Check out my My UPDATED 2017 Skin Care Routine! for a more recent version of my routine.

For some background on my own skin type, I have acne-prone, mildly sensitive, and overall VERY oily skin. As someone who has dealt with acne for years now, I pay very close attention to what I put on my skin and the routine I stick to. In the past year my skin has improved immensely and I know it has a lot to do with what I’m putting in my body as well as the products I use on my face.

Since many of you deal with oily, acne-prone skin, I wanted to show you how I take care of my skin. I will show you specifically what products I use every day and what my routine is. None of these products are specifically for the use of clearing up acne (except for the spot treatment), but I just wanted to share what has worked for me. Some items you can easily find at any drugstore, and some you can’t. So check out my list and daily routine below and hopefully I will help someone dealing with the same struggle I am!

Skin Care Products

1. Makeup Remover:
   • The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (link here!) – Even though it says it’s an eye makeup remover, I use it all over my face. It’s extremely gentle and gets even the most stubborn makeup off!

1. Face Washes:
   • Liquid African Black Soap (link here!) – This is the absolute best face (and body) wash I have ever used in my life! (and trust me, I’ve tried a ton.) It makes your face or body feel squeaky clean without feeling tight and uncomfortable.
   • Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser (in any drugstore) – I really only use this when I want a gentle wash.
   • Ionic Mineral Scrub (link here!) – This scrub is the bomb-diggity. I used to be obsessed with St. Ives Apricot Scrub (which is still a good scrub, I must say) until I found this. I didn’t think I could find any better, UNTIL I FOUND THIS. Its smaller particles more gently, but more effectively buff away dead skin cells and it’s also supposed to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars. YES.
2. Toner:
   • Thayer’s Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera (link here!) – Using a toner tightens pores, smooths and beautifies skin, balances skin’s PH, all while moisturizing and protecting it from airborne impurities. I like this toner because it’s alcohol free and has aloe vera which has benefits such as reducing acne and dark spots!
3. Acne Spot Treatment:
   • Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick (link here!) – This blemish stick is all natural and works on acne just as well as any other spot treatment I’ve found in a drugstore. It doesn’t have the greatest smell, but it goes away pretty quickly.
4. Face Lotion:
   • Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with sunscreen (link here!) – Everyone knows by now that you should be wearing sunscreen. But do we always do it? No. No one likes walking around smelling like a 6-year-old at the beach. So, I like it when it’s incorporated into my face lotion. It’s really gentle and is fragrance-free. Who can beat that?
   • Dr. Lin Daily Hydrating Gel (link here!) – My dermatologist, Dr. Lin (the man himself!), suggested I use this hydrating gel. It contains hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe vera to saturate dry, irritated skin. Hyaluronic acid is great for any skin routine helping to reduce inflammation under the skin and securing its moisture, giving you a more youthful appearance.
5. Eye Cream:
   • Burt’s Bees Renewal Smoothing Eye Cream (link here!) – I honestly just bought the cheapest eye cream I could find that seemed to have pretty good reviews. I’m only 21 years old so I don’t really have to worry about wrinkles just yet, but I wanted to start my prevention early. It’s moisturizing and soothing and seems to do the job.
6. Night Cream:
   • Derma|e Overnight Peel (link here!) – I use this on nights that my skin is feeling rough, bumpy, and a bit dry. The next morning my skin feels so revitalized. It’s smoother, softer and I can’t stop touching it! (don’t touch your face though. You don’t know where your hands have been… ew.)
   • Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Night Cream (link here!) – Having a good vitamin c cream is essential for reaping its antioxidant benefits! It gives you brighter, healthier, younger-looking skin. I’m sure you can find better vitamin c creams or serums out there, I just use this one because it’s cheap and smells amazeballs.
   • Vitamin E or Coconut Oil – I like to moisturize really well at night. Both of these products have such amazing benefits for your skin I literally can’t even list them all. (not literally… but you get me)
     • tip: If they’re too heavy for your skin, mix with the daily hydrating gel!

Skin Care Routine

Morning Routine:

My morning routine is super simple. I don’t wash my face – because why would I wash off all the goodness I put onto my skin the night before? – I just rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Then, I put the herbal blemish stick on any spots I see and use both Dr. Lin’s gel and the cetaphil face lotion with sunscreen.

All done!

Night Routine:

If I was wearing makeup that day (which I probably wasn’t because I like to let my face breathe) I will remove it with the body shop makeup remover.

Then, I will wash my face with one of my three face washes. I most often use my african black soap, but about once or twice a week I will use the scrub. To wash I love using my Ultimate Skin Spa System from VanityPlanet. Here is the link and if you look up any youtuber that uses anything from this website you can use their coupon code to get 70% off! (Say whaaaat!)

Next, I tone and moisturize. After I tone, I put my trusty herbal blemish stick on any acne spots I find. For my moisturizer I most often use vitamin e or coconut oil, but I’ll go back and forth between these and the vitamin c night cream. And maybe about once a week I will use the overnight peel. After I pat on my eye cream, it’s off to sleep!

I hope you all found this post helpful! Let me know of any better products I could be using, if any of these products helped you, or if you just have any questions!

P.S. This post was not sponsored. I really actually use these products. Thanks for reading!

xoxo, Arielle