Flare-ups, breakouts, acne, blackheads, congestion, oiliness, and the million other terms used for this unwanted affliction all come down to one simple truth: the skin is unbalanced.

Unbalanced skin usually worsens in extreme heat or extreme cold, and fares better in more temperate months, which is why we’re all talking about it right now in this searing (but, in my opinion, blissful) heat.

Every part of life requires balance, whether it’s work and life or healthy and unhealthy food (we can’t all live on kale forever without any chocolate), so why wouldn’t skin also need balance?

For skin to be perfectly balanced, we need a balanced trifecta:

My experience and training have always reinforced that every skin is different. The trifecta is true, but how much of each element each person needs will vary. This is where professional advice helps, and where you also need to listen to your skin and adjust accordingly.

Unbalanced skin also requires a strict routine over at least 2 months to achieve results. Breaking the routine can quickly rebalance skin in the wrong direction, so think of it like a course of antibiotics: stopping too soon means you haven’t completed the repair process.

Step 1: Cleansing

The quality of a cleanser is often underestimated because it is rinsed off quickly. But experience shows cleanser choice matters. For me, balancing skin began when I stopped using gel cleansers and switched to a milk cleanser.

Cleansing is the foundation of every routine. Even though it is removed, it prepares the skin for everything that follows. Lait S.R. is our go-to first step for balancing skin. This cleansing milk contains a complex of myrrh, myrtle, and onion, plus meadowsweet extract, which helps draw out oil and dirt without drying skin out.

Step 2: Exfoliating

Steps 1 and 2 are your preparation steps. They create a clean base for the treatment steps that follow. Product recommendations here can vary depending on your hydration, lipid, and antioxidant balance.

Step 3: Masking

Step 4: Serums

Serums are essential because their smaller molecules penetrate faster and deeper than heavier textures. For congestion and imbalance, serums are key, and your combination can be adjusted daily.

For active acne, Complexe Iribiol is excellent. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, so you can apply it directly where acne is forming. It can also be used all over to regulate oil, but it can be drying, so monitor your skin and pause when needed.

Hydration is critical in balancing skin. If skin lacks hydration, it often overproduces oil to compensate. Hydrating serums are ideal because they absorb quickly and deeply.

We often recommend Serum Amniotique VG for unbalanced skin because it hydrates deeply, does not clog pores, and contains no lipids.

Serum Iso-Placenta is another key option, especially for repairing post-congestion damage. Its healing action supports skin reconstruction, helps reduce post-acne marks, and regulates oil secretions.

Step 5: Creams

This final step treats skin and forms a protective surface barrier to maintain balance. Because this category has several options, it is useful to divide into day creams and night creams.

Day creams can usually be used day or night. Night creams are generally best reserved for nighttime due to stronger actives or comfort factors.

Day Creams

Creme Iso-Placenta is one of our most popular creams. It is highly repairing, supports post-acne pigmentation concerns, delivers light hydration, and is non-comedogenic.

If your skin is producing too much oil and you want a mattifying finish, Creme Collagene is a strong option.

One of my favourites is Emulsion Gel Biosensible. Despite the name, it feels more like an emulsion. It is rich in hydration from hyaluronic acid, feels lightweight, and works beautifully for sensitive combination skin with mild monthly breakouts.

Night Creams

Our most sought-after acne night cream is Creme Dermopurifiante. It is designed for moderate to severe acne and works overnight to bring impurities to the surface so they can be removed during morning cleansing with Lait S.R.

It contains antioxidants, exfoliating acids, oil-regulating, purifying, anti-inflammatory, and regenerating agents.

Another option is Creme aux Acides de Fruits (Fruit Acids Cream). Think of it as a stronger cream counterpart to Lotion P50, focused on resurfacing. It is often used for post-acne pigmentation and scarring, and can also be applied to specific target areas.

In this piece, I’ve covered the main products recommended for unbalanced skin. For precise guidance, it is always best to consult a skin professional, or complete our Advanced Skin Analysis, which is calibrated to match products to your concerns based on your answers.

As always, if you have any questions, please call us on 020 3358 9998 or email concierge@embassyofbeauty.co.uk to speak with me or one of our highly trained skin consultants.