My oily skin routine: the products that changed my skin

I've always had oily skin.

Enlarged pores, microcysts, skin that gets shiny quickly… for years, I tried loads of things to make it clearer.

And of course, I also made the classic mistake: wanting to dry it out at all costs.

I used very harsh products and dermatological treatments that sometimes left my skin completely dry.

Today, my routine is much simpler.

I know my skin better, I change products less often and above all, I know what I'm looking for.

I told you more precisely about my background in my article on my oily skin, my enlarged pores and what really worked for me.

Here, I'll show you what I'm currently using. And most importantly, what I really like.

My Be Plain cleanser

I discovered Be Plain in London, it's a Korean brand that I didn't know and I am currently using their facial cleanser.

What I like most of all is that it cleanses without leaving my skin completely dry.

It sounds silly, but with oily skin, I long thought that that tight feeling was rather a good sign.

From now on, I much prefer having clean yet comfortable skin.

The Aesop skincare I discovered in Hampstead

I had walked past Aesop a thousand times before buying anything.

In Paris, in London... I always used to look at the shops without really going in.

And then one day, in Hampstead, I went in "just to look".

We know how that goes... I came out with several products.

And frankly, for once, the shop assistant was right.

The Aesop exfoliant + toner combo

I use the Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste about twice a week.

But what really impressed me is using it with the toner.

The first time I did both, Greg looked at me and said:

"Wow, your skin looks lovely."

Obviously, I replied to him:

""Stop it, you're getting on my nerves. You know I've just bought the products.""

I was convinced he was having me on.

No, the result was genuinely visible. And the more I kept using them, the more I noticed the difference.

My skin looks clearer and the texture much nicer straight afterwards.

The toner, a step I never skip

Because of my closed comedones, I used tonics with salicylic acid for a long time. It’s an active ingredient I turned to to keep my skin clearer.

This step is really important to me.

Aesop's has replaced the ones I used previously and, combined with their exfoliant, I find the result particularly noticeable on my skin.

In fact, my next purchase from them will surely be their facial cleanser.

But I'll finish the ones I already have first.

I'm trying something new: finishing my products before buying more.

We shall see how long that lasts.

My Centella serum

I also use a Centella serum.

Yet another Korean product.

Its texture is very light and that is exactly what I like with my skin.

I can't bear feeling like I'm piling layers of products onto my face.

I apply it before my cream and it easily integrates into my routine without me needing to think about it.

Aesop In Two Minds Facial Hydrator

Finding a moisturiser when you have oily skin can quickly become a chore.

Too rich, I shine.

Too light, my skin lacks comfort.

I am currently using Aesop's In Two Minds cream and the texture suits me very well.

It is lightweight and, above all, I can put on my makeup right afterwards.

It has become important since I pretty much stopped wearing foundation.

That was also a HUGE change for me.

I talk about it more in my article on my oily skin, my enlarged pores and what actually worked.

And if you want to know what I put on my face now, I've also detailed it my natural-looking base routine without foundation.

What I changed most in my routine

Over time, I've mostly stopped looking for the miracle product.

I prefer to have a few products that I actually use rather than a bathroom full of new items tested three times.

I no longer try to get completely matte skin either.

My skin is oily.

She can shine.

I have pores.

And ultimately, that is not what bothers me the most today.

What I want is clear and comfortable skin.

And for now, this routine is really working well for me.

If you also have oily skin with visible pores or microcysts, I particularly advise you to start by this article where I tell you everything that really changed my skin.

Because products matter.

But the way I looked after my skin probably mattered even more.