Oil-Cleansing Take Two

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As promised I have an update on my Oil-Cleansing Method post I did a while back.

So, my skin was going crazy, and all dried-out. Horribly dried out! We’re talking chunks of skin randomly peeling away.

I did a few days of the oil-cleansing method and immediately after doing it my skin looked really soft and had a nice glow about it, but after a while it would start to go back to the desert landscape I was trying to abolish.

So I started to do a little thinking, and realized that just over a month ago I had started to use a new product on my face because the one that I usually use was not in stock so I thought maybe it would be a good idea to try something new.

As much as I’m opposed to change, I generally enjoy trying new products for my hair, or new makeup but I have stuck to the same routine with my skincare for a few years now and it has served me well so I should have known better than to go messing with it. It took me a whole month to figure out what was causing my skin to break out and drying my face out so badly, though!

I went out and bought the old product and noticed a change within a couple of days. My skin is almost back to it’s old self, which isn’t saying a ton because I was not genetically blessed with good skin. I’m sad for my kids and the faulty skin genetics they are doomed to inherit from me.

I hadn’t done the oil-cleansing method for a while, and since my skin was starting to get back to normal I decided to try it again last night before bed. I have to admit that I really do enjoy the process of massaging the oil into my skin. It’s really relaxing! After I was done doing it my skin looked nice immediately following it, but after a while I noticed it felt a little dry. I’m sure that means I need to adjust the ratio of oils I’m using, but in all honesty I’m not sure I feel very motivated to mess with it. The only reason I decided to try it was because my skin was going crazy on me, but since I’ve figured out what the problem is I think I might want to just stick with the old way. It was working for me, so there’s no need to give my skin any more reason to act up again.

So, I’ve decided to share with you what products I use on my skin. Prepare to be underwhelmed, because I can’t afford any high-end beauty treatments so it will be entirely comprised with things that you can buy at Wal-Mart, or Target if you want to feel a little extra fancy.

For cleansing my skin I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. I heard about it a long time ago and was told that it was a really gentle, non-irritating cleanser. I used to use the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser but it didn’t do a very good job at getting my makeup off. I think the Daily Facial Cleanser is new within the past couple of years. It does a much better job at removing makeup.

After I cleanse, I tone. I use Clean and Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent for Sensitive Skin. I really can’t give you a good reason for why I use it, but it does remove any extra makeup that I miss when cleansing. I might be able to skip this step, but since the whole package seems to be working I just keep it in the routine.

After I’m done toning I brush my teeth. I can’t really tell you what brand of toothpaste I use because I don’t pay attention. I can tell you that I tried the cheap, generic brand of toothpaste that was a dollar and I hated it. I am generally a fan of buying generics, but I could tell a big difference in how clean my teeth felt with the cheap brand. I can tell you that I use a Sonicare toothbrush. I love it! It’s pricey, but David and I have had ours for a long time. I’m pretty sure that I got it in my Easter Basket the year before David and I were married. Yes, folks, when your dad is a dentist you get toothbrushes in your Easter Basket along with your candy!

I brush my teeth in the middle of my whole skin care routine so that the astringent has time to dry before my last step. My last step is to use Neutrogena On the Spot Cream. It’s a cream that has 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide in it. I put a generous amount on my whole face. This was the step that I had messed with, and that caused me so many problems. They were out of it when I went to buy it, so I tried something different that had Salicylic Acid in it. After using the other product I realized that the Neutrogena cream was helping keep my skin clear without drying it out.

So, that’s my bedtime routine. In the morning when I wake up I sometimes wash my face, but if it doesn’t seem overly oily I just leave it. Most of the time I don’t have to bother washing it. I just move straight on to moisturizing. I’m a huge fan of moisturizing. Even if my skin doesn’t look dry or feel tight I always do it. It’s got SPF in it so I figure that’s always a good thing. I don’t use any fancy moisturizer. I just use Wal-Mart’s generic Equate brand. I’m not really sure what the official name of it is since I can’t find it online, but it’s just the generic brand of Oil of Olay. It’s cheap, and does the trick for me.

That’s what I’ve been doing for the past few years. It’s nothing special, but it’s been working for me so I think I’ll stick with it. I have been toying with the idea of giving Retin-A a try. I know a few people who are using it, and have been told that long-term use helps protect against fine-lines and wrinkles. I’m fairly pleased with how my skin has been aging so far, but I figure there’s nothing wrong with a little prevention.

I’m always experimenting with makeup and hair products, so I’m not going to overwhelm you with any of that information. Maybe at some point I’ll share some of my favorites, but for now I will cut this off before it gets too boring!

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Tags: acne, breakouts, cetaphil, clean and clear, neutrogena on the spot, oil cleansing method, skincare routine