By Stacia · Updated March 2026 · Skincare Tips & Product Reviews
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe in.
I need to talk about something that took me years to figure out — and when I finally did, my skin changed faster than I ever thought possible.
Closed comedones. Those tiny, flesh-coloured bumps under your skin that don’t come to a head, won’t pop, and seem completely immune to every product you throw at them. I had them across my forehead, chin, and cheeks for years. I tried everything — every toner, every exfoliant, every “pore-clearing” face wash on the market.
Nothing worked — until I stopped guessing and started understanding what these bumps actually are and what science says actually clears them.
In 30 days, following the exact routine below, my skin was the clearest it had been in years. Here’s everything I used, why each product works, and a few hacks that made the whole thing click faster.
First: What Actually Are Closed Comedones?
A closed comedone is a clogged hair follicle where dead skin cells and sebum (your skin’s natural oil) become trapped beneath the surface. Unlike a blackhead — which oxidises dark because it’s open to air — closed comedones stay sealed under a thin layer of skin, appearing as small flesh-coloured or white bumps.
They are not infected. They are not inflamed. They are just stuck. And because they’re not bacterial in nature, traditional acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide often have little effect on them.
What does work? Ingredients that increase cell turnover, dissolve the oil plug from inside the pore, and stop new blockages forming. That’s the science. That’s what I built this routine around.
⚠️ Fungal Acne vs. Closed Comedones — Know The Difference
Before starting any routine, identify which type of bumps you’re dealing with — the treatments are completely different. If your bumps are itchy, appear in uniform clusters, worsen with humidity or after sweating, and don’t respond to standard acne products, you may have fungal acne (pityrosporum folliculitis) caused by Malassezia yeast overgrowth. I cover the anti-dandruff shampoo hack for this below. Many people have both conditions simultaneously.
Step 1: The Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser — $14–$18
This is where most people go wrong. When skin is congested, the instinct is to reach for the most stripping, squeaky-clean formula you can find. The problem: over-cleansing strips your skin’s natural oils, which signals your skin to produce even more sebum to compensate — creating more congestion, not less.
The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is gentle enough to cleanse without disrupting your skin barrier. It contains ceramides to protect and repair the barrier, plus hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration. A healthy, intact skin barrier is the foundation of any clearing routine.
I use this morning and evening. It removes everything without leaving skin tight or stripped.
→ Shop CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser on Amazon
💡 The Towel Hack That Actually Matters
I stopped drying my face with a regular bathroom towel. Bath towels harbour bacteria and mould spores between washes — patting that onto freshly cleansed skin counteracts everything you’re trying to achieve. Dermatologists recommend single-use face towels for this reason. The Clean Skin Club towels are the viral option, but they’re expensive. My hack: Kleenex Paper Hand Towels. Dye-free, fragrance-free, single use, and a fraction of the price. Keep a box next to your sink.
→ Shop Kleenex Paper Hand Towels on Amazon
Step 2: The BHA Exfoliant — The Most Important Product
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — $37
If there is one product responsible for clearing my closed comedones, it’s this one.
BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid — specifically salicylic acid. Unlike AHAs that work on the skin’s surface, salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This means it can penetrate inside the pore and dissolve the sebum and dead skin cell build-up causing the blockage — working from the inside out.
The Paula’s Choice 2% BHA is formulated at the correct pH (3.2–3.8) for the acid to be active, it’s fragrance-free, and gentle enough for daily use once skin has built tolerance. Apply after cleansing on dry skin. Do not rinse it off — it’s a leave-on treatment. Start every other day and build up from there.
→ Shop Paula’s Choice 2% BHA on Amazon
Step 3: The Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Hack
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo — $15–$20
This sounds bizarre. I know. But the science behind it is completely legitimate — and board-certified dermatologists actually recommend it to their patients.
If any of your bumps are fungal in nature, caused by Malassezia yeast overgrowth rather than clogged pores, regular skincare ingredients cannot treat them. The treatment for fungal acne is antifungal — and anti-dandruff shampoos contain exactly those ingredients, because dandruff is driven by the same Malassezia yeast.
Nizoral contains ketoconazole, one of the most clinically effective antifungal ingredients available without a prescription. Studies show up to 75% of people with fungal folliculitis see improvement with ketoconazole treatment.
How to use it:
- Apply a small amount to your face like a mask after cleansing
- Leave on for 2–5 minutes before rinsing
- Use 2–3 times per week — not daily, as it can be drying
- Always follow with moisturiser
Head & Shoulders (zinc pyrithione) and Selsun Blue (selenium sulfide) are more affordable options that work on the same antifungal principle.
