My Current Evening Skincare Routine

My evening skincare routine is definitely more complex than my morning one. What I use depends on a number of things. First, I try to alternate products throughout the week so that my skin stays balanced—I don’t want it to get too used to or dependent on any one product or type of product. Second, my skin sometimes freaks out and needs more of one thing than the other, like more moisture or more exfoliation, etc. Here, in order of how they’re applied, is a list of products I’d use throughout the week to cleanse, treat and moisturize.

Makeup Remover

I've recently transitioned from using makeup wipes or cotton pads for more eco-friendly makeup-removing towels. I purchased this pack of two from Ulta, and so far they work really well for daily makeup removal, when I’ve been wearing minimal makeup and nothing heavy on the eyes. For heavier makeup days, I like the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm or the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop (a good, cruelty-free alternative, just harder to get my hands on).

Cleanser

I alternate between three. (I know, I know.) Dermadoctor Ain’t Misbehavin Medicated Acne Cleanser has salicylic acid and is too strong/drying for my skin type to use more than a few nights a week, but is really good at keeping acne at bay. I also like the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser. It gives a deep clean but doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped. Finally, I recently added the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser to my routine, in an effort to both help brighten my skin and use more natural products when possible. Occasionally, I will use an exfoliating cleanser. My favorite is the Amore Pacific Enzyme Cleanser, which is a powder that turns to a liquid-y foam when mixed with water. It’s gentle but my skin always feels baby smooth after using.  The other one I like is the Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Scrub with Vitamin A and Glycolic Acid, which actually has granules in it along with glycolic acid. This can be a little harsher on the skin, but I genuinely believe that my skin needs a good manual exfoliation every now and then, and this does the trick really well. I actually keep the tube in my shower, and will use it scrub my elbows and chest area sometimes.

Toner

These are the same as the ones mentioned in my morning skincare routine—Andalou Naturals, Thayer’s, or Ole Henriksen. All work well, but for different reasons and in different ways. But I’m definitely pro-toner. I find them refreshing and soothing. And in the case of the Ole Henriksen one, a great way to gently exfoliate and remove any remaining bits of makeup.

Treatments & Serums

I recently started using the Tatcha Essence. The jury is still out, to be honest. After a few weeks, I’m not convinced that it’s worth the hefty price tag, but it feels nice on the skin. Occasionally, when my skin is irritated, I’ll use a layer or aloe vera gel as a serum. It’s soothing, calming and hydrating. Any high percentage aloe gel will work. Every other night, I use a retinol serum on top of the Tatcha essence. For the last year, I’ve used the Peter Thomas Roth Retinal Fusion and it’s amazing. It has 1.5% retinol, but never causes my skin to dry or peal. And I started seeing results immediately—smoother skin and the disappearance of a few breakouts that had been recurring in the same spot over and over. I recently bought a mini of the famed Drunk Elephant Glycolic Night Serum. I'll use it once or twice a week, on nights when I don't use my retinal. It does a good job at smoothing out my skin texture, but I suspect I have to use it more often to see real results. Again, the full size of this is pricey, so I'm not quite sure it's worth the splurge. (And I've noticed recently that there are some similar products hitting the market for lower prices.)

Moisturizer & Facial Oil

I alternate between three moisturizers. My tried and true is the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. It never fails me, is simple, hydrating and soothing. I will keep a jar of this in my cabinet for the rest of my life. If my skin is really parched, the Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer is another favorite. This stuff is THICK and doesn’t absorb into the skin fully. So, when I wake up in the morning, I can sometimes see a layer of oil on my skin. This sounds gross but I actually like it. As someone with dry skin, I know that a moisturizer is super hydrating if even my skin doesn’t drink it all up. Recently, I purchased the Andalou Naturals Q10 Night Repair Cream, to add more firming ingredients into my routine. It’s light and fluffy, but a good moisturizer for the summer and early fall, when my skin is less on the dry side. Because I don’t use it every night, I don’t think I can judge its firming abilities, but I still like it as a moisturizer. The smell is not my favorite, but it doesn’t linger too long. Finally, if I want to lock in hydration or add more moisture, I’ll layer a face oil over my moisturizer. Currently, I'm using the Organic Treatment Oil from Juice Beauty. I prefer organic or natural oils, and this one is very hydrating.

There are a ton of products mentioned in this post, I realize. But that's the thing about being skin care obsessed, isn't it? I'm always on the hunt for a miracle product and the perfect routine. I've recently added a couple of items to my wishlist, so one or some of those will be feature here soon. If you made it through this post, thank you!

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.