I’m really not blessed with perfect skin. I’m prone to pigmentation, scarring and acne all year round. Puberty was not kind to me at all. I can distinctly remember a bitchy girl in commenting on how “bad” my skin had gotten, and never forget how horrible that felt.

Anyways, I started taking care of my skin in October 2015 and saw a major difference in my overall skin texture. I’m now moving towards locally made, eco-conscious and cruelty-free skincare products. I started trying to incorporate Korean skincare elements into my routine, but it’s a long thing to do. I’ve tried to simplify my routine and use less things and lessen my waste production.

I’m not an expert at all, but these products (along with dietary changes) have drastically reduced the hormonal and cystic acne I’m prone to.

(Do note, most of these products are certified cruelty free or use sustainable practices to harvest their ingredients. Most were ordered online from Faithful To Nature.)

Ve – Vegetarian

V – Vegan

Here’s more on Faithful to Nature’s ingredient policy. They do not sell products that have been tested on animals.

Cleansing milk – The Victorian Garden (Ve)

I used to use a foaming tea tree oil cleanser but soon realised it was too harsh for my skin. Gentle cleansers like this one work better for me, because they have a less shitty effect on my ph levels and don’t strip overall moisture. I have oily/combo skin so I actually need moisture so that my skin doesn’t act like a BP oilspill. It also helps to take the make-up I wear off.

Toner – Bee Natural (Ve)

I’ve wanted to try out apple cider vinegar as a toner for a while now, but I really am not the DIY type. I’d rather buy a readymade, safely tested product. It contains bee propolis and raw honey, so it’s not vegan. Be warned, this toner stinks. You will reek of apple cider vinegar. Luckily, my moisturiser counteracts some of this smell.

Moisturiser – Bee Natural (Ve)

Okay, so this moisturiser is a bit greasy and takes a while to sink into the skin. The formula contains zinc oxide, beeswax, tea tree oil and raw honey. I wanted to see if less chemically laden products had a better effect on my skin and it’s working so far. I only use this at night though and am using up my previous day cream for now. I also use almond oil on my skin every now and then.

Facial Cleansing Powder/Exfoliator – Skin Creamery (V)

I really loved using this exfoliator/mask combo and although it’s a little more pricey, it lasted a long time. It’s made in Cape Town and it’s vegan, which is great. I won’t lie, it’s a bit messy to use and will leave your sink looking a little worse for wear. You don’t need to scrub hard because you will damage the skin barrier. I love the overall packaging of the product too.

Mask – Bee Natural (Ve)

So I used to love a good ol’ sheet mask (and there’s nothing wrong with that) but single use items aren’t great for the environment. So I moved onto buying masks that I can use multiple times, along with a container that I can recycle. I really love this anti-wrinkle facemask, because it leaves my skin soft and smooth. Bentonite clay really does the damn thing. Of course, if you’d like to, you could just make your own. I’m lazy so it’s a no from me

I hope this helps and you have broader scope of what’s out there to use that won’t break the bank. I’m still on my skincare journey and while my skin isn’t 100% clear yet – I’m definitely more confident about it.

Brands on my radar:

Ecologic Skincare

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcZMw-6HVlG/?hl=en&taken-by=ecologicskincare

Bare Naturals

Deity Skin

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWo1ABVjLAs/?hl=en&taken-by=deityskin

Corium Skincare