Natural Skin Care for Oily/Combination Skin
My skin used to be dry and clear most of my life. I had my 3rd daughter, turned 30 and all of that changed. After her, I have had years of adult acne and oily skin. I eat pretty clean and take care of my skin but saw no change, even when I would try eliminating foods from my diet. I tried many products and went to my dermatologist with no real results. She wanted to put me on medication but I refused. It wasn’t worth ingesting something to have clear skin. After my mastectomy, I try to be very careful about what I put in my body and what I put on my skin. I just continued my search for products that would eventually work for me.
I went to a spa opening last fall with my husband. They are clients of his and they invited us to come to their private grand opening. They had some really great products in there that they use for facials. I had heard of them all but had never tried them. Honestly, the price tag on them is hefty so I was hesitant. They gave me a sample bag to take home which was the perfect time to try them. This is when my love for Naturopathica began. I love this brand. Not only are they very clean and natural, they have been around since the 90’s and they believe that what you ingest is just as important as what you put on your skin. They have a line for each skin concern. They also have tinctures that you add to your water and teas to drink daily to help get that glow from the inside out. This concept is so different than most skincare lines. They believe in total health. If you take care of your body, it will show on the outside. I started drinking their teas and little by little, I tried more of their skincare items. I also have some favorites from other brands because let’s be honest, not every brand is one size fits all. They may have some amazing products but whether or not they work for your skin is hit or miss. Here are my favorite products in each category.
Cleansers:
My favorite cleanser is the Australian Wild Plum and Willow Cleanser from Pangea Organics. I use this daily or alternate with Naturopathica’s Aloe Cleansing Gel which is also perfect for oily/combo skin. The Pangea Organics cleanser thoroughly cleans my skin well just using my fingers. I have used brushes, charcoal sponges, special cloths etc but when it comes down to it, I’d rather just use my hands. This cleanser is perfect for oily skin. It does not dry me out and but still helps control the oil.
Naturopathica’s Aloe Cleansing Gel is a great option as well. It clarifies and cleanses without sulfates which is great. I did find that I got oily faster during the day when using this in the summer but in the winter it’s a great option. It’s soothing for wind burned winter skin but still controls the oil.
Before I wash my face, I use Farmacy Beauty Green Clean. It is a makeup remover/ cleansing balm that gently removes impurities without stripping skin. I gently rub this all over my dry skin to remove all dirt and makeup. I rinse it off with warm water and then wash with my cleanser. If you have dry skin, this cleanser would actually be sufficient enough on its own. However, for my oily skin, I need to use another cleanser to help control the oil and get my skin primed and ready for my serums and lotion.
Toner:
Naturapathica Lavender and Honey Balancing Mist is a great toner. It is antimicrobial and humectant so it locks in moisture. Moisture is still necessary for skin health. If you don’t moisturize, your skin may over produce oil to compensate and then in turn it becomes more oily and congested. This is why it is so important to pick the correct moisturizer for your skin. I spray this all over my face to prep it to better absorb my serums that I put on next.
Serums:
At night after I spray on my toner, I put on either my retinol or my AHA serum. I alternate these two products on differing evenings. I don’t put them on at the same time because this would be too harsh for my skin.
I love SkinMedia Retinol Complex .05 strength. The 1.0 is a little too strong for my skin. This helps cellular turnover to get rid of age spots, acne scars, fine lines and helps overall tone. It can make you peel the first few times you use it. If this occurs, use it only twice a week until your skin gets used to it.
On the other nights that I don’t use my retinol, I use Naturopathica AHA Purifying Night Serum. This is a powerful clarifying treatment that helps reduce congestion and helps minimize pores. I use one to two pumps on my finger tips and rub it all over my face and neck. This helps exfoliate through glycolic acid. I like this because I get nervous about using granules that are too harsh and may tear or irritate your skin in a typical exfoliant. It has salicylic acid in it as well to help with congestion if you are prone to breaks outs like I am. It can burn when you put it on but it will only last for a second. This also has hyaluronic acid in it which helps retain moisture. Perfect for night time when you really want to lock in moisture to help your skin heal while sleeping.
