my current skincare routine

Hi internet! The hiatus is over. I'm back to tell you about my current skincare routine. If that's all you want to see, scroll past this, all the products I rotate daily are listed below by category. At the verrrrry very bottom you can find a summary of my routine. 

If you missed my last few posts, I've been talking about snakes, art, short films, disappointing idols, and Japanese Netflix.

The funniest thing about me having a semi-advanced routine and knowing about skincare is that I have...bad skin. I've done the Proactiv, the apple cider vinegar, the vegan diet, blah blah blah. Trust me, naturally-blessed clear skin people, people with bad skin probably know wayyyyyyyyyyyy more about skincare than you.

The key is figuring out what works for your skin. It's a process that's different for everyone, and even when you figure it out you will probably change and adjust over time. 

Something that's always bothered me is that skincare brands don't normalize the process, and they never show how products impact people with common skin issues. I was really proud of Glossier when they showed real progress pictures of real people trying out their new product.

I understand wanting to advertise a product, but I would be more inclined to support a brand that shows me real skin. Show me an actual before and after! Rosacea, acne scars, zits, dryness, oiliness, discoloration,  and sun spots are all so common, and no product is going to completely eradicate these issues. Not overnight, at least. Most people can't afford top-of-the-line treatments, and even with those most recoveries take time. No matter your skin, changing it is a process, with ups downs and in-betweens. I'm glad we finally decided freckles and moles are okay. They were always pretty.

That said, I'm not trying to dissuade you from wanting to change or tell you not to be bothered by your skin if it bothers you. It's hard not to feel bad about your skin when everything everywhere tells you to, and it's okay to want to change it or cover it up because it offers you more comfort, acceptance and mobility in every day life. Saying things like "I don't wear makeup for men I wear it for me" kind of ignores the fact that...well...the patriarchy does enforce beauty norms that put women at a massive disadvantage if not appealed to. Are you really going to make the girl who puts on makeup to be taken seriously at work feel bad....or are you going to make the guys who ask her if she's sick when she goes to work without makeup feel bad? 

There are a lot of different reasons someone might want to alter their appearance, and I think "because I felt like it" is just as valid as "it makes me feel better." Whatever individual self-love ~journey someone is on or not on, well, it's really none of your business! Just do what you need to do for you.

All I'm really saying is, skincare can be more complex than it seems. It's about your relationship with your appearance, your physical body, your feelings. It's about the way the world interacts with how you look. Whether skincare is just fun for you or whether you're trying to adjust a specific problem, it's a process and it's okay to mess up and get lost. It's okay to enjoy it, too. I know it's hard to escape the impositions of ~the world~ but here, you're safe! I promise. 

ANYWAY. My current routine isn't perfect, but it's been working really well for me for quite some time now.  I'm not really sure if I have oily skin or dehydrated skin, which often presents as oily skin. In any case, I have oily skin. Still figuring out the source. It seems like eating extra fruits and vegetables, and keeping hydrated has cut down on my breakouts. Laziness, stress and hormones still break me out sometimes though, and I also have some scarring I just started combatting. Here are all of the products I currently use. In the morning, all I do is moisturize. At night, I do the bulk of my routine. Details below ↓ ↓ ↓ 

1. Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover With Soothing Cornflower
This is my favorite makeup remover of all time. My eyes are very sensitive, and this is the only makeup remover that doesn't irritate my eyes at all. I pretty much only use this to remove eye makeup, but it'll technically do the job for your face too.
2. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil
I started double cleansing about 6 months ago, and this is what I use for my first cleanse. I rub one pump in my hands, then massage it onto my dry face, including over my eyes. Then I was it off and go to the next step.
3. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
Depending on my situation and what I have on hand, sometimes I use micellar water instead of oil. But, whatever I start with, I always follow up with MJC. I tried to give Cerave and Cetaphil a chance because the formulas are so similar, but they just don't hold up to this cleanser. Non-irritating, hydrating, and always swipes away any makeup remnants. Days I'm not wearing makeup, I use this only for cleansing.
  

1. Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel

After cleansing, 1-2 times a week I exfoliate. One visit with Dr. G a week is sufficient. Do not use this if you have sensitive skin, or if you have any really painful breakouts/skin trauma at the moment. That makes it sound super painful, but really the irritation is mild and dies down within minutes of washing it off. I prefer to start with damp skin; usually after cleansing I lightly pat my face with a wash cloth, take about a dime-sized amount of product, and distribute some on my cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Then, rub it around gently with my fingertips, and let the magic happen. Excess skin and assorted gunk will begin to sort of pill up, and when I feel "done" I wash it off. This exfoliator is amazing because it gives you the satisfying feeling of a physical scrub, but it's chemical, and is wayyyyyyyyyyy better for your skin in the long run. I'm loyal to it.
2. Pixi Glow Tonic

I've only been using this for a while. At first I wasn't convinced, I thought it was another Thayer's Witch Hazel internet thing (just didn't do much for me sorry...), but after using it for a few weeks I get the appeal. This one stings slightly, but after all it is a toning exfoliator. Drip a little bit on a cotton pad and gently swipe it around your face after cleansing. Personally, my skin does well using this twice a week. 

1. Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence

This is the first essence I've ever used. There are probably better ones out there, but if you're on a budget and you've never used an essence before, this is a good one to try out. I usually glide it gently around my face to distribute it, then start patting it in. Generally in skincare, patting is your friend. Applying product with that motion will limit "fine lines" and help your skin better absorb magic potions.

