I’ve always had oily skin for as long as I can remember. Non-wet, non-shiny, non-shiny, model-like – greasy. Not many people assure me that I’ll age gracefully, because that’s enough to make it not annoying. Even in the winter,
my T-zone is almost reflective and my makeup disappears by midday. That’s why purifying masks and lightweight moisturizers are the cornerstones of my skincare routine, so two new favorites are strikingly entering the discussion:
Sand & Sky’s Oil-Controlling Purifying Moisturizer and Purifying Mask.
The Australian beauty brand is behind some of the hottest products in recent history. Take, for example, this highly rated pink clay mask and their new Tasmanian Spring Water range. But for now, Sand & Sky’s new Oil Control
range is sure to be your end-of-summer MVP, or for my oily friends, year-round MVP.
Sand & Sky Oil Control Cleansing Moisturizer, £34.90
The first product I tried was the Oil Control Moisturizer. I immediately liked the packaging. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but it doesn’t hurt to look at it in the bathroom sink every morning. As you can see
from the texture swatch above, this moisturizer has a light gel-cream consistency, which my skin immediately liked. It feels thirst-quenching but slightly cooling when applied – perfect for summer.
It contains niacinamide, salicylic acid, prebiotics, and geranium (an Australian native plant with anti-inflammatory and calming properties). A common misconception about oily skin is that it doesn’t need moisturizer. However,
not keeping your skin hydrated can actually cause your sebaceous glands to overproduce sebum to compensate. (TL;DR: Moisturizing oily skin is still important!).
The Sand & Sky Moisturizer feels really good on my skin and I would definitely use it again, but I can’t say for sure that it made me feel less greasy throughout the day (but that’s a big challenge). As a lightweight moisturizer
that didn’t surprise me, it performed well.
Sand & Sky Oil Control Cleansing Mask, £30.90
Next up is the next product, the cleansing mask. I love oil-softening masks, so I had a feeling I’d love Sand & Sky’s white clay formula for acne-prone skin (it also comes with a tapered applicator brush for added spa facial
vibes). The product is the color of pistachio ice cream and has similar ingredients to moisturizer for maximum oil absorption. My skin is not particularly sensitive, but I felt a slight tingling sensation when I applied it on my
T-zone and cheeks. The instructions say to leave it on for 10 minutes, but the first time I tried it, I rinsed it off after five minutes just to be safe. Soon after, I noticed a noticeable change in the appearance of my pores.
The best thing is that my skin doesn’t feel super tight or dry afterwards – just balanced and smooth. I feel like my skin absorbs my serum and moisturizer instantly and any little breakouts look like they’re deflated. I haven’t
been using it long enough to see if it’s significantly reduced my oil glands or lightened my acne scars, but so far I love it when my skin feels extra congested.
Final thoughts
Priced at £34.90 and £30.90 respectively, Sand & Sky’s Transparent Moisturizer and Transparent Mask are by no means cheap products. However, if you’re looking for a physical product that’s a step above the high street brands but
not as expensive as luxury, I can highly recommend these. You can also save almost £10 on the brand’s Oil Control Skin Balancing Kit (which retails for £65.80). Go out and shine (but not too much – that’s where this stuff comes
in).