Vitamin C15 Wrinkle Repair Serum by Naturopathica is a miracle serum. I got this as a sample from them when I placed my last order. I have only used this for a month and love how it has changed my tone, made my skin so much brighter and I’m hoping with long term use, prevents me from aging as quickly. It is pricey and here is why; the ascorbic acid they use to power their vitamin C is molecularly identical to what grows on trees. However, it is more gentle, more potent and environmentally friendly. Not all vitamin C products can be treated the same. If you want to have a product that actually works, this is it.
Moisturizer:
The moisturizer that I use is Naturopathica Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream. Now I’m sure you are thinking, hydrating cream for oily skin? Yes! I use a very small amount and dab it into my skin. It is one of their best sellers for a reason. It is typically for dry sensitive skin however remember when I said that not all skin care products are one size fits all? Well this is one of those cases. This was one of the first products I ever tried from Naturopathica. I had the sample lotion and used it every night before bed. I figured it is heavier so it should be used as a night cream. This is true, but if you use a small amount, this can also be a day cream under makeup. Calendula is an herb that was typically used to heal burns and wounds. It is perfect to help calm skin. We get a lot of pollutants absorbed through our skin during the day along with crazy weather and UV damage, this lotion helps heal and protect against damage. This lotion is amazing after a day at the lake, it helps calm the worst sunburns. Moisture is so important in keeping our skin healthy and young. This lotion has trehalose in it which is a naturally occurring saccharide. It protects the skin from dehydration by replacing water in the tissue. Hydration helps keep the structure of our skin so this is a great anti-aging cream.
If I go to a more humid climate, I like to use Naturopathica Vitamin C Revitalizing Lotion. This is a very light daily moisturizer that helps prevent signs of aging. It is not as heavy on the skin as the Calendula moisturizer so if the other is just too much for during the day, this one is a great option for you.
I ran out of my Naturopathica Vitamin C Lotion one time and needed something right away. I ran to Ulta and picked up Pacifica Kale Luxe Oil Free Cream. It is a very light weight cream like the vitamin C cream. It has AHA’s and flax acids to help control oil. It may not have as clean of an ingredient list as Naturopathica however, it still has great ingredients and is a very budget friendly face lotion. It works great for my skin.
Face Masks and Peel:
One of my favorite face masks ever is Naturopathica Pumpkin Enzyme Peel. Now it is not like the peels that you get from the drug store where you physically peel it off your face. It is called a peel because it helps shed skin cells through pumpkin enzymes. This is perfect for dull or congested skin. It is a powerful antioxidant and it helps break down skin cells for a smooth finish. You put this on clean toned skin. I make sure to spray on my Lavender Honey toner to help absorption. This peel only needs to be on your face for 3-5 mins. I do this at night only because it can leave your face a little red if you are sensitive like I am. I don’t usually have time to do long face masks so something like this is perfect for me. When I wake up in the morning, my skin is so soft! I can’t say enough about this stuff! Also, it’s pumpkin season, perfect to get you in that fall mood!!
If you want a face mask that is more of a decongestant, this Franklin and Whitman Spruce Hill mask is the best! It helps pull impurities out of your skin through clays, absorbs oil through activated charcoal and helps reduce inflammation through matcha. This comes in a powder form so you mix with water and paint it on your face. Franklin and Whitman has a whole line of face masks. I have tried them all and love them! I also have had friends try them and they agreed, they are the best! I also use this lip balm and it heals my cracked lips from weather or a weekend at the lake so quickly. They are an awesome brand who loves dogs, they give back 5% of their proceeds to dog rescue organizations. How cool are they?!
Acne Spot Treatment:
I take care of my skin but sometimes I still get hormonal acne. If these pop up, Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is the best pimple zapper I have ever tried. I dip a q-tip into it and put it directly on my zit. It dries it up overnight. It has Salicylic Acid, sulfur and Calamine which are like the 3 most powerful zit zappers in one! This product is my ride or die. I haven’t found anything that I like more than this. I will always have it on hand in my house!
The products that I use can be spendy, however I want my skin to be in tip top shape as long as possible. I also love the fact that these products aren’t filled with a bunch of chemicals that are leaching through my skin into my system causing more harm than good. I didn’t purchase everything at once, I did a little at a time so I didn’t overwhelm my skin or my bank account. Now I can’t imagine using anything else. These are great brands with awesome missions and the products work! I hope it does the same for you.
