The Skin Regimen I Swear By

So I'm pretty much open to trying new products....when it comes to my daily skin regimen. Which doesn't necessarily make it any easier for me to stay consistent.

I'd probably categorize my skin type as combination skin. Sometimes is oily, sometimes its dry. I'm definitely no stranger when it comes to breakouts. Which is why I've been through such a vast amount of products. From quick fixes to detailed regimens; you name it, I've tried it. In a relentless effort to find something that actually works and is customized for my skin type, I think I'd be doing myself a disservice if I said my journey was easy. BUT!!!! I think I've finally stumbled across my perfect skin regimen...well, for now anyway...

In all honesty, I for one never thought products like "Neutrogena" or "Clean & Clear" were made for darker skin tones such as mine. I would always look for Products that catered specifically to African American skin or people of color. But with no such luck I had no choice but to venture out...I remember seeing a Neutrogena commercial with actress, Gabriel Union as the spokes model. She was sponsoring a new line called "Visibly Even" which was formulated for darker skin. Now you know I'm a sucker for those commercials and the fact that she has flawless skin was definitely a plus. They had me, so I tried it.


These are the 5 products I use:

$.3.99

Clean & Clear "Deep Cleansing Astringent": I always start off with an astringent and or toner to make sure I get rid of the most noticeable grime & gunk. I make sure that it is specifically formulated for sensitive skin and that it clearly says that on the bottle. Depending on your skin type, normal astringents can be extremely harsh and can cause burns or rashes. We can avoid this by reading the ingredients. I use 1-2 round cotton facial pads ;I soak them lightly in the cleanser then rub them firmly across my face & neck. I have oily skin, so in my case I pay close attention to my t-zones; my nose, my cheeks and my forehead.

$7.99

Neutrogena-Visibly Even "Foaming Cleanser": Next, I use a facial scrub. I love this product because its formulated with tiny beads and soy that help exfoliate my skin. I love the way the beads feel when I scrub the cleanser across my face, I can literally feel the dead skin gently lifting from my skin. I normally squirt about two dime sized amounts in the palm of my hands then wet my fingertips with warm water and distribute the product evenly over my face & neck. Once I rinse it off I can instantly notice a brighter more vibrant complexion.

$6.49

Dove "Facial Cleansing Cloths": I always follow any scrub with a soapy cleanser. I love these cloths because they are very lightweight and are also formulated for sensitive skin. I dampen the cloth with warm water and rub each end together until I can see the suds foaming inside. Once I'm content with the amount of soap I then lather the cloth across my face & neck. This removes any residue that may have been left over from the scrub that was used.

$5.49

Clean & Clear "Foaming Facial Cleanser": While using a liquid cleanser directly after a soap treatment is not a necessity; I still prefer to use it as an additional perk. Just for that extra squeaky clean feeling. I squirt out 2 even amounts and wet my hands with warm water. I lather the cleanser over my face in its entirety then I immediately wash it off with a luke warm wash cloth. Since I use two facial cleansers back to back, I often find my face feeling dry and stripped from its natural oils. Which is why I follow up with a moisturizer.

$14.99

Neutrogena-Visibly Even "Daily Moisturizer": One of the things I love about this product is that there's no bold smell, there IS a smell but its very neutralized. The best thing about this lotion is that it does EXACTLY what it claims to do; which is vanish blemishes and dark spots. I've literally noticed a tremendous difference within as little as two weeks. The only disadvantages I've notice is that it comes in such a small container. Only about 1.7 oz. And depending how much you're using per application it can dwindle quite quickly. But the good part is that the moisturizer is extremely rich and one drop is usually plentiful. The other downside I've noticed is that on occasions it kinda burns. This could be because of the prior products I'm using with it or because my pores are open and are extremely sensitive. But the burning only lasts a few seconds and it's not aggressive enough to make me want to stop using it.


I've been using this regimen for close to 2 years now and I've gotten a lot of compliments on my complexion. While everyone's skin is different, I'd recommend experimenting with different products until you can customize a routine that's perfect for you.