I realise I’m a bit late to the bandwagon on the hype around The Ordinary, but having struggled with oily skin all my life, I’ve become so frustrated with products that don’t work. I’d been seeing a lot of great reviews on their niacinamide serum, which is supposedly a dream come true for oily skin! And, at only £5, there’s no reason not to try it.
The serum is said to target breakouts and decongested complexions, and minimise pores by regulating sebum production, while also smoothing and improving overall skin health. When I finally decided to try it, it was out of stock everywhere. Eventually, I got my hands on one and I’m impressed! The serum is water based, which is a golden rule to stick to if you have oily skin. I use the serum twice a day – after toner and before moisturiser. The serum is light and spreadable, so a little definitely goes a long way. The instructions on the back say to use a pipette-full each time, but I really feel like that’s too much because it spreads so well and I hate that excessive feeling, so I adapt the amount to my own needs. It also dries and settles quickly. My only downsides are that I wake up finding my skin quite oily in the mornings, which isn’t the case at the end of the day, so I’m not sure that it’s suitable for a nighttime routine, and I actually find the pipette application quite wasteful as, when there’s too little of the serum left, the pipette won’t reach the bottom of the bottle. Other than that, it is an incredible find for the price! Pick it up from http://www.boots.com
While The Ordinary serum was out of stock, I thought I’d try The Inkey List as I’ve seen some great reviews on this one too. One particular review I’d seen on this product said that it’s less ‘sticky’ than The Ordinary – which it really is. This niacinamide serum from The Inkey List aims to achieve the exact same skin goals as The Ordinary, but at a slightly higher price and, to be completely honest, I can justify that. The serum comes in a regular squeezy bottle, which I find easier to use, and the directions to use a pea-sized are far more accurate. After trying both, I must admit that I do prefer The Inkey List – it’s smoother, less sticky, and settles into the skin more easily. The only downside I’d say is the packaging – The Ordinary has a more premium look in comparison but, while I’d recommend both products and would be willing to repurchase both, I’ll be repurchasing The Inkey List first. It’s available at http://www.boots.com
While we’re here, there’s a few more new finds I’d highly recommend for oily skin. Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost range is amazing – the products are water based, which is great as it’s light on oily and combination skin. A massive plus with this particular moisturiser is that it comes with SPF 25 and, whether you’re going out or not, always wear SPF! Sun cream can be so tricky with oily skin as it’s often extremely heavy and greasy, so this is a fantastic solution. If you want to give it a try, it’s currently on sale at www.lookfantastic.com
An oldie but goodies is Simple and, especially if you have oily skin, it’s often hard to believe that a product is suitable for ‘all skin types’ but, with Simple, it really is. Their products are fragrance free, and their night cream is very light yet moisturising. The key thing to remember is that, even though your skin is oily, is still needs moisture – it’s probably oily because it needs moisture, so don’t be put off by the word! Their toner is also fantastic, especially if you’re on a budget. Simple are always a great budget-friendly solution, and tend to be on sale at www.superdrug.com
My last recommendation is the Serozinc toner spray from La Roche-Posay. The French brand is actually not as expensive as it sounds – it’s not high street prices but I would say it’s affordable. I just wanted to give something new a go and this toner was on sale, and I’m so glad I tried it. It comes in a spray bottle, which actually made a big difference. The toner feels very refreshing and it’s more hygienic due to the direct application, meaning no hands needed! Pick it up on sale at http://www.lookfantastic.com
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