Oily Skin Skincare Routine
I should start this off with the obvious disclaimer that what works for me might not work for you but since these products do work for me, I’d love to share and maybe help someone else out!
Acne. It’s awful. And it’s inevitable for like 99% of people, right? In my case, my skin is oily as oily can be, and it’s incredibly sensitive…like I drink a little less water one day, and bam, the next morning I wake up with a few pimple friends. Over the years I’ve discovered my acne is mainly due to hormones and diet, but if I fall asleep without washing my face just once, I’m canceling my plans for the next few days!
I had horrible acne as a teenager and nothing seemed to work for me. I tried it all, from Proactiv to whatever my dermatologist recommended, and nothing cleared my skin. Nothing, until I took a chance on this odd-looking bar of Shea Moisture African Black Soap. For me, it was a total game-changer and I recommend it to everyone I know.
It’s literally a bar of black soap, which can be weird at first, but it smells amazing, and it makes my skin feel really clean. I use it with my Clarisonic Mia 2 face brush (are people still using those? Actually I Googled it and apparently the company closed in September 2020, so probably not). Ease into it at first though…try it every other day because it can be drying at first. I use mine every day, twice a day, so your skin definitely adjusts over time. I primarily use it on my face but it’s great for anywhere on your body, i.e., those sweaty sports bra workout days. The best part is, it’s less than $4 for a 3.5oz bar. If you really love it, I buy the mega 8oz bar for less than $5.
Don’t just take my word for it, I looked it up on Amazon and it has over 4,200 reviews. Now go try it!
Moving onto moisturizer…
As I said, my skin is INCREDIBLY sensitive. For a long time, I was scared to add anything new to my skincare routine. Plus, my skin is so oily, so why would I add moisturizer to the mix? Isn’t my skin too moisturized? After some serious Googling, I decided to find some courage and ordered a jar of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid. I gave it a good two weeks before I decided if I liked it or not and man, I love it! It’s more of a gel than a cream, so it feels very light, and it smells amazing! My face instantly feels hydrated when I apply it! In general, I’ve noticed my skin is a lot softer and my makeup looks less cakey. It’s a great drugstore option around $17.
Now onto my effort to look 25 forever…
I have been using this No7 Youthful Eye Serum eye cream since I was probably 18 years old and I love it! Not that you can really see a difference when you’re 18 years young, but I’m a firm believer in preventative skincare. Don’t wait to start! I use this eye cream every day, in the morning and evening. At $14 it’s not too expensive
I’m getting close to 30 and a mom to a toddler (AKA tired) so I’ve noticed some fine lines start to appear, much to my horror and dismay. I’m not joking about trying to look 25 forever! ANYWAYS, I’ve seen the No7 Laboratories Line Correcting Booster Serum on commercials and it popped up on my Target app one day so I ordered it! It’s a bit more expensive at $35 but I’ve been using it twice a day for two months now and I’m only halfway through one. And it’s considerably less expensive than Botox or other fillers! I use it under my eyes, on my forehead, and on my smile lines. I’ve observed a noticeable difference in my smile lines and my under eyes are more moisturized. I use this product first after washing and drying my face.
I’d like to add a vitamin C product to my routine but I have not found one I love yet, does anyone have any recommendations?
Like I said, everyone’s skin is different and what works for me may break you out, but if you haven’t found your product, give these a try!