My 7 Step Skin Routine
I was just at the gym post-workout when I got the most amazing complement from a workout girlfriend Cheryl, “Girl, your skin looks amazing!” Honestly, this brings me to much pride. This is why…
Like many of you, I used to use the most harsh products thinking it was the way. Noxzema, Clearasil…And I didn’t even have acne. Enter my 20’s, Aveno moisturizer with sunscreen (yas!) was a holy grail for a broke college student. 30’s came round and I got more serious. Now, after living in SE Asia and getting to try the most amazing — and sometimes affordable — products I’ve got my routine on lock. So here it is…My My (current) Holy Grail.
This magic cleanser melts away all of your makeup so you can go in with your cleanser and exfoliator so you're not rubbing it into your pores. ich in vitamin E, fatty acids, and our plant-derived Retinatural™ Complex, the formula reinforces the skin. LOVE! Grab it at Beautycounter.
A true unicorn with gentle cleansing and glycolic acid. Basically, there’s no dirty ingredients — parabens, petroleum, phthalates, or formaldehyde — which is amazing to me as I strive to find products that work hard while keeping them as clean as possible.
I found this product while living in Singapore and looking for an enzyme powder that didn’t cost $120. No joke. At $14 Tosowoong is a great alternative to some of the other more well-known, more expensive brands. I tend to use this every other day so I’m not over-exfoliating. While it does have a slight prefume-y scent — not my favorite — it’s a great low-pH product that works well to cleanse and naturally exfoliate.
Two words: Game Changer. Retin-A (Tretinoin) is a prescription product that penetrates deep within the skin to repair and refresh. While it takes several months to see the full effects, the earliest effect of Retin-A is that the outer layer of keratinocytes start shedding off, leaving the skin fresher, smoother and more evenly pigmented. The next effect seen is that the epidermal cells start to replicate faster causing the skin to look and feel softer, more robust and healthier. Finally, the collagen bundles in the dermis will thicken and organize, causing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to lessen with time. I use it 3 times a week with lots of moisturizer. Read more about it here.
This hyaluronic acid is a little controversial but it’s a staple for me. My skin runs a little dry so this wonderful serum provides powerful the hydration I really need. The Vitamin B5 enhances surface moisture, along with Hyaluronic Acid, which is renowned for its ability to attract up to 1000x its weight in water. This HA superpower allows your skin to absorb your other skincare products. At $7.50 you can’t beat it. Get it at Sephora.
Peptides are great to help combat aging and this one is well-loved by tons of people who know what they’re talking about. The Ordinary’s multi-peptide, lightweight, water-based serum targets multiple signs of visible aging at once and is great for those looking for solutions for signs of aging and supporting visibly healthy skin. Yay! Get it at Sephora for $17.
A little tingle and a lot of moisturizer. Plant derived and made with clean ingredients, which makes me feel good about the choice and it keeps my skin really bouncy. This is formulated with lipids that mimic and support skin’s natural moisture barrier: squalane, omega fatty acids, ceramides and plant sterols help nourish, plump, hydrate and feed your skin. At $58 this is a little more expensive but totally worth it. Sephora (again.)
