Developing and maintaining a proper skincare regime will always be something I am truly passionate about. No matter where I am or what I am doing - whether it be on holidays, coming home from a messy night out...
There are a few select tried and tested favourites that I will never ever part with, but if finding new favourites and constantly trying a new skincare products were an Olympic sport, I would probably have a few gold medals to my name! I previously shared my PM skincare routine for acne prone and oily skin with you many moons ago, so I thought it was time to once again share what I have been loving and what has been working well for my skin lately. Quite honestly, I could probably do these posts more often as I am always unearthing something new and wonderful, but it takes a pretty damn good product to stay a constant in my regime.
There is nothing I love more than going through the notions of my evening routine. It really is a small portion of my day that I can truly dedicate to myself, give my skin some tender loving and unwind for the day. As someone with oily skin, my evening routine is crucial for striking that perfect formula for balancing out my skin. While my morning routine is focused on keeping my skin matte and oil-free, night-time is where I can truly get out and start playing around with products, adding much needed moisture back into my skin to reduce oil-production overnight, preventing and treating breakouts and reducing skin pigmentation and scarring.
So grab a cuppa and maybe a few snacks, because as usual I can't seem to limit my gibberish when it comes to talking about products that I love - this will be a long one, so considered yourself warned!
I am huge advocate for double cleansing, especially because working in the beauty industry means that I wear a tonne of make-up to work everyday, I need to make sure that it all comes off properly at the end of the day. Since I started double cleansing, I have noticed a huge improvement in my skin texture and the amount of break outs that I can get. So my biggest tip for those who feel like that they are at their wits end with their skin and don't double cleanse, really give it a try - and you can thank me later!
One of my favoutite ways of removing my make-up and my first cleanse is using an oil cleanser. I know, I know, oil for oily skin sounds like something straight out of your worst nightmares but hear me out! Using an oil cleanser is absolutely fantastic for breaking down long-wearing make-up like foundation and primer, as well as matte lipstick or waterproof mascara, and making it incredibly easy remove. It also helps to remove dead skin-cells and other bits of dirt and impurities lodged deep within your pores. The oil cleanser that I am currently obsessed with is the Derma E Nourishing Rose Cleansing Oil*. I love this oil cleanser as it not only has a beautiful scent, but contains rose essence, and argan and jojoba oil that leaves my skin feeling incredibly nourished, soft but most importantly gently cleansed and decongested. I love spending a few minutes really massaging this into the skin to remove all traces of make-up, then washing it away with lukewarm water and a face flannel.
For something a little more heavy duty or when I am wearing a lot of make-up, I will use either the Boscia Charcoal Make-Up Melter Cleansing Oil-Balm or the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm*. I find that these two balm-to-oil cleansers are fantastic at cutting through a particularly cakey face as they quite literally melt away make-up, or when my face is feeling really congested. You can also read more about my fave make-up removers here.
Next up is my second cleanse, which is usually a gel or cream based cleanser. I tend to stay away from foaming cleansers as I find them to be a bit too drying on my skin and find that they often cause any existing breakouts or where my skin is particularly sensitive, to flare up and redden. Cream, gel or milk cleansers are not what oily skin girls would usually gravitate towards, but I highly recommend them as they lock moisture in rather than stripping your skin of hydration that causes more oil-production by your skin to compensate this loss.
One of my favourites at the moment is the Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser. Like the infamous Pixi Glow Tonic, this cleanser contains Glycolic Acid, though in a much smaller and mild concentration making it perfect for daily use. Glycolic Acid is a god send for blemish prone skin in particular as it helps to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells that my cause clogged pores and breakouts. This cleanser is currently one my favourites as it works to delicately cleanse, renew and exfoliate the skin, while also leaving it soft and nourished thanks to ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Avocado Oil without being too heavy or overbearing for oily skin.
On alternate evenings (usually once or twice a week), I like to finish off the cleansing step in my routine with the Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant*. I spoke about this wonder product in length in my post here so I won't go on too much more about it, but this exfoliator is amazing for refining the texture of your skin or for when your skin is really feeling down in the dumps. I would highly recommend giving this a try if you prefer physical exfoliators but are after one the isn't too abrasive or harsh on the skin.