→ Shop Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo on Amazon
Step 4: Adapalene — The Gold Standard for Comedones
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% — $30–$35
Retinoids are the clinical gold standard for treating closed comedones. Adapalene works by accelerating skin cell turnover — the cells lining your pores shed faster, preventing them from building up into clogs. Over time it also pushes out existing comedones while stopping new ones from forming.
The La Roche-Posay formula is one of the best-tolerated adapalene options available without a prescription. I use it three evenings a week to start, alternating with my BHA nights.
Important:
- Do not use BHA and adapalene on the same night when starting out — alternate them
- Always use SPF the following morning — retinoids increase sun sensitivity
- A skin purge in weeks 2–4 is normal — it means the treatment is working
→ Shop La Roche-Posay Adapalene on Amazon
Step 5: The Tool That Accelerated Everything
CurrentBody Skin LED Anti-Blemish Mask — $469
This is the most expensive item on the list — and the one that took my results from good to genuinely transformative. It is backed by real peer-reviewed clinical research.
Blue light (415nm) destroys acne-causing bacteria on your skin’s surface without irritating surrounding tissue. Red light (633nm) reduces inflammation and supports collagen production. A clinical study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy found that combined blue and red LED phototherapy significantly reduced closed comedones within 28 days of twice-weekly treatment. A separate self-applied blue light study documented a 30.4% reduction in closed comedones at day 28.
The CurrentBody mask is FDA-cleared, clinically tested, and features flexible silicone that fits every face shape. Each session takes 10 minutes. I use it 4–5 times a week after cleansing and before applying actives.
→ Shop CurrentBody LED Mask on Amazon
Also Worth Considering: Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro — $455
A celebrity-favourite FDA-cleared LED mask combining 100 red lights for collagen production with 60 blue lights to destroy acne bacteria. Hands-free, 3-minute sessions with an adjustable silicone strap. Dermatologist-approved and consistently rated one of the best LED masks available for both acne and anti-ageing.
→ Shop Dr. Dennis Gross LED Mask on Amazon
The Exact Routine
☀️ Morning
- Cleanse with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
- Pat dry with a Kleenex paper hand towel
- Apply Paula’s Choice 2% BHA — leave on, do not rinse
- Wait 5 minutes
- Lightweight non-comedogenic moisturiser
- SPF 30+ — non-negotiable when using acids
🌙 Evening — BHA Nights (Mon / Wed / Fri)
- Double cleanse: oil cleanser first, then CeraVe
- Pat dry with Kleenex paper hand towel
- Apply Paula’s Choice 2% BHA
- Wait 5 minutes
- LED mask for 10 minutes (optional but recommended)
- Lightweight moisturiser
🌙 Evening — Retinoid Nights (Tue / Thu / Sat)
- Double cleanse: oil cleanser first, then CeraVe
- Pat dry with Kleenex paper hand towel
- LED mask for 10 minutes
- Wait 10 minutes after LED
- Apply adapalene — thin layer across the full face
- Wait 20 minutes
- Lightweight moisturiser
🧴 2–3 Times Per Week
- Apply Nizoral as a mask after cleansing, leave 3–5 minutes, then rinse
- Continue with your normal evening routine after rinsing
What to Expect: The 30-Day Timeline
Days 1–7: Your skin may look the same, or possibly slightly worse if starting retinoids. This is completely normal. The BHA is beginning to loosen congestion from inside the pore. Do not panic, do not increase frequency.
Days 8–14: Some existing bumps may come to the surface — this is the purge, and it means the treatment is working. Your skin is clearing its backlog of congestion faster than it naturally would. Some people skip this phase entirely.
Days 15–21: Texture begins to noticeably smooth. Your skin feels less bumpy to the touch. Any purging is slowing down. This is when most people see the shift.
Days 22–30: Significant improvement in texture, fewer visible bumps, smoother surface overall. Skin takes 8–12 weeks for full results — but the change at 30 days is real and visible.
Things That Made The Biggest Difference
- Always patch test new actives before applying all over your face
- Never skip SPF — acids and retinoids make skin photosensitive
- Do not over-exfoliate — more is not more with BHA, especially when starting out
- Change your pillowcase every 2–3 days — old pillowcases collect oil and bacteria. I use these: silk pillowcases on Amazon
- The towel hack genuinely matters — it is the cheapest easy win on this entire list
- Patience is the most important ingredient. Minimum 30 days, 12 weeks for full results
Quick Product Roundup
- CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser — $14–18
- Kleenex Paper Hand Towels (60ct) — single-use face drying hack
- Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — $37
- Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo — $15–20, fungal acne hack
- La Roche-Posay Adapalene Gel 0.1% — $30–35
- CurrentBody LED Anti-Blemish Mask — $469
- Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro — $455
- Silk Pillowcases — change every 2–3 days
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally tested and genuinely believe in. This is not medical advice — please consult a dermatologist if you have concerns about your skin.