I’ve said this before but one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about taking care of myself is that once you find something that works, don’t mess with it. It’s taken some tweaking, but I think I’ve finally found the perfect skincare routine for myself. The crazy thing is that nothing I’m using is considered luxury- under $10 for the most part- but my skin is the softest and clearest it’s ever been.
I know that what works for one doesn’t always work for another, but I do have a couple of tips that I think everyone should follow:
Girl, wash your face! I only wear a full face of makeup if I’m going out, and the first thing I do when I get home is wash it off. I’m a huge proponent of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths. They’re easy to use before bed if you wear minimal makeup daily or if you don’t shower in the morning. However, I find that bubbles, in the form of Grapefruit Facial Cleanser, and warm water are really better for the heavy stuff. I usually follow this up with Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner.
I technically don’t think that you’re supposed to use a scrub every day. In fact, Brandless recommends you use their Grapefruit Facial Scrub twice a week. I use it every time I take shower, about every other day. My face just feels cleaner when I use a scrub. One thing that is important to me is biodegradable exfoliates, and I checked with Brandless- their scrubbing agents are salt and hydrated silica (the solid form of silicic acid).
After a shower, I spritz myself with Rose Water Facial Toner from Trader Joe’s. If you have a TJ’s near you pick it up there! The price on Amazon is actually pretty jacked up, but still stays under $10 a bottle. The thing is, it’s only $3.99 if you get it on impulse while waiting to buy your pumpkin ravioli and $2 pino grigio.
Moisturizing is so key. As someone with oily skin, I avoided moisturizing for years. Turns out, my skin was overcompensating, producing more oil, and making me break out. I moisturize every morning and every night without fail.
After I had a mishap with a Korean bb cream I had no business using, someone suggested I added frankincense to my skincare routine to help with cystic acne. I tried a frankincense  moisturizer from Etsy, and while it was a total game changer for my skin, I didn’t really like how it was packaged in a little pot. I decided to make my own. I start with a Brandless’ very simple Daily Facial Moisturizer and add that with a couple drops of frankincense essential oil and lemon essential oil (because I love the citrus smell) into a little pump bottle. Just one or two pumps will do and I use on my face, neck, and décolletage. Â
Sunblock truly makes a difference. I may have changed up my skincare routine quite a few times, but since my senior year of high school, I’ve always used a daily SPF. I didn’t really realize it paid off until a girl I worked with at Corepower was shocked about my age because I didn’t have wrinkles. As I inch closer to 30, I’ll take all of the baby face I can get. I could categorize Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer Moisturizer SPF 20 as makeup, but it’s so shear that I really do just see it as an enhancer and SPF. It smells nice, it feels nice, and it brightens my skin for the day.
Do you have a routine you stick to or skincare brands you love? Let me know what your “can’t live without” products are in the comments below!
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