Updated Skin and Hair Routine

I've changed my skin/hair routine since my last post on it and I've discovered some really great products that I'd like to share. :)

I'm going to start with hair. I went from using cheap drugstore shampoo to investing a little more money in my haircare and it definitely shows. Right now I am using the Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner. I've gone from my hair being a fuzzy, crackly mess to not even having to straighten it after I blow dry it. Alterna also has some other great products to fit your individual hair needs. I have also started using Jojoba Oil exclusively for my hair. I put just a couple drops in with my conditioner and it makes my hair shiny and soft. I've also found that I have to wash my hair less with this routine. My hair stays clean looking and pretty much oil free for up to 3 days, which I find pretty amazing. Fortunately, I happen to know a hair stylist who can get my Alterna at a discounted price. If you don't know someone, you can get Alterna online as well. I know Ulta does quite a few sales so keep an eye on them for a good deal.

For my face, I start off by cleaning my face with a makeup remover towel. I quite like the Ponds or Bjore ones. Even the generic brands of these are nice as well. Lately I have been using the Dollar General brand dupe of the Ponds which is only $2. I usually do this when I get home from work so that my makeup doesn't sit on my face those extra hours before bed.

At bedtime, I start by rubbing some Grapeseed Oil on my face. I've found that grapeseed oil is lighter than jojoba for the face and feels much better on. I just massage it into my face for about 30-60 seconds. Also it is great for removing eye makeup so make sure to get your lashes in there as well. Then, without removing the oil, I put on my Olay Blackhead Clearing Scrub. I have tried quite a few cleansers, even some high end, and I do not like it as well as my Olay. It has a nice scent, leaves my face soft, and has never broke me out. I then use my Olay Pro X Cleansing Brush to clean my face really well. Then I just take a warm washcloth and wash the scrub and oil off. I miss one night of using my Olay Pro X brush and I can immediately tell the difference. It definitely gets my face cleaner than I could ever get with just a washcloth.

Now, I've had a hard time finding a moisturizer that I like but I think I've finally found my HG (holy grail)! Garnier Moisture Renew Gel Cream is wonderful and it's only around $8! The problem has been that I cannot stand the feel of creams on my face. This is a nice, gel consistency that soaks in and dries in seconds. I like it more than the other gel moisturizer that I tried, the Boscia Black Hydration Gel, that retails for $38. It leaves my face soft and happy and has not given me any breakouts.

That's it! It really is an easy routine (it has to be because I'm really lazy) and my skin has never been better. I still get hormonal breakouts, of course, but other than that I'm thrilled with how my skin looks. I'm so glad that I discovered oil cleansing and I recommend it to everyone. I plan to try some new oils in the future and I'll report back!

Oil Cleansing and Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System

While researching for my blog and just general reading about skin routines, I kept seeing something called jojoba oil being mentioned. I finally looked it up and wow! This oil is used for everything from moisturizer to hair conditioner. According to this website, jojoba oil is this:

"Jojoba (pronounced ho-HO-ba) is a botanical extract of the seed of the jojoba tree (Simmondsia chinenis). What’s interesting about it is that it isn’t actually an oil, but rather what they call a wax ester. Why do we care? Because out of all of the compounds in nature, this wax ester is the most similar to human skin oil (sebum). It is theorized that applying jojoba to the skin can “trick” the skin into thinking it is producing enough oil, thus balancing oil production. The bottom line for us is that jojoba oil is non-comedogenic so we can use it without fear."

(non-comedogenic means that it will not clog pores or cause acne)

I have been using it for about a week on my face and in my hair. There is no doubt that both my hair and skin are softer. For my face, I just put about two drops in my hand and massage it into my skin for about a minute. Then I wash my face normally with my cleanser. Easy! For my hair, I just add a couple drops to my conditioner.

Now, I have read that your skin may get better before it gets worse when you start using an oil cleansing regimen. That's because the oil is purging all the bad stuff out. I have broken out slightly but nothing serious. I have noticed that my blackheads are already much better and are coming closer to the surface (I have the deep, hard to reach kind). I'm hoping that jojoba oil will also help with my scalp psoriasis but that is yet to be seen.

Bottom line, there are a lot of different oils that can be used for cleansing (coconut, olive, etc). I think it really just comes down to which one you prefer and your specific skin type. I'd do a little research before buying one but I definitely think that it's worth looking into. I got my jojoba oil from Amazon. It's reasonably priced and my 4 oz bottle will last me quite a while at the rate that I'm going.

I also found this video to be helpful and informational:

Another discovery I've made recently is the Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System ($30). I have had my eye on the Clarisonic for a while but at a $120-$200 price point, I just couldn't afford it. Both are handheld facial cleansers with removeable/replaceable brush heads. The brush head rotates, giving you a much deeper clean. The two devices are much the same. The Clarisonic does have different, more specialized brush heads that you can buy (sensitive skin, acne, etc), while the Olay ProX has one. For the price difference, however, I think I can handle it. The Olay ProX brush is very soft and it doesn't irritate my skin at all, even on the higher speed. It is water resistant, which is great if you clean your face in the shower. All in all, I've enjoyed using this cleanser. I feel like my face is much cleaner than using my hands alone. I picked mine up at Walgreens and I did notice the replacement brush heads were around $8 (while the Clarisonic heads are $25). If you are looking for a deeper everyday clean, I'd give the Olay ProX a try before you spend all that money on the Clarisonic.