My Updated Winter Skincare Routine AM and PM
This winter has been an odd one for my skin. My acne came back with a vengeance starting last September and this past few months have really been about getting my skin back on track. It has cleared up significantly and now I am focused on maintaining it as well as getting rid of the residual scarring. On top of that I am finding that my T-zone has been extra oily as of late which has been obnoxious. My skin underwent a bit of a change over the last year and half with the skincare I have been using and is now more normal around the perimeter of my face and oily in the T-zone. I am still looking for the magic recipe to combat this. As of now I am using products to help treat and prevent breakouts as well as protect my moisture barrier, lessen texture and scarring and help calm.
Clockwise: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser; Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum; Dr. Dennis Gross Dew It Right Eye Gel; Differin Gel; Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer; Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm; Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner; Miss Spa Clear Blemish Patches; Sunprise Mild Watery Finish SPF50 PA+++; The Ordinary 2% Salicylic Acid
AM
My routine in the morning is all about hydration and protection. Protecting my moisture barrier as well as my skin from any sun damage.
Step 1. Cleanse with *CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
2. Apply *Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner with my Shiseido cotton squares
3. Apply *Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum. This serum contain hyaluronic acid and niacinimide so I use this in lieu of my The Ordinary HA and Niacinimide serums as it’s an all in one step.
4. Apply my The Ordinary 2% Salicylic Acid serum where needed. I try not to apply all over my face. Only the areas I want to treat and to the pores around my nose to keep them clear and unclogged.
5. I apply my *Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
6. *Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer
7. I apply a tiny bit of *Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Dew It Right Eye Gel under my eyes. This is one of the items I am attempting to pan this year (along with my Kiehls Ultra Toner). . I really only use this during the work week when I am wearing makeup and concealer. I like the combo of this eye gel with my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.
8. I apply a generous amount of Sunprise Mild Watery Finish SPF 50 PA+++ (another project pan item but works just as effectively as the Mild Airy Finish which is the formulation I prefer). I have been wearing a matte foundation lately and I like this more hydrating sunscreen with it.
PM
This routine is a tad simple as I recently ramped up my Differin usage from every other night to every night. Differin can be quite drying and so I try to keep my routine fairly simple.
I begin taking off my makeup with my *Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm and a microfiber cloth. If I am wearing a particularly heavy eye makeup look, I sometimes use a bit of Garnier Micellar Water and a cotton square to loosen up my mascara and eyeliner and help with removal. I am only using this until it’s gone (I’m nearly done with it) and then I will start using an eye makeup remover I purchased in December.
2. I double cleanse with my CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
3. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner. I allow my skin to dry before my next step
4. I apply a pea-sized amount of Differin to my entire face. This the recommended amount to use.
5. Apply my Peach & Lily Serum
6. Finish with Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer
Occasional step
If I am battling a spot or two I will skip applying the Differin over them and will instead apply a *Miss Spa Clear Blemish Patch over them. These patches are great at accelerating the life cycle of a bump. I will do this 2 nights in a row until the spot has come to the surface or dried out.
This may seem minimal to some or excessive to others. This take me about ten minutes tops in the morning (and that includes brushing my teeth) and about the same at night. I try to be consistent with it, as consistency is key in skin care, but I also try to keep my routine in stasis. I try to listen to what my skin is telling me and how it is responding to certain things.
Items with * contain affiliate links
