In my mid to late 20s, I started focusing on my skincare a bit more. I always made sure to wash my face, use a toner, and a moisturizer since my teenage years but that doesn’t mean I used the proper products or went the extra step to take my makeup off after a night out in college. I’ve always liked playing with makeup but I started to notice that my skin looked dull and was a bit texturized so I felt that I needed to focus more on my skin before trying out different makeup. I began to read and watch a lot of skin-focused information from estheticians. I reevaluated my skincare and realized I wasn’t really doing it any good so I needed to create a better routine with the proper products. I have luckily found products that work for me and they really make a difference!
Cleansers
I have combination skin that is definitely more oily in the summer and dehydrated in the winter. I read up on oil cleansers and began to test one out. It changed my life (exaggeration but it’s amazing) and I ditched makeup wipes. I thought an oil cleanser would just make me break out even more and ruin my already combination/oily skin but I was completely wrong. It hydrated it more and was more gentle when taking my making off. From there I started seeing what else my skin may start to need. I went through a lot of products during these years and tried to find products that would keep my skin hydrated and glowing while also combating my common breakouts. A lot of things would make my breakouts worse but what stuck was my Tatcha Oil Cleanser.
I really like Summer Fridays products so when I saw they were coming out with a gentle gel cleanser, I had to try it. It’s now another one I reach for when double-cleansing.
When I double cleanse, I always use the oil cleanser first, wash that off and then go in with the gel cleanser. I do not double cleanse daily. If I feel my pores have been a bit more clogged, I will go with the Dr. Dennis Gross one and if I just need to get makeup off or get my skin a little extra clean, I will use the Summer Fridays one. Both are great options for double cleansing!
Moisturizers
One product that had been really difficult for me to find was a moisturizer. After trying different types since my teenage years, I think I really just need a very basic moisturizer. I began using The Ordinary moisturizer the past couple of years and it has been the best, simple formula for my skin. I do not wake up with small clusters of breakouts from clogged pores but it still keeps my skin moisturized.
Serums
Within the last few years I started finding that physical exfoliants (think products with beads or texture in them) were harming my skin. They were causing more small breakouts or would over irritate my breakouts that were already there. So I read up on chemical exfoliants and chose one to test. I tried the Drunk Elephant Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum and at first it was great but then it seemed to not do as much for me. It is veryyy expensive so I wanted to try a different one. I tried the Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum next which is a similar product that is less expensive and a little stronger. I have loved this one and have stuck with it in my evening routine. It solves my issues of dull skin, texture, and breakouts! I wake up with beautiful, smooth, clear skin when using this a few nights a week.
Lip Products
My lips are constantly chapped. They peel and crack. And yes, I drink water constantly, all day. I tried so many products and even tried not using any products at all. Nothing helped. I kept hearing about the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask so I decided to give it a go. I used it one time at night and my lips completely improved the next morning. I now use it every night. I have both the original (berry) and their apple lime and love them! When I am out during the day, I use their lip balm which is super glossy looking and looks great with or without makeup!
Morning Skincare Steps
- Tatcha Oil Cleanser
- Double cleanse with gel cleanser only if needed
- The Ordinary face moisturizer
- Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask as under eye cream
- Summer Fridays Cloud Dew as neck and chest moisturizer
Evening Skincare Steps
- Tatcha Oil Cleanser
- Double cleanse with gel cleanser only if needed
- Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Serum (3-4 times a week) OR Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Toner
- Summer Fridays CC Me serum (every night)
- Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask as under eye cream and neck cream
- The Ordinary face moisturizer
- Laneige lip mask
I also wanted to mention that toner was another product I tested out a lot and they all seemed to dry my skin out or break me out. I did find one that I loved in my mid 20s but I now rarely use a toner anymore because the one that worked the best for me seemed to also be drying my skin out too much since starting to use the Farmacy serum. I saw better results with the serum so I will only use my Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner if the pores on my nose seem to be extra dirty or if I was sweaty from a very hot run. Using it every morning and night as a regular toner is almost too much for my skin now so I have rarely used it the past few winter months. I seem to now use it more so as a spot treatment…I pull a small bit of a cotton ball or a cotton round, wet it with the toner and put it on a breakout for about 10 minutes or so. HOWEVER, in the summer, this is still a go to and highly recommend if you live in hot, humid climates during the summer months. I find that I use this a couple times a week as a toner and as a spot treatment and I use the Farmacy serum less times throughout the week in the summer. It’s definitely important to notice how your skin changes throughout the year if you live in a climate that drastically changes from winter to summer like we do in New Jersey.
Some of you may also notice that testing products is not quick or cheap. It took years to really find things I liked, that actually worked, and that didn’t fully break the bank. A lot of the products I have that are on the more expensive side last me well more than 6 months. My moisturizer probably goes the quickest and that costs $7. I do not wear makeup to work and with the pandemic, I rarely wore makeup at all this year so I am not consistently replacing makeup in my bag. I’d rather spend a bit more on skincare making my skin look better without makeup then spending little on skincare and more on makeup to feel that I always have to wear makeup. Maybe it’s being in your 30s but that’s just how I look at life now!
A pro-tip for shopping, sign up for Sephora’s free insider rewards and shop online. I get soo many samples of random products to try from being a part of their rewards program that a lot of the products I tested out through the years actually came from free small or deluxe samples. Always check the ‘beauty offers’ at the bottom of the site for extra coupon codes (you can only use 1 at a time) for some samples or use your points from the Beauty Insider program for samples. If you do buy a product at or online at Sephora and it winds up not being the best for you, you can easily return it for a full refund!
