I am someone who developed acne pretty late in life. I was lucky enough to avoid the young teenage pimple phase, but suddenly, when I hit my late teens, my face was covered in bumps and breakouts. I started researching and trying different products, but I had sensitive skin, and many of the products I found would break me out even more or irritate my skin. Finally, I found things that worked for my skin and now know what to look for and avoid when in the skincare aisle. I am constantly trying new products and changing around what I use on a daily. However, there are five products that I always end up going back to.
hero cosmetics’ gentle milky cleanser ($15)
For face wash, I always want something that feels nice on my skin when I’m using it, isn’t overly fragranced, won’t make my skin sting, and won’t leave me with that tight skin feeling that some tend to do. I love the Gentle Milky Cleanser from Hero Cosmetics. It’s perfect for a morning cleanse because it is so refreshing and makes my face feel soft and awake. This cleanser is not stripping and has never dried my face out, which is super important in the morning because my morning skincare needs to last me all day.
Topicals’ daded serum ($38)
When it comes to getting rid of dark spots and helping with hyperpigmentation, no product on the market does it quite like the Topicals brightening and clearing serum; she really is that girl. This product is great for dry and oily skin and has, in my experience, never been harsh or irritating, which is a problem I find with a lot of the dark spot serums on the market. Topicals is a black-owned beauty brand that prides itself on creating products that work on every skin tone, and that can be used for different skin concerns like psoriasis or eczema. This product had my acne scars fading better than anything I have ever tried before and is something I always keep stocked up.
Krave Beauty’s great barrier relief ($28)
For serums, I am obsessed with the Great Barrier Relief one from Krave Beauty. As someone who got into skincare and was a little too aggressive with the exfoliation I was doing on my skin, my skin barrier was a complete mess for a long time. I needed something that was going to work on really healing the damage I had done to my skin and be gentle and non-irritating.
When I stumbled onto the Great Barrier Relief serum, I was a little skeptical with all the rave reviews, but I am now a firm believer in this product. It feels so lovely on the skin and always calms my face down when it feels sensitive. If my face is going through a bad time, and it seems like everything I put on it just stings and makes it inflamed, I always know that this product will not do that. With a green tint to the serum, I also find that it is really effective for redness relief and just overall helps even the skin tone.
cosrx’s bha blackhead power liquid ($25)
Even though over-exfoliation is something to look out for, exfoliating products can significantly benefit your skin’s appearance. When looking for exfoliators, I am always cautious of things that are too harsh and will do more harm than good. The BHA Blackhead Power Liquid from COSRX is a gentle BHA exfoliator that is great for my sensitive skin. As someone who has a problem with blackheads, this exfoliator works great at tackling them and always leaves my pores clear. It is not a product I use every day because even though this is one of the most gentle exfoliators I have used, it is still never a good idea to over-exfoliate because that just leads to more acne and redness.
kiehl’s ultra facial cream ($38)
For someone who has super dry skin, my moisturizer is like my best friend. I need something that will get some moisture onto my skin, but even more importantly, lock that moisture in so it isn’t just gone in a few hours. I don’t love having to reapply moisturizer throughout the day, so I need something that will last long and keep my skin plump and hydrated. I love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. This is a no-fuss kind of moisturizer. It is not here to look pretty or aesthetic, but when I need something that I know works, this is the moisturizer I reach for. It feels great on my skin and leaves it feeling like it just drank a liter of water. I love this for the mornings because I find that for nighttime I need something heavier. This moisturizer is great for the morning because even though it leaves your face feeling hydrated, it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It also wears great under makeup and does not leave me with a greasy face.
These products are staples in my skincare routine. Whenever I am having breakouts or my skin feels particularly sensitive, these are the products I reach for.
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