I started puberty a little bit earlier than all my friends, and as nearly everyone experiences, with puberty comes nasty breakouts. I didn't have cystic acne, but I do have incredibly sensitive skin. Many products caused allergic reactions, chemical burns, terrible rashes, and even caused my breakouts to worsen or spread. My redness and irritation remained an issue for years, and I remember that after applying my makeup, my skin would even be sore.
After what's been nine - 10 years of fighting the fight, I have FINALLY got a routine that works for me, and I thought I'd share it, just in case someone needed some ideas or suggestions. I have incredibly sensitive combination skin, having an oily T-zone (more so my nose than anything, really), and having severe flaky dryness close to my hairline, eyebrows, and on my upper cheeks.
Figuring out my routine and fixing my skin has changed my entire life for the better, so here I've compiled a list of the 15 products that have saved my skin and my self-esteem.
For makeup removal, I use Garnier Skinactive Micellar Cleansing Water.
This stuff is like MAGIC. Garnier makes a couple different ones for varying skin types, but I've tried both this one and the one for sensitive skin. I like this one best, though, because it doesn't irritate my skin and is best on my waterproof mascara. I just shake it up, saturate a cotton pad with it, and wipe my makeup right off.
For my everyday light makeup, this alone gets it all off. Plus, for less than $10 per bottle on a makeup remover that lasts me months, you can't beat it.
If I wore a full face that day, I wash with Garnier Skinactive Micellar Foaming Gel Cleanser right after.
I don't use this as often because it's rare I put on more than some powder, bronzer, mascara, and brows anymore, but on those days when I do, this is there to assure me that after wiping off my makeup and washing it all off, there will be nothing left on my face and I'll be ready for my daily cleanser.
It's super gentle on my skin and helps get anything I may have missed with the micellar water. This is also something you can use without using the micellar water before, if you prefer. Plus, being another easy find of great quality for under $10, it's a must-have.
I wash day and night with Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub.
I've tried dozens of brands of face washes throughout the years, but this one has my heart. Cetaphil is known for being great on all skin types, including those sensitive ones like mine, and that is really no joke.
This is the one product that every member of my family can use, between me with sensitive combination skin, my brother with oily skin, and my dad with leathery, dry skin. It's one of two brands that I've actually not had an allergic reaction or gotten chemical burns from, and that really showed results on my skin.
Don't forget that your lips should also be a part of your skincare routine! I exfoliate my lips with a BeautyTreats Lip Scrub.
I wholeheartedly believe that skincare includes lips, and that's why I'm including this in my list. This BeautyTreats lip scrub is something I use 2-3 times a week to keep my regularly-dry lips very soft & exfoliated.
It's super easy to use, just placing a small amount on your lips and scrubbing for a minute or two before washing off, and it's honestly really astounding what such a small step can do for you!
The included link actually leads to their website for a pack of 36 scrubs (which, I doubt anyone could use in their lifetime because these little containers last a LONG time), but I included it to show the four different scents they come in: almond créme, wild apple, vanilla bean, and dark cherry.
When I feel like doing a mask, Elizavecca Milky Piggy's Hell-Pore Clean Up Mask is a favorite of mine.
Often considered one of the most painful face masks in the world, this Korean-brand mask will literally rip the peach fuzz off your face and clean insane blackheads. I was terrified to try it, but once I did, I loved the outcome. My skin was in pain for a bit, not gonna lie, but it was so, so incredibly smooth.
Plus, the amount of blackheads this pulled out was...concerning, BUT it worked wonders and I have never looked back. My boyfriend even loves this mask, and he uses it about once a week.
For a nice, soothing, breakout-fixing mask, I love Mary Kay's Clearproof Deep-Cleaning Charcoal Mask.
This mask will save your skin overnight. I seriously never thought it was possible, but this deep-cleaning charcoal mask gets rid of my breakouts by the time I wake up.
This thing is like MAGIC. I also use it as a spot treatment for breakouts, just putting some on my problem areas, letting it dry, washing it off, and then being amazed the next morning when the breakout was dried out in a matter of hours like it was never even there. My skin always feels amazing after, and it's a necessary part of my self-care nights.
Bioré's Nose + Face Deep Cleaning Pore Strips are a great blackhead fix.
This is one product that I have kept in my routine for about four years now because it never lets me down. I like this pack because I also have problems with blackheads on my chin and sometimes forehead between my brows, so the face strip is perfect. This is another item that my boyfriend also loves.
