I haven’t always been the best at maintaining a skincare routine. In fact, in high school, I was one of those girls who slept without taking my makeup off. Super gross, I know.
During COVID, I became work-from-home full-time and was really needing to implement a routine into my day. Skincare was a way for me to bookend my days and make an intentional effort in the mornings to get up and get ready and then at the end of the day, wind down and get ready for bed.
Now, I’m back to working in an office most days (I’m hybrid now but am in the office between 3-4 days a week), but because I started this easy skincare routine, it’s become almost second nature to me.
I’ve found that implementing morning and evening routines through skincare has not only improved my skin, it’s also helped me stay on a semi-normal sleep schedule. But I wanted to make sure it was something that I could maintain on a regular basis.
For the most part, I use a lot of the same products in the morning and evening, but it’s important to know the order to apply the skincare products. One step out of order and you’ll get a burning sensation on your skin. That’s right, good skincare shouldn’t burn.
For reference: I have combination skin, meaning I have an oily t-zone and dry skin specifically on my cheeks. My skin has a red undertone, which means when I get pimples, they are extremely red and angry. I’m particularly sensitive to skincare with added fragrance. If you have extremely oily or dry skin, these products may not work for you.
Let’s jump into this easy skincare routine for beginners!
Morning Skincare Routine
Kicking off in the morning, I start with the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. I mainly shower in the morning, so I keep this cleanser in the shower with the rest of my bath products. What’s great about the CeraVe cleanser is that you get a lot of product for a very reasonable price. It has niacinamide as one of the main active ingredients, which helps with redness, retaining hydration, and managing oiliness.
After I get out of the shower, I use The Inkey List’s Hyaluronic Acid to restore some good hydration back to my skin after cleansing it. The Ordinary also has a hyaluronic acid that is packaged in glass with a dropper. I’ve been slowly switching to The Inkey List from The Ordinary because their products are certified clean at Sephora.
After rehydrating my skin, I use The Inkey List’s Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner. I’ve used exfoliants in the past that are more like scrubs or chemical exfoliants such as Peter Thomas Roth’s version, but both irritated my skin. Since using the glycolic acid toner, my skin has been smoother and not irritated. Remember: burning when applying skincare is not your friend.
I have these reusable cotton rounds that I use to apply the toner and have used them for over two years now. I love being able to incorporate reusable products into my skincare routine where I can, and purchasing washable cotton rounds instead of disposable cotton rounds is an easy and economical swap.
After toning, I add The Inkey List’s Niacinamide serum specifically to my t-zone. As I mentioned above, niacinamide can help with redness, oily skin, and healthy hydration. Do remember this: When using a dropper to apply skincare, don’t let the dropper touch your skin. That’s how bacteria can grow in your skincare.
The last step in my morning skincare routine involves one of two options for SPF from Supergoop!. If I’m not wearing make up for the day but want to have a slight glowy finish, I use the Supergoop! Glowscreen. It’s got SPF 40 and is a great product to throw on if you’re going out to run errands but want the protection.
If I’m putting on makeup or if I’m just wanting a bit more protection, I use the Supergoop! Every. Single. Face. Watery Sunscreen. It has SPF 50 and provides just that extra protection from UV rays. This product is more watery (yes, it’s in the name) than the Glowscreen, but it really does melt into the skin.
It’s important to always have SPF in your skincare routine. Skin cancer can happen to everyone, no matter your skin tone, how easily you tan, etc. It doesn’t matter if it’s cloudy or cold or you’re indoors, UV rays impact your skin’s health. So please protect your skin.
PS: I haven’t experienced whitecast with any of these sunscreens, but I’m not necessarily the best litmus test. Whitecast refers to the almost white film that some sunscreens can leave on your skin if you have a darker complexion. If you need recommendations, I suggest checking out this list of black-friendly and brown-friendly sunscreens from Dana at Beauty in Color.
Evening Skincare Routine
As I mentioned earlier, I typically use the same products in the same order, aside from four items.
First, I remove my makeup using Miceller Water. There are a ton of brands that have micellar water, so I usually end up buying whatever is most affordable.
Second, I substitute the CeraVe Cleanser I mentioned above with The Inkey List’s Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Because I don’t shower at night, I keep this cleanser with the rest of my beauty products in my bathroom cabinet. It’s much more travel-friendly and doesn’t have any added fragrance, which helps keep my skin from being irritated.
Then third, I use the same products mentioned above (the hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid toner, and niacinamide serum) in the same order.
Fourth, instead of using an SPF moisturizer while sleeping, I use Skinfix Triple Lipid Peptide Cream. It has a thicker, creamier consistency that feels really good at night and it focuses on repairing your skin barrier. I love that it’s refillable, meaning less plastic waste.
Finally, since turning 30, I’ve become more focused on implementing items that protect my skin from aging, so I’ve finally introduced retinol. I’ve been using the Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptides. I’ve been using it for about 3 months now and have noticed some slight differences (particularly around my eyes), but with retinol, you have to use it for an extended period of time to see the results.
I hope this peek into my current skincare routine gives some inspiration for your own!
What are some skincare products you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments below.
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