I've been through a lot with my skin. If anyone can relate- trust me, it's me!
I have oily, acne prone, sensitive skin. (Who knew there were so many labels to someone's face.) I also think that half of the problem in 'skin issues' is that a lot of people don't know their skin type.
Here's a quick skin lesson for you,
If you think you have dry skin - the one way you'll know for sure is if you have little to zero visible pores. Especially on the nose. If you do have visible pores and you still think your skin is dry, it's not. It's dehydrated. Up your water intake, tone down the retinol/salicylic/acne treatments and add more hydration to your routine.
If you're oily, you'll know. Haha. Yes you'll have pores and yes you'll produce oil. Although you shouldn't be so oily throughout the day, It should be balanced. If you're overproducing oil, you're stripping your skin of something and it's freaking out.
Less is more, give your skin a break. Take a day off from doing anything to It, and yes even cleansing. Prepare the night before by giving your face a good and gentle wash, hydrate and go to bed. In the morning do nothing, let your skin breathe and watch It naturally repair itself. You'll probably notice you're less oily already and more balanced.
If you think you're more combo, you probably have some visible pores in the t-zone. You have dryer days maybe in the winter, or different dry patches on your face. You get the occasional breakout but otherwise your skin is clear. You just want to continue to keep the balance with hydrating when needed, and balancing oil when necessary.
Sensitive skin and sensitized skin are two different things. When you're sensitive you react very easily to products, fragrance, anything harsh. Sometimes even the weather. So you want to keep It real natural and simple. Avoid anything with added synthetic fragrances and ingredients that are over stripping. Use soothing oils, and don't mix up your products too much.
Sensitized is when your skin is stripped and you react more to products, or fragrances or anything harsh like a sensitive skin type would - but it's only more temporary. Due to chemical peels or treatments, or overdoing treatments, thinning the skin, stripping the barrier and irritating the skin. You want to calm things down in your skin by using soothing ingredients and not touching your face too much, once your barrier starts to heal your skin shouldn't feel as irritated.
Anywaysssss, back to my skin routine.
I used to have no idea about anything that worked on my skin. Id try every product marketed for acne and oily skin that I could. I didn't read ingredients or know what I was doing, I'd listen to people on YouTube that didn't share the same skin type as me and take their advice. I'd put tea tree oil allover my face, or try to mix up some homemade face mask that probably didn't help... So long story short I probably made the problem worse.
Fast forward years later and more education and experience with skin, I do a few key things to help keep my skin in balance.
I like treatments like micro needling and PRP to help your skin cells naturally rejuvenate. Microneedling tells your skin cells to turnover more quickly allowing new cells to come in and produce more collagen and elastin in the skin. Leaving you with essentially new skin! - brighter, plumper and less textured. Adding PRP to that is just the icing on the cake. The liquid gold that boosts the skin cell turnover 100 times over.
This is a nice treatment to do 1-2 times a year, for maintenance.
I also try my best to drink a lot of water, replenish my electrolytes, sometimes I do bone broth too. I eat as healthy as I can, while still creating room for enjoyment. I know what triggers my skin and I do my best to avoid those things- sugar, processed foods, processed dairy, gluten. And of course stress- I manage that as best as I can.
Yes, I use my own skincare products. Excitingly!
And I use both the Radiant and Balancing duo's. I lather those oils allover my face, neck, chest, hands. I like to do a double cleanse, I start with the Balancing Cleanser and really massage It into my face- especially my nose area where I have larger pores and It really works well to clean them out, then I use either the Nadalina Skin cotton cloth to wash It off with or a one time use organic cloth. Then I'll cleanse a second time with the Radiant Cleanser and after I do either one of the serums or ill do a pump of both.
I let It soak It nicely before I get into bed so that I don't wipe everything off into my pillow. In the morning I typically don't do anything. I don't cleanse again because I don't want to overdo It. Sometimes I'll add more serum in the morning if I feel I need.
I keep It simple but make sure Im using those good quality products!
I know what it's like feeling vulnerable and embarrassed of your skin, but now Im so happy to embrace my skin because I know what works for me!
It might be different for you, but I hope that this helps you in the slightest.
All my love,
Nadalina