Dealing with Oily Skin

Hi Readers!

PHEW! Just made my 2 post a month deadline!  Today I'm going to talk about something suggested by one of my favorite readers: Zelna Smith!  Zelna wanted to know about products to help deal with oily skin and I have quite a few suggestions to share with all my readers.

Squiggles apologizes for not making and appearance.  This stock photo will just have to do.  I'm sorry about that one.  Like all my images, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.

Step 1: Cleanser--

Yep you need to get that oil off of your face since it likes to harbor bacteria and impurities that can lead to break outs.  One of the latest (and definitely greatest) new cleaner ingredients to combat oil and impurities is....CHARCOAL! I know it sounds crazy, but remember when someone said if you eat poison, eating charcoal could help save your life?  I don't know if this old wives tale is actually true, but I do know it works miracles for your skin.  Lots of companies are getting on this trend, but Michael Todd's Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub*- $18 for 3.4oz is a really amazing version if you are looking at fairly high end.  In contrast, my absolutely affordable and most favorite (which will be in my cabinet until my skin stops being oily *prays*) Is Shisheido Ultra Black Wash -$11 for 8oz!  You only need a pea sized amount, and it forms a rich lather than tingles nicely as it detoxifies your face, yet does not overly dry it out.  I'm in love with Shissheido's drug store line.  You have to buy online from the US, since we only carry the pricy stuff, but it's amazing. One other charcoal product to try if you are feeling adventurous is Origins Clear Improvement Mask -$25 for 3.4oz  I'm sure there are lots more charcoal products out there, so feel free to let me know in the comments if you recommend any others!

Now if you are thinking charcoal is too out there for you, I suggest really any basic and gentle cleanser to remove oil from your face will be sufficient.  Why not one of the MILLIONS of "oil control" cleansers you ask? Because I think that these are overly stripping.  As you will find out later, the trick to oil control, is actually proper moisture/oil balance. As for gentle cleansers I recommend e Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser-$7-10 for 16oz! Really affordable and effective.

Step 2: Tone Gently (if at all)

Honestly, this isn't really a necessary step, but I like to cooling feeling of a toner.  If you use a toner, make sure that it is alcohol free!  This is because alcohol will dry out your skin, leading to more oil (yes, I'm getting to that whole balance point in Step 3. Hold your horses).  If you feel the need to use a toner, there are many alcohol free ones out there.  My favorite is on the affordable end: Simple Soothing Facial Toner- $6-7 for 6.7oz.

Step 3- Moisuize-with oil!

This is the big tip which sounds super crazy.  But your face becomes a big grease ball....when it thinks your skin needs it.  So by putting other moisturizers containing good oils, you actually reduce your skins over production of oil.  A good moisturizer has oils such as jojoba, argan, or some other oil that replaces the oil you have lost from cleansing and toning, and keeps your skin from producing lots of excess oil!  Crazy.  So when you have been searching for oil free moisturizers to avoid oil, you have actually be making your skin produce more of it.  I like to pick a moisturizer I like (such as Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF15 - Sensitive) and add 1-2 drops of pure jojoba, argan, or teatree (for really bad break outs) oil.  This honestly keeps my skin nice all day.

Mini-Tip:  Let all steps dry and absorb before going on to the next step! It makes a huge difference!

S+SR Reporting Bonus?!  You guys are so lucky!:

Tips to Mitigate Oil When Wearing Make-up

Oil is make-up's worst enemy.  If you ever want to remove really heavy/water-proof make-up fast, take some oil (coconut or olive are my favorites) and rub it all over your face-- the make-up will simply melt into the oil.  Then wash your face.  Forget crazy expensive make-up removers. That being said, your natural face oils try to make your carefully applied make-up look terrible halfway through the day.  I imagine the little oil particles with a monocle, handle bar mustache, and a bowler hat going, "Bwahahaha!".   Lucky for us, there are some great products and steps that can really help reduce oily-ness and extend the wear of your make-up:

Primers:

• Face: While finding a primer you like before foundation is very personal, but they do have ones aimed at reducing oil.  
• Eye:  I find that Urban Decay Primer Potion-$10-20 is the worlds best eyeshadow primer, no matter what your skin type! Makes all your eye make-up last all day!

Set your make-up:

• Powder Setting: After applying any liquid or cream based make-up products (which last longer in general) top it off by setting it with a powder version.  This applies to liquid foundation (set with a powder), liquid/cream eyeliners/shadows (set with a similar shade powder eyeshadow), and cream/stain blush (set with similar powder blush).
• Setting Sprays:  The final step to long-wearing make-up is setting sprays.  If you were ever in dance or theater, an inside tip to long wearing make-up was spraying your face with hair-spray from afar.  We have come a long way since then and there are setting sprays that work much better and are healthier for your skin.  I'm a huge fan of Urban Decay Setting Sprays, which include ones for oily skin.

Blot:  

• Worst comes to worst, blotting papers are your best anti-shine friend.  You can see my review of my favorite E.L.F blotting papers here! 

 Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

Updated Healthy Asian Hair Care Routine

Howdy-doody Shine and Sparkle Report Lovers!

