Burning My Skin Off & Aftermath: A Skincare Review

Recently I’ve been switching up my skincare and have tried something that I was initially terrified of: OIL.



I hate the feeling of grease and the slimy slickness of oily products, and I think it’s due to years of “training” from a variety of sources. Everyone from beauty writers in magazines past to online reviewers warned against oil on the skin at all costs, casting it under an umbrella of “comedogenic products.”

I consider myself lucky to have never really struggled with major skin problems. For reference, I have mildly sensitive, allergy-prone combination skin.

Recently, I had a bit of a breakout (nothing insane), so I decided to finally try out this Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix treatment.



Long story short: I burned off a layer of my skin in those areas. Ouch. It actually felt like my skin was on fire. I used my finger to apply it (not globs, either, just a small amount as the label suggested), and it, too, was chemically burned.

I freaked out and finally calmed my burning skin down by washing it off profusely with cold water. This is what happens when you try new things, right? Not necessarily.

After that incident, you would imagine that I’d be discouraged from trying new things for a while. However, something intrigued me about the marketing of facial oil. It was usually “pure, natural, 100% this and that.” At the time, “all-natural” seemed like a great solution following the chemical-induced product mishap.

So, I’ve been trying out a combination of Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment and a sample of Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil for about a week or two now. I lightly layer them on a freshly washed face, and upon seeing my skin change, I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. My skin feels more glowy and moisturized, as if it took a big drink of water. My makeup looks better (slowly veering away from the “full-face” look and gradually trying to switch to lighter coverage), and it’s nice and smooth. The New York City pollutants and a stressful day can wreak havoc on skin, so I try to do the best I can.



Only recently have I been placing more emphasis on skincare. I don’t know why I didn’t care as much in high school - I would be caking on the foundation like it was my job and sleeping with my makeup on constantly.

Better late than never, I guess!

Key Takeaway?

The feeling of oil on your face is definitely an adjustment. After talking with my doctor, it appears that I may be allergic to that Murad treatment, but these facial oils are a-ok.