My Current Skin Care Routine

After using different cleansers and moisturizers and understanding the need to tone adopt a good daily facial routine which includes not only cleansing and moisturizing but also toning I started browsing the Internet and searching for products which suited my skin issues and met my skin characteristics. The two main products which I found more suitable for my skin and also worthy in terms of price, quality and customer reviews were Vichy and Clinique. I had previously used Vichy products but never tried the other brand. However, because I like changes and I wanted to adopt a new skin care routine which could improve my facial skin rather than maintaining its status I opted for a change and chose Clinique. I read about the products on the clinique website and also followed reviews on you tube of beauty gurus inclusding Juicystar 07. Then I finally decided to go to my local beauty store (Franks) and I asked the consultant to help me choosing the right 3 steps clinique products. The products I bought that day include:

• Clinique Anti Blemish solutions cleansing bar for face and body (which I use for face only)
• Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 (toner)

I also was given 3 different moisturiser samples to try:

• Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (for dry skin)
• Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer (for skin types 3 and 4 that is combination oily to oily)
• Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer (for skin type 1 that is very dry to dry skin)

Clinique products listed

I got these products on a monday and during the first week I changed my skin care routine by using a different moisturizer in the morning and another in the evening. For the first 3 days I washed my face with soap bar and used the mentioned toner both in the morning and at night. However, while in the morning I used the Dramatically Different moisturizer in the evening I used the Age Degense moisturizer for oily skin. During those days my face turned oily and it would be shiny all over not only in the T zone for the entire day. So I went through the products and tried to understand why I was getting oily skin. I finaally realized that it was due to the dramatically different moisturizer which was for dry skin and was thus making my complete face oily. I stopped using it and starting applying the secong mentioned moisturizer for oily skin in the morning and at night. The result was that my face still looked greasy during the day and I started breaking out by having several small pimples on my face, maybe because of the effects of the first moisturizer I mentioned. Thus, I concluded that notwithstanding the fact I have combination oily dry skin I cannot use products for dry skin but I can use products for oily skin. All this happened during the first week after buying the clinique products. At the beginning of the second week I was very sick due to a chest infection and had respiratory problems so I reduced the use of skincare products because the scent would have worsened my breathing. I only cleansed, toned and moisturized at night and I skipped the routine for one day because I was feeling very sick. The results have been that my face is no longer oily, and my pimples are almost disappeared and the pustule I had is healing at a good pace. I intend to keep the same routine at night and start a new routine for the morning. I will tell you about it later on.

Thus my conclusions about these cinique products are that they definitely work, otherwise they would have left my face in the same way both negatively and positively.
I recommend the cleansing bar soap for those who have acne and don't use a prescription cleanser but also for those who have either oily or dry skin but want to eliminate present and future blemishes which might form on their face. The bar soap comes in a nice minty/pea transparent container which you can place on your basin if you wish so or keep in your skin care products drawer and is easy to use. Just wet your face with warm to hot water so the pores are open and rub the soap between your hands and then apply it on your face using circular outward motions. It tends to foam and thus cleanses well leaving your face a bit dry for the first few times you use it.
I found the Clarifying Lotion 2 very good. However, because I haven't used other toners I cannot make comparisons. But I would recommend it for those women with an oily T zone and dry cheecks.
I recommend the dramatically different moisturizing lotion for those who have very dry skin as it will definitely increase oils.
I recommend the superdefense spf 25 age defense moisturizer skin type 3 and 4 for those who have combination dry skin like mine as will moisturize your dry areas without making your shiny areas more oily.

Sorry for the long post. If you have any question I will be happy to answer it.