Thank you for your continued and devoted readership!  A while back I wrote a post about “Ventures into Sulfate Free Shampoos”  I also gave you a glimpse into my hair care routine and some must-read tips with my “Healthy Hair Care” post.  Being  a beauty blogger (plus over a year later), I have been experimenting and have some updates to my hair care product routine.  While some items are the same, many have changed.  So fasten your seat belts, we are diving into my current hair care routine.  
Quick Note:  While it looks crazy to  read, it actually does not take nearly as long as it sounds.  Also, I DO shower every day (otherwise…ew..)  I just don’t wash my hair every day.  If I get sweaty at the gym I’ll rinse the sweat out (if you cant do that, use a small amount of watered down sulfate free shampoo then condition the ends.  Otherwise, I utilize that amazing thing your mom/grandma used called a “shower cap”.  Crazy right?  
 

Big picture:  The current condition and texture of my haid is mostly un-dyed (still a little black dye at the tips) classic straight black Asian hair.  Each strand is not super wiry like some Asian hair, but each strand is a bit thicker than the average Caucasian hair.  The top layer of my hair has some strangely kinky strands that need some extra help to not make my head look frizzy.  Because my hair is mostly straight, it loses moisture pretty quickly, so I'm always trying to keep it hydrated.  Methodology wise, I still use a wide tooth comb or my tangle teezer to detangle my hair when it is wet (hair stretches 40% when wet and is really prone to breakage).  I blot or turban my hair with a microfiber towel (rubbing or scrunching vigorously will break it) to reduce air dry time.

Like all my images, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.

Day 1- Wash hair with my Paul Mitchell Lemon Sage Thickening Shampoo* or Selson Blue (depending on my scalp condition.)  These have sulfates but work well to really clarify my hair.  Using sulfate shampoo once a week is good to get rid of silicone build up (found in a lot of conditioners and almost all serums).  If you avoid silicone or never get dandruff, there is no need for this. Then I condition with a deep conditioner.  While I have loved my Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deeeep Conditioner ($3-6), it has been rising in price at a lot of drug stores.  This means that I have been trying new ones in the $5-7 range (breaking the bank I know).  I have been really loving Loreal's Advanced Haircare Power Moisture-- Moisture Rush Mask (say that 10 times fast).  Out of the shower I detangle, then apply either a leave-in conditioner or a serum to the ends of my hair, working up to just below my ears.  I'm still using the ones listed in my “Healthy Hair Care” post.  However, I have added options of Macadamia Natural Oil-Nourishing Leave-In Cream for leave-in and Organix Moroccan Argan Penetrating Oil Serum or Suave Professionals: Moroccan Infusion Moroccan Argan Styling Oil for Serums (note that these are silicone serums, they are not advertised that way, but don't confuse it with pure aran oil!).  Then I let my hair air dry.

Day 2- Dry Shampoo! Oh how I love not having to repeat Monday’s routine on Tuesday.  I get a bit of dry  shampoo in the front and crown of my head, brush out and go. While you can totally use corn starch or baby powder for economic options, I find that they have large powder molecules that can make my black shiny Asian hair look pretty dull.  After much searching and failures I have 2 dry shampoos to suggest to you.  For a spray can application, I suggest Not Your Mother's "Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo".  For a traditional powder application with a wonderful citrus smell that always gets my BF asking what smells so good, Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo has a small targeted application and brushes out cleanly without leaving my hair dull.

Day 3-  What is this about a bit more dry shampoo?   Good day for a pony tail, bun, or curling (with my TRESemme Heat Tamer Spray of course!).  I seem to find day 3 hair to be the most interesting some times.

Day 4- Can I stretch my wash out four days?  Sometimes.  Since it’s a cycle not by day of the week,  if I’m teleworking or not seeing anyone but strangers as I do errands, I might stretch out my hair.  More dry shampoo will look funny, and things are a little greasy looking, but a super messy  bun and nobody will know. 

If I’m going out or seeing people who matter, I will shampoo and condition with my sulfate free shampoo and conditioner.  I have been IN LOVE with The Balm’s En Root- Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner line.  I will probably do an actual review of these product at some point.  In a nutshell, the shampoo foams like no other truly sulfate free shampoo I have ever used, cleanses great, and smells like a newly opened bag of gummy bears.  The conditioner is so good I don't even use a leave in afterwards and smells exactly like pineapples. The fruity smell does not really last after you rinse but in the shower it is totally yummy!   I finish with air drying.

Day 5- Dry Shampoooooooooooooo is aaaamaaaaaaazzzzing.

Day 6- Dry shampoo with some kind of style are happppppyyyy times.

Day 7-  I might stretch it out.  I might do a quick repeat of Day 4. 

"WAIT WHAT?!" you might be thinking.  This means that Ms. Sparkles might actually wash twice in a row?!  The truth of the matter is, while I try to maintain some kind of guideline for my hair, the schedule not set in stone.  It depends a lot on what I’m doing.  For instance, if I’m going on a nice date, meeting with important people at work, or have any occasion when I want my hair to look freshly washed…I do.  I also will *gasp* wash, heat protect, blow dry, and curl all in one day for other special occasions…or because I want to.  The key is to be as kind to your hair as possible…while still enjoying it and feeling ready to shine and sparkle in life!  Having healthy hair means nothing if you don’t feel great about yourself right?

I really hope you found this helpful.  I know I like seeing what products and routines other people have, so I thought I would throw mine out into the inter-web-universe as well.

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

Shine & Sparkle!