My current skincare routine
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I’ve been plagued with horrible skin my whole life. Like, dry, awful reptile skin that constantly broke out. Somehow. Basically I have Palpatine skin.
This is a selfie from last year. No really.
Anyway, my New Year’s resolution for 2020 was to finally find a good skincare routine that could get my reptile skin and acne under control. I’m pleased to say that one thing in 2020 worked out and I was able to find a routine that has absolutely transformed my skin! I wanted to share it here because I’ve had a few people ask me about it, and hopefully this helps anyone with a similar resolution for 2021.
My friend Annalise is a skincare goddess, and she got me started with a lot of these products when I was beginning this process. I just swapped out a few items here and there as I went that I found I liked better.
My skin before:
Combination — I was extremely dry all over especially in my eyebrows, but my nose was super oily.
Very sensitive and prone to breakouts — Usually red blemishes on nose, large deep pimples everywhere else. I have never had a breakout from a specific makeup or skincare product, but I found that a lot of lotions and other attempts to hydrate the skin just led to generally more breakouts. I was constantly covering up zits with makeup.
My skin now:
Balanced — The dry areas are now hydrated and don’t peel anymore. No more dry patches in the winter either! The oil on my nose is almost completely gone, too.
Clear — I still have blemishes and acne pop up (due to stress, hormones, and food) but zits are now small, not deep, and clear up quickly. The red blemishes on my nose rarely pop up and when they do I have a spot treatment that clears it up right away (listed below). No more desperately trying to cover big zits with makeup!
All products are listed in the order in which I use them.
Morning
Exfoliate
The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash
This is a really gentle and mild exfoliator that I was using before I started this full skincare routine and I just folded it in. It does a great job at removing dead skin but without being too harsh.
Toner
Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Gentle Exfoliating Toner
I’ve tried a few toners but this is my current favorite because it’s very mild but gets the job done. I apply a bit to a cotton pad and rub all over the face.
Essence
Fermented Soybean Firming Energy Essence
While this is one of the more expensive products, a little goes a long way, I’ve only had to rebuy this once this year. I apply a bit to a cotton pad and rub all over the face, making sure to really get my most dry areas.
Serum
Clear Skin Days by Sephora Collection Clarifying Serum (No longer available)
Unscented, gentle, and cheap. Win/win/win! I apply this to my face using my hands.
Evening
Makeup remover
I put a couple pumps into my hands and rub all over my face in order to remove my makeup. I wear a lot of makeup, including waterproof, and this takes it right off without having to scrub.
Facial cleansing massager
This is definitely the most expensive thing on my list, but I’m surprised with how much I love it. Yes, this is absolutely optional, but if you can afford to treat yourself I recommend this. Once the foaming cleanser is on your skin, use this to massage in. It’s like a mini spa every night.
Cleanser
Clarifying facial foam with bija seed oil
After rinsing off the oil and makeup, I apply this to my damp face, then massage in with the Foreo.
Spot treatment
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
After cleansing, I apply my toner, essence, and serum just as I do in the morning.
If I see spots of acne or redness flare ups, I dab a bit of this on those spots right before bed, and they are usually mostly cleared up in the morning.
Optional items
Reusable Cleansing Rounds
Organic Hemp Facial Cleansing Rounds
My routine requires a lot of cotton pads (2 in morning and evening) so in an effort to eliminate waste, I purchased these reusable hemp pads and I’ve been loving them so far.
Alternate Cleanser
Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser
This is an alternative super mild cleanser. I use this if my skin is just not having it that day and/or I want to skip the foaming cleanser + Foreo routine on a particular evening.
I LOVE these things. If I see a zit (or several) starting to form at night, I just put these on before bed and in the morning they are totally zapped away. For larger pimples sometimes it takes a few nights in a row.
One final thing I want to note: if you are trying out a multi step skincare routine like this for the first time, keep in mind you probably will experience skin purging for the first month or two. Typically these breakouts clear up quickly and occur in different places than your usual acne does. If the breakouts aren’t much better after the first 4-6 weeks, then it might be any of the products themselves and I would recommend switching some stuff out.
If you end up trying out and liking and of these products, be sure to comment or reach out on Instagram or Twitter and let me know!
