Is Your Facewash Doing You Justice?

Puberty was a time fraught with the inner turmoil of my curly hair, braces, and whether or not I'd be able to afford the JNCO Jeans I so desperately wanted. As if my self-esteem needed any more battles to fight, Acne soon entered the picture. My mother, beautiful and caring as she'd always been, sought to educate me on the importance of skincare and how to manage my shiny, greasy, pimply face. I watched her skincare routine from start to finish, took notes, learned how to cleanse, when to cleanse and with what. Her Clinique bottles always lined up neatly on her bathroom shelf taught me the importance of a skin routine, and an Aveda facial helped me see my skin clear and clean for the first time. While I had to rely on prescription grade topicals to get me over the initial hump I learned a thing or two about the importance of the right facial cleanser. And now later in life learned of the blessings of an oily complexion (less fine lines and wrinkles for me please!) So welcome my oily/combo complexion'd friend- and read about my current favorite facial cleansers. 

The Mainstay

Boscia's Detoxifying Black Cleanser has been a part of my daily skincare regimen for at least two years. It does incredible job of deeply cleansing and detoxifying my skin without drying it out. Stripping your skin dry with harsh facial cleansers can lead to an imbalance in oil production in your skin, leaving you with an even oilier complexion. I've reaped the benefits of a brighter, clearer complexion thanks to Licorice Root and Vitamin C- which both fight hyperpigmentation and dark spots. When first applied, you'll notice a gentle warming sensation (my favorite part) thanks to Vitamin P. The benefit? Increased blood circulation to your skin. It dissolves excess oil and clogged pores effortlessly and leaves me with soft healthy skin.

The Age Fighter

There's a "big picture" trend happening in beauty right now in that what you put in and on your body should be just as kind to the environment as it is to your skin. Enter Youth to the People. They believe that what you cleanse your skin with should be as whole, nutrient-rich, and clean as what you put in your body. The brand and their team of chemists combine the best of superfoods and science to deliver effective skincare. Sulfate free, and without the synthetic fragrance or color their Age Prevention Cleanser leaves you with fewer lines, better elasticity, and a boost to your skin's natural collagen production. I recently fell in love with the look and feel of my skin after using and noticed how gently it was able to remove a face full of camera makeup and leave my skin glowing.

The Drugstore Buy

Hyaluronic acid has been in skincare for years but has only recently trickled down into our drugstore products. Always striving to deliver highly effective, well researched skincare to their consumers, Neutrogena has struck gold with their Hydroboost Hydrating Cleansing Gel. A gentle cleanser that's packed with the effects of Hyaluronic acid, it's been clinically proven to increase your skin's hydration level. What does that mean for you? Fewer fine lines and a more radiant glow. It's the perfect facial cleanser for when I travel. Airplanes and hotel rooms wreak havoc on my skin and this cleanser helped keep my skin hydrated and excess oil at bay- and with a price tag of $7.99 it's going to be in my skin arsenal for many more flights to come.

The Big Guns

There are times in life where temptation proves too tempting. I have a little more chocolate than usual, a cocktail too many, or laziness has me leaving the gym without washing my face. Having oily skin, summer months, and New York City are a recipe for skin disaster. The natural oils and sweat are the perfect canvas for the city's dirt to stick to my skin clogging my pores and before I know it I've broken out. Peter Thomas Roth's Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash has saved my skin more than once. Helping fight bacteria while cleansing away dirt and excess oil it helps treat and control acne. It's a little strong for my every day use but still gentle enough if you're needing a powerhouse cleanser. It penetrates pores to eliminate, clear up and help prevent the development of new whiteheads, blackheads and acne blemishes while allowing the skin to heal. A definite must have. 

The 2-in1

One of my biggest pieces of skincare advice for oily skin and men's skincare in general is to pair your facial cleanser with a good exfoliator. Sometimes it's an extra step many of us skip but with V76's Daily Balance Exfoliating Facial Cleanser you'll get a fantastic facial cleanser combined with a gentle exfoliant that's perfect for every day use. I haven't had a clean shaven face in ten years but this cleanser is especially great for the gentlemen that keeps a tight clean shave year round. Containing POLYACTIC ACID MICROBEADS, environmentally-friendly and biodegradable starch-based exfoliant, helps to remove impurities and dead skin cells. Also contains Caffeine which is a proven anti-inflammatory helping to soothe your skin and reduce redness while Jojoba oil leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized.