On the list of things that are extremely important to me, outside of family, skincare is at the top of the list. Five years ago I took the leap into medical grade skincare, and started using  the Obagi C RX System, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Although a bit skeptical that the skincare line was worth it’s price, it’s proven to live up to it’s claims and my high expectations.

When I first started using the Obagi C RX system, I purchased the entire kit. Since then I replenish only the products I found to be most beneficial for my skin. I’ll explain as I go step-by-step through my skin care regimen, but first, let me share the results I personally experienced using the Obagi C RX System.

I was starting to notice some hyper pigmentation and obvious damage from sun exposure. The tone and texture of my skin was dry and uneven. My once small pores, started to look very enlarged and make up no longer looked smooth when applied to my skin. My primary concern was the sun damage and hyper pigmentation. Although I had my doubts, I noticed a significant improvement in both the tone and texture of my skin; as well as the clarity and reduction of hyper pigmentation. I should say that I’m not in any way paid to review this product and have never received Obagi products free or even discounted. This is my honest review of these products having used them for five years now. These products are my holy grail; I can’t imagine a skin care regimen without them.

Here’s the original kit that I purchased. I have since moved to using only 3 of the five products, having substitutions for the toner and sun screen.

Cleansing Gel – This is a wonderful cleanser! It foams up beautifully and leaves the skin feeling really clean. The downside for me, is that my skin has a tendency to be dry, especially in the winter. During the winter months I use Cetaphil  gentle cleanser. The Cetaphil cleanser doesn’t foam or lather AT ALL, so that takes a little getting use to if you’re use to a cleanser that foams. It does, however, leave the skin feeling very soft and hydrated. The wonderful thing about Cetaphil is that it is super cheap ($8.47 for 16oz on Amazon. Link below). So, in the summer months when I’m a bit more sweaty and oily, I use the Obagi Gel cleanser and in the winter I stick with the less expensive Cetaphil.

Toner – I love the Obagi Toner, and if I weren’t so cheap, I’d probably still be using it. I switched to using Witch Hazel as my toner in order to splurge on the more impactful elements of the Obagi C RX system. I always buy the Thayers brand using my Amazon Prime membership for free two day shipping, but there are other brands available at your local department stores; just be sure to look for an witch hazel that is alcohol free so it doesn’t dry out your skin.

C Serum – I loved the C Serum that came in my original kit, but I found the better option for my dry skin is the 10% C Serum. If you have slightly more oily skin the 15% C serum might be the better option for you. This is a product I wouldn’t substitute!

C Therapy Night Cream – This is a truly wonderful night cream, but I get more bang for my buck with the C Exfoliating Day Lotion.  This is still a kit worth trying in it’s entirety; you can always refine your skincare regimine as you start to figure out what products you skin responds most to.

Sun Shield – If I could give you one piece of advice that will have the most impact on your skin, it’s use sun screen every single day, 365 days a year, no matter WHAT!! It’s part of my morning routine, just like brushing my teeth. The Obagi Sun Shield is wonderful, but I’ve moved to Dermaquest Zinclear in Nude. This is pricy, but a pea size amount is all you need, and it actually looks wonderful, almost like a primer, under make up. I sometimes just add a tiny bit of my liquid foundation make up to my Zinclear so my foundation isn’t too heavy. The Dermaquest Zinclear is another product I never substitute. I’ve tried, but nothing works as well or looks as nice on my skin.

What are your holy grail skin care products? Please feel free to comment below; I’d love to hear from you. 🙂