What is your tried and tested skincare routine?

This is my usual go-to night routine (AM is not that different with less steps and only one cleanse) but I am in the midst of exploring a lot more Korean skincare as I find their products superior to and more effective than most Western skincare.

(1) I start with double cleansing,

First, a cleansing oil (currently Swisse Moringa) washed off with a hot towel, followed by Clarisonic Mia 2 paired with a creamy cleanser (finishing up Antipodes Grace Creamy Cleanser and moving on to Trilogy Creamy Cleanser/Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser). Although I am exploring more trendy cleansing products like the Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick.

(2) Toner: Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique – I love this toner. It smells amazing and hydrates my skin after and doesn’t strip it of moisture like other toners.

(3) Essence: Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive (excellent dupe for the SK-II Treatment Essence)

(4) Ampoule: Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule or Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair or Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum

(5) Moisturiser: Mizon All in One Snail Repair Cream

(6) Laneige Water Sleeping Pack

(7) Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

2-3 times a week, I forgo steps 4-7 and apply Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold with nothing to follow so it isn’t diluted. Can’t see my pores after this!

Once a week after toning, I put on the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. Nothing quite like it and it is so effective at cleaning up all the impurities and blackheads.

On weekends, I put on a face mask after applying essence. Usually one from The Face Shop, Innisfree or Etude House. I also put on eye masks every now and then – SK-II or Petitfee Black Pearl & Gold Hydrogel eye patches.

The products I use are tailored for a dry skin type.

I’m in my early 30’s but no one believes me. Never have breakouts and I wake up to glowing skin most days. I wear next to no makeup every day except for BB cream (IOPE Air Cushion Natural Glow) and lipstick.

Oh this is one of my favourite things to talk about!
I have combination/oily skin that doesn’t react well to a lot of products. I have tried everything to combat the oil/breakouts/blackheads etc.

I went down the “gentle” route with sensitive skin cleansers like Cetaphil (which I found were ok-ish), I have tried the more harsh products like Proactiv (which worked but bleached the heck out of my towels! – that scared me away because if a product is bleaching your towels, why would you put it onto your face right?!)

I now am extremely into the more “natural” side of cleansers/products because hey, our skin has to last us our whole life… I have found the best way by far when it comes to skincare has been the natural route.

This is my current routine:
I use Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil using the Oil Cleansing method.
(once a week I mix in a little bit of ground coffee beans as an exfoliant)
I rinse off in the shower which seems to be the easiest and least messy way.
I tone with Pure Witch Hazel on a cotton pad.
Then dab Tea-tree Oil using a cotton bud on any blemishes.
I moisturise with either the coconut oil or Rosehip Oil, or a mixture of both.

And that’s it! I have found breakouts to occur less, if I miss a day and just quickly wash my face with baby shampoo to get my makeup off (yes I know weird, but it’s skin pH friendly), I won’t breakout or anything.

My skin tone is also more even and my freckles have faded slightly.

My skin is combo – slightly oily through the t-zone, normal (but prone to dehydration) everywhere else. I have been changing my skincare products around a lot over the last year to really try and combat my hyperpigmentation and anti-aging but the basic routine stays pretty much the same. As I have recently introduce retinol my skin has been playing up so I have really taken things back to basics.

Am

Cleanse- cetaphil gentle cleanser (loving it!)

Serum- currently using up the Nuxe merveillance expert serum (I choose a serum based on my needs – generally something anti aging or to treat hyperpigmentation).

Eye cream – currently been using the cheapie Swisspers soothing Aloe eye cream as my skin has been agitated. I quite like it.

Moisturiser- Go-to very useful face cream (just on the areas that are dehydrated/ sometimes don’t need this step).

SPF50 with moisturiser – Cetaphil UVA/UVB defence (in warmer months I stick to a physical sunscreen and after letting it soak in I do use blotting paper to soak up excess oil in the t zone).

Primer – Bodyography green primer (lots of antioxidants, counteracts redness, reduces shine, makeup applies beautifully)

My night routine I alternate some products

PM

Remove makeup & cleanse – Garnier Micellar water

If needed additional cleanse with the cetaphil

Night 1

Am serum mixed with ASAP super A serum (retinol)

Eye cream – Swisspers soothing aloe eye cream

Rich moisturiser – Go to very useful face cream or QV sensitive cream (In the morning my t zone will be shiny but I find the rest of my skin really needs the hydration this time of year).

Facial oil – Go to exceptional oil (I use this when my skin really needs a hydration boost. Theretically you put on before moisturiser but I tend to do my night routine early, let it all soak in, then right before bed pat on a little oil)

Night 2

Alpha H liquid Gold (sometime I just leave this on it’s own as an intensive treatment, otherwise I follow with my serum, eye cream and moisturiser)

Weekly treatment

Alpha H Liquid gold smoothing and refining mask (15% glycolic acid – love this mask but have been skipping this the last month while my skin adjusts to the retinol).

