I think I’ve finally found what works for my skin! 
I can hear the Hallelujah chorus.
In all seriousness, it’s taken me a very long time to figure things out in the skincare department. I have extremely oily skin. So oily that I can do my makeup at 6:30 in the morning and by the time I get to school at 7:30, I’m already in need of blotting papers or powder. I’ve dealt with this from adolescence to now along with the occasional breakout. I had terrible acne as a teenager, but luckily, my parents recognized it and got me to a dermatologist ASAP. She said I’d grow out of it in my 20s. That was mostly true other than monthly hormonal breakouts. But it’s still oily and I have large pores that often result in blackheads.
Many of you know I’m a Beautycounter consultant and have been singing their praises for almost a year now. If you’re unsure what Beautycounter is about check out why I chose Beautycounter for my skin and my Beautycounter website.
Yes, several of these products are from Beautycounter, but I’ve also found some ingredients that you can buy right over the counter at your grocery store-yes, grocery store.
First, I take off my makeup with coconut oil. I used to not take this step, but in an attempt to try to eliminate the blackhead problem I’ve had, taking the time to remove my makeup before cleansing has proven to be very beneficial. I scoop out a bit into my hands, rub to liquify, apply to my face (eyes too), and remove with cotton pads. 
Second, I wash my face with the Charcoal Cleansing Bar from Beautycounter. I’ve been using this product since day one of my Beautycounter journey, and I honestly don’t think I’ll ever stop using it. It’s been a fantastic product, and I recommend it to everyone. 
Here’s where things changed for me. I recently found this brush. It’s by Ecotools, and truth be told, I found it on clearance at Walmart. It was $3.00, and I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve had my eye on a Clarisonic for a while but never pulled the trigger on one. I have a client who uses her Clarisonic with the Charcoal Cleansing Bar and swears by this combo. If you saw her complexion, you’d agree that it works. It’s flawless. So, I buy this hand-held, totally manual brush and start scrubbing the charcoal soap onto my face. (*Do not scrub! Rub in gentle, circular motions. It does exfoliate your skin a little but not harshly.*) Y’all, my pores have NEVER been so clean. Never. I even bought one of those extraction kits when Dr. Pimple Popper first came on the scene and spent hours in front of the magnifying mirror trying to clean them out. That stuff hurts! Thankfully, I don’t have to use those anymore! Ok, where was I? Gently rub in the charcoal soap and rinse off with a warm washcloth. 
Third, the newest and perhaps most game changing thing I’ve started doing for my skin is the addition of apple cider vinegar. I learned this from Sherry at Young House Love, and I was a bit skeptical. But she kept posting comments to her Instastories from other followers who had adopted this into their skin care routine. All of the praise for ACV made me bite the bullet and try it. I learned the hard way that you should dilute the ACV a little before you put it on your face. This will keep it from burning after the exfoliation from the round brush and will also keep you from smelling like a salad. The first few nights I used it, I woke up without oily skin! Cue that Hallelujah chorus again. 
Fourth, once my face is dry I put on the Nourishing Eye Cream from Beautycounter. You need the tiniest amount for both eyes. I squeeze it onto my ring finger and dab under and around each eye. *Tip: Always use your ring finger to apply products around your eyes. It’s the lightest touch of all the fingers. And the tapping motion is best so that you don’t drag the delicate skin around your eyes.* 
Lastly, I apply the Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion to the rest of my face. It’s got this incredible, bio-mimic technology that is derived from plants. I’ve really enjoyed using it with my particular skin type.
About once or twice a week I also use the Charcoal Mask from Beautycounter. It also helps to detoxify my pores and refreshes my skin. It’s great for my with blackheads, oil, and can work wonders on hormonal teenage skin as well. As always, if you’re interested in trying any of these Beautycounter products, you can check out my website here or leave a comment below.
As always, I hope this was helpful to anyone looking for any new products or routines, or maybe you’re like me and you just like to see what other people’s skincare routines look like. Anyone else use unconventional things as part of your skin care? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
My grocery list now consists of coconut oil and apple cider vinegar. Lol. I’ve never tried either on my face!!
Haha! I used coconut oil for a long time as a moisturizer in an attempt to use things with better ingredients, but the ACV was new. I LOVE IT!