Beauty Picks: Acne Prone Oily Skin

Becoming a girly girl, if you will, has been a real journey for me. 

Here's my beauty routine: 

Shower, Brush Hair and Teeth. Apply Chapstick & Lotion. (both from the drugstore) Get Dressed. 

That's it.

Moving right along, then... 

I like makeup like any other girl but I never learned to apply it correctly. I put the things where they are made to go and hope for the best... Mascara on the eyelashes, blush on the cheeks and so on... 

Turns out there is an entire world. A sparkly, expensive, competitive world. Of just makeup. I started on YouTube with videos about skin type and skin care routines. (Keeping in mind that I had no idea what kind of skin I had. Umm, the white, blotchy, weird kind. But you can't really put that in the search box...) Anyways, I found some lovely ladies and signed up for an un-official crash course in all things girly for the face.

Here's what I learned. I have crappy skin. It's temperamental and unpredictable. Not ideal. That's okay apparently, there are ways to deal with that. I use all of these products on a regular basis and love what they have done for me.

*Keep in mind that I am by no means qualified to give this type of advice, I only know that us problem-skin girls need to stick together and that means sharing what works for me.

1. Acne Wash

I've used this stuff for YEARS. The problem: I was using this and only this. Not smart. Beauty products for acne prone skin can be very drying. Moisturizer is apparently, important. I use this wash daily with this moisturizer. Easy.

2. Foundation

Did you know they make foundation that won't slide off of your face and down to your toes the moment you step out your front door?! They do! AND you can afford it, I promise! It may take a few tries to get a perfect match but it'll be worth it. It applies so evenly and covers redness really well...

3. Mud Mask

This one is just fun. and weird. and scares the crap out of my husband. which is what makes it fun. Doesn't using a face mask just make you feel like your mom in 1980!? All that's missing is bright red nails, right!? Wrong. They are a thing. Particularly this one... I use it once a week and it keeps the break outs at bay! It also makes my skin super soft!

4. Powder

The freakin' makeup people all told me, indirectly of course, that I was basically committing the cardinal sin by not using a setting powder. So I started using it. I DID NOT look like I dipped my face in flour... I really thought I would. Who knew!? It was a pleasant surprise. It was also a HUGE contributing factor to my makeup staying where I put it for more than three seconds in this Texas heat. This one is a little pricey but it's the best one I've found and it lasts and lasts so that helps offset the cost a bit.

5. Sponge

I apply my foundation with this sponge. It's meant to be used damp and is comparable to The Beauty Blender. It's just WAY cheaper and just as effective. It applies evenly and way faster and easier than a foundation brush. It's easy to clean and cheap to replace and that's right up my alley

6. Mattefying Makeup Base

This stuff changed my life... Okay, that was probably an exaggeration but seriously I wear makeup twice as much as I used to because of this and this alone. I apply it to the oiliest areas of my face and it immediately eliminates excess oil in those areas... Meaning I can apply foundation to evenly moisturized skin. Mind. Blowing. This primer combined with the powder and the foundation are like the ultimate oily skin trifecta. Fo real.

7. Sensitive Cleansing Wipes

These are just essential. I use them everyday and they are super cheap. They don't leave my skin feeling slimy like so many other wipes do. It definitely takes more than one wipe to remove all of my makeup but I'm okay with that for the price. 

Okay. That's it. That's all I know. Like really.

XOXO

Miranda

P.S. I'd love to hear your makeup tips and tricks! I know some of you are make up pro's. I'm always up for learning new things...