Here's every single product you need if you're taking Roaccutane
Dry lips. Dry eyes. Dry nose. Dry hands. Dry everything. If you’ve ever taken Roaccutane (/Accutane/Isotretinoin) as a method of acne treatment, all of these things will be very familiar to you.
Before I began on the pilgrimage (and trust me, it is one) to clear skin, the one thing I wish I’d have known, is how to deal with the side effects.
Endless Googling at 2am no doubt leads you to just WHAT you will be experiencing over the next few months (and more than likely put you off for life), but I was never told exactly what to be using and how to be using it. PSA to dermatologists: being told “always carry lip balm” is SO VAGUE.
As someone who is all too familiar with the testing side effects of the drug, we’ve compiled a precise list of every product that has worked for me, and will hopefully make things easier for you too…
The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo, £9.50
Things in life that are certain: death, taxes, and getting the worst flaky scalp ever while taking Roaccutane. While there are so many anti-dandruff shampoos on the market, this is by far the best one that does the job in just one wash. It has a strong smell (so if you don't like ginger, maybe try a sample size first), but at £9.50 you will never turn your back on this one. The 5-star reviews don't lie!
Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Toning Pads, £10
If you're ever having a day where your skin is dull, flaky and seems like it can't ever be fixed (and trust me, there'll be a lot of them), sweeping one of these Nip + Fab Bee Sting pads over your face before bed allows you to wake up feeling fresh-faced, and with tighter skin. Winner, winner.
Clinique Dark Spot Corrector & Optimiser, £45
If you've been graced with acne at some point in your life, whether you're a serial picker or refuse to touch your face, you're likely to have some kind of scarring. While there are a number of products out there that claim to remove the redness from scarring, this Clinique 2-in-1 serum is a great one - especially if you're having a makeup-free day.
Huda Beauty Overachiever Concealer, £23
Say hello to your new BFF. No seriously, this Huda concealer is going to be one to carry in your handbag because not only is it industrial-strength (trust me, it covers EVERYTHING and is 31% pure pigment), it's available in 20 shades (not amazing, but there's definitely been worse), so it was pretty easy to find one for both my foundation shade and my skin when I go au naturale.
111Skin Vitamin C Brightening Booster, £95
Ok, make no mistake, this isn't the most purse-friendly of products - but it is one of the best. Vitamin C is super important for reducing scarring and helping to restore your complexion to its natural, glowing state, and this 111Skin Brightening Booster has rave reviews and for good reason. Created by Dr Yannis from 111 Harley Street, this is some medical-grade product that costs way less than going to an aesthetician. So it's basically a pay day bargain, right?
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, £33.50
So you're six months into your treatment, your skin is beginning to clear up nicely and you want to branch away from your full coverage foundation. Say hello to your new best friend! Nars Sheer Glow is a great one because it has a dewy finish which isn't going to dry your skin out (avoid matte at all costs), but it's not so thin in texture that it's going to slide off, and there's still the security blanket of some coverage. Particularly if you're going through treatment during the summer months, this one is the holy grail.
Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Lip Protectant Stick (SPF15), £20
If there's one thing you're going to go through a hell of a lot of while taking Roaccutane - it's lip balm. And while there are plenty of others out there that do the job, this Elizabeth Arden one stops you from having to re-apply every 5 minutes (no kidding). It also contains SPF15 (your new sun-sensitive skin is VERY prone to burning, even on cloudy days) and this product also doubles up as a great Vaseline alternative - worth the investment if you don't have time to have lip balm glued to your hand all day.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, £16
If you don't already own this cult favourite, what do you even have on your bathroom shelf? Despite Roaccutane banishing spots for good, like any normal person, you're still going to get the odd pimple due to hormonal and dietary changes. Just pop a dot of the pink sediment on your spot before bed, and you'll wake up in the morning good as new.
Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser, £2.00
This moisturiser is proof that cheap doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality. Packed with Vitamins B and E, along with no perfume or harsh chemicals, your skin is about to stay hydrated for up to 12 hours without feeling greasy - making it the perfect candidate for anyone on Roaccutane.
Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel, £10
One of the first things you'll be told when you start your treatment? NO EXFOLIATORS. As someone who loves nothing more than scrubbing every inch of dry skin off, there are no more heartbreaking words to hear. However, doing so will cause skin to rip, and ultimately, leave you with scarring, so best not to, eh? For daily cleansing this Bioderma one is packed with Zinc Sulphate and Copper Sulphate, and the soap-free formula helps to unclog congested pores without stripping or drying out skin, giving your skin that freshly-exfoliated feel, without the harshness.
Optrex Intensive Eye Drops, £3.50
Now this may seem like a rogue suggestion, but you're going to thank us later. Dry eyes are painful any time they decided to grace us, but they're about to become an every day nuisance. Yep, while you may have never bothered paying attention to your eyes on the day-to-day before, ignoring the inevitable dryness Roaccutane causes can leave you tired and with migraines. Better to be safe than sorry.
Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Sun Lotion SPF30, £9.50
Whether you're riding the Roaccutane wave during Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter (or all four), you're going to need sun protection. Even on cloudy days, skin is super light-sensitive, and when you think you're sitting minding your business for 15 minutes on a gloomy day, you still somehow end up like a tomato. It's also a time when your skin is going to be super dry so this particular sun cream offers moisturising non-greasy properties with the added bonus of SPF.
MAC Studio Fix Foundation SPF15, £26
It's a known fact that during the first month or so of your treatment, your skin will purge. It might even be worse than it was to start with. And while it may leave you feeling deflated, popping on makeup can make you feel SO much better, and this full-coverage cult classic (loved by us ordinary folk and celebs alike) is the way to go for a flawless complexion.
