I’m going to go out on a limb with a wild one here -
For years I used all sorts of harsh chemical cleansers, astringents, exfoliates, lotions...I thought I had problematic skin, oily skin forever.
Then one day I met a woman who told me that I actually had wonderful skin, all these problems were actually of my own creation stemming from these chemical products. She suggested I do a full 30-day skin detox wherein I let NOTHING touch my skin except sweat. She called it the “Caveman Regimen.”
I was so sick and frustrated with my skin and trying to control it with products that i said, what the hell, and gave it a whirl.
30 days with nothing on my face. Nada. No lotion. No water. Kept it dry when I took showers.
Over the course of that month my face built up a layer of dead skin like a masque and beneath it new skin started to regenerate. I also broke out more than normal as my skin purged. It was wild to watch. At the end of 30 days my face had a sort of dark tan color from all the dirt and dead skin. Finally I wiped it all off with a washcloth and washed my face with water.
As god as my witness, My skin began to improve dramatically. I am well past puberty so I knew I shouldn’t really be having any issues with hormonal breakouts except at certain times of the month. Not only was I breaking out far less, but the tone and texture of my skin also improved. Free from the chemicals, No longer was it dry or oily, but rather my skin found it all natural pH balance.
Gradually overtime I began to work some different sunscreens and light moisturizers into my routine. I use CocoKind products now for moisturizers and light oil-based cleanser, but most days I don’t wash my face at all. I haven’t put any face wash on my face in about seven years. My skin has NEVER BEEN BETTER.
TL;DR - stop washing your face with harsh chemical products. Let your skin detox. Your face will find its own healthy balance.