One of my major pet peeves is having a shiny/greasy face. I wash my face at least twice a day and constantly put powder on through the day – especially in the summertime. My skin is extremely oily in the T-zone, and normally my cheeks are normal. However, over the past few years I’ve found my cheeks and around my mouth has been getting extremely dry in cold weather – so dry that it hurts to wash my face.
One of my coworkers suggested that I check out The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann. She loaned me her copy to look over. The book is pretty interesting – Dr. Baumann discusses different skin types, and through a series of questions, you find out your skin type. Then, read over the chapter on your type to find out what works and what doesn’t with your skin, and she even lists her recommended products – cleansers, moisturizers, serums, even cosmetics – for each type. When I discovered my type (OSNW – Oily, Sensitive, Non-Pigmented, and Wrinkled), I found out that the reason my face had been stinging and burning was because I was using a foundation that contained avobenzone – one of the wrong things to put on my sensitive skin! Another great thing about this book is that she recommends products in all price points – from drugstore to department store. You can even sign up on her website to take the quiz and get updated recommendations on products.
Since I changed my products and makeup, my face has felt so much better. It is really helping to keep down the redness and sensitivity, while still helping with the oiliness and breakouts in my T-zone. Here are my fave products that I’ve been using!
Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser – This is one of the nicest washes I’ve ever used. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or taut, just soft and smooth. Also, it really helps tone down the redness in my cheeks and chin (stupid rosacea, grr). However, I do find that my T-zone is slightly oilier than usual after an hour, so I started alternating with the following wash.
Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash – I love Neutrogena. I’ve been washing with their stuff for years…started with the trusty old clear amber bar (see below) and I’m currently alternating this with the Aveeno cleanser. Since my skin is oily, I need to stick with this to prevent breakouts. This really gets rid of all that gunk and oil on my face. I use it in the evening to really get the grime of the day off!
Aveeno Ultra Calming Moisturizer SPF 15 – I admit, I’m terrible with moisturizers. I never started using them until I was in my 30s, and even then, I didn’t really use them since I felt like they made my oiliness worse, not better. However, I’m going into my mid-30s now and I really need to start using SOMETHING. This moisturizer was recommended in the book, and I really like it! It’s light, not greasy and heavy, and it has sun protection, which is really important for my fair skin.
How do you keep things clean and smooth? Share it in the comments!
NOLA nerdgirl, fashion and beauty geek, sci-fi and steampunk fan, corgi caretaker, photography buff, chocoholic, professional bra fitter, and other assorted oddities.
My facial skin is kind of the same – oily in areas and can be dry and sensitive in others. I’ve used Cetaphil gentle face cleanser for years (they have a “daily” version of their face cleanser, but that’s too drying for me) after reading about it in one of Allure magazine’s “Top 100 Beauty Products” issues. I only wash my face once at night, after I remove my makeup, and use Cetaphil moisturizer at night. I’ve found if I use soap or cleanser on my face more than once a day, my skin produces more oil, which I don’t need. In the morning, after I shower, I use Olay’s sensitive skin moisturizer with SPF 15. I also use Neutrogena’s Oil Free Acne Wash about once a week, just to help get rid of any excess oil. If I use it more than that, my skin gets too dry and sensitive. I’ve never tried Aveeno products, but I’ve heard good stuff about them. I may have to give them a try after I run out of my usual stuff.
Thanks for the comment! I tried washing my face only once a day, but I use a CPAP machine to sleep at night, so if I don’t wash in the evening, my mask won’t stay sealed. In the morning, my face is so greasy in that area that I have to wash it. Ugh, the perils of oily skin.
As much as people have recommended the Cetaphil cleanser to me, I will have to try it out one of these days! I highly recommend checking out The Skin Type Solution – it’s really helped me figure out what makes my skin look the best.