My Skincare Routine
- Alena Black
- Oct 6, 2019
- 10 min read
This post has been on the back-burner for a while now, but I finally am getting to write it! This post will be a quick one all about my skincare routine. I strongly believe that having good makeup goes hand in hand with having good skin! I used to think that makeup would just cover all my skin problems, but I have come to realize that it's more important to take care my skin instead of trying to cover it. In the past year or so, I have decided to spend more invest in my skincare, and I have seen a huge difference. I have since then honed my skincare routine down and I now know what has worked for me.
To give you some context, I have combination skin. This means that I am dry in some areas, and oily in others. I am usually dry on my cheeks, lips, and under my eyes, but oily on my nose and forehead. I don't get many pimples, but I have uneven skin. Get to know your skin type and that will help you choose products for your skin. The products I use I have found to work for me, but they might not work for you. It all depends on you facial chemistry. When it comes down to it, figure out what your problems are, i.e. acne, dullness, dryness, oily, dark spots, and ask a beauty/skincare store associate or go to a dermatologist if you believe you need medication. They have training in skincare and know more about products than I do. They can also give you samples of products, so don't be afraid to ask for them! I hope you enjoy my skincare favorites and find something helpful!
Morning:
In the morning, I don't do much in terms of skincare. Mostly because I am lazy, but also because of the skin type I just told you about. I have combination skin. I have found that if I wash my face twice a day, my skin drys out and is striped of all the good oils I need on my skin. I know most people wash their skin in the morning, so you can if you feel like you need it, but if you have dryer skin, I would try not washing it and seeing if your skin is less dry throughout the day.
Facial Serum- This has become a newer step in my skincare routine. Serums are concentrated molecules that penetrate deeper into your skin than other products. They usually are specific to a certain skincare concern. I bought the Sephora Ultra Glow Serum a couple months ago and have used it every morning. I find that it gives my skin and extra boost of hydration and makes my skin glowier as the name suggests. I put this all over my face and bring it down onto my neck. This is a very affordable serum, and I highly recommend it if you want a light, clean, and easy serum to start out with. Be sure you know if your serum is a night serum or a day serum. This one specifically says in the directions to use in the morning. Other serums that are used at night that I have heard good things about are The Ordinary "Buffet" and Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum. When looking into serums, it is crucial to know what you want and what is the best product. If you are going to ask a professional or a store associate about anything, this would be it.
Moisturizer- After facial serum, I always put on moisturizer. This is another one I would spend money on. Without moisturizer, your skin will wrinkle and dry out faster as you age. Moisturizer is important no matter what skin type you have. You just need to find the right one for you. I use the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. There is a Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion meant for dry skin, but I like the gel a lot better because it is lighter, and doesn't make my oily spots more oily. Since buying this the last time, I know that Clinique has released a whole bunch of "shots" with this gel. Those shots are similar to the serum in the sense that they are catered toward a specific skincare concern. If I were to get the new version, I would most likely get the gel with the uneven skin tone or uneven skin texture. I have used this moisturizer for a really long time, but other moisturizers I have wanted to try are the Belief Aqua Bomb and the First Aid Beauty Facial Moisturizer.
Sunscreen- This is another anti-wrinkle and anti-aging product. Even when it's overcast, you need to protect your skin from the sun. I use Elta MD facial suncreen because of its acne fighting properties. My dermatologist recommended this to me, but don't worry, you don't need a prescription. I have seen a lot of young stars use this product, and I have found it is really lightweight and goes under foundation really easily.
Lip Balm- I hope everyone is using lip balm constantly everyday. For the morning, I use the Maybelline Dr. Rescue lip balm. I really like this one because it is lightweight and has a little color to it. It brings color back to my lips after putting on all my makeup and is a lot lighter than using a lipstick everyday. I also really like this one because of how it reminds of me a lip oil. It doesn't feel like wax on my lips which I have felt from other popular brands. If you can, I also suggest using a lip balm with SPF in it. I am mainly using this one to get rid of some of my lip balms. I have so many. I also suggest Fresh , Glossier, or Burt's Bees.
Facial Spray- I do this after my makeup usually, but even if I was doing a no makeup day, I would use my Mario Badescu Rosewater Facial Spray. It just adds that last bit of moisture ,smells good, and like I have said in my makeup routine, it melts everything into the skin making it look more natural and glowy.
Evening:
I do a lot more skincare in the evening. I have more time, and it is very crucial to remove all of your makeup and treat your skin and help repair it after a long day.
Makeup Remover- The first step in removing makeup is makeup remover. Obviously. I used to use the Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes, but I found that they were too harsh on my skin and left it red and feeling raw. I then switched to the Simple Micellar Water. I really liked this. I was able to use cotton rounds and just quickly remove my makeup. It was fast and easy, but it took a couple cotton pads to remove all of my makeup. Keep in mind, I wear almost a full face of makeup everyday. If you only wear mascara, foundation, and concealer, this product would be amazing for you. But, as I wear more makeup than it was meant for, I was finding that I was going through the product really quickly. I decided to try the Clinique Take the Day Off Balm. I love it. This product is a balm that turns into a sort of oil when you put it on your face and rub it in. Don't let the "balm to oil" scare you though. It won't make you more oily or clog your pores. The molecules are too big to get into your pores, so you're good. I am able to take off all of my makeup with such a small amount, and it is easy to use in the shower or at the sink. This balm is very similar to what my theater makeup teacher suggests we use. Cold Cream by Ponds. Theater makeup artists use this cold cream to break up the makeup and remove it just like the balm does. I have used that once or twice in the class, and I admit it works just as well. So, if you want the brand name, go Clinique, but if you want a cheaper option, Ponds works just as well.
