Don't Make This Mistake

Do you have a hard time finding the right products for your face? Have you ever returned moisturizers or sunscreens because it felt "too greasy" even though the product is made for oily skin types? Do cleansers dry out your skin or make you break out? It's frustrating isn't it? Well, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...

You probably use too much product!

Many people make the mistake of using way too much product. They become upset because the product isn't "absorbing" or because their skin feels "too oily" and they return it because they don't see any results or their skin condition gets worse. Well, the face is a very small area and you only need a very small amount!

If you use too much cleanser, it's harder to rinse off. Therefore, a residue of the cleanser is left on your skin which can dry it out or clog your pores resulting in acne. If you use too much moisturizer or sunscreen, your face feels greasy because your skin can only absorb so much.

People with an oily skin type sometimes skip moisturizer to avoid making their skin even oilier. If you're one of those people... stop! If you don't apply daily moisturizer, your skin will feel dehydrated and compensate by producing even more oil. The outer layers of your skin (epidermis) will be dry and the deeper layers in the skin (dermis) will stay oily. The dry, dead skin cells from the epidermis and the excess oil from the dermis combine and clog your pores resulting in hard flesh-colored bumps on your face (milia). So hydrate your skin with a light moisturizer and use sparingly. And don't be afraid of products with oil. Tea tree oil for example is a hydrating antiseptic that kills bacteria on your skin which clears away acne.

So don't shy away from face products because you think they don't work. Try using just a small amount and give it a few weeks before deciding you don't like it. Most products take at least a few weeks for any results to show.

If you have sensitive and combination/oily skin like me, try Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 for Combination Oily to Oily Skin. I recently bought this product and I will give a full review on it later this week but so far I like it a lot. It is not too heavy and leaves my skin feeling smooth and I love the fact that it is anti-aging with spf. Clinique also has this product for Very Dry Skin and for Dry Combination Skin.

Remember: use sparingly!