Current Skin Care Routine (Combination to Acne Prone Skin)

Hey Everyone!

I get so many queries on which products to use for oily and acne prone skin that I thought let me share my current skin care routine with you all. All these products I have been using since quite some time now and are working very well for my skin. Before I get started with the products let me tell you what type of skin I have. In my early teens I had very oil to acne prone skin but recently in last couple of years my skin has become quite combination in nature. I get dry patches in and around my nose and mouth area and also suffer from hyper pigmentation around mouth. My cheeks are oily and though currently I don't get pimples but I do suffer from zits and whiteheads here and there. Plus I also have a lot of acne marks and scars from my previous acne battle which still are fading.

So now that you all are aware the type of skin I have lets begin with the products. Please remember these are my personal opinion and everyone's skin is different so if one product works for me it may or may not work for you. If you are suffering from acne my first suggestion would be to visit a good dermatologist since they will be able to analyze your skin better. If you want to know which all products I use and worked well for me keep on reading!

Face Washes:-

I have mentioned this previously also and will still stand by it! Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Face Wash is my HG and works the best for my skin type. I have reviewed this product on the blog so for detailed review please visit the link. Few other face washes which fall behind Sebamed are Avene Cleanance Gel Cleanser and Vichy Normaderm Cleansing Gel. For me personally I like Avene better than Vichy..just my personal opinion but both are good for oily/combination and acne prone skin.

Toners:-

Honestly I have not used too many toners but currently I am absolutely addicted to Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 which is specifically for combination skin. Click on the link to read the detailed review. Few other toners which I have tried are The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil toner which is a decent one but did not do much for my skin and Fab India Tea Tree toner which I did like a lot better than the TBS one. Next I am eyeing is La Roche Posay Effaclar Toner

Moisturizers:-

Previously for 2 years I was using Vichy's Normaderm range moisturizer but I had heard so much about Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion that I went ahead and purchased it and I must say I absolutely love it. I wouldn't call it my HG yet since it does not provide enough moisture to my skin especially when its dehydrated but definitely a good one for all oily/combination and acne prone beauties. For night time I use my Vichy Normaderm Nuit Soin Chromo Action Anti Perfection Cream and as you can see I am almost out of it, have repurchased this more than 4 times now and absolutely love it! It helps to keep my skin moisturized and keeps acne at bay. Highly recommend it!

Eye Creams:-

I have extremely dry skin around my eyes so I always make sure to use a good moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated the whole day. I also have very bad dark circles which look even worse when the skin around the eyes becomes dry, previously I have used Avene Eye Contour Cream and absolutely loved it! Its the only cream that worked on mildly reducing my dark circles and just firming the skin around the eyes. Currently I am using Guinot Hydrazone Yeux Eye Contour Cream, I bought this from Strawberrynet and have been using daily morning and evening since 2 months now. I love this cream a lot, it definitely comes second after Avene one. Its extremely light weight and keeps the skin around my eyes hydrated the whole day. It also helps in firming the skin around the eyes thus improving the contour of the eyes and it does help in reducing the dark circles but only to an extent nothing too dramatic. 

I also keep Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll On which I got from KL, its nothing extra ordinary just a basic moisturizer but i liked the cold roll on ball, it helps in reducing the puffiness but for my dry skin it does not provide enough moisture so I have to apply it again and again not that I complain. Its extremely light weight and gets absorbed instantly! 

Acne Spot Treatments/Exfoliators:-

I am a big fan of chemical exfoliators like glycolic acid and salicylic acid since they work on removing the dead skin cells much effectively rather than using a normal face scrub..again purely my personal opinion based on the results I have seen on my skin! Both these creams were recommended by Shweta and I am forever thankful to her for introducing them, she is a sweetheart and was kind enough to answer all my queries patiently! 

