Written by Poppy English

Acne. An irritating cluster of blemishes which can be painful, upsetting but also beautiful. Accutane (also known as Isotretinoin) is a very effective method of treatment prescribed by dermatologists. Very successful at healing the skin, it can leave those taking the medication with sore side effects such as dry skin and lips and a high sensitivity to the sun – I should know, a short period in the sun left me with a scarlet face. We have rounded up the best and budget-friendly armour for Accutane to leave the skin feeling nourished so that the skin can flourish.

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin

Firstly, it is important to use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser to clean the skin. The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is calming and is infused with ceramides and hyaluronic acid which acts as a soothing friend to the skin craving hydration and balance. The cleanser will battle against bacteria without stripping the skin’s delicate barrier of moisture.

Available at Boots: £9.50 (263ml)

CeraVe Hydrating Moisturiser

Sticking with the dermatologist recommended brand CeraVe, their Hydrating Moisturiser is light and non-comedogenic. Formulated with patented MVE technology and glycerin, it protects and hydrates the natural barrier of the skin without leaving the skin feeling greasy. The moisturiser is enriched with 3 essential ceramides which leaves the skin feeling tranquil and hydrated. The moisturiser can be used on the face and the body for the same desired effect.

Available at Boots: £9.50 (263ml)

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with SPF30

As mentioned earlier, Accutane can leave the skin more vulnerable to the effects of UV rays, so it is vital to use SPF when venturing out to seize some vitamin D. Kielh’s SPF version of their best-selling beloved Ultra Facial Cream is lightweight, smoothing and hydrating. Formulated using glacial glycoprotein (yes, I had to Google this too), leaves the skin feeling well-balanced and UVA and UVB protected in sunny weather.

Available at Kiehl’s: £28.00 (50ml)

Vaseline Lip Therapy

If I reach into my bag now, I am guaranteed to find a pot of Vaseline waiting to instantly soften, repair and soothe my lips. Clinically proven to lock in moisturise, the petroleum jelly-based lip balm aids the lips to recover from discomfort and dryness. Not only does the balm come in an original version, but it also comes in a Rosy Lips Limited Edition version, which is beautiful whilst gently caring for the lips.

Both are available at Boots: £2.00 (20g)

Uriage Lip Repairing Balm

Often the dose of Accutane will increase, so it is essential to be well armoured when chapped lips strike. The highly tolerant Uriage Lip Repairing Balm repairs sore and damaged lips whilst restoring comfort to the delicate skin on the lips. Often reaching for lip balm every hour or so, the lip balm is long lasting whilst continuously insulating the skin’s surface leading to the lips appearing kissable and soothed.

Available at Amazon: £8.00 (4g)

Haircare

The hair can also feel brittle whilst on Accutane, by taking a vitamin B supplement, or introducing more food into the diet such as avocados, bananas, and broccoli, these can all give the hair a boost in feeling less dry.

The Olaplex Healthy-Hair Range includes 3 products that leave the hair feeling salon finished and nourished. The No. 3 Hair Perfector (100ml) is a weekly conditioning treatment designed to restore and rescue hair damage caused by the medication. It works with a bond multiplying system which reduces the risk of split ends and breakages. The next stunning step in the range is to use the No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo (100ml). The sulphate-free shampoo is gentle and moisturisers the hair whilst resisting dryness leaving the hair feeling glossy. Finally, the No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner (100ml) effectively targets damaged and dry hair, designed to strengthen fragile locks whilst improving vibrancy and bounce.

Available at Olaplex: £54.00