My Current Morning Skincare Routine

I’m a morning shower person, so my morning skincare routine always consists of me washing my face in the shower. I like to shampoo and condition first, so that I give my pores some time to open up before I cleanse. Right now, I’m using the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. I’ve used this product on and off for years. The simple, creamy, non-drying formula is perfect for gently rinsing off the dirt, sweat and oil that accumulates overnight. I don’t use this cleanser at night unless it’s after a day when I’ve worn no makeup and have stayed inside all day, because I don’t think it’s strong enough to wash off the grime that’s left over after I remove my makeup.

After I get out of the shower, I spray my face with a toner. Right now, I’m using the Andalou Naturals Blossom + Leaf Refresh Toner. This is part of their age defying line, targeted at dryness. Andalou Natural products all contain aloe barbadensis juice, which is an ingredient I love in both skincare products and bath and body products. Before using this toner, I relied on old faithful: Thayer’s alcohol-free witch hazel with rose toner. That formula also contains aloe barbadensis juice. But after I ran out of my last bottle, I decided I wanted to try a non-astringent toner for a while to see if it helped my skin retain a bit more moisture. Right now, I’m not seeing much of a difference with the Andalou Naturals toner.

When my skin is feeling particularly dull, I’ll instead go in with this Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner, which contains salicylic, glycolic and lactic Acids. The AHAs and BHAs help exfoliate, but with my dry skin, I can’t use this more than a few days a week, and most of the time I’ll use it at night. But every now and then, my skin needs a little extra help in the morning.

The newest product in my morning skincare routine is Derma Doctor’s Kakadu C Serum, with 20% Vitamin C Serum with Ferulic Acid & Vitamin E. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of ferulic acid (an antioxidant that fights the free-radical damage and helps with anti-aging), and I’ve used a vitamin C serum on and off for years. This is a pricier item, but I purchased it at 15% off during a beauty sale earlier this spring. So far, I’m not seeing a huge difference in my skin, but I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks. I have recently developed a few breakouts that may or may not be related to the serum—but last week’s crappy diet and the onset of my period are more likely the causes. (Side note: if I go through this entire bottle and decide that the benefits of ferulic acid are worth the price, I may upgrade to the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment. I read about it everywhere and it seems to be a favorite among dermatologists and facialists.)

After my toner and serum, I go in with my moisturizers. I like using a moisturizer cream that includes SPF, to cut down on steps. Because it’s May, and the sun is already blazing here in central Texas, I’ve upped my daily sunscreen to SPF 30 with the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with SPF 30. It’s a decent moisturizer, although not the most amazing one I’ve ever used. My holy grail is from the drug store, actually: the No. 7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream for dry/very dry skin. I’d use this year round if it had a higher SPF, but alas, SPF 15 isn’t enough for me between the months of May and September. Does anyone know of a good moisturizing cream (not lotion…I like something thicker and more hydrating) with SPF 30 that I can find in the drugstore? Finally, I finish off with eye cream. My under-eye area is super dry so I like something really hydrating for the day that works well under concealer. I’m currently using the Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel, and it’s incredible. The consistency is like a gel-cream hybrid—super bouncy, cooling but also thick and hydrating. But it skins in well and works great under my makeup.

So there it is, my five-step morning skincare routine. It genuinely only takes a minute or two, and the number of steps work well for me right now. Nothing I use is extremely heavy, and they feel hydrating enough. But I think I’m still looking for a better moisturizer because, at the end of the day, my skin often feels and looks parched. I don’t know if there is such a thing as a day cream that works well under makeup and hydrates for 10 hours without making me look just plain old oily. Not giving up my search anytime soon, though.

Beauty and Skin Care for the 30-Something Woman

Something happened to me this year that was a bit…shocking. I realized that I was in my 30’s.

I’m about to turn 34. But it wasn’t being a thirty-something that was surprising (I’ve had a few years to grapple with that fact). It was the actual realization that being in my 30’s actually means something for the way I look that struck me like a lightning bolt.

One evening recently, after getting home from a long but not particularly crazy day at work, I was looking in the mirror while getting ready to remove my makeup and wash my face.  Suddenly I thought, “I look old.”

Now, before you come for me, please know that I completely understand and agree that being 33 does not an old person make. I don’t think I’m old. And I also have no problem with the ideas of aging and getting older. But when I looked in the mirror and noticed that a youthful appearance, a glow on my once baby smooth skin, no longer existed, I couldn’t help but have a bit of a mini breakdown. What was happening to my skin? Why weren’t the serums and oils and lotions and potions working? Why did my skin look so dull and tired?

I let myself feel my feelings for a little while. I spent the next few days looking through my makeup and getting rid of anything I thought was doing me dirty (emphasizing texture, making me look dry, etc.), and I searched the word “plumping” on the Sephora website to see what skin care products might add some bounce to my skin. Then, I decided I wanted to write about my experience, about being in my 30’s and trying to navigate my way as a no-longer-20-something with great skin, and a not-quite-40-something dealing with deep wrinkles and sagging.

A bit about my skin: I have minimal breakouts but some texture that I attribute to the dryness (literally) piling up on the surface of my skin. My under eyes are extremely dry but I also have deep set eyes and naturally dark under eye circles, so every day is a battle when it comes to concealer. Those with enough coverage are really drying and emphasize every single fine line. And those that are hydrating are thinner formulas that don’t cover well. I like a quick, medium coverage makeup routine in the morning that’s all about the skin (coverage, bronzer, blush and occasionally highlighter), layers of mascara, and a creamy lipstick or gloss. 

I’m a beauty junkie. I love reading Into the Gloss and Violet Grey, and I watch a lot of Youtube beauty channels. The problem I’m finding is that a lot of the blogs I read or videos I watch are from women in their 20’s, whose skin I can’t relate to. And the women I do find who are in their 30’s either have oily skin--a different set of problems--or they have easy access to things like Botox, expensive skincare, and skincare services. (So many free products, services and sponsorships, oh my!)

I think there’s a gap in the space, for women like me, who either can’t afford to spend the money on the expensive stuff or the fillers, or are not quite ready to make that jump (and maybe never will be). I want to focus on how I can take care of my skin, both from the inside out with diet, exercise, vitamins and supplements, and from the outside in, with products that are easy to access and mostly obtainable. I’m looking forward to writing about this journey. Whoever is out there and interested, I hope you’re excited to follow along.