Followed by a hydrating mask. Currently I have been using the Trefeil hydrogel lace mask and I must say it has become a new favourite! I then top up with a rich moisturising cream before bed to lock in all the goodness!

Hope this is helpful and not too over-whelming! Lol I try not to use too many products (others might think this is a lot of stuff!) and recommend you save money on things like cleanser (I am honestly loving the Cetaphil but go-to properly clean is a fav too) and spend more on serums/treatments that really target your skincare concerns. I def recommend Alpha H as it is great for all skin types, cleans, exfoliates, reduces pores and helps combat pigmentation and aging. It is the perfect all rounder if you only have the option of 1 realy great product.

breedaly, I forgot to mention that if you’re still having issues with your skin in the long-term, combining products etc, you could benefit from a consultation with an online store such as Adore Beauty. They have a reputation for excellent customer service and they have a wide range of brands. I had a look at their website and you can chat to a beauty therapist that can design a program for you (via Skype for $20). That fee is redeemable towards products.

I have combination (but not sensitive) skin. Here’s the regime that I am on at the moment (a couple of products that I have been using for ~10 years and regardless of trying so many other, I have always come back to them).

I have explained each one a bit more in my new blog post:
http://www.stella-lee.com.au/#!My-daily-skincare-regime-winter-2016/cyh4/577121d40cf231749dc7ae83

breedaly, I’m surprised that you have not received more responses to your question as there are so many people in the forums that have your type of skin. I have dry and mature skin, so I can’t help with product recommendations. However, I have read countless comments in the forums by people with oily/combination skin. Many of them have received benefits by including a facial oil in their routine; something like cold-pressed jojoba oil, chia seed oil, rosehip oil, Botáni Olive Skin Serum etc. Swisse make a range of different facial oils that aren’t as expensive as other brands.

Oily-skinned girls seem to be scared of using facial oils – assuming that they will make their skin worse – but a facial oil can help balance oil production. The trick seems to be to introduce an oil slowly; seeing how your skin tolerates it/does not tolerate it. If your face cannot tolerate the oil, you can always use it elsewhere on your body.

Perhaps you’d like to look for reviews on different facial oils that have been written by people with oily/combination skin. I’m going to guess and say that chia seed oil could be one of the oils that has a lighter consistency compared to some other oils.

For me, nothing has ever worked except anything made in New Zealand. I don’t know why. I have fair and combination/sensitive skin. Here’s what I love:

TONER: Essano toner

DAILY MOISTURISER: Essano SPF15 Daily Defence

FACIAL OIL: Essano Rose Hip Oil/ Goodness Chia Seed Oil

CLEANSER: Goat milk soap

NIGHT MOISTURISER: Natural Instinct Facial Moisturiser. THE ONLY AUSTRALIAN product that hasn’t made my skin irritated!

Good luck finding the ones for you! =)

I have been using the same skincare routine since i can remember and it has definitely helped my later in life with such things and pimples and breakouts. I know it can be a pain to stick to a routine everyday/night, but the results it gives you are so rewarding. These are the products that i have been using on my oily/combination skin and they have worked wonders. Bear in mind that these products have worked really well on my skin, so don’t be disappointed is they don’t do the same for your, but from what you have described, it sounds like we have very similar skin!! Some of these products i have been using forever and some not, but it has taken me awhile to find my perfect skincare routine!

1* Sukin Foaming Cleanser

2* Simple Facial Toner

3* Simple Daily Light Moisturiser

4* Garnier Radiance Boosting Facial Scrub

5* Palmers Purifying Enzyme Masque – Sukin Super Greens Detoxifying Clay Masque (alternate, once a week)

Hope this helps;)

That takes a lot of trial and error to figure out what specific item it is that needs changing. I follow a whole foods diet and drink about 9-10 cups of water a day. I wash my face in the morning with a daily face cleanser and moisturize with coconut oil and always apply sunscreen. At night I use makeup wipes to take the makeup off then wash with Ora’s Amazing Herbal face powder scrub, it’s extremely gentle and sometimes I only do it every few days when my face is extra dry like winter, I just replace it by washing with the gentle cleanser that I use in the morning as well. Then I follow it up with Ora’s Amazing Herbal Nightly face oil serum. I keep it super simple and find that the more I add the more hassle and the more difficult it is to keep my face nice and not breaking out or oily. Some require more, some less, it all varies by your age, diet, skin type, what you use, climate, etc.