My Skincare Routine

Where does beauty begin? I think the answer goes in this order: 1) A beautiful soul, 2) good health, and 3) good skincare.

Our skin is the first contact with the world. Everyday, it works hard to protect us. A good skincare routine is the best way to thank your skin.

Bobbi Brown once said that “every woman should learn how to be her own skincare expert.” Indeed, good skincare is subjective. Not everyone has the same skin or lives in the same environment. For example, I have dry/sensitive skin and currently live in the Pacific Northwest, where the environment has lots of rain, is not too hot, and not too cold. I’ve learned how to choose products that suit my particular condition.

Expertise, of course, requires experimentation. Over the past six years or so, I’ve experimented with all sorts of skincare products and techniques, including the 10-step Korean skincare regimen, a more simplified routine, DIY masks, all natural products – the list goes on and on…

I’ve come to know my skin more throughout the process, and I’m happy to say that I’ve finally found a routine that works well for me.

Here is what I do for my skin on a regular basis:

EVENING (Daily)

1. Remove Makeup

Absolutely essential. The skin repairs and regenerates itself at night. By sleeping with makeup on, it makes the process more difficult for your skin. Take a look at this Cosmopolitan article: What Happens to Your Skin When You Sleep in Makeup. I use coconut oil to remove my makeup. A lot of makeup removers tend to irritate my skin, but coconut oil is gentle and removes everything so cleanly.

2. Double Cleansing

Double cleansing is when you wash your face twice, with an oil cleanser first and then a face wash. I double cleanse to remove as much makeup, dirt, and oil as possible. Currently, I use The Face Shop’s Rice Water Cleansing Oil first, and then wash my face with Soap & Glory’s Face Soap and Clarity, 3-in-1 Daily Vitamin C Facial Wash.

3. Toner

Toner helps prepare your skin for better absorption of eye creams, serums, and moisturizers. I’ve been sticking to Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner in Rose Petal for years now.

4. Eye Cream

The delicate skin around the eye requires specialized attention. I have all sorts of problems when it comes this area: Puffy eyes, dark circles, and fine lines. Many of the eye cream products that I’ve tried didn’t seem to yield the right results. However, I noticed that Korean eye creams gave me the most visible changes. I’m still exploring more, but for now, I highly recommend Etude House’s Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream.

5. Night Serum

I’ve experimented with quite a lot of essences, serums, face oils, and boosters, but my favorite way to incorporate this type of skincare into my routine is to use a powerful night serum. Again, since the skin’s regeneration process at night is important to consider, a good serum before bedtime is worth the investment. Hands down, a complete game changer for me in skincare is Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Night Oil. I noticed drastic changes in my skin within weeks of using this product. My redness and fine lines have decreased, and my skin has become more even-toned. This beautiful blue bottle is quickly becoming my “holy grail” product.

6. Moisturizer

Like serums, I’ve also experimented with quite a lot of moisturizers. After trying a few out, I noticed that the ones which target dryness, as well have a creamy consistency, work best for me. My favorite one so far is Kiehl’s Ultra Face Cream. With extracts of glacial glycoproteins and desert plants, this product helps combat my dry/sensitive skin year round!

MORNING (Daily)

1. Cleanser

While my evening skincare is more complex, I try to keep my morning regimen quite simple. In the past, I washed my face with only a splash of water in the morning. However, after trying out cleansers instead, my face just felt a whole lot more refreshed! I gravitate towards gentle and lightweight cleansers for my morning routine. Lately, I absolutely adore Bareminerals’ Clay Chameleon Cleanser. It leaves my skin soft and has that citrusy scent of bergamot, which instantly wakes my skin up for the day.

2. Toner

Nothing more here! I use the same toner from last evening.

3. Eye Cream

Same. I also use the same eye cream from last evening.

4. Moisturizer

Can you guess it? Yes, I use the same moisturizer from last evening too!

TREATMENT (2-3 times a week)

Exfoliator
- Each week, I use an exfoliator to brush away dead skin cells, remove impurities, and revive the skin. I recommend Tarte’s Frxxxtion Stick Exfoliating Cleanser. This product’s convenient stick form makes it very easy to use.

Masks
- Probably my favorite part of skincare! In my bathroom, there is a stash of clay masks, hydrating masks, sheet masks, and sleeping masks tucked away in the corner. I pay close attention to the condition of my skin each week (again, this is part of being “my own skincare expert”) and choose a mask to use, depending on if my skin needs purification, hydration, or radiance. My collection of masks prepare me well for all sorts of skincare woes. Some of my favorite clay masks are: Origins’ Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay and Elizavecca’s Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask (So fun to use).