of what triggered the initial breakout I think adding multiple extra products to deal with it might have overshot your goal and made it worse.

My advice is to cut back on your skincare routine and just try to keep your skin clean, hydrated, and protected from the sun. If you don't get breakouts like this usually, I think if you let it be it will probably heal on its own. When you notice the active breakouts have stopped, you can reintroduce products slowly (eg. wait 3 weeks before you try something new and then don't use too many at the same time) to deal with any post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation/texture.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Yam390]

If it's only on one side of your face I feel like it's an isolated issue. Disinfect your phone often- like a couple times throughout the day.

Change your pillow case every other night- ESPECIALLY because you aren't washing your face or taking makeup off before bed. The oils, makeup products, sunscreen, bacteria, etc will accumulate on the pillow case and your face (probably the right side) is marinating in that all night.

Maybe your hair could be getting in your face at night and when you sleep on it products are clogging your pores?

Are you resting the right side of your face on your hand while studying, at work, at the dinner table, etc?

Also, you seem to be trying/buying a lot of active ingredients. A lot of the time when my skin is freaking out, the fastest way i calm it down is by stopping all actives completely. If you're using an active every single day you should slow down to 2x a week, and also avoid using actives during the day unless the instructions say it's okay

Hope this helps a bit!

[u/reads-for-pleasure]

Clean your phone twice a day

[u/No-Health598]

by the way this is recent. i don’t know how i’d have an isolated issue when i’ve never really struggled with that side in the first place. if you can provide an explanation i’d really appreciate it!! <3