Glyco-A is a glycolic acid cream with 12% concentration, before I started using this cream I had researched on glycolic acid peels and lactic acid peels which seem to work on all general problems like spots, pigmentation, scars, zits, whiteheads, pimples, anti ageing etc etc but since I had never used any glycolic acid based products earlier on my skin Shweta recommended this cream and since then there is no looking back!

This cream worked wonders on my hormonal acne which I would always get near my chin area but since I started using this cream I have not got a single acne on my chin or jaw line and even the ones which we get during that time of month have reduced considerably. It also helps with whiteheads, blackheads and pigmentation. Though my pigmentation is very around and I haven't seen much result but it definitely works and I am hoping that in long run it will give better results in terms of treating pigmentation. I am planning to go for glycolic peels but on that later..

If I ever feel a pimple or zit coming I immediately apply Persol or Benzac AC 10%, for me personally Benzoyl Peroxide based products work very well as spot treatments or for treating stubborn pimple. Benzac AC is easily available in any medical store and is often used for treating acne. Persol basically is 10% Benzoyl Peroxide plus 5% Sulphur, anything with sulphur in it is extremely drying so I would recommend to use it with caution. I use Persol only as spot treatment and never on whole cheek or face..never! Its highly drying and will dry out your pimple in one day! It also stings and can turn the skin red so be careful and I always recommend to check with your dermatologist first before using it.

Face Masks:-

I am not a big face mask junkee and usually prefer home made masks but currently my HG face mask is Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, its the best mask I have tried and boy I  have tried quite a few masks including the highly expensive masks from Lush and Forest Essential and this works the best for my skin type. It is clay based masks but it does not dry out the skin or make it stretchy like other clay based masks. I love the fragrance of spearmint..its light yet so refreshing! The best part is that it works! Yep it works on calming pimples and reducing blackheads and whiteheads..After using the mask my skin feel clean and brighter and it stays like that for couple of days, also I can feel those stubborn blackheads and whiteheads coming to the surface and eventually they go away.

Another an oldie but goodie is the Himalaya Neem Face Pack, its a wonderful face pack for acne prone skin and just effectively cleans the skin, it also works great as a spot treatment, you can apply directly on pimple and keep it over night and it helps in reducing the inflammation. 

Sunscreens:-

Currently I am back to using my all time favorite sunscreen and that it Lotus 3-in-1 Matte Block SPF40. I have gone through I think 3 to 4 tubes of this one since last 2 years and really love it. Its tinted, light weight and gives a matte look to the skin. Does not leave any residue on the skin or white cast. Has PA+++ UVA and UVB protection and SPF 40 I feel is enough for my daily use. These days I am not roaming around in the sun much so it suffices.

Scrub:-

Yeah I know I mentioned above that I like chemical exfoliators better but hey sometimes when my skin is dry and patchy I like to use a scrub to remove the dead skin cells or any flakiness especially if I want to apply any makeup. Currently I use Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Facial Scrub, another discovery from KL but its definitely HG material for me! The reason is it does what it claims! For me once I use this scrub the face feels clean and bright, there is no oily residue..I hate cream based scrubs which leave that oily feeling behind! This even though looks like cream is water based, the beads are not harsh and effectively remove dead skin cells, i don't see it doing much good for blackheads and whiteheads. The best part it does control oil very well, after using this scrub my skin feels moisturized and controls oil and shine for 3-4 hours which is fantastic in my book!

I know the post has been extremely long but I wanted to share my honest opinions about all the products that I use and why I use. Again these are all my personal opinions and some product  may work or may not work for you. Always consult your dermatologist before trying out any product just to be sure. Apart from this I try to drink water atleast 2 to 3 litres everyday and generally avoid oily and spicy food. Sleep for 7 hours in a day and exercise atleast 3 to 4 times a week, I prefer doing 500 skippings and it hardly takes 15 mins :) Sweating will help release toxic waste and let the skin breath also. It also helps in better blood circulation.

I hope the post was helpful and I was able to answer all your questions and doubts. If you have any further queries do post them below and I will surely get back to you, until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Love,