The most requested topic for this month was hands down skincare! I was so excited you all wanted to hear about taking care of your skin because this is something I’ve cared a lot about since middle school. Suffering from pretty bad acne always made me more self conscious about my skin. I began paying more attention to my skin and learning about products that worked well for me. I’d like to share with you my top 4 holy grail skincare products I’ve found. Later this month, I will share more about how I incorporate them (and other products) into my morning and night skincare routine! Yes, I do have a separate routine for morning and night because when it comes to my skin, I don’t mess around.
My Skin Type
To start, I think it’s important to mention that not everyone has the same type of skin. The hard thing with this means products that work wonders for me, unfortunately, may not have the same effect for you. However, I can tell you one of the most important things I’ve learned over the years is to keep trying out products! You will never know if something will work until you try. Finding a skincare routine that works for you is so important, so try different products until you find your holy grail items.
My skin ranges from oily, to normal, to dry depending on the season. I’d say typically I’m oily in my t-zone and normal everywhere else. I have been prone to breakouts since my early teens and my skin didn’t stabilize until sophomore year of college. I did go to a dermatologist and use prescription products, some of which are still incorporated into my routine. If you are struggling with acne, I do recommend talking to a professional who can help teach you how to balance things going on internally and externally. Even if you go for one consultation, their advice is worth it!
Holy Grail Skincare Products
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
The first product (and favorite) product on my list is the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. Trust me when I say this product is magical. It is a spot treatment drying lotion that is applied on a breakout at night and it significantly reduces the size by morning. There have been times I use this product and my pimple will seriously go away overnight. I also like to use this when I feel a breakout coming on, which we all know that feeling. This product can stop the breakout in it’s tracks and prevent it from even happening. You put this on before bed, it comes out pink so you definitely only want to use it at night. In the morning, you can wash it off and
voilà, your breakout is gone. I have never had issues of this transferring onto my pillow or clothes either. If you try one product from today’s post, try this one!
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer
Next on the list is the Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer. I am probably approaching my tenth bottle of this moisturizer so hopefully that tells you how I feel about it. It is the only moisturizer I’ve found that does not make my face feel greasy or shiny. It leaves you with a healthy glow and truly moisturizes your face. A bonus is that this moisturizer has SPF 15 so you don’t need to worry about adding extra SPF. I recommend using this every morning and as a base under your makeup because it helps everything go on much more smooth.
Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner
Third is the Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner which “visibly reduces the appearance of pores.” I truly believe this claim! After using this product, my skin looks smoother and I don’t seem to notice as much texture on my skin. One problem I have found is even though my skin can be pimple free at times, I still have a lot of under the skin texture. This toner has helped eliminate that texture for a smooth base. I use this once a day, usually at night and my skin always feels so refreshed after applying this! It does have the potential to be drying. On days I plan to use my prescription topical, I would skip the toner and add it back in the next night. If you already use stronger products on your face that is something to keep in mind.
Paula’s Choice CLEAR Daily Skin Clearing Treatment
Last, but certainly not least, is the Paula’s Choice CLEAR Daily Skin Clearing Treatment. I found this product this year when I ran out of one of my prescription topical creams. The prescription I use can vary in price and sometimes it becomes too expensive for a college student to afford. I did not want to remove a treatment gel from my skincare routine so I researched high and low to find an alternative option. I stumbled upon this product which contains Benzoyl Peroxide and is a treatment gel that can be applied daily before moisturizer. It sounded very similar to the product I use (and was about half the price) so I picked this up. I personally thought it worked wonderful as an alternative to my prescription! I used it every morning before applying my moisturizer and it kept my skin acne free.
Some may say, I can be kind of high maintenance when it comes to my skin. I’ve always been the one at sleepovers who religiously does her nightly skincare routine. I think taking care of your skin is SO important and having a routine helps balance everything out. I hope you get the chance to give some of these products a try. If you do, I hope you love them just as much as I do! Who knows, they may become a part of your holy grail skincare collection.
What do you think?