MY MULTI-LAYERED SKINCARE ROUTINE at 42 years old. This has been a highly requested topic I’ve been personally asked to address for awhile now.
Aaaand skincare just seems to be a big topic in general during this whole quarantine situation. We all need something else to focus on besides the fact we are in the midst of a pandemic! So I’m here to break it all down, to tell you WHAT I use and WHY I use it. Plus, I didn’t realize until I wrote this entire post, that NONE of my fave products I’m using are over $50.
I’ve been a little MIA.
I know it’s been awhile friends since I’ve posted, but that’s due (THANKFULLY!) to my virtual makeup lessons I started offering during quarantine that have taken off more than I could have hoped for.
The response and reviews have been amazing, and I’m just so thrilled that I can still teach women one-on-one with that personal touch and interaction, without either of us having to leave the comforts of home! So a big “thank you” to all that booked with me (most of you are blog readers and Instagram followers it has seemed) and I look forward to meeting many more of you if you’re in the mood to learn how to streamline your makeup routine. Click here to read reviews from actual virtual clients.
But back to the topic at hand. Skincare routines.
It feels like all anybody really cares about during quarantine, is their skincare routine. Since you can’t see our lips while wearing masks out and about, what’s the use of lipstick tricks?? But now that we have more time than usual at home, it’s the perfect time to baby your skin a little more.
I have a definite method and order that I layer all of my skincare products in that I am excited to share with you. This is just my NIGHTTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE. My morning one is way simpler. So get ready, I don’t play around and it’s lengthy!
Along the way, I will share and link some of the exact products that I use for each step. But remember, I have 40+ year old, dry skin, that isn’t sensitive at all. So take my product suggestions that I use personally, for what that’s worth. This is not a skincare tutorial of products for everyone – I am only showcasing exact products I use myself right now.
Here is an example of the order in which I apply all of my skincare. You can omit any that don’t apply to you, but this is exactly how you should do the….
Correct Layering Of Your Skincare.
- Double Cleanse
- Toner
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- Oil
- Eye Cream
First off double cleanse.
What does that mean? It’s the method Korean women use for clearer skin. It involves washing your face in two steps : 1st by using an oil-based cleanser, followed by 2nd a water-based cleanser. Yes I do this most nights and yes I know it’s very extra but it works!
My products : My oil based cleanser is either the Palmers Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil ($9) or a cleansing balm like this It Cosmetics one. ($38) The water based ones I tend to use are the Garnier Micellar Water ($11) or the Mario Badescu Enzyme cleanser ($14). I love using these cheap silicone scrubbers with my oils and the enzyme cleanser to apply them with.
Then I move to toners.
Toners are not a fluff product and they are necessary! They are a quick absorbing liquid that helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil + makeup, and balance the pH of your skin which also helps control acne. I apply them with either cotton exfoliating rounds or I bought these environmentally sound bamboo cotton rounds that you can wash and reuse!
My products : I love the Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic glycolic acid toner, ($18) and of course, the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid ($29) I am obsessed with and talk about all the time. They also make anti-aging one that’s really good.
Now I slather on the serums!
Serums are designed to deliver high concentrations of specific active ingredients to your skin. Many times they are clear, gel-based or liquid, and they tend to be less thick than a moisturizer. They’re always applied before moisturizers to help lock in moisture.
My products : The are only two serums I have in my routine right now that I switch out about every week. I’ll use one every night for 7 days, then switch to the other for 7 days, and repeat. The first is this L’Oreal Intensive Hyaluronic Acid serum ($24). It’s kind of amazing and very skin plumping…I’m on my second jar and you’ll see the reviews are stellar. I also use the Derma E Vitamin C Serum ($25) that also contains HA and collagen for skin plumping. Vitamin C is known as a skin brightening agent as well.
* Bonus Tool * I want to get the most out of my serums, and we all know that topically, these creams and formulas can only go so far. But by adding a Derma Roller to your skin right before you apply your serums, you will get the max out of them. You don’t need to buy the expensive ones that some skincare companies try to sell you on, this .25 mm needle roller for $20 with thousands of 5 star reviews works just fine for me. Basically a dermaroller works by creating tiny punctures into the skin (not as painful as it sounds) to stimulate skin repair and cell regeneration. When the body sustains an injury or wound, it heals itself by creating new collagen. And by adding my serums right after I do this, they go a bit deeper to give more glowing skin!
Oh moisturizers, how I love you and how MANY I OWN!
This category is hard for me to pair down, but I’m going to share the ones I reach for the MOST in my skincare routine. They change from day to night by the way, so these are only nighttime ones.
My products : There is a retinol one from Neutrogena, the Rapid wrinkle repair, ($25) that I really love. (Side note – I do not wear my Vitamin C serum along with my retinol bc they cancel each other out apparently.) I used this one for a week, and I swear it did change the texture of my skin like it said on the box. It flaked a bunch for a couple of days, but then it looked nice and fresh!! Another one I always go back to is so cheap (try only $10) but yet it hydrates like no other. This L’Oreal Collagen Moisture Filler moisturizer feels so cushiony soft on my skin. No SPF though, which is why I wear only at night.
Onto oils.
Adding oils into your skincare routine is a way to repair your skin while also allowing it to retain moisture. And yes, you can use oil in your routine even if you’re always oily.
My products : Now I have to bring this specific oil up first, even though I haven’t bought it yet. This Tarte Maracuja Oil ($48) gets a million star ratings because it’s a magic oil in a bottle. It’s a vegan, multitasking skincare powerhouse of maracuja seed that promotes firmer, brighter & smoother looking skin. It’s next in my cart. But right now, I’m using up my Mario Badescu Rose Hip Oil, ($22). We all know that rose hip oil works for most skin types and even sensitive ones. A little goes a long way.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Eye Creams!
The eye beds deserve to get a lot of extra special care. They’re formulated to be extra mild since the area around our eyes is particularly sensitive to irritation.
My products : As seen in the first picture of the blog, you see me wearing these collagen eye masks ($19). I wear them constantly. Almost every single morning to hydrate my eyes because they’re such a treat to my eye beds for depuffing and moisturizing. Store them in the fridge for extra cooling and depuffing qualities. The only actual eye cream I’ve ever seen a difference from using is this ROC Retinol Correxion eye cream ($18).
I know, it’s a lot. But wait. If I am super tired or been out late (not recently, but in the past!) then I will bust out my new fave Cetaphil makeup remover wipes that are excellent and a quick fix to just remove makeup. But I’ll always do the toner, because my skin just does not feel clean without it.
Okay, so what are you ladies doing skincare wise during quarantine? Is your routine 6 steps like mine…Do you add more or less?
