Drop your skin care routine!!!

[ecmca]

Tell me step by step what you do in your routine and what products you use 🙂

[eshoe]

I happened to catch her live on their not too long ago, @alexasteph. The host and her just kept slathering in more and more of everything, their arms were shiny and definitely well-hydrated😂 i picked up the 750 point perk of hers awhile back with the 4oz bottle of Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with 47 spf. It is awesome for ‘non-makeup’ day’s!

[jennatar]

I'm 36 and a compulsive skincare shopper -- but I have never gotten onto a routine I truly love. As such, it changes on a whim.

I've suffered from adult-onset cystic acne since I was 24, due to multiple semi-connected endocrinological/autoimmune diseases. It's mostly stopped -- thanks solely to 200mg Spironolactone daily -- but I still have occasionally breakouts. (I'm just now digging myself out of the last breakout, which was my first in three months and VERY GNARLY, but I feel I have a well-stocked arsenal for zapping every type of pimple. I have a bunch of Renee Rouleau, Sunday Riley, The Ordinary, and French pharmacy products all in a drawer.)

My combination skin is also sensitive and randomly reacts to stuff with contact dermatitis, which is a BLAST. My primary skin concerns are acne scarring and hyperpigmentation, plus aging and the prevention of further damage -- and, of course, the occasional HOLY CRAP type of zit.

morning

• Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel
• a Stridex pad if things are not looking too good
• an eye cream, either SATURDAY SKIN - Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream or CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
• something from "the big drawer of crap" depending on my skin concerns that day -- possibly Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil 1.18 oz/ 35 mL or maybe something by The Ordinary, or maybe nothing!
• SUNDAY RILEY - C.E.O. C + E antiOXIDANT Protect + Repair Moisturizer (holy grail)
• SUPERGOOP! - Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50

If I'm working from home, I have zero compunction about applying Mario Badescu Drying Lotion all over my blemishes in big pink dots (Kate Somerville EradiKate™ Acne Spot Treatment with 10% Sulfur 1 oz is good but basically the same thing for more money), and I will even apply one of my Frownies. Frownies are triangular paper stamps that you tear off, moisten, and then stick onto your 11s. They're cheaper than Botox, and they work. You're supposed to wear them at night, but I keep a spare roll in my desk drawer -- they've saved me from computer-screen-induced headaches, since I frown constantly. (Yesterday I wore a full face of makeup around my Frowny.)

night

• if I'm wearing makeup, it's time for the BOSCIA - MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil, followed by good ol' DR. JART+ - Dermaclear™ Micro Water
• Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed 4.4 oz/ 130 mL (using one of Sephora's Precision Pore Cleansing Pads but, per this thread, that will soon be a Foreo Luna Mini 2!)
• Thayer's Rose Petal witch hazel or Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner
• Strivectin-AR Advanced Retinol Eye Cream
• Sunday Riley U.F.O. Salicylic Acid BHA Acne Treatment Face Oil 1.18 oz/ 35 mL is great for nighttime spot treatment, but I recently had an uncontainable hormonal breakout, which meant it was time for the big guns -- CLINIQUE Acne Solutions™ Clinical Clearing Gel 1 oz/ 30 mL!!!!
• On alternate nights, Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Retinoid Night Oil 1.18 oz/ 35 mL
• ...alternating with Curology, a dermatologist-prescribed night cream available by subscription here in the U.S. (Curology = mega holy grail)
• Optionally, CosRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (great, inexpensive product if you're looking for a soothing hyaluronic acid), or anything from the "big drawer of crap"
• BELIF - The True Cream Aqua Bomb
• Optionally, Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Hydro Sleep Mask 1.8 oz/ 50 g and/or LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

P.S. If you have skin as bad as mine was -- disfiguring acne with a sudden, very precise onset -- and if you have the means, please hustle to a GP, stat, and get a battery of tests done. Acne can do such a number on mental and emotional health, but sometimes it can be a very useful indicator about physical health, too... and you don't want to delay and wreak further damage, like I did. ❤️ (Plus, until you get it figured out, you'll just be throwing money at the problem. No skincare product will actually "work" until you've first tackled hormonal acne at its source.)

Hope this helps someone!

[jennatar]

---

@Margalee wrote:
Have you tried Cicapair by Dr Jart? The treatment in a pot helps sooth breakouts and disguises and soothes redness. A little goes a long way. The Cicapair overnight mask is wonderful.

---

Oh, yes -- I think I neglected to say that I was previously beet-red! Suddenly, at 30, I was red all the time. DR. JART+ - Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Camo Drops were a boon. (Of course... once I cleaned my face off, I was bright red again.)

