When selecting a cleanser, keep in mind that this a product you will be using everyday, so pick something that is mild. I highly suggest a cleanser that you can work into a foam, because foams prevent you from "scrubbing" and irritating your skin while effectively removing impurities such as excess oils and makeup. For most skins a cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. I have personally tried both a long long time ago and they both worked well before I had "troubled" skin- which is something I will write about at a later time.
As for toner, the only suggestion I can make here is to try samples if you can. Everyone's skin has different needs and a toner is meant to help boost your complexion while addressing you skin's needs. Most toners have been hit or miss for me. Some work great, ok, or just don't do anything at all. There are two popular ways that toners are sold- bottle and spray. The one spray toner that has worked for me is by Murad and is in their Resurgence line. It's meant for anti aging, but I find that it hydrates my oily skin quite nicely without making my skin look gross under my moisturizer during the day. The best bottled toner that is applied with cotton pads was DHC's Balancing Lotion. This is directed at normal to oily skins and balances the pH of the skin to reduce oil.
Moisturizers are also a little tricky to find the perfect fit. Once again try to get samples if you can. Always try to select a noncomedogenic formula in order to not clog your pores. Moisturizers that are too heavy for your skin often cause clogged pores and can make your skin look greasy. Murad's Skin Perfecting Lotion is my go to moisturizer. Before I found that I used a Clean and Clear moisturizer but that was part of the discontinued Soft line*. I'm not sure if they have come out with an updated collection or whatnot since this line was really the only thing that attracted me to the brand.
Those of you with acne prone skin might be temped to use washes and other products with a high doses of medication- DO NOT DO THIS! From personal experience, the over medicated formulas tend to dry out my skin more thereby causing my skin to produce more oil. This only repeats the vicious cycle that leads to acne. If you must, use a cleanser that contains a small amount of salicylic acid rather than benzoyl peroxide. Also try to avoid alcohol containing toners as these will strip your skin of its needed oils in addition to the excess. Further more avoid medicated moisturizer because this step is supposed to help you skin recover from any treatments (such as clay masks, peels, etc) or spot treatments (benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, salicylic acid, etc).
I plan on doing a separate post about troubled skin and acne in the future. I will going into detail about how I overcame my skin's problems and give suggestions.
*Soft was only discontinued in the US, so you can still purchase this line from vendors in Canada or the internet!
Until next time,
XO KP
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