The Secret to Perfect Skin

It's not unusual for me to suffer from breakouts and the occasional dry patch, especially during the winter months, but my skin has been an absolute disaster zone as of late. A combination of stress, hormones and a lack of sleep have all played a role, and despite trying just about every product I could lay my hands on, I haven't been able to 'fix' my problem skin.

Until I found myself in a pinch and did the unthinkable, that is. As someone who's always had an oilier skin type that's very prone to breakouts, the mere mention of oils sees me running for the hills. Despite reading up on all the benefits of using a facial oil (and the fact that like attracts like, so oils are actually ideal for oily skins), I've never had enough faith in this to actually try it for myself. Don't get me wrong: I'm a huge fan of hair and body oils, and after the amazing results I noticed after using a combination of Bio Oil and Mama Mio products throughout my pregnancy, I now ensure that I always have at least two bottle of Bio Oil in the house at all times. (I start to feel a bit anxious when my stockpile gets down to one bottle...)

This would explain how I managed to remember to pack a bottle of Bio Oil, yet managed to forget my moisturiser while packing for a recent trip to Pretoria. Those of you who currently live or have lived in Gauteng at any point during your life will back me up when I say that the highveld winter is not kind on your skin: my skin went from relatively hydrated and plump to completely dry and dehydrated literally overnight. I soon realised that using a serum without my usual moisturiser simply wasn't going to cut it - I needed moisture, and I needed it now! So, while digging around my toiletry bag searching for something - anything - to quench my thirsty skin, I pulled out my bottle of Bio Oil and was reminded of a little nugget I'd heard at the Bio Oil Roadshow I'd attended a couple of weeks earlier. Apparently 94% of subjects in a clinical trial reported an overall improvement in the appearance of their skin after using nothing but Bio Oil. Could a R60 bottle of oil really be the answer to my skincare woes?

As it turns out, the answer is yes! Fast-forward to one week later and my skin looks healthy, glowing and - best of all - it feels well-nourished, and the only difference is the addition of Bio Oil on a nightly basis. I've ditched all my usual toners, serums and moisturisers and have opted for a simple application of Bio Oil after cleansing. If you're worried about greasiness (and unsightly oil stains on your pillow!) like I was, rest assured that the PurCellin Oil contained in Bio Oil ensures that the oil is easily-absorbed and it doesn't leave an oily residue on the surface of your skin - or any other surfaces, for that matter. I'm going to stick to this little routine for a little while longer and I'll report back on my findings. Till then, I can honestly say that I feel as though I've finally found the secret to perfect skin: my spots have vanished, my skin feels softer, smoother and hydrated, and I've even had a few people comment on how radiant my skin looks (a mean feat, given that I get roughly four or five hours of sleep at the best of times!).