After using and testing hundreds of skincare products, I finally feel confident (and experienced) enough to share with you my super simple (but highly effective) skincare routine. It was not easy for me to come up with a perfect combination of products that would help my skin since I have a sensitive, oily type of skin with a tendency for cystic acne (that is another long story I will save for another time). But thanks to the help from the following products, here I am with my clear skin!
First and foremost, makeup off! Usually, I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but no matter how much makeup I wear, I always treat it with the same process of removing it. To do so, I use Clean It Zero Classic from Banila Co. It is a solid balm that transforms into a silky oil on the skin. Its sorbet-soft, lightweight texture effortlessly dissolves any (even very stubborn) makeup without irritating my skin or stripping it of its own natural oils. Side note: when my makeup is already gone, I keep on massaging my face with this product because it smells absolutely amazing thanks to its ingredients! Its papaya extract works to naturally exfoliate the skin and acerola extract is rich in vitamin C, which helps brighten it.
TIP: If I run out of this product or feel that my skin need a change, I just use coconut oil, which is a natural remedy for melting every makeup away, balancing my skin and moisturizing it. What’s more, coconut oil is a source of lauric and caprylic acids, which have powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial characteristics.
I am a believer of double cleansing and using two different formulas to properly and thoroughly cleanse my face. Once I remove my makeup with an oily formula, it is time to actually clean my skin with a natural soap. The one I am using right now is a Volcano Black Soap I bought when I was in Santorini. It is an olive oil soap with volcanic lava – ideal for sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin as mine. It increases blood flow and lymph circulation, tones the muscles and tissues, and improves the overall condition of my skin.
TIP: I wash my face using a soft washcloth, not my hands. This practice improves blood circulation, gently exfoliates my skin and leaves it looking cleaner, clearer and brighter.
I cannot stress enough how important having a good toner in your daily skin routine is as it restores the skin’s natural pH balance. I must admit, I used to skip this step simply because I could not find a right toner for my skin and I assumed it is better to use nothing than to use something that is not suitable for me. Finally, one day while shopping at Whole Foods, I found Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner and convinced by its smell (I love everything that involves rose water or smells like roses), I decided to give it a try. Like most of the products sold at Whole Foods, this toner is organic, paraben-free, and phthalate-free. Additionally, it has an aloe vera formula, which has tones of benefits like brightening my skin, degreasing oily parts, curing imperfections, moisturizing the dry parts of my skin, soothing any irritations, and even calming sunburn. It all means that this toner is a true miracle for the type of skin I have. I absolutely love this product and cannot image my daily skincare routine without it.
Let my inner love for Korean beauty products speak now. Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is a concentrated treatment product that is formulated with 96% snail mucin. The essence is loaded with replenishing and revitalizing nutrients that help repair damaged skin after acne breakouts, improve its elasticity, and hydrate it. Its water-based consistency is great for my skin type because it absorbs quickly into it and doesn’t clog pores. After using this product for a couple of months, my skin glows, stay less oily, and looks its healthiest!
Finally, my favourite moisturizer of all times (and a little story). Since I have oily skin, finding a moisturizer that would not make my face look like a disco ball was a real mission. I have tried so many different brands on my skin that of course did not work for me. Discouraged, I decided to put all my trust in a classy, well-established brand that has been used by women in my family from generation to generation – that was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Dramatically different moisturizing gel from Clinique is a lightweight, dermatologist-developed formula that combines oil-free hydration with skin-strengthening ingredients. What this product does is preventing my face from getting oily while keeping my skin moisturized just on the right level – that is exactly what I need to have healthy and glowy skin!
