Morning Routine
My morning routine is pretty simple since I'm usually rushing to get ready for the day. I skip a lot of steps that I feel are vital for my night routine, but in the morning all I want to do is sleep in.
Cleanse I don't use any cleansers in the morning and just splash my face with water. I never feel sweaty or grimy when I wake up, so I don't feel the need to cleanse my face with any product. For me, extra cleansing leads to dryness, and who wants that?
Boost Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster - Though I don't cleanse or exfoliate in the mornings I think it's important to use a serum to give your skin some antioxidants for the day. The C15 Booster is a well loved vitamin C serum and claims to brighten, smooth, and firm up your skin. As the newest edition to my routine, I've been using it for over a month now and have seen some results, but nothing too drastic, if my thoughts change I'll be sure to right up a proper review.
Moisturize Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion - This stuff is tried and true for me and I'm willing to spend a little more for a moisturizer that I know will do its job right. I first started using DDML when I was a teenager and my mom brought home a sample of it in free-gift-with-purchase make up bag. I had never used Clinique before and thought it'd be a nice treat for my Clearasil and Neutrogena ladened face. My skin responded to DDML so well but I couldn't keep up with it on my teenage budget. I rekindled my love with DDML earlier this year after having horrible breakouts from a popular CeraVe moisturizer, and it's helped my skin find balance again. DDML does not contain any cetearyl alcohol or other derivatives which can cause bad reactions and irritation to some skin, mine included.
Protect Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 - Sunscreen is the most important part of any morning routine to protect from harmful UVA and UVB rays and also slow down hyperpigmentation. It's important to use one with good coverage and the recommended amount of ¼ of a teaspoon. The Paula's Choice sunscreen I've been using is great for those who want a matte finish and wears so well under makeup that I don't even use a primer anymore. I've also used a Shiseido SPF 50 with good results, but if your complexion is tan or olive like mine, these two sunscreens will not look good on their own. I've always had trouble with sunscreens leaving a white cast, making me look pale and ashy, and unfortunately I still haven't found The One. I will be ordering some Asian sunscreens soon so fingers crossed I find my perfect match.
Night Routine
My night routine is more extensive than the AM but it's not cumbersome at all and I find it quite relaxing to wind down my day with a little pampering. I credit this night routine for clearing up my breakouts and keeping my skin pimple-free for a little over 2 months.
Cleanse Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm - I start my routine with removing my make up and sunscreen by applying this cleansing balm dry to my entire face. It really takes everything off, even waterproof mascara, which I wear every day. A cleansing balm is a solid makeup remover, made up of oils that melt off makeup and emulsifiers that wash off in water like a regular cleanser. I used to use plain old mineral oil and a wash cloth to remove my makeup, which worked well for me for a few good months, but the bottle was messy and would spill all over my counters and sink. Since using the cleansing balm, I don't have to rub my skin raw with a washcloth just to remove makeup. I'm not 100% committed to this particular cleansing balm, I just got it because I trust the brand, and I'm willing to try cheaper alternatives.
Double Cleanse CeraVe Foaming Cleanser - For the longest time I thought taking your makeup off with a cleansing wipe and using a cleanser was good enough. I don't know how many years of gunk was left on my face every night from that old routine. No wonder my pores were congested and acne prone! The double cleanse is meant to clean the residue of makeup or dirt that's left from a cleansing balm to truly have a clean face before going to bed. My favorite cleanser is this one from CeraVe, it's pH balanced (5.5) and extremely gentle, and I don't feel tight or dry after using it.
Exfoliate Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant - The true game changer to my skincare routine. BHA is otherwise known as salicylic acid, a chemical exfoliant that can penetrate into your pores and remove dirt and bacteria. The Paula's Choice BHA has no added fragrances or irritants and has the effective pH balance for an acid (3.2-3.8). When I was younger I would buy cleansers with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide thinking that it was effecting my skin just by washing with it. For chemical exfoliants to really do their magic, you need to leave it on your skin for at least 15-30 minutes before applying any other products. But, with the magic comes the gunk. I did experience purging when I first started using BHA, as all of the dirt from my clogged pores came to the surface. And though some products claim that you always purge before it gets better, it's not always the case; you may be experiencing an allergic reaction or irritation. Check with the girls from /r/SkincareAddiction for more on purging.