It's not a lot of work to keep this as part of your routine, so even if you're low-maintenance or find long skincare regiments to be difficult to keep up, these are a great way to go. Bioré has so many different varieties of pore strips, so I definitely recommend checking them out.
If you want to feel pampered and moisturized, I suggest trying the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil.
Certainly one of the priciest products in my routine, a 50 mL (or 1.7 fl. oz) bottle is $49 on the Josie Maran Cosmetics website. I wouldnt DREAM of putting that kind of money down on a product if it wasn't worth every single penny. This stuff makes me feel like a GODDESS.
My skin feels so incredibly moisturized, like something I have dreamed of for YEARS. If you're willing, have the money, and are looking for a bomb moisturizer, definitely check this out. You can also buy a small sampler bottle on Sephora's website, so if you're hesitant about spending nearly 50 bucks on moisturizer, I totally understand.
For a moisturizer & mask, I use Garnier Skinactive Soothing 3-in-1 Moisturizer Day / Night - Mask.
Garnier has done it AGAIN. Honestly, their skincare line is so underrated. I absolutely love this stuff. I use it every day as a moisturizer, and when my skin is especially dry, I'll do a nightly mask with it, too. It serves both purposes wonderfully, and for only $11.99 to get such a big container that lasts FOREVER, it's definitely worth the money.
For my morning routine, I use It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Cream to look more awake.
Let me begin by saying do not fret, this is a sampler I got through Sephora, so this isn't the size of the real thing. As a sufferer of terrible under eye bags and a formerly-frequent recipient of the good old "Are you feeling okay? You look sick," I love this eye cream in the mornings to help me look awake.
So many other brands have actually caused allergic reactions and terrible irritation for me, so this stuff is a life saver. This sampler has lasted me MONTHS, and it's only .169 fl oz.
And at night, I like to use Algenist Genius Sleeping Collagen to promote skin repair and rejuvenation.
This is my most expensive product, hands down. I ONLY, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, ONLY suggest this product because I think it's incredible, receiving hundreds of 4- and 5-star reviews on their website, as well as Sephora's.
If you're like me and deal with your skin looking so dead when you wake up, this stuff will really save you. I wake up now with my skin SO radiant and replenished.
I like to spray on some Garnier Skinactive Soothing Facial Mist before starting my day or when winding down for bed.
Garnier never lets me down. Morning and night, I spray on some of their soothing facial mist. It makes me feel SO refreshed, and it smells great, too, which is an awesome bonus. I use this to help my skin feel and look really supple and smooth, and for $8.99 on the Garnier website, it's a great deal.
To moisturize my lips before bed, I like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.
Again, DON'T FORGET THE LIPS! After using my lip scrub and doing the rest of my steps, I like to put on this lip mask from Laneige. You'll wake up with your lips feeling immaculate! It's $20 for a 0.7 oz container(pictured is my 0.08 oz sampler), and it comes in 5 different scents: original, grapefruit, apple lime, vanilla, and sweet candy.
Or for everyday wear, I like the Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm.
Honestly, I was never a lip balm or chapstick person, but this product (another of my Sephora Play samplers) definitely changed that.
I am typically a natural makeup person, so this fits very well into my routine, keeping things subtle while still doing a great job keeping my lips in tip-top shape. Plus, it smells incredible. Fresh has it in 8 different amazing scents, all for only $18.
And to target the redness of my sensitive skin, I use Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment.
Before I go anywhere, before I do anything, before a DROP of makeup touches this face, I put this on. My skin STAYS red with sensitivity, flaring up if I do so much as scratch my nose. It's AWFUL, and it often times shows through when I don't wear a lot of makeup, so this product saved my life.
It's probably the biggest reason why I don't wear as much makeup anymore. It eliminates redness right before your eyes, and most days, I just put powder and bronzer on over it and leave the house.
My skin looks incredible thanks to Dr. Jart+. It runs $52 for a full-size 50 mL container, but if you have redness, you won't regret making the purchase because (1) the product is what dreams are made of and (2) the container lasts months and months. It'll really change the game for good. I got this in a Sephora Play box and have since purchased the full-size product.
After years of struggling and testing dozens of brands and products, I can finally say I have perfected my skincare routine. One of the things I can say for myself is that this change in my life has really impacted my self-confidence and has made facing my days less anxiety-inducing because I spend less time being so concerned with how my skin looks.
I would advise anyone to take the time and invest the money in their skincare because I can honestly say that it'll change your entire life for the better.
Also, I would certainly suggest trying out a monthly subscription box that will enable you to test out new brands you otherwise might've not heard of or considered. I know I was doubting it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Make your skincare a priority, you certainly won't regret it.