Face Wash- There are THOUSANDS of face washes out there. I don't blame you if the topic of face wash just makes you have a headache. It's taken me a while to find one that I like. I started out with Neutrogena, but I found that wasn't working for my skin. I tried a L'oreal Clay face wash that I still sometimes use, but not everyday. The clay is too drying for my skin every day. Finally, I tried the Sephora Gel Face Cleanser. I really like the gel cleanser because I can feel it removing the remaining makeup and I can tell my face is cleaner after using it. It is also not too harsh, so it is okay to use everyday. You don't want to strip your skin of all the oils everyday. Instead, you want to remove the remaining makeup and excess oil. My theater makeup teacher told us that gel cleansers are the best to use because of that. I have also recently tried the Honest Beauty Gel Cleanser and the Fresh Soy Cleanser and I really enjoy those too.
Face Brush- I use the Clarasonic Mia2 as my facial cleansing brush. I simply put my cleanser onto my face and then use the brush. I really like the brush because there are two speeds, and it pauses every time you should change areas. Facial brushes clean your face, but also provides gentle exfoliation. Invest in a cleansing brush. It will be the best thing you every do, but be sure to regularly follow the cleaning instructions and change the heads so that bacteria doesn't build up.
Face Scrub- Not gonna lie, I have used a apricot scrub for a long time on my face, but the whole controversy this year about apricot husks scratching your skin has made me stop. I never found a problem with it, but I guess it is not the best. Now I use it to exfoliate my legs before shaving. I still want to find a nice facial exfoliating thing, so I think I am going to try a chemical exfoliant. I have heard that the Pixi Glow Tonic is really nice. With any exfoliating product, use it sparingly. 1-2 times a week. Max. You don't want to hurt your skin and make it irritated.
Facial Toner- Everyone swears by toner. I use either a Korean toner that my sister-in-law got for me from Korea, or I use witch hazel. I have found that it has gotten rid of these tiny bumps on my forehead. Toner is probably a step that most people don't see the purpose of, but it takes a minute to get results. Be patient, find a good toner, and wait to see the glow your skin will have after using it. Some other toners I have heard good things about are the Thayers Witch Hazel and the Clinique Clarifying Lotion.
Facial Moisturizer- During the evening, I tend to feel how my face is feeling. Depending on it is feeling dry, I will use my body moisturizer on my face and neck since it is thicker than my normal moisturizer, but if my face feels good, I will just use my Clinique one again. Another good one is the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.
Body Moisturizer- Just as it is important to moisturize your face, your whole body needs lotion. Since I have eczema, I have been through about every body lotion on the planet. I have a prescription for my bad areas, but everywhere else I use the Vanicream Body Lotion. It soaks into your skin really quickly and doesn't leave an oily feeling. This is my favorite body lotion by far. It has been recommended to me by multiple dermatologists, so it must be good.
Eye Cream- Eye cream I thought was just a myth. They are so expensive and I didn't think they would really do anything. I said before that my under eyes are really dry. I used to put rosebud salve or vaseline under my eyes because they would crack so much. First, if that's you. It gets better. Drink water and moisturize constantly. Even after I was able to fix the cracking, I found that my bags and dark circles could only be covered by concealer so much. I just kind of let it go until one day on Instagram, a brand DM'd me about sending me their Korean eye cream. At first I was kinda skeptical, but they asked for no payment, not even for shipping. Just asked for my address and if I would review their product on social media. I was like "lol ok why not". Turns out that I love the product! First, they sent me not 1, but 2 of their eye creams, the amount you get is insane compared to other eye creams, and I totally see the product working! My under eyes have less wrinkles and are visibly brighter! I really like this product. You can buy DEWYCEL Eye Plus Cream on Amazon for only $30! Most eye creams for a TRAVEL size cost that much! I am so happy I was sent this product by DEWYCEL.
Lip Balm- I use a heavier lip balm while I sleep. I use a lip mask. I really like the Nivea Lip Butter, Rosebud salve, and I really want to try the Laneige lip mask. These are a little heavier than a lip balm and you might really feel it on your lips, almost like you put on too much, but I promise when you wake up your lips will be nice and soft.
Face Masks- This is not a step I do everyday, or even every week, but I love face masks. I have found that I really enjoy sheet masks over clay or peel-off masks. I have just found that when I do masks, I usually want my face to feel hydrated and not as dry and tight. If you are oily, you might enjoy peel off or clay, but if you are dry, use sheet masks. It is all up to preference. Most sheet masks I have ever tried have worked amazing for me. I really suggest Peach Slices sheet masks. If you want a clay mask, try the L'oreal clay masks. They are affordable, easy to use, and each type of clay caters towards skin concerns. When using a clay or peel off mask though, PLEASE use a brush. It is so much easier I promise. Any old makeup brush. It is so much better.
And that's it! My entire skincare routine! I hope this helped you find new products and steps you've been missing. Let me know what products you love! If you find you love skincare, I highly suggest looking up the 10 step Korean skincare routine. It's pretty intense.
Next week will most likely be my fall essentials. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new post!
XO
Alena
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