My Stripped Down Quarantine Skin Care Routine
I recently pared down my skincare routine after I noticed my skin - specifically my forehead were having issues. My forehead had suddenly become really dry and almost crepe-y like and kept getting random breakouts. I couldn’t figure out what the issue was. My routine hadn’t changed. Sure it was winter but I had been really good about keeping my skin hydrated. Or at least I thought I had. On a hunch, I decided to strip my routine down and stop using a lot of the actives and acids I had been using on my skin. My routine has never been hugely extravagant but it was still substantial. I used Differin, Salicylic Acid, Vitamin C, Mandelic Acid…not all at once but regularly. And some on a daily basis. It clicked that I had in all likelihood been damaging my moisture barrier and my skin had finally started showing the damage. It was right around this time that we went into isolation and I have been able to test my theory with a streamlined routine.
AM
Cleanse - CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Hydrate - The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Hydrate & Refine - Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Treat - Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
Moisturize - Laneige Water Gel Cream
My current AM routine is still in flux. I am currently using two products that I am project panning, the Laneige Water Gel Cream and the Dr. Dennis Gross Dew It Right Eye Gel Cream. I am nmot including the eye cream since once it is finished, which will be pretty soon, I will not be repurchasing or replacing. The Laniege Water Gel Cream is actually now a bad product. It hydrates well but it is also chock full of fragrance which I hate. Frangrance in skincare can be sensitizing when used over long periods. It’s a shame because if the fragrance wasn’t there I would happily repurchase this. I am not wearing sunscreen on a daily basis at the moment. You are technically still supposed to wear sunscreen even if you’re home if you are exposed to direct or indirect sunlight through your windows. But I spend the majority of my time in a part of my home which doesn’t get much sunlight. Like a vampire.
PM
Cleanse - CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
Hydrate - TO Hyaluronic Acid 2 % + B5
Hydrate & Refine - Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Calm - The Ordinary Niacinimide 10% + Zinc
Moisturize - Laneige Water Gel Cream
My nighttime routine is where I have implemented the most change. I still use Differin but only once a week now. With Salicylic Acid I have been using it as a spot treatment for any existing breakouts or anything that I feel under the skin. The TO Niaicinimide gets used 2-3 times a week as an extra boost to my skin.
Monthly Treatments
I have opted to keep the Mandelic Acid in my monthly routine. I use this 1-2 times a month. I also use the infamous The Ordinary AHA/BHA Peel once a month.
My skin has been looking and feeling pretty good since I implemented this change. Skin needs time to repair itself, and when we are constantly throwing actives at it it never gets the chance to do that. There are certain days when all I will do is wash, apply my HA and my moisturizer. Nothing else. If you are feeling like you’re hit a plateau with your skin or that it’s suddenly beginning to look worse, not better, I recommend taking a step back and giving your skin a rest for a bit.
