I don’t change much about my skincare routine itself. Whether it’s hot, cold, or in between, I always include an exfoliant, a retinoid, some kind of antioxidant serum, moisturizer, SPF, and the occasional (as needed) facial mist or toner. What does change are the products themselves; some, not all. Let’s get into it.
First off, you should know my skin type and all its quirks before we get into the products…
It’s crazy how much our skin can change over the years due to hormones, pregnancy/postpartum, and life in general (cortisol anyone? lack of sleep, mama’s? etc.)
I used to be super oily & acne-prone. These days I consider my skin to be combination/normal, a bit more sensitive than it used to be, and more clog-prone than acne-prone. And yes there is a difference! I learned that myself— thanks to silicones. I am now very wary about products containing them; my skin seems to become very textured (clogged pores around the jawline) fairly quickly if majority of my products contain silicones.
True acne for me these days is few and far between, maybe one or two breakouts leading up to my period every few cycles. Otherwise, I am mainly clog-prone and watching out for ingredients that are acne-causing, but focusing on whether or not the product is too occlusive (heavy/emollient) as this is what causes clogged pores for me (plus silicones as I mentioned). I use and love the Clearstem Pore-Clogging Ingredient Checker to vet my current products and before purchasing anything new.
My entire routine right now is acne safe & nothing containing silicones.
AM Routine:
- Cleanse face with the Bioderma Micellar Water & then I always rinse/splash my face with water afterwards. You don’t need to wash it off, but I just don’t like how it feels when I don’t. I steer clear from washing my face with a typical cleanser, especially in the colder months, because it tends to strip my skin (even if I use a super gentle one). That is just my personal preference.
- Apply a hydrating toner or essence. Right now I am enjoying a Korean essence from PKY. It isn’t a watery consistency; it has a bit more viscosity to it. It is super hydrating and makes my skin feel so soft immediately afterwards. It has zero fragrance and very minimal ingredients which I love.
- Apply an antioxidant serum. Currently I am using the Timeless Coenzyme Q10 Serum because it’s antioxidant rich, hydrating, and contains peptides. This serum is a 3-in-1 & that’s why I love it.
- Apply moisturizer. I went back to a tried and true from years ago & I wish I never stopped! It is the most basic/simple moisturizer on the market (IMO) & is super lightweight but still hydrating. It’s the Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Facial Lotion. So affordable & contains minimal ingredients. It has such a thin consistency to it, but truly does sink right in & keeps my skin comfortable all day.
- Apply daily facial SPF. I have switched up my SPF a lot these days due to the silicone issue & affordability. I am interchangeably using the Innisfree Sunscreen Serum and the La Roche-Posay UVAir SPF. Find an SPF you love so that you are more likely to apply it daily!
That is all for my morning routine! The goal is to focus on hydration during the colder months, so adding the additional essence has helped nourish my skin to prep for the drier air. Sometimes if I am feeling froggy (or in need of extra hydration), I love to use the Prequel Multi-Quench Facial Mist on top of everything. Chef’s kiss.
PM Routine:
- Double cleanse using the Bioderma Micellar Water again, followed by the Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. This cleanser is so so gentle, but still get’s everything off at the end of the day.
- Apply an exfoliant or a retinoid (I’m only exfoliating twice/week, retinoid 4x/week, and one rest/hydration night). In the colder months, I try to use an exfoliant that also contains soothing ingredients. I am currently trying the Eadem Milky Exfoliating Toner because it also contains soothing rice water, glycerin, and colloidal oatmeal extract. I love this brand for their lip treatment balm, so I am hopeful I will love this. I have only used it a couple of times so far, so I can’t speak to it just yet. On retinoid night, I am still using and loving the Avene Retrinal 0.1%. For extra skin support/hydration, I am layering the Korean Essence I use in the morning underneath. For the one rest/recovery/hydration night, I focus solely on hydrating products like the Korean Essence once again, followed by the Remedy Hydrating Serum.
- Lock everything in with a moisturizer. In the colder months, I like to use a thicker cream such as the Naturium Multi-Peptide Rich Cream. I always go back to this one because it’s hard finding thicker moisturizers/creams that don’t contain any acne-causing ingredients and/or silicones. This one is free of both!
That is all for my nighttime routine. Again, the focus is on hydration while still utilizing my actives. There is no need to stop your retinoid in the Summer or in the Winter; you can just add an extra hydrating product to support your skin barrier when the weather changes.
Sincerely,
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