Tone
Continuing on with the Glycolic Acid trend, my toner of choice lately has been the Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner. This Mario Badescu toner is only 2% Glycolic Acid making it mild enough to use twice daily, but effective enough rejuvenate dull tired-looking skin and help reduce fine lines and skin pigmentation. This also contains grapefruit extract and aloe vera, so it also helps to soothe and refresh your complexion. I usually follow this up at the moment with the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. This is possibly the most boujee step in my skincare routine that probably isn't horribly necessary - but still do it regardless. Spraying a lovely facial mist all over your skin just feels so damn nice, okay?! I love this Tatcha one in particular as it is a milky emulsion that is super duper hydrating and moisture boosting, while also giving the skin a gorgeous healthy glow - what more can you want really?!
Treat
Aside from cleansing, the treatment stage of my skincare routine is where I have the most fun and a step that I enjoy the most. As I still (sadly) get the odd breakout or five, it is incredibly important that I have some variation of a treatment product that works to keep my skin clear and blemish free. Currently I am using the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Plus. Effaclar Duo is a lightweight water based cream-gel that is specifically designed to target acne prone skin, breakouts and congestion. Containing Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide, this also helps to restore the skin surface, reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and uneven skin tone - basically everything that you want a treatment product to do for oily and blemish prone skin! It is suggested that this can be use on its own as it provides lightweight hydration, but I feel that it usually isn't enough for my skin especially in the evenings.
Another skin concern that I have aside from oiliness and blemishes is pigmentation and scarring, and for that I am currently trialling the Ocinium Vitamin C Serum*. For my fellow boys and girls who have experienced the horrors of acne of first-hand, you will know that blackheads and whiteheads are only one part of the story. I don't get many blemishes these days, so my main fight is the second part of the acne battle, the scars and skin pigmentation left behind. This Ocinium serum is fantastic as it not only contains natural and organic ingredients such as Rosehip Oil and Lemon Myrtle Oil, but also contains a non-irritating form of Vitamin C that helps to brighten and illuminate the skin, increase collagen and elastin, and target that pesky thing called pigmentation. So far I have only been using this far a few weeks and I can already see a slight reduction in the severity of my scarring. I will have a full brand review on Ocinium up very soon with hopefully some more positive results to share - keep an eye out!
Hydrate
Despite ~ only ~ being 24, I am a firm believer in anti-ageing and the importance of a good eye-cream. IMO, I am already battling with scarring and pigmentation, so to make things easier for future me, I try to handle fine lines and prevent future wrinkles while I still have some time! My eye cream of choice for some time has been the Clinique All About Eyes Eye Cream*, which was also featured in my last PM routine - it is that much of a goodie folks! This eye cream is creamy and thick without being too heavy and is absorbed quickly and easily by the skin.
To hydrate the rest of my face I have been reaching for The Jojoba Company 100% Natural Australian Jojoba Oil or the Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil*. Jojoba Oil is particularly great for oily prone skin as it is meant to mimic the the skin's natural oils, tricking the skin into stop producing its own natural oils. It is also very low on the comedogenic scale, meaning that it doesn't clog the pores. While the Dermalogica facial oil isn't a Jojoba Oil, but is rather a blend of ingredients such as camellia, tamanu, orchid flower and chia seed oils, it is incredibly lightweight on the skin and is almost instantly absorbed - and it smells deliciously good. This one works help replenish and strengthen the skin's natural barrier and protective lipids. But if my skin is feeling especially dry or dehydrated (hanging out in office air-conditioning for 8hrs or more a day can usually do that!!) then I finish off my skincare routine with the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Moisturiser*. This moisturiser is an oil-free gel that smooths, softens and locks moisture into the skin, leaving it feeling plump and incredibly hydrated. A HUGE plus is that it is also one of the very few moisturisers that I have tried that doesn't cause me to break out either!
Last but not least, the very last step in my evening routine (which is usually conducted while lying in bed binging on Netflix) is applying my Dermalogica Nightly Lip Treatment*. Now, this is no ordinary lip treatment and is definitely so much more than a lip balm or gloss. I would describe it similar to a gel like cream that is thick, delectably rich yet still lightweight. It promises to firm, hydrate and restore the lip and perioral region and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This sorta has a peppermint scent and when applied with the metal applicator leaves a very cooling sensation on the lips. I used this all throughout winter and an say with confidence that I did not experience chapped lips once - winner right here!
So that rounds up my current picks for my evening skincare routine. What type of products do you use at night? And if you also have oily and blemish prone skin, what products work for you? Chantalle x