My Current Skincare Routine — March 2018

I posted about my basic routine back in November, before I bought some new products to try from The Ordinary. I’ve also started wearing sunscreen on my face every day. Even in the winter. Even when it snows.

It’s important to note that it took me two months to integrate these three products into my routine. People that are posting about how they starting using all these new products on their face one week are either lying to you and getting their sponsorship money, or have skin of steel that they don’t actually need to put thought into taking care of.

The Routine:

As always, go see a dermatologist, even if it’s just for a skin check and you don’t have anything that you’re concerned about.

AM
– Cleanse with konjac sponge and CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
– Dickinson’s Hydrating Toner
I still want to try a different daily toner. I’m almost done with this one and am taking suggestions!
– CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
I’ve been using the same tub of this for a year and a half. It’s bottomless.
– Wait at least ten minutes.
My sunscreen doesn’t play well with my moisturizer. It goes streaky and gross if I don’t wait long enough to let it soak in.
– Eucerin Daily Hydration 30 SPF
It’s drying and leaves a white cast on my skin. I want to switch it out so badly, but I should wait until I settle on a new toner.

PM
– Cleanse with konjac sponge and CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
– The Ordinary’s Granactive 2% Retinoid Emulsion every three days, at least 20 minutes after I’ve washed my face to allow my skin’s pH to return to normal.
– The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toner also every three days, typically the day after I’ve used the retinoid.
– A mask once or twice a week. The bubble clay and these sheet masks are my current favorites. Clay or otherwise drying masks are used on my third day of the three day retinoid/glycolic acid cycle.
– The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution
– CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Further Tweaking:
I’d like to add some more hydration to my routine. I’ve been eyeing The Ordinary’s Buffet and Rose Hip Seed Oil.
I want to try new toners, even though the one I have now is totally fine.
I also desperately want a sunscreen that isn’t so dry and white.

I think I’m definitely on my way to having a scary intricate routine.
It’s a journey. Where are you on yours?

 

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My Current Skincare Routine – November 2017

I’m skeptical of a lot of routine posts. They tend to come just after someone has posted a product haul. It’s not always evident from my posts where I slap weird products on my face with no regards to the consequences, but I genuinely am into skincare.

You can’t work out a skincare routine overnight. You will not immediately know what works for your skin. Sometimes you’ll use a product for months and then realize that it is the actual worst and you’ll have to start over.

The past two years I’ve been through three major cleansers, two short term “fun cleansers”, two major moisturizers, and briefly flirted with chemical exfoliation before backing off. And then there’s, you know, all of the weird stuff.

Those long, multi-step routines are super intimidating. I don’t believe that they help anyone build a routine. So, before I ruin my basic routine with that haul from The Ordinary I’m planning, here is my basic routine that I have spent over a year working out.

Step 1: Go to the dermatologist.
This isn’t always feasible if you don’t have health insurance. If you are an adult with health insurance and the means to go to a dermatologist, but you have not, I am judging you. Get your moles looked at. Get that intense steroid cream for your weird dry patch of skin.

If you’re looking for product recommendations, my skin is both super oily AND prone to dryness. Almost nothing breaks me out.

AM
– Cleanse with konjac sponge and CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
If you go the physical exfoliation route, make sure that your konjac sponge gets super soft. I got these sponges in February and I’ve still got one or two that are unused.
– Toner 
I’m using Dickinson’s Hydrating toner because Influenster sent me a full sized bottle ages ago. I thought toner would be drying, but my oil didn’t get under control until I started using it. I think the hyaluronic acid is helping to hold in my moisturizer. I have no real evidence for this.
– Eye cream
I’m using a vitamin C cream from TJ Maxx that does nothing for my under eye bags or discoloration. I can’t wait to finish it to use something else.
– CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
GET THE TUB, NOT THE PUMP. It lasts forever.
– Sunscreen if I’m going to be out.
I hate sunscreen. I hate sunscreen so much that I monitor my sun exposure with an app to feel better about not wearing it more often.
– Probably ruin everything I’ve just done with makeup.

PM
– A mask once or twice a week. The bubble clay and these sheet masks are my current favorites.
– Cleanse with konjac sponge and CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
– Eye cream
– CeraVe Moisturizing Cream