My skin type is oily (extremely oily!) and the routine I have created is for acne prone skin.
In spite of all the benefits there are to oily skin (particularly the promise of less wrinkles), sometimes all the shininess and having your makeup moving around throughout the day can be a bit of a nightmare.
This everyday Kiehl’s skincare routine is calming, clarifying and full of acne products that won’t exacerbate your skin further.
So before we get into my best skin care routine for acne and oily skin I want to share some fundamental tips.
There are 4 rules I swear by to achieve a healthy skin. Everyone should follow these basic 4 rules before adding in more advanced and targeted treatments.
1. Be consistent and patient
2. Strengthen your skin’s barrier
3. Hydrate your skin
4. Always wear SPF
It can be hard to figure out how to treat acne prone skin, but that's where a good routine comes in. With targeted skincare for oily acne prone skin, you'll be well on your way to happy and healthy skin.
The key to minimising acne actually lies in the difficult balance between hydrating and exfoliating.
While you do want to decongest the skin with acne skin care, you also want to use ingredients that will calm your skin and nourish your barrier.
This routine contains products that won’t strip the skin, as well as including products that assist with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or acne scars.
If you have acne prone skin, then it is important to use a cleanser that is effective at removing dirt, oil and impurities, but also gentle enough so it won’t strip your barrier. The Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 150ml is a high foaming gel cleanser, formulated with Salicylic Acid and a potent combination of efficacious botanicals.
Salicylic Acid is a mild acid that encourages the sloughing off of dead skin cells. It is great for treating acne. Frankincense Extract is an essential oil that helps to control oil as well as having anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger Root Extract helps with absorbing excess oil and is an antioxidant, while Cinnamon Bark Extract soothes the skin.
To use, begin by wetting the face and work the product into a lather. Massage into the face using gentle circular motions ensuring that you avoid the eye area. Rinse well. The Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Blemish Cleanser Treatment is best used twice per day. If you are new to Salicylic Acid start by using this once a day and slowly working up to twice a day.
Acne prone skin often goes hand in hand with blackheads, congestion, blocked pores and excess oil. Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque 125ml is a 1-2 times per week treatment to help eliminate dead skin cells, debris and absorb excess oil. It minimizes the appearance of pores and leads to a more refined and purified looking skin.
It contains fairly traded Amazonian White Clay, which is sourced from the mouth of the Amazon River. It is a mineral rich clay that helps to remove bacteria, toxins, excess oil, and dead cells that can clog pores. The sustainably sourced Aloe Vera, which is derived from the leaf of the Aloe Vera plant helps to soothe and moisturise the skin. Oat Kernel Flour and Bentonite both absorb surface oil.
Apply a thin layer to damp, clean skin, avoiding the eye area. Allow to dry for 5-10 minutes. Gently remove using a warm, wet towel and pat dry.
Acne prone skin is prone to inflammation and redness. To reduce discomfort, redness, inflammation and blemishes and to improve skin texture use the Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Toner. This toner helps to balance the skin and reduce inflammation and redness. It is gentle enough for sensitive skins and irritated skins. It is totally refreshing and isn’t sticky.
This alcohol-free formula is very gentle on the skin and does not strip or dry the skin out. Best of all, it has a soothing tea-like aroma. It is infused with hand picked Calendula petals which is known for it's healing properties and is great for normal, oily and sensitive skins.
Apply a small amount directly onto clean hands and evenly distribute across the face. Alternatively, moisten a clean cotton round with the toner and apply to the face in sweeping motions.
It is important to nourish the eye area with efficacious ingredients. Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum is a go to product for all concerns with the eye area. It instantly brightens the eye area, strengthens the skin barrier, treats dark circles, fine lines, puffiness and crow’s feet – it basically does everything!
It contains 10% pure Vitamin C, Tri-peptide and fragmented Hyaluronic Acid as well as Vitamin E - a must have product for sure!
Apply a small amount along the orbital bone using your pinky finger – a little bit goes a long way! This is best used morning and night and can be followed by an eye cream.
The Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 30ml helps all skin types, including acne prone skin because it minimises the appearance of a broad spectrum of dark spots including post-acne scarring and creates a more even skin tone.
This serum contains activated Vitamin C, which visibly reduces dark spots and prevents the formation of new discolorations. White Birch extract is a sugar derived ingredient known for its ability to restore nutrients and hydrate the skin, and the inclusion of Peony is rich in antioxidants.
This treatment is best used morning and night before moisturiser. Apply two pumps evenly across the face, using gentle patting motions.
Fun tip – It may also be used to correct discolorations on hands, neck and chest!
For healthy skin, it’s important to keep the skin hydrated, and a strong barrier. The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 50ml does just that, and is a must have for anyone with oily or acne prone skin. This Oil-Free formula works in synergy with the skin’s natural lipids to visibly reduce excess oil in the skin’s surface. It is non greasy but still provides high levels of hydration. It creates a healthier, re-balanced skin barrier. It provides 24-Hour Shine Control without mattifiers.
It is oil-free, paraben-free, colourant-free and fragrance-free. The glacial glycoprotein and desert plant extract work to draw the moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated. They lock essential moisture in the skin and strengthen the skin's barrier, as well as reducing shine. What more could you ask for?!
Apply a small amount as the last step in your skincare routine morning and night. The unique lightweight gel texture is instantly absorbed by the skin leaving a dry feeling.
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