8 Minute Read~

Here is part two of caring for your skin for the budget conscience!  Last week we covered the same for dry to normal skin types, and if you want to scope that out, you can do that here.

So oily skin is a curse and a blessing.  Oily skin ages so gracefully.  You will be grateful for it when you’re in your sixties.  So that should help get you through.  In the meantime, lets help you deal.

First, we’d like to address some common mistakes for those who are blessed with oil and breakouts.  We’ll keep it short.  We know you want to get on to what to buy!  (We heart shopping too).

• Overuse of salicylic acid
• Cleansing with clarifying product only
• Not moisturizing
• Over cleansing
• Over-using mechanical “scrubs”
  • Clarisonic
  • St. Ives Apricot Scrub, etc.

If you are doing all of the above to excess in attempt to rid your gorgeous face of oil and breakouts, slow down sisters and brothers, and back away from the sink.  Too much of the above will leave your skin depleted, without barrier function, more prone to breakouts, probably peeling in spots, and totally imbalanced.  Pro Tip: Over cleaning and stripping creates a rebound effect and your skin actually produces more oil. Fun.

It should be said, there is room in your routine for salicylic acid, clarifying products, and Clarisonics.  The key…use them in moderation with other skin nourishing goodness and clean/replace your Clarisonic head, on the reg.  Please.  There is NEVER room for St. Ives.  (The hate is real, sorry).  If you are using harsh “stripping” products, your skin is thin and fragile.  So then you go in with harsh, scrubbing products or tools and you are literally scratching the surface.  For one thing, ouch, for another we’re talking permanent damage.  Plus the potential for more breakouts due to exposure to broken skin and bacteria.

CLEANSER

Packed with botanical AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and oil-free, hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic, the Alba Good & Clean Gentle Acne Wash will decongest, purify and cleanse while not over-stripping skin of its precious acid mantle.  (Acid Mantle is the thin layer of oil that provides a barrier from your skin and bacteria.  So when you over cleanse, dry and strip skin completely of its oils, its MUCH more susceptible to bacteria.  Bacteria = breakouts.). Cruelty free and eco friendly, you can feel good about grabbing it for $5.39 at Target.

 

TONER

We’re just going to say.  Glow Tonic is fine!  (But you knew that was coming).  One day there will be a post that does not mention GT, but, yea.  We love it.  Another toner to add to the rotation, yes, you should be collecting, and rotating.  Our skin changes.  The environment, activities, seasons-care for your skin based on its needs.  Another great toner comes to us from Boots Botanics.  This is particularly nice if you wear a full face of makeup everyday.  We’re talking primer, long wearing liquid foundation, powder.  This toner contains willow bark, which helps clarify and clay, which helps to mattify.  You’ll find this in Meaghan’s kit all year long, too.  It will set you back $7.99 from Target, as with a lot of target skincare goods, snag some on-line. The good stuff is really hit or miss in store.  So. Freaking. Frustrating.  A good one to rotate in our opinion and definitely one that does particularly well under a lot of makeup.  At that price, you can afford that and GT:)

SERUM

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% from our friends at Deciem will reduce overall skin congestion thus reducing breakouts.  Niacinamide is Vitamin B3 and when paired with zinc salt (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) it will balance the visible aspects of sebum activity.  Side Note: Deciem believes, as we do, that salicylic acid used long term, is not always the best choice.  SA is in every drugstore “acne” treatment, wash, cream, lotion, and toner.  It is overly detoxifying.  It is overly drying and it can make skin pretty angry.  It might reduce your breakouts periodically, but the rest of your healthy skin will suffer.  Try Niacinamide instead.  As with the other affordable Deciem products we recommended in Part One of this series, this product will cost you $5.90.  Not recommended if you are using in addition to Vitamin C.  The actives in this product may degrade a good Vitamin C product.

MOISTURIZER

While gels are not our fave for much in the way of skin care, one exception needs to be made.  A good gel moisturizer is a much lighter way of adding thirst quenching moisture to skin that may be too dry due to over cleansing.  To most people with excessively oily skin, it seems illogical  to add moisture.  We get that.  But the key here is balance.  If you use something to remove oils, you are removing your skins natural defense mechanism and you need to add some of it back.  Try Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel.  A lightweight, dermatologist-developed formula combines oil-free hydration with skin-strengthening ingredients.  This is also a lovely option for anyone that is really, truly combination skin as well.  It’s brilliant and it’s in our kits for all you shiny happy people.  It’s $14.50 at Ulta.

FACIAL OIL

We know you’re oily.  YES, we are recommending a facial oil.  We have not lost our minds (yet).  This is the sexiest addition to your routine here.  It is prestige (expensive) skin care.  So, we’re recommending that you pick yourself up a mini bottle.  For $26.  We know you are not likely to use this in excess.  Because its an oil.  And your flipping out.  So a little bottle used sparingly is genius.  Also, as a general rule, we like to purchase these sexy (and expensive) oils in smaller bottles.  Its always fresh (there are no preservatives in many of these luscious oils), it’s easier on your wallet, and is travel friendly.  (We know, clever.  That’s why we writing and sharing all these goods).  Here’s what Herbivore has to say about Lapis Oil.

What it is:
A hydrating face oil to balance skin while improving visible redness and blemishes.

Solutions for:
– Acne and blemishes
– Redness
– Pores

If you want to know more…
This luxurious formula is made with 100 percent natural and pure plant oils to thoroughly hydrate skin without clogging pores, so that it can stop producing excess oil and find the balance it needs. The quick-absorbing oil drives moisture, vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants into your skin—forming a natural lipid barrier to lock in essential nourishment, while protecting against dryness and heat in the environment.

Grab this one at Nordstrom.  Same price as Sephora and the return policy is worth taking a risk on one.  We also recommended this oil in our Winter Makeup Tips piece.

MASK

This is optional and also prestige.  So, again, get a smaller size.  We do not really recommend the use of this frequently, so purchasing a larger size might be a waste.  This is ideal to use before a special event, or when you are really feeling congested and clogged. A small size of GLAMGLOW Super Mud is $24 at Sephora.  The potent mud formula supports skin’s natural oil balance, while a proprietary blend of six acids (glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, pyruvic acid, and tartaric acid) works to help minimize pores and create clearer skin. Activated-X charcoal lifts away dirt and other skin congestions, resulting in a refined, healthy-looking complexion.  Also, we know you are dying to SnapChat your mask with kitten ears.

So babes, everyone is different.  If you are suffering from severe acne, it could be due to a large range of underlying, systemic issues, like hormones, etc.  Please see a dermatologist or trusted facialist to help get a handle on it.  The suggestions we have laid out for your here are what we have learned being in the business and spending years of testing and research.  Many of these products can be used alongside another acne regimes-just be sure to check with the person/s prescribing/selling you treatments.  We are not saying we can cure you.  We are saying, we can offer suggestions for how best to support and nourish skin thats a little chaotic.

All these products will cost you $83.78 before tax and that is with your optional GLAMGLOW SuperMud.

Let us know!  Tell us, did you like this?  Have you tried anything?  What are you loving for your glowing skin?!  We really love your comments, and feedback.  Please leave us a note or ask a question!  We will absolutely answer you!! #freeskinadvice

xo