Dresses & Democracy

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Categories: Beauty

My Everyday Skincare Routine

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I am by no means a skincare expert. All of the products in my routine have basically been found through a combination of recommendations and trial and error. It’s taken me a while, but I finally have a routine that works for me! This has been a highly requested topic, and I’m happy to dive into it.

For some background, my skin is far from perfect. It’s on the dry side. Acne and acne scarring are my biggest concerns. I do take birth control pills, which helped my acne a lot though. (If anyone is interested, I’m on Layolis Fe, the generic version of Generess Fe.) I’ll try to explain what I use everything for, but I’m definitely not a skincare expert. I’ve learned basically everything from a lot of Google searches and recs on Instagram or TikTok.

Evening

  1. Remove makeup. I use reusable, washable makeup cloths (these are awesome) instead of the disposable makeup remover wipes.
  2. Cleanse. First, I start with the Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm. I use this to remove whatever makeup the wipes don’t get. Then I use Sephora’s Clean Skin Gel Cleanser and this facial brush to wash my face.
  3. Apply serums and treatments. I use a few…
    • The Ordinary’s Niacinimide Serum: This is supposed to be good for keeping acne under control.
    • The Inkey List’s Retinol Serum: This helps with anti-aging and skin renewal.
    • Bio-Oil Skincare Oil: This came as a recommendation for getting rid of acne scarring. I’m honestly not sure if it works or not (I probably should’ve taken some “before” photos) but it hasn’t hurt my skin, so I keep using it.
  4. Moisturize. First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream is my holy grail. If you have dry skin, there’s nothing better. I use it on my face mainly, but it’s also great for dry hands in the winter or any dry patches on your skin.

Morning

  1. Cleanse. Again, I use Sephora’s Clean Skin Gel Cleanser and the same facial brush I use in the evening.
  2. Apply treatments. In the morning, I use Sunday Riley’s CEO Glow Vitamin C oil and I love it. I know the price is ridiculous. It practically pains me when I pay that much for it. However, a little goes a long way, so one bottle of this lasts for a while. Vitamin C is supposed to be good for getting rid of acne scarring and making your skin glow.
  3. Moisturize. The Innisfree Dewy Glow Moisturizer is my morning moisturizer. It’s hydrating and gives my skin a nice, glowy finish. Plus as far as moisturizers go, it’s on the more affordable end (only $25!).
  4. Eye balm. After my moisturizer has set in, I apply Tula’s Rose Glow & Get It Eye Balm on my undereyes. I know a bunch of influencers have partnerships with Tula to promote it, but I’m not one of them! I genuinely bought this product on my own to try and use, and I’ve since repurchased it when I ran out.
  5. SPF. This! Is! The! Most! Important! Thing!!!! Seriously! I may not know much about skincare, but I do know two things are extremely important to having and maintaining good skin: 1. Always take your makeup off before bed and 2. Wear sunscreen every single day, regardless of the weather or if you’re going outside. Sun damage is a real thing, so you should always wear SPF. I like Supergoop’s Glowscreen because it makes my skin look nice even without makeup, but I’ve heard great things about their Unseen Sunscreen for those who have oily skin too.

Other

  1. Mask. Once a week on Sundays, I use an exfoliating mask on my skin. The Ordinary’s AHA + BHA Exfoliating Peeling Solution is a cult favorite (and the one I use), but be warned that it is intense. It can tingle sometimes or even burn a bit. The directions say to use twice a week, but I’ve found that once is good enough for me.
  2. Reusable cloth pads. I use these reusable pads instead of cotton rounds for applying serums and stuff in the evening. I like that I can just throw them in the wash instead of constantly repurchasing cotton pads!
  3. Acne stickers. When I have a pimple pop up, I like to sleep with an acne sticker on it as a spot treatment. For me, they help get rid of zits faster and make it so they aren’t as prominent and red.
  4. Lip mask. If you have dry lips ever, you need the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. It’s so good. I have to sleep with a bite guard in, so I tend to breathe through my mouth when I sleep. Once, my lips got so dry from it that I woke up with a split lip. Now, I slather my lips in this mask before bed and never wake up with chapped lips anymore!

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