I’m soon to be 25 and a sociology graduate. I’m currently working in healthcare. One of my big passions is makeup, which funny enough didn’t begin until almost two years ago. My first encounter with makeup began when I was fourteen and to be honest, it was mostly about changing what I was unhappy with. Towards the end of middle school, my skin began to rapidly change. No longer were the days of clear, baby-like skin, but instead I had oily skin with excessively clogged, that I’d get pimples all the time that I would, of course, pop, which would result in scarring.
To top it off, I have eczema as well, so some areas of my skin can be unusually dry. My mother’s skin is so flawless, she only wears lipstick. After frantic research to achieve the same, I discovered the beauty community on YouTube. Now, I definitely did not become a pro overnight — Even looking back at pictures from last year, the glow up doesn’t stop. As cliché as it sounds, practice makes perfect. Sure you can go out and buy everything your fav beauty guru uses, but it’s better to modify and find what works best for you, especially when it comes to skin care.
Everyone has different skin and even now I’m still figuring out what it likes and dislikes, but I believe I’m on track. While I enjoy makeup – my focus is always skincare because that’s what really gives you that immaculate finish. Here are some of my favorite products.
1) Raw African Black Soap
For those days when my skin is feeling like it needs a deep clean. The best thing about African Black Soap other than it being so affordable and long-lasting is that it has so many benefits. Other than it being, of course, a natural product that’s good for skin types all across the board, it can help with minimizing scars as the ingredients create a natural exfoliator. A huge tip after washing your face – Pat it dry, don’t rub with your towel as it may cause irritation.
2) Freeman Facial Charcoal and Black Sugar Polish Mask
I kind of discovered this by accident and since I’m a sucker for anything that says charcoal, I picked it up of course. I mainly use this for self-care days when there’s going to be a mask involved or when I have some dry areas. It really gets all the dead skin off, but I recommend using this 2-3 times per week since it can be harsh.
3) Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
A friend of mine actually put me onto this. I noticed her skin was clearing up and she said it was key, so I tried it myself and now I use it every day. When our pH levels are out of balance, our pores begin to clog and we start to break out, so ACV creates that balance. It also kills bacteria. Another thing I noticed after I started implementing ACV into my routine is that I’m a lot less oily.
4) Aztec Clay
I began using this product about 3 years ago and noticed a visible difference in my skin after a third use. I have large pores on my nose and not only did they look shrunken in size, but less clogged. I apply this about 2-3 times a week mixed with ACV; leave it until it dries completely before rinsing.
5) Mario Badescu Facial Spray
I really enjoy using this after I’ve washed and toned my face. It brings radiance back into my face and it’s kind of like the first step to moisturizing my skin since it has glycerin in it. I use it after I’ve put on makeup and feel like my face is looking a bit powdery.
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6) Caudalie
My absolute treasure! I love this stuff so much. I receive it as a Sephora birthday gift and it’s one of the few free items I actually finished and purchased. It is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. I usually put it in the areas where I feel I need it the most at night while my skin is repairing itself. Every one in a while I’ll pop a pimple and have a scar, usually in my t-zone. I quickly noticed a difference within a few weeks of use.
7) Neutrogena
When I was younger I used Neutrogena and never quite liked it, but I must say this product does its intended job. I use the regular hydro boost in the morning and the one for extra-day skin at night. Even with oily skin, you still want to moisturize so that your skin won’t work overtime and making your skin more oily than usual. They’re also not thick and sticky like a lot of moisturizers, which I really appreciate.
Makeup Prep
Once I’ve completed my skin routine, I don’t do much before putting on makeup. Again I have oily skin, so to ensure my makeup stays in place I add a thin layer of translucent powder. I know, it sounds insane but trust me. With oily skin, the powder gives your makeup something to hold onto. I then apply a primer. My favorite is the Dr. Brandt “Pores No More,” and the proof is in the name. I use one pump, mainly for my t-zone and I don’t put this on right away. I let it dry down a bit like a somewhat thick paste before applying so that it can really mask my pores and then apply another thin layer of powder on top before applying foundation.
Yasmine Mohamed
Yasmine is 25 and a sociology graduate living in Wisconsin. One of her biggest passions is makeup, which she took more seriously over two years ago. Her first ever encounter with makeup was when she was 14 in her bid to change what she was unhappy with. Today she stands to promote self-love through finding what works for you.
