My Current Product Rotation

Late last year, I began experiencing a series of acne breakouts like never before. And believe me, that is not the business when you are in your late 20′s.   My skin is very oily and it can be quite sensitive to product, so trying to find    So I ramped up my beauty product even while ramping up the product junkyism, I had to be careful about ingredients.   I tried special potions that were specifically tailored by an esthetician to the super affordable Neutrogena brand.   I  tailored my diet and upped my water intake  (which helped alot) and took vitamins such as Zinc and Fish oil.

My skin has finally cleared up somewhat in the past couple of months.  I credit most of this to the vitamins and it’s also in its best form when my diet is completely clean.  After much trial and error with products, I think I’ve finally found an arsenal that helps to keep my oily skin in check.   Here are the skincare products that I use daily (or semi-daily):

Bioderma  Sebium Purifying Foaming Gel

Ole Henriksen Grease Relief  Face Tonic

Uriage Hyseac Masque Gommant Doux Gentle Exfoliating Mask for Combination/Oily Skin

Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 17

Ole Henriksen Vitamin Plus

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20–Oil Free

 My routine with these products is as follows:

1. Morning: Wash my face with Bioderma  Sebium Purifying Foaming Gel and  wipe my face with the Ole Henrickson Tonic using a cotton ball.   I then follow up with the Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer.
2. Evening: Wash my face with BiodermaBioderma  Sebium Purifying Foaming Gel and then using the Ole Henriksen  Tonic.  Then I applythe Ole Henriksen Vitamin Plus Moisturizer.
3. Twice a Week: I apply the Uriage Hyseac Masque and let it sit for 2  minutes.  It’s a great exfoliator as well as a mask, but I prefer to use it as a mask.

Individual Product Assessment: the products I feel are the “most important” to my current beauty routine are as follows:

Bioderma Sebium Gel Moussant Purifiant: I teetered between ordering this and Bioderma’s other cleanser, the Crealine H20 Ultra-mind Non-rinse Face and Eyes Cleanser.    I’ve heard that the latter is super gentle on oily/sensitive skin and cleans really well.   However, I’m still skeptical of any facial cleansers that you don’t have to wash off, so I went with the Sebium Gel Moussant Purifiant.   After using this cleanser for two weeks, I can’t say that I’ve seen a remarkable difference. Unless you count not having  any new breakouts as a success?  I’m going to continue using the cleanser until I finish the bottle and perhaps I’ll move on to the non-rinse cleanser to see if I like that better.

Uriage Hyseac Masque Gommant Doux:  I bought this mask from the same online store as the Bioderma cleanser and decided to give it a shot since I was in the market for a new mask.   This mask is really gentle and has tiny exfoliating beads, so you can use it everyday as an exfoliator or twice a week as a mask.  As a mask, you only need to keep it on for 2 minutes and then wash it off.  The result is smooth, glowing skin that you want to run your hand over again and again (but you don’t).   Also, for those in the oily-skin club, I’ve found that the skin is mattified nicely after using this mask.    Now, I’ve only used it twice,  so only time will tell how well this product really works.

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer: Mario Badescu.  The old standby.  For months, I’d been trying to find a decent oil-free moisturizer with an SPF above 5, and came up with nothing.  I was happy with Mario Badescu, but I guess I wanted to see if there was anything better out there.   I’ve written about Mario Badescu before, and how I love his products because they are affordable and effective.   The consistency of this moisturizer is thick,  but it somehow feels lightweight when you put it on your face.  Add in the fact that it’s SPF 17, and I say it is a winner.

Any skincare products that you swear by?

Drying Lotion: $17.00

I always dread whenever I feel my face is about to suffer from a mini breakout.  I can feel the oily skin and the itchiness along along with an emerging bump that will subsequently become a pimple.  This drying lotion has worked wonders for taming the redness and reducing the size of the pimple overnight.  I apply to a clean face before I go to bed only on affected areas.

Buffering Lotion : $17.00

At first, I wasn’t sure of the purpose of the buffering lotion if I’d already bought the drying lotion.  The sales clerk kept trying to convince me that they were two separate entities and had different purposes, but I wasn’t buying it.  She gave me a sample to take home and told me to use the buffering lotion in the day if I used the drying lotion at night.  Now I understand her when she says that they are separate.  I use the buffering lotion during the day on areas that are affected instead of night like the drying lotion.  It has a more calming and soothing effect than the drying lotion while still working at getting rid of the breakout.

Healing and Soothing Mask: $20

I also use this mask once a week when my face is in breakout mode for the soothing and calming aspects.  Even when my face isn’t breaking out, I use this mask because it’s pretty light and great for sensitive skin.  Especially if your skin is just recovering from a breakout, it’s a great mask that won’t feel like it’s clogging up your pores again.

Aloe Moisturizer: $22

I use this Aloe Moisturizer everyday under makeup or alone and it does a great job.  It blends in well and it’s it’s not greasy at all, while my skin feels hydrated and moisturized.  It has also worked really well with all of the above products.  The only thing I don’t like is the SPF 15 since I usually try to wear a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30.

If you’re looking for some great skin care products that wont’ necessarily break the bank and are effective, I’d say Mario Badescu products are pretty good.   Especially if you have acne-prone or sensitive skin, you will definitely find something for you.

Sources: Mario Badescu

Since my friend was the first one to recommend this spa and this particular product, I decided to give it a try:

Thalgo Cocooning Cleansing Milk.  $34 from the Nordstrom Spa and my new daily cleanser for day AND night.  I told the esthetician about my Shu Uemura Skin Purifier and how ecstatic I was about the oi cleansing method and she had me throw the idea out the window.  She told me that the oil was just clogging up my skin and not moisturizing whatsoever.   I’m still not 100% ready to give up on the Shu Uemura oil yet.   However, the Cocooning Cleansing Milk is paraben free and very gentle on the skin.  I’ve noticed a very (positive) difference since incorporating it into my regimen.

Lerosett Clay Mask.  Made by Gunilla of Sweden, this mask is organic and only has two ingredients: naturally organic clay and distilled water.  Once the mask is on the face, it feels, as one reviewer put it, “like the oil is just being sucked out of your face”.  You end up with a fresh and clean feeling face.  Any zits you might have on your face, also seem to either go away or feel much smaller within the next day or so.

And this is the next product on my list to try out:

Mario Badescu skin care is supposed to be very gentle and pretty affordable.  Since I’m gracefully aging,  night creams are becoming an important and necessary part of my regimen.   This Chamomille Night Cream is supposed to be a bit ligher and better for sensitive skin.  I was previously using L’Oreal Hydra-Renewal, but my face would feel extra-greasy.

The best thing I can do for my skin?  Water.  Lots and lots of water.

My plan?  To turn the state of my skin around in the next 6 months and see a noticable difference.  I’ve already seen a slight difference so far with the changes I’ve incorporated, so I am very enthused.