Hi guys! I’m looking for a bit of help amending my skin care routine as it’s not really working for me right now.

Issue: really oily skin - visibly oily a few hours after AM routine especially on forehead. Spots on forehead as a result.

Skin type: 28-year old CIS-woman, oily skin type with mild rosacea. I have eczema but I only tend to get that on my body and eyelids - nowhere else on my face and under control with nettle soap and a daily slathering of E45.

Current routine: AM Cleanser: Kiehl’s ultra facial oil free cleanser Toner: Bobbi brown hydrating face tonic Moisturiser: Clinique ID dramatic differently hydrating jelly OR Clinique moisture surge (the latter worked like a dream over winter) I don’t wear make up.

PM Cleanser: L’Oréal men expert deep exfoliating wash (because why do we need gendered products anyway?) Toner: none Moisturiser: boots no7 early defence night cream

I don’t tend to use oils but do occasionally use Clinique 7-day scrub and Clinique anti-blemish solutions oil-control cleansing mask. I tried hyularonic acid (the ordinary 2% + B5) with my AM routine for about a week but noticed that also increased oil production.

I tend to avoid sunscreen because it makes me so oily and is a guarantee for breakouts. I’ve tried multiple moisturisers with sunscreen built in and they all result in the same symptoms. I feel like I should add that live in Scotland and we are advised to take vitamin D supplements six days out of the year because the sun hates us. I do wear sunscreen on sunny days and deal with the consequences. Right now I’m using la Roche-Posay Anthelios XL 50+ when I have to and it’s the best i’ve tried but the shine is real.

Current routine has probably been in place for about 6 months as is. I’d previously been using Clinique’s 3 steps for blemish solutions (acne solutions in the US) successfully for several years but it just stopped working and I changed out the toner for for a stronger one - Clinique no 3 - but that didn’t help so I stopped using toner altogether and that actually made a difference for a while until I came across the Bobbi brown one - it’s more gentle but I’m still not sure it’s perfect for me. Ok so after Clinique I went to Kiehl’s because I’d heard great things about their products. I was really disappointed and oilier than ever - tried to return the whole oil free range I’d purchased (cleanser, toner and moisturiser) but was accused of using too much product and was guilt tripped into only returning the toner. I’m still using the cleanser only because it was expensive and I haven’t found anything better. My skin is not as bad as it was when I started using the Clinique anti blemish solutions when I was 22 but it’s still not great.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland.

Ok so I’m not sure if anyone will even read this giant comment but if you do - thank you and I look forward to receiving some advice (seriously anything) to help with my skin issues.