Cleanser, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, barrier support, eye cream, snail mucin, toner, essence, retinol, face oil; the list goes on and on!Â
There should be no reason why your skincare routine should resemble the ingredient list of a Big Mac. Instead, it should look like a shopping list—simple and easy to follow.Â
Back in 2019 to 2020, I hopped on the skincare trend just like everyone else: starting off with CeraVe products that might have worked at first, but proved lackluster over time. So, I went on a skincare rampage where I slapped 10 different products on my face and ended up damaging my skin as time went on. My skin got oilier, deep cystic acne arose, and I looked crazy! This is because I completely missed the entire point of skincare.Â
I needed to start using what my skin needed, not what I thought was trendy. With that, sometimes less is more!Â
According to the American Academy of Dermatology of Association, dermatologists advise one to cleanse the face, pat the skin dry, apply medication/treatment, then to finish off the routine with moisturizer.Â
It’s just that easy: three simple steps to get that glass skin that everyone desires. I personally spend around five to 10 minutes on my skin care, and for me to stick to my routine, it needs to be as simple as brushing my teeth in the morning.Â
Now, I understand that there might be certain skin concerns that one might want to target, such as dark circles, redness, and visible pores, but applying so many creams and serums every night could overload your facial barrier and stress it out! Instead, I break up my skincare routine throughout the week so that it doesn’t overwhelm my face, but isn’t too simple to where it’s not doing anything at all.
For example, this is my skincare routine:
Morning:
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser (for my oily skin)
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion, Ultra Lightweight (basic moisturizer)
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel (primer for makeup)
Night:
Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Deep Cleansing Oil (to remove makeup and massage out gunk)
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser (for my oily skin/water cleanser)
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (toner 2-3 times a week)
Nivea Essentially Enriched Moisture Lotion (Body lotion for the face? A bit odd, yes, but it is essential for handling the dryness of these winter months.)
Building this routine took time and was not easy in the slightest. However, that is just part of the journey of adapting to your acne, changing seasons, and hormonal changes that all affect your skin. Learning what works and what doesn’t is key to cutting down your skincare routine and it is important to take it one day at a time. Results don’t show up overnight, but if you adopt a simpler routine with products tailored to your skin type, your skin will love you back!