Falling in love with skincare has changed my life.
Back when I was a teenager, skincare was the least of my worries. I rarely got pimples, but when my skin decided to rebel, it was always around the time of my cycle and very minimal. I remember using Clean & Clear Morning Burst (both the orange and the blue “oxygen” one), and a matching moisturizer. Why someone didn’t tell my sixteen-year-old self that skincare was important, I’ll never know. Now that I am in my mid-twenties, I’m learning more and more that my skin needs care in order to look supple, clean, and bright.
I don’t have perfect skin, and I don’t want anyone to think that I do.
I have normal-dry skin. This statement has been shared in all of my skincare posts, and I find that it is important to share it every time I mention this subject. I don’t have perfect skin, and I don’t anyone to think that I do. I have a few problems that I’m working towards correcting:
- Enlarged pores on cheeks, near the nose
- Blackheads & whiteheads on nose
- Oiliness that sits on top of skin after moisturizing leading to parched skin
My routine changes not only with the seasons but with the introduction of new products. I’m in a “testing” phase as I build my routine into something that gives me consistent results every time. My routine is a mix of natural, DIY, and store-bought products, and for the moment, it’s working for me.
Now that I’ve given you an introduction, let’s jump right into what I’m currently using for my skin, especially for this colder season.
Morning Skin Routine
My skin routine for morning and night is pretty similar, albeit with a few more products at night. For the morning, these are the steps I take:
- After dampening my skin with water, I wet the Radiance brush head on my Clarisonic Mia and rub it across my African Black Soap by Raw Apothecary.
- After rinsing off my cleanser, if my pores are bothering me, I will do a mask. I use Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, apple cider vinegar, and half a teaspoon of activated charcoal, applying this around my nose and cheeks. I let this sit on my face until dry.
- Once my mask is removed with a warmed washcloth, I then move onto my toner, serums, and moisturizers. For toner, I use the Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner with a cotton ball. Moisturizing my skin with the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream and a few drops of the US Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil, my skin is now left soft and moisturized.
At night, my skincare routine is the exact same, though I typically will add the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum all over my face (about five drops is enough for me), Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment under my eyes, and Jack Black lip balm on my lips before lying down for slumber.
Lately, I have added oat flour into my routine, using it as a very gentle exfoliator in my cleansing step. I’ve only been doing this for a week, and my instant results are glowing skin and semi-soft skin. I’m going to keep testing a DIY exfoliator using oat flour and I will update you all what I come up with.
Keep It Simple, Boo
In my journey for better skin, I want to try to keep my routine as simple as I can. Sometimes, we can overdo our routines and make it harder for our skin to do what it needs to do to heal itself. Working through products to find my ideal routine may be hard, but it’s worth it for better skin in the end. I can’t let my Black crack.
In Part Two, I will be discussing what I do to take care of my body during these cooler months. That post will be coming up soon, so make sure you stick around for that.
What is your favorite skincare product? Do you have a winter skincare routine? I would love to read your routines or hear about your favorite products in the comments!
Final Words
For your convenience, I will include links to all products mentioned in this post. These links are strictly for your research, as I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned. Hover over the name of the product to be taken to a direct link for the product.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar (also try your local grocery store in the healthy section)
Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner
Kiehl’s by 1851 Creamy Eye Treatment
This is so interesting – I tend to find that my skin clears up in winter but it’s an absolute mess in the summer.
Needless to say I’m a big fan of winter!
It’s only recently that I realized I needed to change up my skin care regime based on the seasons. duh! I live in the south so I use a really light moisturizer in the summer and go a little heavier in the dry winter months.
My skin gets so dry in the winter that I avoid washing it in the morning. I find that using olive oil does wonders!
This post makes me thankful that our winter isn’t harsh lol. Thanks for sharing.
You have a really great routine! I wish I was that disciplined, I really need to start taking better care of my skin.
In my teens, I washed my face with whatever soap I was using that day, “toned” with alcohol, and used the same lotion on my face as my body and….. I can’t believe that I did that, lol. I love testing out skincare products now, and always talk to people about having some sort of real skincare routine in place because no matter how much you might love makeup, if you don’t take care of your skin, it won’t look it’s best. I’ve always wanted to try that Aztec Clay Mask. I have combination/oily skin, so I’m, always looking for products that will help keep the oil at bay.