My Skincare Routine

In this post I'll share my skin care routine and which products I love. There are so many conflicting ideas about what is good for your skin, and so many scientific articles that contradict each other it is hard to know what actually works! Everyone has different skin with different needs, so what works for me might not work for you. My skin is naturally very oily, but also dries out easily if I use strong acne fighting products. I have cystic acne, and of everything that I have tried diet change has been the most beneficial in reducing swelling, clearing my cysts, and preventing new ones from appearing. If you are serious about clearing your acne, start with your diet. However, changing your skin products can also have additional benefit, when used with diet change.

I have used every skin care product under the sun! I tried medical face washes, creams, and lotions recommended by my dermatologist, none of which worked. These products by far have been the worst products I have used on my skin, and made my face dry, red, flakey, and itchy. Natural face creams, toners, and cleansers also did not seem to improve my skin in any way, other than it made my skin more oily and I had no problems with dryness. After many years of testing various products, I finally found one that works for me. I have found that the simpler my skin routine, the better my skin looks and feels.

When I first tried 98% Aloe Vera Gel I was skeptical. It was not expensive like most dermatologist recommended cleansers, was not advertised as a face wash, and I had never heard of anyone using it to wash their face. But I decided to give it a try, because I knew it helped sun burns so I knew it at least had some healing qualities. After a week of using it, my face became less oily, and I have none of the side effects that I experienced when using other cleansers. I wash my face with aloe twice daily, and I no longer have to use creams, toners, or lotions. Just. Aloe. It is easy, inexpensive, and much safer on my skin. I use JASON 98% Aloe Vera, but there are several other good aloe brands as well. If you try a different brand, make sure that it does not contain any oil. I buy mine from Whole Foods, but you could also purchase it online at Amazon.com. I also use oil-free makeup wipes. Neutrogena Oil-Free makeup remover wipes have been my favorite, and I buy mine at Target.

For face sunscreen I use Sun Bum Oil-free face sunscreen or SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense tinted sunscreen. I often use SkinCeuticals tinted sunscreen as a primer before I apply foundation. The tint is amazing, and can be used as foundation if used with concealer. Sun Bum products can be found at Target, Nordstrom, or online. I have only bought SkinCeuticals products from a medical spa, but it may be sold online or at other spas.

I hope these products help you as much as they have helped me! *I am not sponsored in any way by any of these companies, I just enjoy these products.