Update: I am fazing up the Missha sunscreen due to clarification of the ingredients list. See down below to understand why.
I used to have beautiful flawless skin. I’m not even sure when it happened, but it happened and I no longer do.
Late in my junior year of college I started to get cystic acne. I had no idea what to do.
Then I graduated and got a full time job and could afford to try different things to help my skin. This current routine took me two and a half years to get to and I still think it could use some improvement. I’m also actively trying to find less expensive products with beneficial ingredients.
Skin Type: Normal to Dry, acne prone, and in a dehydrated condition. (in my opinion having dry skin and dehydrated skin are two different things and should be treated as such).
Morning:
Step 1 – CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser $14.99 (Target)
I love this cleanser. It is gentle and doesn’t make my skin feel tight after washing. It also has great ingredients that have been shown to repair the skins barrier. It also has hyaluronic acid which draws moisture into your skin to create a plump hydrated look.
Step 2 – Norwex Make Up Removal Cloth Set(3) $20.99 and Ulta Beauty Smarts Makeup Removing Towel Set(2) $10.00
I do not like to use these products to remove my makeup like they are designed to do. I do love them to have dedicated, soft towels to dry my face. I also feel they act as a good gentle exfoliation in the morning before I continue with may skin care. I truly feel this sets my skin up for good make up days!
Step 3 – Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% $19.50 (Ulta)
Ah Vitamin C. It is an important step for my routine because it has been shown to help improve discoloration caused by scaring, and brighten dull skin. I have been using Clinique’s for over four months. One of these containers last me about a month. As the vitamin C oxidizes it will gradually change tone. It is important to know that when they become dark orange that they can be up to 80% less effective. I look for vitamin C products that, fresh out of the container, have no color.
Step 4 – CeraVe Moisturizer PM $12.39 (Target)
I use this PM lotion during the day because I use a separate sunscreen which we will talk about next. I really like this lotion because it sits so well on my skin and I can feel it sink in. It contains niacinamide which is a vitamin B3 that helps improve the appearance of fine lines, pores, and dullness over time. This bottle is small but it seems to last a good time even using more than one pump a day.
Step 5 – Missha All Around Safe Block SPF 50+/PA++++ $16.00 (Amazon) or Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 $34 (Sephora)
Sunscreen/block isn’t everyone favorite step. I’m a firm believer in finding something that you love. In doing this myself it has become my favorite step of the day. For example the Josie Marran SPF here I first bought in the summer and HATED it so much. I felt it made me break out and cause me to be too oily and shiny. BUT when winter started I noticed my favorite foundation looking dry on my skin. I decided to re-try the Josie Marran and I love it. This gives my skin the extra boost of hydration its needs during the winter day and hasn’t made my skin break out! I’ll put this on in the morning and go make my coffee and lunch while it sinks in then I put my foundation on right over it.
The Missha sun milk is what made me really fall in love with sunscreen though. It is so thin and sinks right into the skin without leaving a texture ( I hate the feeling of lotion or anything for that matter on my skin). I’d say this sun block isn’t mattifying or hydrating it is something right in the middle!
Update 6/14/2019: MISSHA isn’t only mineral. I found a better translated list of ingredients. One of the active ingredients is Ethylhylhexyl Methoxycinnamate or Octinoxate, and Amiloxate. Both these ingrediants are under review in the United States and removed from the Generally Reconized as Safe and Effective (GRASE) list. Octinoxate has been shown to be harmful to animals and the environment. It is illegal in the state of Hawaii and is known to bring out a parasite in coral which causes it to die. A statement was made recently by a scientist recently that at the rate of decay seen now we could see elimination of coral reefs by 2050.
I should also note that these are both mineral sunscreens that have both zinc and titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. I personally choose not to use chemical sunscreen because I use acids and retinoid (form of vitamin A) on my skin which can cause it too be sensitive to other products. To learn more I recommend watching Angie’s video here and Stephanie’s video here. (They have no idea who I am I just think they are so trustworthy and do a ton of research and make it digestible!).
Evening:
Step 1 – Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Balm $22.00 (Sephora)
I love the smell of this. I received this in BoxyCharm (that I purchased myself). Previous to this I was using Pixi’s Double cleanse which has a makeup removing balm and a cleanser in one container. I do like that product but felt I went through it fast. Now this is pricey, but it removes make up like a dream! Even waterproof mascara. I love how my skin feels after I use this product and how friendly the ingredients are (its on the “Clean at Sephora” list). I will admit that I’m currently looking for a cheaper alternative that is just as or more effective in removing my makeup.
