As I am inching my way towards the big 30 (eek!), I am becoming more conscious about how I am taking care of my skin.
Over the last year, I have tried quite a few products and discovered that a simple routine works best for me and my skin (and wallet!).
My Skin Struggles
I never really struggled with acne (other than a few breakouts here and there) but I have struggled with redness around my forehead, nose, and chin. During my pregnancies, my skin gets really sensitive so finding products that don’t irritate my skin and give me red bumps is a challenge.
I also have VERY dry skin in the fall and winter months.
The Products…
The products that I use (other than the lash serum), I have been using for well over a year now.
There was a point when I wanted to try other viral products that were higher-end, but honestly, after using those fancier products, my skin just became more irritated and I decided to go back to my tried and true routine.
I also love that these products are inexpensive so I have no problem repurchasing after I run out!
The Nighttime Skincare Routine
So here is my super simple skincare routine that I do every night:
1. Cleanser
First, I start off with this Cetaphil cleanser. It is nothing fancy, but it cleans my face well (even when I am wearing some makeup), without stripping my face and leaving it dry (thanks to the glycerin in the product).
This cleanser is under $13 at Target, and it does its job very well for the price!
2. Vitamin C
Next, I apply the Loreal vitamin C cream. Before choosing a vitamin C serum, I did some research and found that not all vitamin C serums are equal. Here are some things to look out for when purchasing vitamin C:
-If it is the active form (L-ascorbic acid), it is unstable and can be oxidized easily
-the bottle/container should shield the vitamin C from sun exposure (if it is the active form of L-ascorbic acid).
-the applicator should shield the vitamin C from exposure to oxygen (active form).
-Vitamin C concentration should be between 8-20% (on the lesser side if acne-prone or sensitive skin)
I’m not an expert on this, so I would definitely do my research before purchasing a vitamin C, but this particular one by Loreal is the active form and I have been loving it personally.
Another side bonus of this particular vitamin C is that it feels like a primer going on my skin. So when I do wear makeup I skip my actual primer because it already looks nice and smooth with this vitamin C under my moisturizer.
3. Moisturizer
At night for a moisturizer, I have been using this Cerave Healing Ointment. It looks and feels like Vaseline, so I guess the technical term for applying this type of moisturizer would be “slugging”. It does feel a bit heavy but because of how it has helped my skin, I do not mind!
I used to struggle with redness and irritation, especially during my pregnancies, and my skin was sensitive to most products. So when I saw this product I decided to use it instead of a moisturizer and it completely restored my skin’s barrier and got rid of the red bumps I had on my cheeks.
This also works very well if you are using a retinoid because it helps soothe and restore the skin.
4. Lash Serum
This Milani lash serum is a recent addition to my evening skincare routine. I started using it about a month and a half ago and I am definitely noticing longer lashes now!
I used to use the GrandeLash MD but it had a couple of cons that were deal breakers for me. My eyes were always red and began to look hollow (the prostaglandins used in it can dissolve the fat pad around the eyes). Although I saw a HUGE difference in my lashes very quickly, I did not like how my eyes were looking overall so I decided to switch to another product.
I believe this lash serum from Milani mainly contains peptides and it has taken a longer time to see results, but after using it every night for a month and a half I am starting to see results so I know it’s working (yay!!).
