Skin Care Decisions

Hey,

Today I wanted to write a small post detailing my skin care decisions I have been making. I have struggled with my skin for as long as I can remember, I have never had full blown acne but I am prone to pimples, break outs and dull dry skin. Since going off of the pill a few years back I have also struggled with hormonal break outs and cystic acne especially around my chin and neck area. 

After advertisements on Facebook and other social media I ordered myself a Real-U skin care bundle which includes a set of three items that Cleanse, Control and Hydrate. The first item, the cleanse section of the trio is a Gentle Foaming Wash. The second item, the control section of the trio is the Face gel and the third item, the hydrate section of the trio is a lite moisturiser. These skin care products are marketed towards people with problem skin - including oily skin, acne prone skin and break out. The products are made without Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic acid which are claimed to cause similar damage to skin as sunburn.

A week or two before these items arrived on my doorstep I started using three prodcuts from The Ordinary Brand. These items include two serums and a moisturiser; Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, Niacinamide 10% +Zinc 1% and the Natural Moisturizing Factors +HA. I would use the Natural Moisturizing Factors +HA moisturiser morning and night, the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution in the morning on spots and problem areas and the  Niacinamide 10% +Zinc 1% at night all over my face.  Within days of using these three products I noticed a series change in my skin. My skin felt plump and more hydrated and my previously hard to manage and get rid of pimples were moving through there natural cycle quicker and  fading away, with the added benefit of no new problem areas appearing. Any make up I was applying over the top of these products was sitting and staying on my skin better than ever.

 I was impressed with the products but was eager to get stuck in the the Real-U products that arrived. So I went into using the Real-U products with relatively barable skin. 

I received a sample of the Real-U Cleanse Gentle Foaming Wash with my order and started using that a week before trying out the full size products and did not notice any irritations or problems with how it was cleaning my skin. Adding the Control Face Gel and Hydrate Lite Moisturiser is where the problems arose. My skin immediately was not as plump when applying the moisturiser and my problem areas flared up with the face gel. This I figured was probably due to a detox period, which is what happens with new skin care. 

Applying primers and both powder and liquid foundations is where I noticed the next lot of issue. Nothing was sitting well on my skin. With previous break outs and uncontrollable skin I have still been able to apply my products and give my self a semblance of nice looking skin. Everything just looked wrong, I looked flakey and dry and products wouldn't build up and apply to my skin and once I got it on it would separate minutes after application. It just wasn't working but it was early days so I just put it down to changing skin.

Late in my second week after waking up late and only getting the skin care side to my beauty routine applied at home I applied my make up in the car. I put on my best high adherence primer by The Ordinary which I find makes everything stick to my face and then applied my liquid foundation over. Immediately the foundation bunched up and crumbled off my face. This freaked me out because it has never occurred on my whole face. I managed to save my face with some powder but the foundation was a lost cause. 

I went home, immediately wiped off my face and applied my Natural Moisturizing Factors -HA product by the Ordinary followed by the same primer and foundation I had used earlier. Both applied brilliantly over the top. I had similar issues with other primers and foundations earlier in the week but this incident was the one that cemented that this skin care line is just not for me. Waste of $69 for me but at least I gave it a go.

I have put the Real-U products aside and will now be using the following products;

Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser (Face; AM + PM)
Pixi Glow Tonic (Face; AM + PM)
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution (Spots + Blemishes; AM)
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% +Zinc 1% (Face; PM)
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors +HA (Face; AM + PM)
Yesto Grapefruit Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream (Eye; AM)
Egyptian Magic All Purpose skin Cream (Eye; PM)

I will be seeing how this combination of products work and update when I have worked out whether it is or is not going to work for my skin.


Thanks for reading,

Danny xx