Ladies what is your facial cleansing routine?

[lucyblondecat]

I have always used just soap and water but now that I am well into my 30s I think I need a change. I went into Sephora and I got intimidated by all the products and bright lights. I would like to have an idea of what might be good before I go back in there. I have combination/oily skin. What products do you use and recommend?

 

[Dina]

I'm 33 have extremely sensitive skin though sometimes oily-- so I use cetaphyl cleanser and ponds moisturizer. When my face seems a little more oily than usual, I use oil of olay sensitive skin foaming cleanser. I switch moisturizers sometimes too-- sometimes during the day in the summer, I need a lighter moisturize, so I use cetaphyl lotion with spf 15. I used to use very expensive products (I've used clinique, kiehls, Elizabeth Arden, and Aveda-- I used each of those for a few years at a time)-- started doing the clinique in high school, and moved on to each-- I really don't think my skin was much better when using any of the more expensive products. When I started staying home, that was one of the things I stopped buying for myself to save money, and I haven't missed the more expensive brands.

 

[emilymad]

I use the Clinique three step system. I started off with just their moisturizer gel. It is wonderful for oily skin. I am now using the face wash as well. I have tried a lot of the drugstore brands and found that they dried my skin out...not in the good way. It seems that a lot of drugstore brands are more geared towards teens. I am interested to see what everyone else suggests. I would love to find a cheaper alternative. Clinique isn't all that expensive and it does last a long time. I get about 6 months of out each bottle.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Cetaphil - that's all I use to clean my face. Cleans great without drying my face out, and I have very few breakouts when I use it daily.

 

[lucyblondecat]

I did try Cetaphil when staying at a friend's house and my face was so oily for the rest of the day. I was disappointed since it seemed reasonably priced.

 

[lemondog]

My routine is very simple. I use Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Face Wash, followed by Olay Complete moisturizer. I do this morning and night. Both products are around $6 at Target, so my whole routine is very cheap.

 

[Beth76]

I've been using Arbonne products lately. I love their Basics facial scrub that's been discontinued, so I bought several containers on ebay. Bascially, I cleanse, scrub, tone, apply eyecream then moisturize. I scrub about every other day though. At night instead of scrubbing, I'll use a masque. Again, just every other night with the masque.

 

[BeckyEsq]

I am 32 and my skin is also combination/oily. I am kind of a product junkie but here is what I'm using currently:

in the morning, cleanse with Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub. Then I use Olay Complete Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15.

at night, I use the cheap Walmart brand Equate face wipes (sort of like baby wipes) to take my makeup off. Then I use the ProActiv system -- cleanser, toner, and and treatment.

I also have the Clinique 3 step, including the liquid face cleanser and the oil free moisturizing gel. I use that for times when I don't think I need as much acne-fighting (times when my skin is a little drier or more sensitive, like after I've used a mask).

I have various masks I alternate too -- one I love is from Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa -- it is a black licorice-scented mask and it really dries up the oil. I also like good old fashioned Queen Helene Mint Julep mask from the drugstore, and I will even spot-treat with that overnight to dry up a pimple. I use either of these two masks once or twice a month around the time of the month I tend to break out. I also try to use the Neutrogena Acne Mark Fading Peel a few times a week -- this makes a real difference and my skin looks great if I use it consistently.

 

[BeckyEsq]

I did try Cetaphil when staying at a friend's house and my face was so oily for the rest of the day. I was disappointed since it seemed reasonably priced.

Not all Cetaphil is the same. They have one for oily skin, maybe you used the one for dry skin?

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I use Philosophy products--Purity cleanser, hope in a jar daily moisturizer, and hope in a jar eye & lip creme. I also have the Miracle Cure facial scrub, but I don't use it that often because I forget about it. When I do use it, it works great.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Dove soap and Oil of Olay Complete.

