This post only covers my daily skin care routine as the topic suggests ;) I will post another post on how to make your own skin care regime according to your face skin type as soon as possible. :)
I have a typical oily skin, & the tropical sunny weather in Sri Lanka makes it even worse. So I have to be extra careful when choosing the products for my face because wrong product means bad yucky pimples all over the face. :(
Even if my face skin is oilier, normally I don’t have a severe pimple/acne condition. But my skin is very sensitive to the sun and dust, causing pimples here & there. [btw I’m still looking for a good sunscreen suitable for my oily skin because many of the sunscreens in the market are oil based & they cause more trouble than the sun :D If you have any suggestions please leave a comment :)]
I never use any product more than a month continuously because; the skin becomes tolerant to the product which eventually makes the product worthless. Therefore I break each routine once a month by using a substitute product & then jump back to my usual routine. :)
When it comes to daily skin care there are 3 basic steps I follow as everyone else and some other additional steps which I think is necessary. :)
Basic Steps - Cleansing, Toning & Moisturizing
Washing the face at least twice a day is sufficient enough & it also helps blood circulation while preparing the skin to obtain topically applied nutrients. But cleansing the face several times a day can lead to dehydration of the skin which stimulates the oil glands to produce more sebum & clog pores which eventually becomes the cause of producing more acne/pimple.
Even though I have an oily skin, I don’t use a cleanser/face wash for oily/combination skin. Instead I use Oriflame Optimals White Foaming cleanser for all skin types. This product is a non harsh cleanser even suitable for sensitive skin. Plus the foaming consistency of it washes off all the makeup, dirt & oiliness on the face, & I never had problems when I’m using this cleanser.
But I don’t continue to use the Oriflame Optimals White Foaming cleanser more than a month due to the reason I’ve mentioned above. I have few other optional products at hand when in need of a substitute.
- Oriflame Tea Tree Purifying Wash & Tone Gel - This product is specially designed for pimple/acne prone oily skin. It has a gel based consistency when it’s straight applied to the face & then it turns into a foaming face wash after combined with water. Tea Tree Face wash has a nice soothing/cooling effect on the skin which I love the most about it. It also reduces the skin irritations/pimples/acne on the face & leaves it oil free. I find this product to be a life saver on a tiring end of a hot day. [I have this thing for the stuff which gives a cooling effect ;) ]
- Garnier Light Fairness Face Wash - Garnier light face wash has a thick, creamy consistency. Even though it is not specially created for oily skin it doesn’t leave any traces of oiliness on the face. It’s very good as a daily exfoliator because of its lemon essence inspired strong consistency.
- Oriflame Pure Skin Washing Gel - This one is also a gel based face wash specially made up for pimple prone oily skin. It leaves the skin oil & pimple free but it doesn’t provide the menthol cooling effect which relaxes the tired skin of the face.
- Acne-Aid Cleansing Bar by Stiefel Laboratories – I normally DO NOT use soap to wash my face. But I use this because it deep cleanses the face & specially made up for acne prone oily skin. It is fragrance – free, & doesn’t contain abrasive chemicals or artificial colorants. I find it tends to dry out the skin, but with proper moisturization dryness can be evaded.
- Nature’s secret Peppermint Facial Wash - This peppermint face wash is also made up for pimple/ acne prone oily skin which has a gel based less thick consistency. It also gives the face, a cooling/soothing effect when applied.
Toning
When it comes to toning, many people think that it’s not a must. Using a proper cleanser should do the trick. But I like to stay in the safe side just in case because toning clears any dirt/make up left on the face after cleansing. :)
My Usual Toner -:Therefore I use Oriflame Optimals White Clarifying Toner for all skin types as my regular toner. This product contains 10% alcohol in it, which makes it not much suitable for the dry skin. But I’ve been using this product for over 1 year now & I’ve never felt it over drying my face. In fact it adds a little moisture to the face when applied, & I make sure that I only use this product with the Oriflame Optimals White Foaming cleanser. :)
- Oriflame Pure Skin Blackhead Astringent - This toner contains salicylic acid which makes it a good toner for pimple/acne prone oily skin & it also helps to reduce the redness of the skin. When applied to the face it gives a mild stingy feeling and leaves the skin moisturized. I use this toner with Tea Tree Purifying Wash & Tone Gel, Pure Skin Washing Gel & Acne-Aid Cleansing Bar.
- Oriflame Aloe Vera Soothing Toner - This is an alcohol – free toner with pure aloevera extract. As the name suggests, it is a soothing toner with a calming pleasant fragrance. With all the other substitute cleansers, I use this toner.
Despite of the skin type, one should always use a good moisturizer suitable for the skin after cleansing & toning. When it comes to moisturizing there are 2 basic types of cream/fluid/lotion categorized as day & night moisturizer which of cause vary due to the consistency of them. It’s a simple fact that night creams are thicker/concentrated than the day creams. :)
I always make sure to use a patting motion to apply the cream/fluid to my face to reduce the appearance of wrinkles & after applying the moisturizer I always stuff my face with a coat of translucent/compact powder. It helps me keeping my face matte for a while & I blot my face time to time to maintain the oil-free condition.
My day time moisturizer is Oriflame Optimals White Day Fluid SPF15 for all skin types. As the name reveals, it has a lotion/fluid consistency which makes it easy to absorb & doesn’t make my face oilier. I only have to apply the fluid in patting motion to the face & voila!!! It is totally absorbed.
Since it filters harmful UVA/UVB rays & is ‘SPF15’ I don’t have to apply a separate sunscreen if I go out for a little time period. (But SPF15 is not sufficient enough as a long time sun shield in a tropical country like Sri Lanka. So when I go out for longer periods I use a separate sunscreen on top of this product.)
My Substitute Day Time Moisturizers -:
- Oriflame Optimals Radiance Energy Fluid – I use this fluid/lotion moisturizer as my substitute day time moisturizer. This light moisturizer also has the same consistency as the Oriflame Optimals White Day Fluid SPF15. It is absorbed very well by the face & doesn’t make the face oilier than it is. :)
- Oriflame Aloe Vera Soothing Face Cream – Even though this moisturizer is named as a cream it has a lotion-like texture & is little bit oilier when applied to the face. I started to use this product recently & I haven't had any pimple/acne problem so far. Its oily texture can be controlled by using a good amount of powder. But I don’t apply this product if I go out. [Since this product doesn’t contain sun shielding properties, I have to apply a separate sunscreen on top of this product, & the sunscreen I’m using currently is a very rich cream which makes the skin totally oilier. So if I use the oily sunscreen on top of my already oilier face, it’ll simply be a disaster. :D ]
I use Oriflame Optimals White Night Cream for all skin types as my night-time moisturizer. This cream is a very rich cream which has a very thick texture. But despite of its substantial consistency, the face absorbs it remarkably fast & it doesn’t make my face oilier. On top of all that properties, it visibly lightens the skin tone of my face. [Usually my skin tone becomes tanned very rapidly by the sun, even if I go out for a little while & my face is already few tones darker than my body. This miraculous cream turns the skin tone back to normal with continuous usage which I love the most about it.]
I use the same substitute fluids/creams I use as my day-time substitutes for the night-time also. :)
- Oriflame Optimals Radiance Energy Fluid
- Oriflame Aloe Vera Soothing Face Cream
