On the road to better skin I’ve tried quite a few products last year that are now so key to my oily skin skincare routine. First things first let’s talk about my skin. I have oily skin that is very much acne prone. There are a few dry spots around the corners of my mouth and my chin, but my forehead nose and cheeks are known to get “fried chicken” greasy. I don’t know how I come with these expressions, but roll with me.
Key Products in my Oily Skin Skincare Routine
Clinique is Clutch!
Last year I went to get a professional facial for the first time and from the million and one questions I asked, I got a recommendation to try the Clinique 3 step system. I bought the 1 month trial version at first and let’s just say I was sold. It’s definitely a great place to start as you try to get your oily skin skincare routine together. The 3 step system includes:
Step 1 is the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild
I wash my face with this at least twice a day. I double cleanse with it at night if I’ve had makeup on all day. It’s fragrance free and non-drying to my skin. You would think that dries out your skin is ideal, but no. Dried out skin only promotes more oil production which can lead to more breakouts.
Step 2 Clarifying Lotion
It’s so funny that there’s a huge #3 on the Clinique Clarifying Lotion, but that number correlates with the skin type it’s for not the step in the system itself. It’s more like an exfoliating toner. I find this step to be a less abrasive option for exfoliating that I can do on a daily basis. If for some reason you missed spots when washing your face, the Clarifying Lotion comes through and finishes the cleansing job.
Step 3 Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
This is definitely my favorite part of the whole 3 step system, because I love soft my skin feels and how dewy it looks. It’s not too heavy and soaks right into my skin so I’m able to put on my makeup after a few minutes. More importantly it doesn’t cause any of my make up to slide around.
I have consistently been using these products for an entire year and my breakouts are practically nonexistent. I do still get two to three tiny pimples and more often than not they’re associated with my menstrual cycle. Outside of that my face is relatively clear of breakouts.
My Acne Breakout Secret Weapon
Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask is the GOAT that I forgot about for a few years, but started using as a spot treatment for anything that might pop up (pun intended) from time to time. I’ve seen bumps literally disappear and become significantly less noticeable overnight using this mask. It’s also for oily skin so I use it as a full face mask (especially on my T-zone) at least once a week in between my sheet masks. This is a must try in your oily skin skincare routine.
Speaking of sheet masks!
I use and try loads of them. They’re in my opinion a lot less messy and easier to apply! Just slap (don’t do that) the panels on your face and you’re good to go. I don’t really use the gimmicky ones. I try to use sheet masks that have key ingredients that promote even toned skin, moisture retention, skin elasticity, or minimize acne.
Vaseline??!
Don’t exit the post! Stay with me! This is a recent thing that I kinda knew about from my grandmother, but I’ve been seeing estheticians on Instagram and Twitter mentioning this recently. Vaseline is a great non- clogging sealant to add as the final layer on your skin after applying your moisturizing products AT NIGHT! Do not walk around these streets looking slicker than the BP oil spill in the day.
Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Wipes
I’ve tried 3 out of the 5 types of Burt’s Bees facial cleansing wipes and they all did a great job removing my makeup. The Grapefruit (pink package) wipes and the Micellar Cleansing Towelettes are my favorites . If you’ve never tried any I’d recommend the Micellar Cleansing Towelettes since they’re for all skin types. They’re also great to use in the middle of the day to cleanse your face without drying it out.
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF
While this moisturizer is not a product specifically for acne prone or oily skin I have to include it on this list. First of all protect your skin because skin cancer and such. It’s non greasy and it doesn’t leave an ashy white cast on my skin which is a whole struggle for women of color. On my no makeup days I apply this to my face and my skin feels soft throughout the day.
While my skin isn’t near social media perfect skin , I’m happy with my oily skin skincare routine. To sum up it up like a true Millennial, makeup is the only filter I use in my photos on a regular bases. Ha! Now that I’m able to keep breakouts to a minimum, my focus is on fading dark spots and evening out my skin tone. I would love to know about any products for hyper-pigmentation and dark spots that you swear by! Once I’ve given a few products an honest shot I’ll check back in with a post on that!
I hope you enjoyed this post and getting all up in my face! If you know someone that struggling with their oily skin or keeping breakouts to a minimum, be a great friend and share this post with them.