 

[Alice28]

Clinique 3 step, morning and night. Used it since I was a teen and it really works well for me. A couple times a week I use Target's brand of the apricot scrub. The Clinique is a bit spendy, but each part of the 3 step lasts 6 months.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Twice a day: Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize

A night, add:
1) Eye make-up remover- you really do need one becuase you'd be surprised after you cleanse your face just how much eye make-up is still on your eyes.

2) Eye cream applied to keep everything firm and plump. This is very important if you wear contacts becuase you're constantly tugging at the skin around your eyes.

Once a week- facial mask

 

[my4kids]

I used to use Ivory soap on my face in the shower then dry.

Now that I'm over 35 I have found my skin to be dryer (CG foundation was not applying smoothly - it was looking cakey)

So now - I use Dove soap on my face in the shower, then (You're all gonna when you read this) - I slap on a healthy dose of plain ol' Neutrogena body lotion, right on my face and my skin is glowing!
I have great skin - I don't think it is so much due to the products I use as much as the ones I don't....i don't strip, scrub ,tone, and otherwise over irriatate my skin. Maybe I just have good genes, but I think it is more that I don't over-stimulate my face....my mom always swore by the soap - water and then buff with a dry towel 2 second regimin...I have always done this and it works.

By the way, I have never had a pimple on my face - ever.

 

[cinmell]

I use the Clinique 3 step (liquid soap pump, toner, moisturizer) in the morning and at night.

 

[lucyblondecat]

Not all Cetaphil is the same. They have one for oily skin, maybe you used the one for dry skin?

I never even considered that! You are probably right.

When I was in Sephora I looked at the Philosophy line but the ladies in there were swarming in on me and I didn't want to be talked into a bunch of stuff I don't need. Thanks for the suggestions. I may go back now that I'm armed with a little information.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My skin was great up until last year. Now I have outbreaks here and there. It's not bad enough to go to a dermatologist but bad enough to annoy me. Currently I am using Olay foaming facial cleanser for sensative skin, Olay toner and Olay Complete moisturizer for combination skin. That has kept it pretty much under control, but still I have a few days where I just look like yuck.

I tried products with salic acid (anti-blemishing/anti-aging) and it made it worse!

I don't like Clinique's 3-step.

 

[Crankyshank]

I used to swear by Clinique products but a couple years ago they really started causing me irritation and break outs.
I wash every morning with origins Checks and Balances face wash. I switch that out with Lancome ABLUTIA FRAÎCHEUR. I also moisturize with Olay Complete Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15.
At night I wash my makeup off with the dove wipes

A couple times a week I use St Ives apricot scrub along with my face wash.
I also use origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-enriched moisture lotionto rejuvinate my skin over night and the A Perfect World for Eyes for my dark circles.

And once a month I use a face mask. DH hates that
I've never had an acne problem and the woman who does my facials says I have the skin of someone in their early 20's (I'm 31) so I'm doing something right.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Cetaphil - that's all I use to clean my face. Cleans great without drying my face out, and I have very few breakouts when I use it daily.

This is good stuff, you can find it in any drug store and it doesn't cost a lot.

A warning about the heavy hitters in cosmetics and skin care lines: Most department store cleaners are not worth the cost or have so little "active" ingredients in them that they are ineffective. The department store lines market to huge amounts of people, so they have to keep their ingredients watered down, so people do not react to the "active" ingredients and it would also cost more if retinol, shea and other ingredients were put in at the effective dosage.

After age 21, I would not recommend soap. I used Noxema until I was 31 and switched to a moisturing cleanser. Hardly a breakout, ever.

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 3 different routines and I switch it around.

* Cetaphil wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen in the am
Cetaphil wash and moisturizer at night

* Klear Action 3 step program for acne, moisturizer, then sunscreen in the am
Klear Action then moisturizer at night

* Oil of Olay face wash, Oil of Olay moisturizer, and then sunscreen in the am
minus sunscreen at night

I try to do a mask using natural ingredients every week or so. I am about to add this to my routine : http://greencream.com/index.asp