As an oily-skinned gal with sensitive, acne-prone skin, skipping my skincare routine isn’t really an option. Keep reading for my 2018 daily skin care routine for sensitive acne, prone-skin.

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About my Skincare Journey

When I was younger, I never cared about developing a healthy daily skin care routine.  Compared to makeup, skincare never excited me. Although I suffered from bad acne during my adolescence, I never felt the need to invest in great skin care habits. Why try if the root of my ”bad” skin is genetic?

My daily skin care routine consisted of washing my face twice a day with strong acne-fighting cleansers, applying topical solutions, and taking oral medications. In fact, I only did what I felt I had to do at the time.

Moisturizers and sunscreens weren’t a part of my daily skincare routine. I didn’t see the need for them. Why would I need to moisturize if I have oily skin? Who wears sunscreen when they aren’t at the beach?

Little did I know that taking care of my skin meant moisturizing and wearing sunscreen daily. Moreover, when I was younger I failed to grasp the concept that if I took care of my skin, then makeup would look even better. Maintaining a healthy daily skin care routine reduces texture and discoloration.

Thankfully, once my skin calmed down, I slowly dipped my toes into the world of skincare. Please keep reading to learn about my oily skin care concerns and my daily skin care routine.

My Skin Concerns

Before I dive into my daily skincare routine, I think it is important to discuss my skin type and my current skincare needs. Although I no longer suffer from horrible breakouts, my skin is still oily. During the Winter month, I experience occasional dry patches.

Additionally, my skin is sensitive and prone to eczema flair-ups. Believe it or not, there are types of eczema that are incredibly common for oily-skinned individuals.

Finally, I experience dark under eye circles (likely due to lack of sleep), as well as uneven skin tone and texture. My goal is to improve the overall tone and texture of my skin, while effectively trying to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

My Daily Skin Care Routine – AM

Step 1: Wash my Face

With a gentle, but effective cleanser I wash my face. I am currently using the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser.* Honestly, I would have never tried this boujee cleanser if I didn’t receive a free sample a while back. However, it is my all-time favorite cleanser.

The key is to find a cleanser that washes the skin without stripping it of essential oils. If a cleanser is too harsh, it can cause oily skin to produce even more oil.

Prefers to use clean and safe beauty products but with all the options available finds it confusing and challenging to find clean products she can trust and that deliver results. 

Step 2: Apply Toner

To help keep oil production at bay, I apply a clarifying toner. I am currently using the LUSH Tea Tree Water Toner. However, I don’t necessarily love this product, but I want to finish it before it expires in October.

Step 3: Apply Vitamin C Serum

To help prevent further skin damage from city pollution, prevent wrinkles, and lighten and brighten my uneven skin tone I work Vitamin C into the skin. I am currently using the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum.*

Step 4: Massage Moisturizer

Next, I work moisturizer into my skin for hydration and plumping. I make sure to use lightweight gel formulas that won’t clog my pores or feel heavy on the skin. My current go-to is the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream.*

Step 5: Dab Eye Cream

As someone who suffers from intense dark circles, eye creams are non-negotiable. My go-to eye cream for brightening the under-eye is IT Cosmetics Bye By Under Eye Eye Cream.* Read my honest review on this classic eye cream, as well as other fan favorite IT Cosmetics skincare.

Step 6: Finish with Sunscreen

The last step in my routine is to apply sunscreen all over my face, neck, and any exposed part of my chest. Obviously, sunscreen helps to prevent futher sun damage. Mineral-based sun blocks are my preferred formulas as opposed to chemical sunscreens. My go-to face sunscreen is the Algenist SUBLIME DEFENSE Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50.

My Daily Skin Care Routine – PM

Step 1: Remove Makeup – 1st Cleanse

Before washing my face with cleanser, I use a gentle makeup remover such as a micellar water* or cleansing balm.*

Step 2: Wash Again – 2nd Cleanse

At night I typically use a stronger face wash than my beloved Fresh cleanser. I’ll opt for a gentle exfoliator such as the Origins GinZing Exfoliating Face Wash.* By the end of the day, I need something a little stronger to remove oil, dirt, and leftover makeup.

Step 3: Apply a Chemical Exfoliator

As someone with oily skin, chemical exfoliators help to reduce the appearance of texture. In particular, AHA/BHA products help reduce pore size by removing any dead skin or product clogging my pores. This reduces acne and helps make the skin tone look more even and radiant. My Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Serum* is my all-time favorite chemical exfoliator.

Step 4: Moisturize

After exfoliating, I apply a rich moisturizer. Compared to the gel-based moisturizers that I apply in the morning, my evening moisturizer is much thicker and creamier.

Step 5: Apply Eye Cream

After applying my nighttime face cream, I apply an eye cream. Usually, I’ll just use a backup of whatever eye cream that I like less.

Step 6: Massage on a Face Oil

Last, to lock in moisture and maximize the effects of my evening skincare, I apply a facial oil. Favorites include the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil* and the Drunk Elephant Marula Oil.*

Skin Care Basics & Takeaways

My skin-care routine will likely look very different from yours depending on your skincare concerns and age. For example, I would not recommend that anyone in high school or even in college use retinol due to the high-intensity nature of the product. However, at a minimum, most people should be washing their face at least once a day, applying moisturizer, and wearing sunscreen.

I built myself up to my current routine, starting with one product at a time. For example, I integrated moisturizer into my routine first and then several months later added sunscreen.

Trying to add too many products at one time can be overwhelming. Moreover, it makes it harder to judge the results of individual products when starting to use several new products at once.

My 2018 Daily Skin Care Routine Results

Since adopting a regular skincare routine, I have found that I am less self-conscious my appearance without makeup because my skin looks more luminous and healthy. Furthermore, when I am wearing foundation, products sit on the skin better since there are no visible dry patches and the appearance of pores is minimized.

Important Notes About Retinoids & Chemical Exfoliants

I cannot stress this enough, but  if you are using any chemical or retinoid based serums, acne topical ointments such as Differin, or dermatologist prescribed medications it is ESSENTIAL that you wear sunscreen every day during use and for at least two weeks after stopping use otherwise, you can cause more sun damage to your skin.

If you are using a topical retinoid for acne, I would not recommend integrating a retinoid-based serum into your skincare routine because this may be too harsh for the skin. Also, when first adopting retinoids or other chemical exfoliants into your skincare routine, only use these products one to two times a week in order to ensure that the product is not too harsh for your skin.

If you are getting any hair removal treatments (waxing, threading, or laser) be sure to consult with your doctor or to notify the specialist whom you are seeing as these products can cause increased sensitivity to such treatments.

Other things to note, retinoids can counteract certain topical treatments for acne, such as benzoyl peroxide. Therefore, if your skin reacts better to benzoyl peroxides better than sulfur or salicylic based topical treatments, you may not want to use retinol.

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Did you enjoy reading about my 2018 daily skin care routine? Is your skin oily and sensitive? Check out this dope indie skincare review of Bare & Free Beauty’s hydrating face moisturizer.

Disclaimer

Finally, please note that I am not a dermatologist nor do I claim to be a skincare expert. I am only able to speak from personal experience. Please consult with a specialist and do research before integrating any products that could potentially cause irritation.

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Do you own any of the products featured in my 2018 daily skin care routine? What are your daily skin care routine staples? Please let me know in the comments below.

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