My Skin Care Routine...Keeping it Simple!

    OMG my skin......Seriously, my skin has been through waaaaayyyyy too much over the years!  Acne, dry patches, severe hyperpigmentation, skin burns, extreme oiliness, scarring etc!  I have NEVER  had balanced skin.  I have always been self conscious about my skin because it has always had some kind of issue.  I've tried acne products, sunscreens, fade creams, masks, exfoliators, scrub brushes and more over the years!    Until the past 2 years or so, I have had trouble figuring out exactly what I should be doing with my skin.  I finally figured out that like with my fro, SIMPLE is best for me :)

Cleansers

    Coconut oil is great for cleansing the skin!  I use it  to remove my makeup at night.  Cleansing your skin with a healthy oil doesn't lead to breakouts or excessive oiliness. 
 (I would have never thought I would love using oil on my seriously oily acne prone skin!) 
    Oil dissolves oil and dirt so that's why using it on your skin is a great idea.  In fact, your skin produces extra oil when it realizes that it has been stripped too much from a strong cleanser.  So with using an oil like coconut oil, the skin stays balanced and has no reason to "freak" out lol. I've actually been able to go without wearing as much foundation :)  Since using coconut oil on my skin, my skin tone and texture have improved dramatically.
    I have had great results using coconut oil to remove my makeup as long as I remove the oil, makeup, and dirt from my face.  I love to use coconut oil as a lotion replacement on my body as well.  I no longer have to buy commercial body lotions :D

    I have been faithful to Cetaphil daily cleanser for about a year and a half or so.  I love this cleanser.  It doesn't strip my skin like many other cleansers I have tried.  It kind of reminds me of cowashing for the face lol.  This cleanser isn't strong enough to dissolve makeups like Revlon Colorstay, but it is perfect to remove your average cosmetics. One thing I like about this cleanser is that it contains castor oil which is excellent for cleansing the skin!
   Cetaphil daily cleanser doesn't have a strong fragrance.  It also doesn't lather. ( I had to get used to this when I first started using it.)  I like to use this after I've removed my makeup with coconut oil.  I also use this in the morning to cleanse my skin.  This cleanser varies in price but I usually purchase mine for around $6.00.   

Moisturizers

   (NOTE: There are two versions of this product...one with preservatives and one without.  The one pictured above is paraben free.)  
     Ok, so this product is very basic lol.  But I love it!  I've been using this cream for about 2 years or more and it gives me just enough moisture to get through the day.  This cream is not organic but it is paraben free so that's cool.  It does not contain any spf.  This cream may be too light if you have dry skin :)  I like to use this during the day because its lighweight texture and feel work very well with my foundation of choice, Revlon Colorstay.  It doesn't leave an oily residue like many face creams.  There also isn't much fragrance in this cream,  so it shouldn't irritate allergies or anything like that.  The slight scent that it does have, doesn't smell all that great lol.   But it goes away very quickly.  There is really nothing special about this cream lol, but the fact that it's only $1.99 is awesome :)  I will continue using this as long as my skin agrees with it :D 

NOTE:  I just went to GNC to repurchase this cream, and they only had the one with fragrance :(  It also has parabens.  I have used this version before and I loved it still.  So I did repurchase it! It still is only $1.99 lol.  ( I don't know why they keep changing the formula...)

    Not only do I love using avocado butter for my hair, I love it for my skin as well!  This butter is rich and creamy and a tiny bit goes a long way.  Especially on the skin lol.  Some key points for avocado butter include:

*Highly moisturizing
*Great for healing scars
*Great for preventing line and wrinkles
*Helps smooth and even your skin tone

    When I use avocado butter on my face at night, I go to bed a little greasy feeling and shiny lol.  However, it's all worth it because in the morning (although I have puffy eyes)  my skin looks "glowy" and soft.  I believe that this along with coconut oil has allowed my acne scars fade quicker.

Toners

    So, this is a toner that I am actually trying to replace lol. This toner is a compare to Sea Breeze.  It works well but it's nothing to "knock your socks off", as my dad would say lol.  This toner isn't too harsh on the skin.  It does contain 46.6 percent alcohol....so not the best.  It removes the extra dirt and oil that may have been missed by my cleanser.  I tend to use toner around the perimeter of my face and on my neck :) 

    Witch hazel is new to me.  I have to admit, I'm not too  crazy about the name lol. But, I've heard many great things about using this as a toner so I wanted to give it a try.  So far so good!  It's very gentle on the skin which is awesome. The brand I have, from Dollar General, contains 14 percent alcohol.  It does well removing excess makeup and dirt.  The scent of witch hazel kind of reminds me of a mild vinegar...not the best best but it does not linger like vinegar!  lol 

  I have experimented with using vinegar mixed with water as a toner before, and my skin did like it.  The smell is definitely strong!  LOL  I will probably be making some more using apple cider vinegar this time :)   


So these are the things that I use regularly on my skin. I hope this was helpful!  God bless!   

How do you keep your skin balanced?
                                                                                                   

Check out my  skinkcare video on YouTube!
NaturalMe4C- Simple Skincare Routine