Step 1: Remove Makeup & Cleanse
Before I jump into the products I rely on, I should say that I have combination to very oily skin depending on the season. Also, my skin is extremely sensitive, and I tend to favor all natural and organic products.
Now, to begin my routine each morning, I cleanse my skin with Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Pure-Castile Liquid Soap. I have used this soap for years and can't say enough good things about it. I use it to cleanse both my face and body and absolutely love how it leaves my skin feeling fresh but not too dry.
One important thing to note about this soap though, is that it is very concentrated and a little goes a long way so I dilute mine with 1 part Bronner's and 2-3 parts water depending on the season - I dilute it more in the fall and winter and less in the spring and summer.
In the evenings I repeat the same process of cleansing my skin, but will first remove my makeup from the day. To do this I use the Badger Damascus Rose Facial Cleansing Oil. This cleansing oil is fantastic and easily removes even my waterproof eye makeup without needing to tug or pull at my skin - which I love.
I don't use it like a traditional cleansing oil though, and instead use it just as a makeup remover. That said, I have used it as a cleanser and it is wonderfully gentle yet effective. I just prefer using a traditional cleanser.
To use the oil, I apply a few pumps into the palm of my hand and then gently massage it into my skin for 30 seconds to a minute. Once the oil has set, I will remove it with some basic cotton rounds before cleansing with Dr. Bronner's.
Step 2: Tone
After cleansing, I always tone my skin. Over the years I have used a variety of toners, but my favorites have to be those that spray onto the skin. Currently, I'm using the Evan Healy Rose Petal Facial Tonic HydraSoul. I love this toner for a myriad of reasons, but most importantly being that it smells lovely and tones my skin gently enough that it doesn't become irritated. All-in-all, it leaves my skin feeling fresh, hydrated and prepped for moisturizer.
Step 3: Moisturize
At this point, I will sometimes use a serum but since I don't currently have one, I'll jump right into moisturizer. To hydrate my skin I am absolutely LOVING the Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer.
This moisturizer is a new addition to my skincare routine that I simply can't get enough of. As someone with sensitive, acne-prone, oily skin I have a hard time finding a moisturizer that is hydrating without being heaving, and clarifying without being drying but not anymore!
As the best of both worlds (moisture and oil/acne control), this moisturizer leaves my skin feeling perfectly balanced after each use. I have been using this for a few weeks now and even in the intense Charleston heat and humidity, my skin has never felt too oily or weighed down while using it.
Plus, the scent is gorgeous and the formula even helps keep redness at bay, which is no small feat when dealing with southern summers.
