My 2019 Skincare Routine: Revised & Kind Of Simplified

MORNING ROUTINE

When I wake up in the morning, 9 times out of 10, my face is puffy. My eyelids mostly, but also my under eye area and sometimes even my nose (weird, I know.) That being said, I rub an ice cube all over my face until the entire thing is melted to depuff. And it usually helps wake me up.

1: CLEANSING -- To prepare my skin for cleansing, I dampen my face with a steaming hot facial towel for a minute or so. Now, for products: I use Glossier’s Milky Jelly Facial Cleanser. This doesn’t foam or sud, I just work it all over my face with my fingertips in circular motions and remove it with the same face towel I used previously. Rinse the towel after, of course.

2: TONING -- After my skin is air dried, I apply Glossier’s Solution (not sponsored lol) all over my face and neck with a cotton round. This isn’t as much of a toner as it is a chemical exfoliant, but it works just the same. On the nights that I stay with my boyfriend and don’t have my skin products with me, I use his Thayers Alcohol-free Rose Water Witch Hazel and it works just as well. I’m also the one that picked it out so it counts here.

3: MOISTURIZE -- After my toner has set in and my face feels dry again, I’ll use another cotton round to apply a layer of Rose Flower Water from The Spice House. And after this dries, I apply a layer of Hawaiian Moon Aloe Cream. This is a very lightweight, gel-like cream that I also use all over my body before applying a heavier moisturizer. I finish with Clinique’s Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer, focusing on my T-zone and under eyes. I moisturize my lips with Glossier Balm Dotcom or Vaseline.

Night routine

My night time routine is very similar to my morning with just a few extra steps:

1: DOUBLE CLEANSING! I like to use a cream or oil-based cleanser to take off my makeup before washing my face. I’m currently using POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser. Typically, night time is when I will exfoliate. I get a lot of texture in my T-zone on account of having large pores, so I do gently exfoliate every night; not everyone needs to. I still use my Milky Jelly Cleanser, but this time with an facial sponge.

2: TONING -- My toning steps stay the same.

3: MOISTURIZE -- The only thing that changes is my final moisturizer. I use Clinique’s Turnaround Overnight moisturizer. It’s more heavyweight while keeping my oil levels balanced (I have VERY oily skin) while I sleep.

During times that I feel my skin needs a little extra love (usually closer to when I get my period, when I have minor breakouts,) I’ll skip the moisturizer and opt for a dry oil. Dry oils are nourishing and moisturizing without the greasiness of a regular oil, and they won’t clog your pores!