Nothing really worked until I got onto Spiro *and* a Curology prescription (Clindamycin, Tretinoin, and non-prescription Azelaic acid). I have really clear, even skin now (except for this PMS breakout), but it took me 12 years to wise up and get to this point. Skincare is... a lot of fun when you already basically have clear skin! Otherwise it is a nightmare (and a money-sucking whorling black-hole vortex).

[eshoe]

This is so informative and will certainly help someone, @jennatar! You took such great care and time to provide this. I’m sorry you’ve struggled with health issues, especially AI ones as they can be invisible to others. I hope you continue to move forward and sharing your beauty knowledge with everyone on the way😊

[jennatar]

Thank you so much, @eshoe! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ 

[eshoe]

Sending hugs your way, @jennatar☺️

[CC3616]

Products I'm rotating through right now

Spoiler

Creams:
-Tata harper repairing moisturizer
-Omorovizca night cream

Serums/treatments:
-SR good genes
-Aurelia glow serum
-SR CEO 
-The ordinary retinol

Toners:
-Pixi glow tonic
-PTR unwrinkle turbo

Oils:
-The ordinary squalene oil
-Tata harper nourishing oil

Cleansers:
-Tata harper regenerating cleanser
-YTTP spinach/kale cleanser
-Tatcha camilla cleansing oil
-Clinique take the day off balm

Masks:
-Herbivore brighten 
-PTR cucumber
-PTR pumpkin
-Tata Harper resurfacing
-Various sheet masks

[eshoe]

❤️ all of your line-up, @CC3616. Especially the Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser👍🏼

[jennatar]

Am I looking at this correctly?? Are you labeling your products to see how quickly they're emptying??

[CC3616]

@jennatar yes, I've been doing it with make-up products for quite some time and do it when I want to track use or get motivated to use something up but figured I should mark and track my skincare too. 

[eshoe]

Yes, @jennatar- @CC3616 tipped me off to that trick as well! I go through my products quite slowly, so for me, it will be an indicator of when I should toss something. It also helps me calculate the cost/use of my products. I keep a Sharpie in my bathroom now😉

[Anonymous]

.

[ChloChlox3]

What’s your skin type? Your routine looks really great!

[itsfi]

@Anonymous, you have so many wonderful essences for your 7-skin method step! 😍 Of the ones you listed, do you have any favorites? 

[ChloChlox3]

My main skin concerns :^)

• dullness
• hydration
• oil-clogged pore type pimples
• preventing aging

My Routine:

1. Oil Cleanser (night)- Tatcha Camelia Cleansing Oil
2. Water based cleanser  (night) - Tatcha the Deep Cleanse
3. Exfoliating (2x a week) (nights)- Tatcha Rice Powder
4. Face Mask (1x a week)- Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask, Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask, Any Hydrating Mask, Blue Tansy mask
5. (This is where I start in the morning) Toner - Sisley Floral Toning Lotion I love, and I just ordered the Secret Key Fresh Nature Toner Aloe and Olivarrier Dual Moist Toning Lotion to try out
6. Essence - Caudalie Brightening Essence
7. Serum - Caudalie Vinoperfect, Avène Hydrance Serum, Caudalie Vinopure, Caudalie SOS. Just tried out Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum and wasn't in love
8. Moisturizer - Tatcha Water Cream or Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins, depending on day or night/if I'm using a sleeping mask
9. Neck Cream - Mario Badescu A-D-E Cream.. got this after hearing about the Sisley one and I wanted those firming benefits! I'm young but my neck is genetically a little loose. 
10. Sleeping Mask (whenever I feel like it) - I  just tried this Soo Ae Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask that I actually liked 🙈 And I also just tried the Watermelon Glow Mask and I HATED IT. hated the smell and visibly clogged at least 10 of my pores in one night.
11. Eye Cream - Still on the hunt for my favorite, was just using the Volition Helix Eye Gel, Caudalie Eye Cream, and Kiehl's Avocado and wasn't in love. I love Tatcha the Pearl for day.
12. Sunscreen - Coola Mineral Matte Tint Sunscreen or IT Cosmetics CC Cream. Supergoop! Mousse for the body 
13. Facial Mists (after makeup) - Mario Badescu Aloe Mist, La Mer the Mist, Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist are my favorites
14. Other - For body skincare, I love Sol de Janiero, even though the fragrance will probably turn me into an alligator. The Bum Bum Cream, fragrance mist, and body wash are all great. I also use the Jergens in shower moisturizer for extra anti aging!!!! And I like the CeraVe nourishing cream as well. 

I have a lot of steps but I think skincare is really important. I’m young but I love preventative care and I have seen large improvements in my skin in short amounts of time. let me know if we have similar favorites!!!!

#

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[WinglessOne]

I try to keep my routine simple, with the fewest number of steps necessary. I’m in my 40s with combo mostly-dry skin that likes to react to all kinds of things. 

