First off I'd like to start by saying I have oily/combination skin in the terms that when I'm applying products to my skin it can show up dry patches really easily, but give it an hour or two and you could see your reflection in my face its that oily! However, the products I'm about to talk about have definitely made a difference. I use these steps and products morning and night. The photo's I am using are directly from the brands page as I currently do not have anywhere to take any good quality photo's (I wont settle for less!).
Step 1.
The first step in my routine is to cleanse. If I get in from college and just reaaaally want to take my makeup off so I can relax (we all know that feeling right?) I will take the majority of it off with the Simple makeup Cleansing Wipes. I know its not advised to use make-up wipes to remove your makeup but, I cleanse again properly before I go to sleep so I figured it wasn't that bad. I haven't suffered any more breakouts than normal and find that they cleanse my skin really well because of how moist they are, especially the devilish Benefit They're Real mascara which we all know is a pain to get off and Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation which is very long wearing.
Step 1*Either before I go to bed or after I get in from work (I always finish late at night) I will wash my face with Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap for oily/combination skin. This literally removes everything with only one pump, I mean foundation, mascara, eyeliner, concealer, practically everything you put on your face. If I've been out for a special occasion and wore more makeup I will use this twice, yet that's only really to remove the extra eye makeup. This cleanser leaves my face feeling oil free and so clean, maybe a little tight sometimes but I definitely prefer that over a slick oily face any day, and its nothing the later step of moisturiser doesn't fix.
Step 2.
Every other night I will use Clinique's 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-off Formula. This is a very grainy scrub which is what I love about it because it really feels like its polishing your skin. The Clinique lady advised me to remove any makeup first, use the scrub and then cleanse again. It leaves my skin feeling so soft, gets rid of them annoying little bumps everywhere and makes my moisturiser just sink right in more effectively. You just apply this cream to wet face, massage it in gently until the cream turns a bit more clear.
Step 3*About once or twice a week I use a face mask. My mask of choice is GlamGlow Supermud which brightens and clears your complexion by de-clogging and minimising pores whilst fighting break outs, it also speeds up the healing process. I apply this to a dry face after cleansing and scrubbing, and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. With this mask you can literally see it pulling all the gunk (nice word) out of your pores which is a good thing I think because you can literally see it working.
Step 3.
Next I use an exfoliating lotion also by Clinique. It is the Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion this removes dead skin cells and reduces excess oil (which can lead to blackouts), soothes redness and irritation. I feel like it really removes any last traces of makeup (usually round my hairline/ears etc) and soothes my skin, prepping the skin for the moisturiser. You just give the bottle a shake to mix the liquid with the powder (which reduces shine) apply it to a cotton ball and sweep it all over your face.
Step 4.
For moisturiser I use Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel. This is an oil free moisturiser for oily to very oily skin which gives lightweight hydration, makes my skin feel smooth and more comfortable. I feel like it gives just enough hydration to moisturise my dry patches without making me oily.
Step 5.
As a spot treatment I use Clinique's Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel. This gel helps clear up existing blemishes and prevents new blemishes from making an appearance. I apply a thin layer of this all over my face after moisturising and it feels very cooling and leaves a matte yet smooth texture.
So there we have it my skin-care routine. If you have any questions just drop me a comment or email and I'll get back to you the best I can :)
