We Aim To Slay

My path to clear skin started many years ago when I first fell in love with all things fashion and beauty. Like all teenagers, I suffered from acne caused by everything from hormones to going to bed with a full face of makeup (a crime I was guilty of until well into college).

What is the #60SecondRule?

I first heard about and started using the #60SecondRule in 2020 when the mask mandate, buying masks of various fabrics, and general bad habits were wrecking havoc on my skin. I began using this method in conjunction with oil cleansing, both techniques I learned about through esthetician Nayamka Roberts-Smith, LE.

Developed by Roberts-Smith, (@LABeautyologist on Instagram and Twitter), the #60SecondRule simply asks that you use your bare hands to massage your cleanser into your skin for a full 60 seconds. Sounds simple enough, right?

The Motivation

During the time that I first learned about this technique, I was dealing with breakouts around my hairline, across my forehead and eyebrow area, as well as enlarged pores on my cheeks due to deeply set debris.

By using the combined methods of the #60SecondRule and oil cleansing with various products over the years (I’ll get into them as we go!), I’ve been able to really get a handle on my skin. As I get closer to my 30s I’m facing far worse dark circles than I ever have before, and for that reason I’m paying more attention to keeping the eye area tight. I’m also still battling my large cheek pores, so any suggestions would be welcome!

In 2020, I had fallen love with a skincare line called Earth to Skin, created by WalMart, that is no longer being made. Although, I did find it on EBay and Amazon while researching for this post, so I may have to go back for them!

Oil Cleansing

The concept of oil cleansing stems from the idea that oil and water repel each other, so rather than use a water-based product, use another oil – in this case the cleanser – to breakdown the oils on and in your skin. To do so, simply massage the product into each section of your face – forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and mouth area, being careful around the eye area – until it feels as though your skin has absorbed the product. Now, add some warm water to your face and begin to repeat the process of massaging and adding warm water, just like the #60SecondRule.

While I happen to be a huge fan of using household oils such as coconut oil on my body, I wouldn’t recommend using them as an oil cleanser. Store bought oil cleansers also contain products that allow them to emulsify, aka, breakdown as you gradually add water. So, as the product begins to breakdown and is sloughed off through rinsing, it also helps pull debris out of your skin.

In the video, Roberts-Smith discusses something she calls “purging,” where you begin to breakout more because your skin is filtering debris out of your pores. I experienced this in what I thought was a big way when I first started oil cleansing, and still experience some minor purging any time I change cleansers.

The first oil cleanser I purchased was the Formula 10.0.6 Bare Face Beauty Skin-Hydrating Cleansing Oil. And at first, this product seemed to really help breakdown the oils and other built up debris on and in my skin. But then I started to notice that it was almost clogging my pores – the opposite of what I wanted to be happening.

I’m sucker for cute packaging so it was only a matter of time before I found the Korean beauty and skincare section of Ulta, where I found and fell in love with the brand Tony Moly. It was Tony Moly’s Peach Punch Sherbet Cleansing Balm that I decided to try next.

Not only does this come in the cutest package ever, but it quite literally smells like a peach scented candle. As with all new cleansers, I began to notice another round of purging which eventually began to settle. But like before, I noticed that my pores were beginning to clog.

After this cleanser, I took a break from routine oil cleansing, using it only about once or twice every two weeks, or less, if I’m not wearing makeup consistently – which I wasn’t until recently.

Cleansers

As I mentioned earlier, I was using the Earth to Skin cleanser when I first heard about the #60SecondRule. Until recently, their Tea Time cleanser was one of my all time favorites.

Once this product was no longer available, I bounced around through cleansers trying the First Aid Beauty Deep Cleanser with Red Clay, the Pacifica Sea Foam Complete, the Fourth Ray Beauty Rays and Shine Jelly Cleanser, and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost with Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Milk Cleanser.

This past Christmas, my mom gifted me a cleanser by a brand I have always coveted but never purchased for myself – Tatcha. It is currently my Holy Grail cleanser.

My Current Skincare Products

I only recently started oil cleansing again, and I’m not even sure I would call it true oil cleansing. Currently, I am using the belif Aqua Bomb Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. This product is advertised as being a cleanser, but I’m still a fan of using a proper cleanser after oil cleansing. Because I’m wearing makeup more consistently again, I am using this product as a makeup remover as well an oil cleanser, prior to my current favorite cleanser.

Currently my favorite cleanser is the Tatcha The Rice Wash Skin-Softening Cleanser. This cleanser is formulated with rice proteins and features actual rice particles, to gently exfoliate without stripping the skin. It leaves my skin feeling like silk, even after patting dry.

After cleansing I like to dab my skin with witch hazel before applying the Fourth Ray Beauty Avocado + Aloe Double Shot serum, Clinique All About Eyes cream, and Fourth Ray Beauty The Daily moisturizer.

I’ve tried a lot of skincare over the years, and this serum is something I swear by. I am currently out of it – sad face – but, I’ve ordered something that appears to be similar, and I’m excited to try it! But just in case, I will be placing an Ulta order to get at least two more bottles!

I had tried this Clinique eye cream years ago and was neither impressed nor disappointed. But on a whim I decided to try give it another try earlier this year. Maybe it’s the fact that my skin is changing as I age, but I’ve really been enjoying this eye cream recently. It leaves my eye area smooth and hydrated.

But, I’ve yet to find an eye cream that truly addresses dark under eyes, so I’d love some suggestions!

The Fourth Ray Beauty moisturizer is one that I’ve been using on it’s own in the warmer weather and layered beneath the Ponds Dry Skin Cream in the winter. I don’t hate it, but I’m not thrilled about it.

In a recent Sephora order, I got a sample size of the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer and I really enjoyed how it felt on the skin. The price tag, however, was not something I enjoyed, and so I am still on the hunt for the perfect moisturizer.

The Products I’m Trying Next

I just recently placed a Sephora order and I can’t wait to try these new skincare products:

Glow Recipe Avocado Soothing Skin – Although I swear by the Fourth Ray Beauty avocado serum, I’m exciting to see if this product will be comparable. It will also serve as a little experiment – does my skin love the avocado? Or, do the results have more to do with the aloe vera?

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Invisible – For the last year or so I haven’t been using a sunscreen on my face, and I learned my lesson when I got a bad sunburn this summer. I had previously been using the SunBum face sunscreen but it always left my face feeling greasy, so I’m excited to try a sunscreen formulated specifically for your face.

Tatcha Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – Every once in a while I like to switch up my cleanser in order to make sure my skin isn’t becoming too used to what I’m using. I thought a safe way to do so would be to try another Tatcha cleanser, and after taking a skincare quiz this cleanser was one of the first ones suggested.

Alpyn Beauty Melt Moisturizer with Backuchoil and Squalane – I first tried this moisturizer over the summer when it came in a multi-piece bag of sample sized products from Sephora. There was only about two uses worth of product in the packet, but it felt so velvety on my skin, I had to buy a jar so see if it’s something that agrees with my skin after multiple uses.

My Skin Today

Today, I am lucky to say that with a little tender love and care, my skin has become much better! While I still deal with the occasional breakout and my share of dark circles, I’m so proud to say that I feel just as comfortable bare faced as I do with makeup!

That’s all for now my loves! I’ll be back next week with some easy Halloween inspired looks that can be worn out to trick or treat and during the day!

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day, and remember to SLAY!