brown beauty talk contributor, Alexandra Akande has always suffered from combination skin. She shares her skincare regime and the products she uses to keep her skin in check.
I have combination skin with a touch of oiliness, I suffer from dehydration as my skin tries to correct itself by producing extra oil but making it more oily - cue vicious cycle. I bear this in mind when choosing products to look after my skin. This is my current routine below.
Morning
Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser used with my Foreo Luna - this cleanser contains salicylic acid, a BHA which exfoliates, decreases inflammation, removes dirt, grease and grime keeping pores clear. It gently cleanses and exfoliates without disrupting your skin’s protective barrier and has ceramides, salicylic and hyaluronic acid.
I am currently using Inika Organic Phytofuse Renew Resveratrol – this is a nice hydrating eye cream, which preps the eye area well for makeup.
Beauty Pie’s Uber Youth Re-elastic Concentrate Serum with elasto peptides and hyaluronic acid, this is where I get my morning dose of hyaluronic acid, this serum is hydrating, lightweight and not greasy at all.
Revolution Beauty Anti-blemish Boost Azelaic Acid Moisture Cream, this is a recent discovery that I absolutely love, it hydrates my skin with no greasiness at all (perfect base for makeup). It has a slightly gritty texture that dissipates upon application. Azelaic acid is great for the skin as it helps the renewal process, reduces pimples and blackhead formation and kills bacteria that cause acne and rosacea.
My two favourite SPF’s for oily combo skin are the La Roche Posay Shaka Fluid and the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, both are SPF50, leave no white cast and don’t exacerbate combi skin.
Evening
Yes To Carrots Coconut Oil Cleansing Balm; this surprised me, my balm taste is quite expensive (think Emma Hardie, Elemis etc) but this super affordable drug store option is fab. It has a great texture, gets everything off without stripping the skin and contains 98% natural ingredients.
Glamglow Supertoner Exfoliating Acid Solution (two to three times a week - alternated with Beauty Pie’s Super Retinol Booster Treatment) I’ve been using this for a little while and absolutely love it. It’s an exfoliating toner that contains five different acids (lactic, pyruvic, tartaric, mandelic, glycolic and salicylic) and activated charcoal, it tones, purifies and exfoliates. It sounds intense and it kinda is, so I wouldn’t recommend to those who are new to acids, but it’s so well balanced that it’s intense in a good way.
Niod Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate (FECC) (I eliminate this when I use the Retinol Booster Serum and take this up around the eye area). Niod designed this to address the eye contour area, my upper lids is where I need the most help (hello droopiness and hooded lids) and very few eye creams address this. I’ve gone through about two to three bottles and upon first ever use I did feel I noticed a difference, but feel the improvement has plateaued (there is only some much topical application can do in this area), so it’s more for prevention purposes now.
Beauty Pie’s Super Dose C Suite Rapid Action Power Brightener Serum (used on nights when not using retinol) this is the newest addition to my skin care routine, so the jury is still out. However we cannot deny the benefits of vitamin C; promotion of collagen production, diminishes fine lines, it’s an antioxidant, evens out the skin tone and enhances your skin’s radiance.
Or Beauty Pie Super Retinol Booster Treatment - This was my first proper step into retinol use (go big or go home lol) and now I always make sure I have a back-up in my skincare drawer. Though I wouldn’t recommend jumping in the deep end like I did, this risk did pay off, I always wake up with smooth untextured skin (one of my recurring issues when I neglect my routine) the morning after the night this is applied. I also did not get some of the other typical side effects of using retinol (dry, flaky, purging skin etc), as the retinol is encapsulated for slow release.
I mist again after a few minutes following retinol application and apply facial oil whilst skin is still damp, I am currently using the Like It On Top Oil Cleansing Facial Oil this Black-owned brand’s 100% natural product is stated to help maintain skins hydration and is suitable for all skin types including acne prone skin.
I end my routine with Beauty Pie’s Jeju Daily AM/PM Moisture Super Infusion Moisturiser, this is a lovely hydrating moisturiser that I believe was originally earmarked as a night cream, but customers were using it both day and night so Beauty Pie changed the name to reflect this.
Face Masks
About once or three times a week I’ll do some face masks, dependent on my skins needs one of my faves when my skin needs a good kick up the backside is Beauty Pie’s Super Pore Detox Purifying Black Clay Mask (with glycolic, lactic & salicyclic acid).
For a quick mid-week mask sess I’ll apply Beauty Pie’s Super Healthy Skin Deep Purifying Cleanser, I’ll leave it on whilst I shower and then use my Foreo Luna to cleanse and then rinse it off.
If my skin needs more hydration then I’ll use the Pixi In-Shower Steam Facial (after I have already cleansed), leave it on whilst I shower, massage with damp fingers and rinse.
Disclaimer
All of the products mentioned have been purchased by the writer or gifted to them from a PR or brand. We have not been paid to mention any of the products in the post. All of the advice given is impartial and based on the writer’s personal experience.