I'm just not sure how much of a difference this makes in the long run--I think I need to experiment with essences more. It does feel nicely hydrating after cleansing though.
2. Muji Moisturizing Milk - High Moisture

I learned about this product from my #1 skincare queen Gothamista, who is never wrong. She recommended this as a good budget light moisturizer, and I've been really liking it. At night, I apply a good amount of this and follow up with a night pack. 

In the morning, I skip all my skincare steps except this one; I apply my Muji, then sunscreen, then I do my makeup. I'm not going to talk about my current sunscreen because I don't really like it, I've been using this BB cream with sunscreen in it until I get this new sunscreen I'm trying on tomfordvelvetorchid's recommendation. Someday when the stars align........I will acquire a Drunk Elephant sunscreen. Sadly, now is not the time.
3. COSRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask 

I can't remember how I learned about this product, probably in another budget skincare article (I AM BROKE), but here she is! We love her! Well she's alright. I don't LOVE how it feels on my skin, but my skin does look pretty great in the morning when I put this on before bed. I usually only wear this in the winter or when I'm super dry. "Sleeping pack" is Korean skincare term, they call it an "overnight mask" but basically all those things mean it's a heavier moisturizer specifically meant to be the last step in your routine before bed. It's a little blanket for your skin as it heals itself overnight or whatever. Therefor, this goes after allllll your other products, except maybe spot treatments. 


 

1.Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack

If you like physical exfoliation even though it's not good for you, this is a semi-safe way for you to scratch that itch. It has little bits of something in that are not too hard, but still exfoliating. I don't really love physical exfoliation so I think I would place the other Glossier mask higher on my list, but this is still a nice mask nonetheless. I apply masks after cleansing, before moisturizing. I don't usually use a mask if I plan on exfoliating, and vice versa, just because my skin is somewhat sensitive and it can't handle too much going on. I would mask 2x a week tops, unless you have a formula you really rust, OR, you're using sheet masks. A sheet mask is basically just a way of applying serum, which can be used daily anyways.
2. Origins Original Skin Retexturing Mask with Rose Clay

This mask is the best color, obviously. I don't think I've used it enough to verify the retexturizing claims, but my skin feels better after this mask, and the Origins formulas are always pretty trustworthy. There is clay in this mask, but because it's not a full on clay mask it's not going to crack and pull your skin, it has more of a powdery finish. The Aztec Clays definitely have their place in the world, this mask is just a little easier to remove which I like. 

1. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Having struggled with acne basically forever, you can trust me when I say this is a really great spot treatment. I can't speak for cystic acne, but for regular old zits, this is one of the only treatments I've tried that actually works. Let it sit long enough to separate (like in the picture, pink at the bottom), then dip a q-tip all the way down into the sediment. Tap it on any spots and go to bed, it'll look much better in the morning. This is not going to erase zits instantly, but it will seriously deflate them, especially if you use it a couple nights in a row. Don't put this on any broken skin though, you'll regret it. But you don't pop your zits anyway, because you know it's bad, right? Right?
2. Bio Oil

As aforementioned, I've had a lot of zits in my life. I also have a lot of scarring. It doesn't bother me too much, life leaves its marks on us after a while and that's okay. That said, if I could make them a little less noticeable I wouldn't be mad. Bio Oil is kind of mysterious. Some people swear by it, some people swear it's a scam. I squeeze a little bit on a cotton pad at night and pat it on my scars. This is brand new, but I'll let you know how it works after I've used it for a while. If nothing else, at least it's hydrating.

1. TheraTears Contact Lens Comfort Drops

This is obviously not skincare, but I do use it every single time I do my skincare, so I thought I might as well mention it. I wear contacts about 50% of the time, and they dry my eyes out a lot. At night, I put them in my naked eyes, in the morning I put a few drops directly on the inside of my contacts before I put them on. Before this I was just using HEB eye drops, and I'm sorry HEB but TheraTears obliterates you. I keep them in my bag always.
2. Glossier Rose Balm Dotcom

I have a billion lip balms, and I'm trying to finish them one by one. First up: Balm Dotcom. I usually find all lip balms to be the same, but tthis one is decidedly less greasy than most of the salves and balms I've tried, and the scent is nice. I wear it on my lips, elbows, and a teeny bit on the sides of my nose that for some reason get dry and painful in the winter.
3. Trust Fund Beauty Lipgasm Lip Scrub

This one is dangerous because it tastes really good and it's definitely not meant to be edible. It's one of those things I would recommend as a ~fun product. Stocking stuffer, tagalong for a bigger gift, gift it with a lipstick, etc. Normally you could just exfoliate your lips with your toothbrush, but if you want something cuter, sweet, pink, and not exposed to the air of your medicine cabinet, this is a good choice. 

Summary:

Morning Routine:

If needed, moisturize with Muji Moisturizing Milk in High Moisture.

Night routine:

1. Remove eye makeup with  Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover With Soothing Cornflower.
2. Exfoliate lips with Trust Fun Beauty Lipgasm Lip Scrub.
3. 1-2 times a week, exfoliate (my face) with Pixi Glow Tonic or Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel.
4. Whenever I remember, mask with Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack or Origins Original Skin Retexturing Mask with Rose Clay.
5. If I want to treat scars, apply Bio Oil.
6. Moisturize in 3 steps. First, Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence. Second, Muji Moisturizing Milk in High Moisture. Last, when needed, COSRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask.
7. If I want to treat acne, apply Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.
8. Moisturize lips and elbows with Glossier Rose Balm Dotcom.
9. Moisturize...eyes? with TheraTears Contact Lens Comfort Drops.
10. Double cleanse with The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil first, then Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. 

As always, thank you for reading. I hope all this time you've been good, and if you have finals right now:

I believe in you! Good luck.

- Chloe