Step 2 – CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser $14.99 (Target)
Ah we meet again. I know I just talked about this product, but what I didn’t mention is that this is great at removing make up too! I use this product as my second cleanse (and sometimes first). Which I know seems like a lot and if you don’t wear foundation maybe you can get away with just using this! On no makeup days I do. Why I love doing a double cleanse when I wear make up is because I feel like I’m able to address all the layers I put on in the morning! Makeup removing balm then hydrating cleanser to get any left overs and to make sure that sunscreen gets out of my pores.
Step 3 – Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner Cucumber $8.59 (Target)
I took this photo at Target because I had transferred the product to a spray bottle I mist on my face and tossed the container. While I was there I noticed they now sell it in a smaller bottle with a mister on it. Witch Hazel acts as an astringent to reduce inflammation in the skin, and what is most acne? A form of inflammation! I also like this because it adds moisture to my skin for the next steps. When your skin is damp it actually has been shown to help other products be absorbed more. Use this tip with caution though as some products you do not want to become more effective because they may already be super concentrated.
Step 4 – The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% $6.80 (Sephora)
I have a serious appreciation for acids. Acids act as a chemical exfoliate for your skin. Some acids are stronger than others and its smart to test out what your skin can handle before jumping into them full face. I was using Tarte’s Tingling Knock Out Treatment ($39.00 for 5 fl. oz. 3 month supply) before I switched to this. I give the most credit to that product for riding my face of cystic acne. It is a 10% acid complex of both salicylic (found in tons of acne treating products) and lactic acid. Since I’ve gotten my skin under control I deiced to switch to something cheaper. This is gentler than the Tarte product and I like that it says the percent of acids in it. Having hyaluronic acid is also awesome for my dehydrated skin too!
Step 5 – Eye cream
I’ve tried two eye creams that I’m just not in love with. The first was the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye ($37.00) this was so expensive for something I didn’t feel did much. I can say it lasted a good six months though! Next I tried StriVectin Intensive Eye Concentrate in the $15.00 0.15 oz travel size. This did nothing for me. I’m currently working through the last of it and am going to try something else. I’ll keep you posted on how this journey goes. If you have a product you love that works comment and let me know!
Step 6 – Belif The True Cream Moister Bomb $38.00 (Sephora)
I Belif I’ve found love. This moisturizer has been my ride or die for over a year. I can push about two maybe three months from one container if I’m mindful of my usage. This feels so luxurious on the skin and I wake up with the most beautiful plump hydrated skin! I just finished my last jar two nights ago. As I’m trying to be more budget friendly and find some products that pack more of an anti-ageing punch I will be parting with this for now… It is so bitter sweet. I will let you know how this journey goes of course, but I seriously think if you have the extra pocket change to try this product you should. It’s so so good!
Step 7 – Kiehl’s LIP Balm #1 $9.50 (Ulta)
Now to talk about my current trouble spot. My lips. They have put me through hell for the last four months. I have no idea what is going on. I got cheilitis so freaking bad I would cry from the pain. I’ve gotten it to a stable point, but my lips are still incredibly dry. I was using Bite’s Agave Lip Mask for a year and wanted to try something different. I tried First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Lip Therapy… I’ll never put that on my lips again. It made my situation worse. Now I’ve heard of people loving that product, but for me it is a no-go. Currently I’m working through Kiehl’s LIP Balm #1 and it is okay. I have not felt that it has cured my lips but it helps manage them throughout the night. One thing I miss about the Bite Lip mask is that it would hydrate my lips and I’d wake up to it still being on my lips. I may Bite the bullet and pay the $18.00 to go back to it.
Evenings On Sunday:
Step 1 – Makeup Remover
Step 2 – CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Step 3 – Wait Until Skin is DRY!!!
Step 4 – Differen Gel $12.99 (Target)
On Sundays I do things very different at night. Now that I’ve completed my Halo (read about that here) I’m doing a long term look at Differen Gel! Differen Gel is a vitamin A or Retiniod. It has been shown to improve cell turnover and be a strong topical anti-aging product. It is marketed as an over-the-counter acne treatment, too. I personally am looking into it’s benefits for reducing fine lines. Over the years I have not been good to my skin. I have crows feet already and as a teenager I very rarely used sunscreen. If it wasn’t lightening I was out side. What this means is I’ve caused a lot of damage to my skin over my short years (I’ll be 25 this summer). I’ve used Differen Gel on and off for about a year, but this is a product that should be used on a scheduled basis to work properly. So that is what I’m starting! To learn more about Vitamin A products check out Angie’s video. I highly recommend doing some digging on the how, and why before starting.
Thank you for taking the time to read through my post. Like I mentioned I’ll be trying new things, so check back now and again to see whats new!
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