Current Skincare Routine (February 2018)
One of my major resolutions for this year, aside from actually using up my makeup, is to start a skincare routine. I have neglected my skin because I’ve had pretty good skin all my life. By pretty good, I meant that I did not have oily skin and have one or two pimples come up every now and then when I’m nearing my period, which is by the way, not a very good indicator of good skin.
I started noticing that something was off when any foundation or BB cream I wear ends up looking really, really bad. I’ve tried using different primers, different foundation types, different moisturizers and the result is always the same: my base always look cakey and I had so many dry patches. My nose would look super dry, with foundation would clinging to all the dry flaky skin around it, and it would be oily at the same time. I was confused for a long time because I had dry skin that was also oily at the same time. After researching a lot about it, I figured, I might have dehydrated skin.
My old skincare routine was just washing my face and putting on sunscreen when I remember to do it. Sometimes I just don’t do both. I just go through the process and moisturize when I know that I need to wear makeup which is once every week on date nights. I’ve been very bad to my skin all these years. What I have been doing though, was buying skincare items for what I then thought was my combination oily skin, and just storing them. So the first step in building my new skincare routine was to check all the products I have and to see if they’re actually what I need and ended up replacing almost all of it.
My go-to facial wash before was the Shiseido Perfect Whip and I use it alternatively with the Celeteque Hydration Facial Wash. I had to throw the latter away because it expired recently. I actually enjoyed the foaming effect of the Shiseido Perfect Whip and felt like it really deep cleans my skin. I had to set it aside because of the alarmingly high pH level. I wanted to incorporate actives in my routine and this would just not make them work. It also made my skin feel not just really clean but entirely too clean that it’s dry and almost tingly, which I’ve learned recently is not the way it should feel.
I’ve also stopped using the Celeteque Suncare Matte Moisturizer because I don’t have oily skin and this doesn’t layer well with makeup. I just gave this to my husband because it works for him and he really needs SPF. I stopped using the Nivea Sun Protect Water Gel on my face and now use it exclusively on my body. I also stopped using the Celeteque Hydration Facial Moisturizer because it wasn’t really moisturizing enough and it’s not doing anything for my skin.
The products that I kept were my makeup removers. My HG makeup remover is still the Bifesta Moist Cleansing Lotion. I use it as my first cleanser at night. I hoarded this when I was in Hong Kong last year and I’m currently running low on it. I don’t have a backup but I’m not panicking, yet. I use the Bifesta Eye Makeup Remover on days when I wear eyeshadow or mascara. I currently use Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil to remove liquid lipstick. When I run out of the Bifesta, I’ll start using this as my first cleanser as it is still almost full and I have a refill. Not in photo is the Biore Cleansing Oil Facial Cotton Sheets which I use when I travel.
For cleanser, I currently use the Human Heart Nature Nourishing Facial Wash. It’s a good second cleanser because it’s really mild, has a pH level of 4.50 to 5.20 and it’s also really cheap. I’ve been using this 30mL bottle since mid-January and I think I’ll use it up by mid-February. I’ll repurchase this and get the 200mL bottle.
For toner, I use the COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. I’m not sure if I really like this as I still don’t know what a toner is for. Hahaha. It sinks into the skin really fast so it’s okay to use every day. I got this as it’s supposed to lower the skin’s pH level so the skin will absorb the acids/actives more.
This brings us to the scariest thing I’ve added to my skincare routine: acids. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA is a mild AHA that is meant to exfoliate skin. I added this because I really, really want to get rid of my dry patches and this is the mildest chemical exfoliator around. I use this at night and I think my skin is already receptive to this. I experienced some tingling when I first applied this but I’ve already built up my skin to take this every day. I didn’t break out or experience any purging. Hooray skin, you’re adapted to chemical exfoliants!
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a serum that is used to hydrate skin. I have dehydrated skin so I knew I needed to add this. I’ve been using this daily for about two weeks now and I don’t know if it’s worth it yet. It didn’t break me out, so I still use it. Hahaha.
Another skincare product I’ve added is this Rose Hip Seed Oil which I got from Zeephora. Rose Hip Seed Oil is “known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin, all while reducing scars and fine lines”. It was actually a little bit scary to add oils to my routine because this would be the one to break me out, but it didn’t. I like that it’s moisturizing, has anti-aging benefits and is all natural. It is absorbed really fast into the skin as well.
For moisturizer, I use St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer. The consistency is like a very light-weight lotion that gets easily absorbed in the skin. I like this because it’s really affordable and readily available.
The last step to my current skincare routine is the Biore UV Perfect Bright Face Milk SPF50+ PA++++ which is a very light sunscreen that dries to a powder finish. When I first used this, I really hated it because it emphasizes all my dry patches. But because I’ve already upped my skincare and made sure everything is hydrated, this just sets beautifully now. I like that it has a matte finish and it’s also really brightening. It makes me glow especially on no makeup days.
Current Routine Breakdown
AM
- Cleanser: Human Heart Nature Nourishing Facial Wash
- Toner: COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
- Serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- Oil: Rose Hip Seed Oil
- Moisturizer: St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer
- Biore UV Perfect Bright Face Milk
PM
- 1st Cleanser: Bifesta Moist Cleansing Lotion
- 2nd Cleanser: Human Heart Nature Nourishing Facial Wash
- Toner: COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
- Chemical Exfoliator: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA
- Serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- Oil: Rose Hip Seed Oil
- Moisturizer: St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer
Whew, that seems like a lot but it’s nowhere near the 10 step Korean skincare routine. I’ve only been doing this for about a month and a half but my skin already feels softer and more hydrated. I’ve already noticed that I have less dry patches, especially around the nose area. My everyday foundation sits pretty well on top of it. I’m not sure if I’m missing some products or maybe adding too much of the same type of products, but so far, I’m really, really happy with the results. Also really happy that I didn’t experience any breakout! I will keep this routine and not add any products until the end of this month to see if anything changes, like delayed irritation. But so far, so good!