Morning routine: 

Spoiler

1. Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Cleanser: I just recently switched to this from Origins Checks & Balances, which I used for many years but recently began drying my face even more. Such betrayal! 
2. May Coop Raw Sauce 
3. MAC Lip Scrubtious, 1-3 times a week. 
4. Either MAC Lip Conditioner or Aquaphor Lip Repair—or sometimes just plain ol’ Aquaphor ointment, which honestly works just as well. 
5. Lancôme Advanced Genifique Yeux Light Pearl (eye serum) 
6. Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster sunscreen: I’m admittedly not as good about applying this as I should be. It can be mixed with moisturizers and skin tints/foundations, but I just use it on its own. 
7. Lancôme High Resolution Eye cream 
8. Dr. Jart Water Fuse moisturizer 
   
   I have a lot of Lancôme skin care deluxe samples (day creams, night creams, eye creams, serum foils) and I sometimes rotate through a few. But the 2 products I listed are the ones I use most regularly. 
   
   Oh, and I forgot to include toner in my photo. I use witch hazel for that. I’m very inconsistent with toner, but not Raw Sauce for some reason. 

Night routine: 

Spoiler

I use different things depending on what I wore on my face that day.

1. Lancôme Bi-Facil Face — afterward I also use a makeup eraser cloth with water, if I wore skin tint or foundation that day. 
2. Lancôme Bi-Facil (eye makeup version), if I wore mascara, eyeshadow + primer, or eyeliner. 
   
3. Erno Laszlo Sensitive Cleansing Oil: when I use this, I don’t need a night moisturizer/cream. My face stays moisturized and soft all night, with no dryness or overnight breakouts. 
4. Once or twice a week, instead of the cleansing oil, I exfoliate with either Origins Plantscription + my Foreo Luna 2 Mini or an Origins Modern Friction stick. 
5. When I exfoliate, I have to follow up with a moisturizer. I’m trialing Boscia Cactus Water but I’m not sure I like it yet. My skin might be reacting a bit to it. I need to do some product isolation for a week to figure out what’s happening. 
6. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, maybe twice a week. Otherwise I use my Aquaphor lip balm. 
   
   The Foreo has replaced my Clarisonic Mia 2
   

[itsfi]

@WinglessOne, May Coop Raw Sauce and the Laneige lip sleeping masks are two of my well loved products. 😀 You mentioned that the Foreo has replaced the Clarisonic MIA 2 - what about the Foreo do you like better?

[WinglessOne]

@itsfi The Clarisonic is rougher on my skin than the Foreo. I shouldn’t completely blame the Clarisonic, since part of the problem was how hard I pressed it against my skin. It’s easy for me to press too hard with the Clarisonic. The design of the Foreo—the way it’s meant to be held, combined with the size and layout of the silicone “bristles”—encourages me to use less pressure. When I first saw it, I thought I’d have a hard time holding it. I was wrong. 🙂

I can target areas like the sides of my nose and my under eyes with the Foreo tip, and it’s very gentle under my eyes (because I’m not inclined to press hard). I never felt like I was really getting into those areas with the Clarisonic. 

Let’s see, what else... I LOVE not having to buy replacement brush heads anymore. The Foreo is easy to clean. The Luna 2 Mini is the perfect size for me, and it’s easier to travel with than my Clarisonic. And if I accidentally drop my Foreo (I’ve only done that once so far), I don’t worry about a brush head cracking/breaking off. 

I feel obligated to say: I don’t hate the Clarisonic Mia 2. I used mine for a long time. But my skin’s doing better since I switched to the Foreo. 

[jennatar]

+1. I know people swear by their Clarisonics, but I actually switched back to a cheap silicon face scrubber at the start of this year (Sephora makes a great one, the SEPHORA COLLECTION Precision Pore Cleansing Pad). I wanted to simplify my life, and I really don't miss having a bulky brush constantly charging on my sink.

Weirdly enough, I still use my Clarisonic Opal on the regular -- which probably does nothing and has been rightfully discontinued -- just because I'm too lazy to tap eye cream into my undereye for thirty seconds.

[WinglessOne]

@jennatar Before the Clarisonic, I used a silicone scrub pad like that one. I had to stop because I tended to scrub too hard—and if I scrubbed very lightly, I never felt like the pad was doing more than my bare fingertips could. I seem to need something to do the scrubbing for me, without encouraging me to mash the brush against my face. 😄 But yeah, a silicone pad is also a good alternative for anyone who doesn’t want/need sonic scrubbing. 

You reminded me of another Foreo benefit over the Clarisonic: better battery life. Oh, and the Clarisonic Mia 2 takes up more room than the Foreo Luna Mini 2. I bought a small silicone suction cup thingy to stick to my bathroom mirror, specifically to hold the Clarisonic and free up some counter space. My Foreo won’t fit in there (wrong shape) but it doesn’t take up much room anyway.