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Acne, oil & congestion

Stripping oily skin makes it oilier. The route out of congestion runs through a barrier that's intact, not scrubbed.

What's actually happening

Breakouts start when excess sebum, dead cells and bacteria block a follicle and inflammation follows. Heat and humidity raise sebum output, which is why acne behaves differently here than in temperate climates. The harsh washes people reach for damage the barrier, which triggers more oil and more inflammation — the cycle that keeps skin stuck.

The honest part

In Indian skin, the breakout is often the short part. The mark it leaves behind lasts months longer, and unprotected sun makes it permanent. Treating acne without treating the pigmentation that follows is half a job.

The approach

Four moves, in this order.

Step 01

Salicylic acid, not scrubbing

BHA is oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore. Physical scrubs damage the surface and reach nothing.

Step 02

Low and daily beats high and occasional

A gentle daily exfoliating cleanser outperforms a strong weekly peel, with a fraction of the irritation.

Step 03

Moisturise anyway

Oily skin still gets barrier damage. A light non-comedogenic moisturiser reduces oil production, it doesn't add to it.

Step 04

Protect the marks

Non-comedogenic SPF 50+ every day, or post-acne pigmentation sets in for the long term.

What we'd reach for

Formulated for this.

DavaniQ products are cosmetic formulations intended to support skin health and appearance. They are not medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. If a concern is persistent, painful or changing, please see a qualified dermatologist.

Go deeper

Worth reading first.

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Two minutes and six questions. We'll sequence the four steps for your skin type, this concern, and the climate you actually live in.