Ontario makeup artist Malia Khan clears acne with drugstore products

A makeup artist based in Ontario has revealed how she cleared her horrible acne in just seven months using only drugstore products, and without any doctor prescribed medication. 

Known for her incredibly intricate makeup looks on Instagram, Malia Khan opened up to her followers about dealing with cystic and hormonal acne explaining the exact steps she took to banish blemishes for good.

The college student’s routine is super easy and specific as it’s geared towards clearing cystic and hormonal acne, scars and hyper-pigmentation using eight products all under $30 with most available at your local drugstore.  

Skincare routine: A makeup artist based in Ontario cleared her horrible acne in just seven months using only drugstore products without any doctor prescribed medication

Transformation: Malia Khan’s routine is geared towards clearing cystic and hormonal acne as well as scars and hyper-pigmentation using drugstore products

Malia shared her skincare routine writing: ‘Before and after skincare routine and none of that drink water and cleanse your soul bulls**t,’ she joked.  

She admitted that it took months of trial and error before she was able to find the perfect combination of products to create her own skincare regimen.   

The entire process of trying out different products and waiting to see if they improved her skin took about seven months to a year. 

Despite many cystic acne transformations involving some sort of oral medication such as Accutane or prescription topical creams, Malia opted out of that. 

‘Personally my doctor wanted me to do Accutane but with all the side effects, I wanted to try other stuff first and this worked for me,’ she admitted.  

The routine she follows every single night involves six key steps although she admits that sometimes she will add in a few extra steps if necessary. 

First she uses Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, ($7) to take off all of her makeup.

She then follows up with a micellar water which she squirts onto a cotton pad ‘to really get everything off,’ she explains. 

Before she even washes her face Malia makes sure to wipe the surface clean so that when she washes her face it will really get deep inside her pores.

Testing: She admitted that it took months of trial and error before she was able to find the perfect combination of products to create her own skincare regimen

Once the surface is wiped clean she washes her face in the shower but exfoliates with St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub ($4) which has salicylic acid in it, an ingredient known to prevent breakouts.

Many people who suffer or have suffered from acne have tried the St. Ives scrub in their routines and there are many mixed reviews on it. 

Some people have suggested the scrub has burnt their skin off while actual dermatologists have said it is not good for your skin because it can build-up. 

Regardless, Malia uses it because it works for her skin and doesn’t cause her any problems which she wants people to be aware of. 

‘I’ve used a variety of face exfoliators and even with my hyper sensitive skin this is what I’ve found has lessened the damage the most and I’ve used it for almost two years. 

‘Not saying this will prove the same to others but this is what worked on me and my skin. Everyone’s skin is different. Trust your skin. As for me, the apricot scrub has been a blessing. Scrub gently,’ Malia warned. 

Tips: Giving advice to other people suffering from similar acne issues, Malia said: ‘Impure skin leads to bacteria build up and acne – clean skin = good skin’

After she is done exfoliating, she mixes a little bit of her $30 Murad Clarifying Cleanser with one to two drops of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil ($5) and washes her face again. 

She also suggested that an alternative to making the mixture is to just use the $14 Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash from The Body Shop. 

Next she uses the $30 First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads as a toner to help with her hyperpigmentation and as for her scars, she admitted she cycles through three things. 

For scars she will either wash her face with The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Microdermabrasion Exfoliator ($23), apply Kate Somerville D-Scar Scar Diminishing Serum ($48) or use a dermaroller which can be bought online for $10.

‘Dermarollers are rollers with needles along it that prick the skin to stimulate collagen as well as skin regrowth and it’s very helpful for “ice pick” scars,’ Malia explained.

Malia uses a 0.25mm dermaroller which is small but she said that doesn’t matter because you should still be gentle when using it.

She chooses to use oil with her dermaroller so it glides easily because even though it’s small, it’s still harsh on skin.

To clean your roller in between uses, wash it with soap regularly and once a week sanitize it with rubbing alcohol.

Results: The entire process of trying out different products and waiting to see if they improved her skin took about seven months to a year (left – before, right – after)

Next, Malia will apply tea tree oil as a spot treatment onto any fresh or new breakouts, let it sit, then follows up with her $30 moisturizer – the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. 

Last but not least, perhaps one of the more bizarre at-home beauty treatment, Malia will sometimes put diaper rash cream on her face.

‘Hear me out – the active ingredient in diaper rash cream is zinc oxide which can help by calming inflammation and further protect skin.

‘It helps soothe redness, decrease the size of breakouts and dries out oil production,’ she explained.

Using diaper cream on the face to help treat breakouts is not unheard of and people have tried it out before, even swearing by it.  

As for treatments such as laser or facials, Malia admitted the only procedures that she’s had done are glycolic peels which cost her about $200.

She admitted that the peels help immensely with cystic acne by burning off the superficial layer of your skin and reducing oil production and existing breakouts.

As for her morning routine, Malia does the same exact regimen except for the wipes, micellar water, dermaroller and sometimes tea tree oil. 

She’s also tried alkaline water because she admitted, ‘My cystic and hormonal acne is no match for just water and I’ve tried everything.’

Giving advice to other people suffering from similar acne issues, Malia said: ‘Impure skin leads to bacteria build up and acne. Clean skin = good skin.’

Makeup artist reveals the drugstore products that cleared her cystic acne in just seven months

Malia Khan, a makeup artist from Ontario, Canada suffered from cystic and hormonal acne for many years.

After trying out tons of different products, Malia finally found the perfect ones that are right for her skin and they could all be found at the drugstore.

She admitted that when it comes to cystic acne many people think they need a medication – oral or topical – but she was able to clear her complexion with no prescriptions.  

Malia uses the Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, ($7, left) to take off makeup followed by micellar water on a cotton pad exfoliates her face in the shower with St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub ($4, right)

She then mixes a little bit of Murad Clarifying Cleanser ($30, left) with one or two drops of tea tree oil but said another alternative is The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash ($14, right)

As a toner, Malia uses the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads ($30, left) to help her hyperpigmentation and for her scars she uses three things starting with washing her face with The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Microdermabrasion Exfoliator ($23, right)

She then applies Kate Somerville D-Scar Scar Diminishing Serum ($48, left) or use a 0.25mm dermaroller ($10, right) which pricks the skin to stimulate collagen and skin regrowth while being helpful for ‘ice pick’ scars.

Lastly, she puts a little bit of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil ($5, left) on her new breakouts, lets it sit, then follow with her First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream ($30, right).

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