My Skincare Routine
I've been entertaining the idea of doing a beauty blog over at my more private weblog, but I decided to go ahead and post my skincare routine here on the main blog. It's taken me a while to find a regimen that works for me, but the products I use now are a good combination of affordable and effective, and I really love this little routine.
A couple of notes upfront about "beauty":
- The beauty industry revolves around societal standards that I disagree with. While I think a lot of products are backed up by research and worth using, I also acknowledge that so-called "beauty" is largely genetic and is heavily influenced by what companies tell us we should look like so they can better sell products. I do this mainly in an attempt to keep my skin as healthy as possible and keep myself feeling good.
- I don't like beauty "hauls" because I'm uncomfortable with that level of consumerism. All of these products were purchased gradually over time with the goal of using them up before purchasing more.
Also, I should mention that I have combination oily and dry skin that's prone to breakouts, so everything listed below will probably work best for similar skin types.
Cleansing and Toning
I've started using micellar water as a cleanser and toner in one. I like this SpaLife one that I found at Five Below, but I think I'll try Garnier SkinActive micellar water after I finish this bottle because it's vegan, unlike SpaLife, and affordable.
I love how refreshing this is and that it acts as both a cleanser and toner. There's nothing better for removing makeup either. You don't need to buy fancy makeup remover, fancy cleanser, and fancy toner. Just get micellar water and it will do all three for a much better price!
Moisturizing
I use Tatcha's Water Cream as my daily moisturizer because I like the way it feels. It doesn't go on too thick and genuinely feels like water on my skin. It also doesn't break me out, which is a problem I've had with a lot of other moisturizers. I use this immediately after washing my face in the morning because the micellar water can dry it out and it's important to put that hydration back!
I use Tatcha in the morning, and this Del Indio Papago cream is my night moisturizer. I'm using this mainly because I have some skin discoloration and I think it helps with that. I also like the way it feels, and it doesn't break me out, just like Tatcha.
I actually heard about this cream because Salma Hayek mentioned that it's part of her routine. I don't follow what celebs say that often, but I do really like her, and I was intrigued by the fact that its main ingredient is from the Tepezcohuite tree, which is native to Mexico and has been used in traditional healing for centuries. It's also only $9!
Hydration
I really like this Mario Badescu facial spray because it's so refreshing. My skin gets both dry and oily throughout the day, and spraying this on my face takes care of both issues. I think it adds a little boost to hydration that water alone doesn't provide, and it just feels good! Sometimes it's nice to have something that just feels good.
SPF
SPF is one of the most important aspects of taking care of your skin, because the sun can do so much damage if you're not careful. I like this Glow Recipe watermelon stick because it's easy to apply and does exactly the job I need it to. I usually only wear this if I know I'm going to be outdoors for any length of time, but it's good practice to wear SPF every day.
And that's it! My small but beloved routine. I've gone through several breakouts and weird skin issues to finally find this regimen that works for me. Just because it works for me doesn't mean it will work for you, though, so I recommend gradually trying different things until you settle on a few good, affordable products that give you tangible results.