Exfoliate Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant - Does my routine seem a little redundant to you? That's because it is! I do two cleanses and I use two exfoliants, but this time it's an AHA which is meant to exfoliate the surface of your skin and is made of glycolic acid. The Paula's Choice AHA is fragance free and has a pH of 3.5-3.8. My breakouts love to leave a lasting impression long after they've cleared up so I love this stuff for fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation. The percentage of the active ingredients are so low which means it's ok to use both chemical exfoliants daily. I use the BHA first then the AHA and leave both on my face for 30 minutes. I usually catch up on blogs or watch an episode of Friends and then go on with my routine.
Boost Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster - My skin needs some antioxidants before bed too!
Moisturize Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion - In the mornings I like to do one pump so that my skin is hydrated but won't get oily throughout the day. But at night I use two pumps for added moisture.
Treatments
I use these treatments once a week or whenever I feel like my skin needs some extra lovin. From treating active breakouts to fading hyperpigmentation, these trusty little guys are staples to my weekly routine.
Treat Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment - For breakouts and whiteheads I use benzoyl peroxide, and this Neutrogena one is very gentle at only 2.5%, which means no dry patches or flaking. When I had really bad breakouts along my cheeks and chin, I would spread a thin layer for even coverage. I would generally use it after my exfoliants and before moisturizer (I didn't own C15 before using this), and during both my morning and night routines. This was a staple in my skincare routine for drying up breakouts and cleaning up my purge nightmare.
Mask Queen Helen Mint Julep Masque - The mother of all clay masks! This is the only product that has stuck with me since I was a teenager, it's a classic for a reason. The Mint Julep Masque dries out breakouts like a champ and has natural kaolin and bentonite clays just like the popular and ridiculously expensive Glam Glow SuperMud, and it's a fraction of the price. I've used this as an all over mask when I take a long bath or relax with a movie or as a spot treatment before going to bed to kill breakouts overnight.
Exfoliate Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA - Another exfoliant?! YES! I needed all the help I could get with my dark spots and hyperpigmentation. I looked to my trusted Paula's Choice and they offered a higher percentage weekly AHA treatment. I have to admit though, I haven't been using it too often or consistently to see major changes so I don't really have an opinion on the product. It's a good, non irritating formula and you can use it weekly instead of the daily AHA. I also have Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foaming Treatment 4% BHA (that was a mouthful), but again, I wasn't consistent with using it and thought a higher percentage BHA might help with my breakouts.
Peel Makeup Artist's Choice 40% Lactic Acid Kit - I know, I know, the thought of an at-home chemical peel sounds really scary, but this stuff has been a godsend. After I finally cleared up my skin from breakouts, I was left with crazy hyperpigmentation and thought that since I was already using AHAs daily, why not just jump right into chemical peels. Peels are essentially high percentage AHA or BHA exfoliants, and lactic acid is a more gentle AHA. Now, my first two chemical peels were done by an esthetician using 30% lactic acid, and I saw results the very next day. But I'm recently unemployed and each session was over $100, so I did my research and found Makeup Artist's Choice and lots of advice for first time at-home chemical peel users. I did my first peel last week, using tips from MUAC and my esthetician, and I love it!! My scars are starting to fade faster and my skin is so smooth. While trying chemical peels at home, make sure you start slowly! My skin was already used to daily chemical exfoliation for months before I even tried chemical peels, and I started at the lowest percentage before buying my own kit at 40%. I definitely miss getting facials, but with my budget, I'll be doing my own peels for now.
And there you have it, my whole skincare routine wrapped up in one little post! If you have any questions or need any clarifications, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments or shoot me an email! Also just a disclaimer, I'm not affiliated with any companies or products that I've mentioned; all of the products I'm writing about and using were bought with my own money. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit. ✌︎
