My Updated Skincare Routine Steps

To me, skincare is self-care. Doing my skincare routine steps every morning and night is something I do for just myself, as a ritual to help keep my skin healthy and my confidence up. My routine changes from time to time as I discover new products or the seasons change, and this is the latest! I recognize not all of these products may not be doable for everyone, but skincare is something I personally prioritize financially and have found all of these to be very helpful.

MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE STEPS

Step 1: Cleanser

It is critical you cleanse your face first thing in the morning. If you don’t, the sweat and oil your body produces overnight will be stuck under all your other skincare routine steps (and makeup!). I use the Kate Sommerville Daily Foaming Wash daily and love it! A generous pea-sized amount of this gentle cleanser is all I need to ensure my face is clean and primed for the rest of my skincare routine steps.

Step 2: Toner

Within a minute of washing the cleanser off your face, you need to use your toner or else it won’t be fully effective. I apply Skinceuticals LHA Toner with a cotton pad. Toner is often underestimated, yet it does a lot of different things your skin needs. It hydrates your skin, preps it for the rest of your routine (think of it like a primer), and unclogs your pores.

Step 3: Antioxidant Serum

Everyone needs to be using vitamin C serum! I’ve been talking up the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic for a while, and I definitely consider it one of my holy-grail products. Within two weeks of using it, my skin was plump, glowing, and so soft (more on that in this post). I apply a drop on each cheek and on my forehead, so three total, and press them into my skin. To help it really absorb, you can use a rose quartz or jade roller, only rolling it in upward motions. If you have super oily skin, make sure to use the Silymarin CF, which I’ve been testing recently and isn’t as thick but still creates the same results.

Step 4: Eye Cream

There’s so much to love about the Kate Somerville Lifting Eye Cream, which is designed to mimic the treatments done in her clinic. It smooths and hydrates, and also has anti-aging ingredients to help with wrinkles, puffiness, plumping, and more. Another eye cream I’m loving is the Auto Correct by Sunday Riley.

Step 5: Moisturizer

Moisturizer is so important for your skin, and as someone with very dry skin, I’ve found that La Mer Moisturizing Cream gives me the rich hydration that it needs. It’s definitely a splurge, but the results have been worth it to me. Part of the price is because of their signature ingredient that they call Miracle Broth, which is made of sea kelp among other ingredients, and fermented for three months. It keeps my skin so soft while also smoothing out lines and wrinkles, so I’m happy!

Step 6: Sunscreen

If you’re going follow any of these skincare routine steps, make sure it’s this one. Even if you don’t go outside, you can still be affected by the rays shining through the window, so make sure to get your face, neck, and even chest. After trying many, many sunscreens, I finally found the perfect one:. Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen. You can’t see it after it’s applied, which means no white flash, and it’s also a great makeup primer.

Step 7: Lip Balm/Mask

If I have my makeup done, then you can be certain that I have lipstick on, so it’s no surprise that I take moisturized lips very seriously. The cruelty-free and vegan Awake’s Daytime Lip Mask keeps my lips super hydrated and has a sheer red tint that works over liner or under liquid lipstick.

NIGHTTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE STEPS

Step 1: Cleansing Balm or Oil

I never use makeup wipes, and beg that you don’t either (more on that in this post). The Naked Elemis Cleansing Balm has been my go-to for a while now, because it works both as a cleansing oil and cleansing milk. Not only does it literally melt the makeup off my face, but it also moisturizes and helps smooth lines and wrinkles. And since it’s unscented, it can also be used around the eyes so you can remove your eye makeup too.

Step 2: Cleanser

I’m a huge proponent of double cleansing in your skincare routine steps, and it’s especially important if you’re wearing makeup. If you only cleanse once, then you’re just getting the makeup off and not actually cleaning your skin. After my cleansing balm, I use the Skinceuticals LHA Cleansing Gel and love how it exfoliates and also takes care of acne and signs of aging. Note that the packaging isn’t great, so be careful to only use a dime size amount.

Step 3: Toner

I use the same toner both morning and night!

Step 4: Eye Cream

I love the Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask. Every morning, I wake up to plump and moisturized eye areas! It really soaks in all the hydration overnight. It also claims to help dark undereye circles, but I can’t speak to that since I don’t have that specific problem. All I know is that it works for me!

Step 5: Treatment Serum

The Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense is the product that made me a Skinceuticals loyalist. In 2018, I had really bad adult acne, and after spending about $600 over 6-7 months trying to cure it, was only making it worse. Then someone recommended this to me, and after two weeks of nightly use, my skin was completely clear. Now I use it every other night or every two nights in my skincare routine steps for maintenance and its anti-aging properties. I apply one drop to each cheek and rub them in, then split a drop between my t-zone area. To make sure it really absorbs, you can press it into the skin and use a beauty roller in upward motions.

Step 6: Moisturizer

I use the same moisturizer both morning and night!

Step 7: Lip Mask

I use the same brand both morning and night, just the nighttime version!

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