MY CURRENT SKIN CARE ROUTINE

As a woman of color with oily and acne prone skin, I have struggled to find quality and effective skin care products that can help reduce the frequency of breakouts, minimize my pores, and lighten the dark spots caused by years of acne scarring. Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Proactive, Ambi, Clinique, Lancôme, you name it, I’ve tried it. Nothing seemed to be working for my skin so I eventually I gave up trying and came to terms with the fact that I will always have terrible skin. Besides, there’s nothing a little foundation and concealer can’t cover up right?

Thanks to one of my sisters, sometime last year I discovered Mario Badescu Skin Care (MB). Truth be told, I wasn’t overly excited to start using their products cause as my luck had it, nothing ever worked. MB wasn’t overly priced like some other brands that I tried, but they certainly weren’t drug-store price friendly. I’ve been using them for a couple of months now, and it is definitely worth talking about!

The Mario Badescu Skin Care line was carefully formulated by chemist and cosmetologist Mario Badescu and brought to stores in 1967. The MB skin care line utilizes botanical ingredients to offer personal, customized skin care treatments designed to keep your skin luscious, youthful, and damn right beautiful!

If you’re curious to see which products made me believe in love at first sight use, keep on reading! It’s about time I shared one of my many secrets with you guys!

Enzyme Cleansing Gel, 16 oz., $24

LOVE! I apply this over my damp face, and gently massage in circular motions for about 60 seconds and then rinse off using warm water (for a deeper clean use with the Mia 2 by Clarisonic). It literally leaves my skin feeling clean and moisturized. This is your most basic everyday cleanser with a little extra “DAMNNN DANIEEELLL.” Great for combo/oily skin that wants to beat the T-zone shine. It removes make-up, oil and pore-clogging dirt while Grapefruit & Papaya extracts gently exfoliate to prevent the build-up of dead skin. It’s a great cleanser to use in the morning, especially if you want that refreshed feel, plus it has a welcoming scent, one you won’t get tired of.

Price: 4/5: It really is worth the money as it cleanses very well.

Packaging: 2/5: I’m not crazy about the packaging. Very basic, which I love (its makes me feel like im paying for the product and not the fancy packaging), but the squeezy tube thingy makes getting the last bits of the cleanser out of the bottle very difficult.

Repurchase: Yes.

Overall: 4/5.

Acne Facial Cleanser, 6 oz., $15

While I love the Enzyme Cleansing Gel, some days I do feel like it doesn’t give me the deep clean that my skin needs. That’s when I opt for this product. Since I do have acne prone skin, I use this cleanser about 2-3 times a week. It’s loaded with acne fighting ingredients which can be a little harsh and drying to the skin. However, the Aloe Vera and Chamomile extracts help soothe the skin while Salicylic Acid helps prevent and heal existing acne breakouts while unclogging pores and preventing build-up. Use in the same manner as the Enzyme Cleansing Gel.

Price: 4/5: At first I thought $15 was a little much for a 6 oz. bottle but given I don’t use it every day it last quite a long time.

Packaging: 3/5: Nothing too crazy about this. Very standard packaging.

Repurchase: Yes.

Overall: 4.5/5.

Special Cucumber Lotion, 16 oz., $26

 

Never have I used a toner quite like this. Not only is it refreshing to the skin, but it’s also disinfecting and provides my skin with a daily deep cleaning astringent. Perfect for my skin type! A little on a cotton pad swept over the face and neck is all you need. My skin loves it.

Price: 5/5: Worth every penny.

Packaging: 4/5: Minimal bottle with easy screw cap.

Repurchase: Yes.

Overall: 5/5.

Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 17, 2 oz., $24

Having oily skin means I DO NOT want nor need a heavy moisturizer packed with a bunch of unnecessary sh**. This MB moisturizer is simple, lightweight, and no fuss – which makes it a winner in my book. It leaves my skin hydrated and protected! YAS HUNTI! I apply this to my skin using a patting motion ensuring that the product really seeps into my skin.

Price: 3.5/5: A tad expensive for me, but a good product nonetheless.

Packaging: 2/5: Similar to the Enzyme Cleansing Gel, the squeezy tube cap makes getting the remainder of the product out of the bottle once the majority has been used.

Repurchase: Yes.

Overall: 4/5.

Seaweed Night Cream, 1 oz., $22

My HOLY GRAIL night time moisturizer! Although I have oily-skin, I want to go to bed shining brighter than a diamond. In the words of Queen Bey “I go to bed looking totally greasy.”  Hydration is key for all skin types. The seaweed night cream is oil-free and super lightweight! I wake up each morning with smoother, dewy, and supple looking skin. I apply it onto my skin by patting.

Price: 5/5: A little goes a LONG way. Worth it!

Packaging: 5/5: Minimal, screw cover.

Repurchase: DEFINITELY.

Drying Lotion, 1 0z., $17

 

Another staple in my skincare collection. In fact, this was my very first MB purchase. Great for sudden breakouts and whiteheads. A dab of the pink sediment before bed on that pesky pimple and in the morning..POOF! No more pimple! Idk how this thing works so well but I really hope the formula never changes. Using a q-tip, apply to the breakout site before bed.

Price: 4.5/5: $17 may seem like a lot for the size of the bottle, but trust me it will last you months!

Packaging: 5/5: Perfect. Screw cap makes inserting the Q-Tip in the bottle very easy.

Repurchase: No question about it. YES!

Overall: 4.5/5.

There are a few other products by Mario Badescu that I’m itching to purchase, and I’ve popped them on my wishlist:

Vitamin C Serum: I’ve tried a sample of this serum and it’s to die for! A little pricey for my budget.

Botanical Exfoliating Scrub: Also tried this, AMAZING!

Orange Tonic Mask: I have heard nothing but great things about this mask!

 I hope you find this post helpful! Leave a comment below if you love MB as much as I do!