Drop The Routine

My relationship with my skin is…complicated.

I’ve always had the best of intentions, trying to care for and treat my skin. But intentions only go so far, because, like most people, I had limited skincare knowledge. Finding the right products felt like a guessing game that I always lost.

I have made just about every skincare mistake you can make. I have mixed ingredients that should never be used together (retinol and vitamin C, anyone?), piled on pounds of makeup, picked at my skin, and created the most excessive, ridiculous multi-stepped skincare routines I could.

I often talk a big game when it comes to beauty and act like I have all the answers. I don’t. I still make mistakes. Until about a year ago, I was seriously over-exfoliating, which led to a compromised moisture barrier and painful cysts. But my (many) mistakes have forced me to do my research, ask questions, and really understand the science behind it all.

Surprise, surprise, it’s starting to pay off. My skin’s far from perfect, but what used to be three pimples a week is now three pimples a month. I no longer feel the need to wear makeup every day.

Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned is that skincare is incredibly subjective. My favorite serum might cause a massive breakout for you . So do what works for you.

Here’s what’s been working for me.

AM Routine:

Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Cerave; $14.99

I try to wash my face most mornings, using a fairly random rotation of these three cleansers. There’s not much of a rhyme or reason to which I choose since they’re all hydrating cleansers. Cerave has been my old reliable since before Tik Tok even existed. This is just a good, simple cleanser. Not going to do anything special, not going to do anything bad.

Tashmoo Water Lily Nourishing Milky Wash*, Holifrog; $38

HoliFrog first launched with four cleansers, based around the idea of situational cleansing—basically the belief that you should be using different cleansers at different times, depending on how your skin feels in that moment. This one is definitely my favorite of the bunch (their Shasta AHA Refining Acid Wash is a close second). It’s deeply hydrating and gentle, which is why I love using it first thing in the morning. Also, I’ve had the same bottle for around a year now and have surprisingly not run out yet (despite using two-three pumps to cleanse fairly often).

Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser, Krave; $16

Krave is a relatively new brand to me, and I’ve been thoroughly impressed by every product I’ve tried. Their cleanser has a bouncy, jelly-like texture that lathers without stripping the skin. Simply put, it’s the comfort blanket of cleansers.

Great Barrier Relief, Krave; $28

Like I said, I’m really into Krave. I could (and have!) wax poetic about this serum. I use it twice a day, every day pretty religiously. It’s incredibly nourishing and helps both repair and protect my damaged moisture barrier. If you were to buy one product from this article, this serum should absolutely be it.

CC Me Vitamin C Serum, Summer Fridays; $64

I rotate between two vitamin C serums at the moment. My skin really likes this one. I’ve tried a bunch of different vitamin C products, but this remains one of the very few that made a visible difference to my skin. This is creamier than your average vitamin C serum (which I like), and I find it to be gentle without sacrificing efficacy. An important note: if I have a lot of active breakouts, I tend to skip the vitamin C to avoid any further irritation.

C.E.O. Vitamin C Brightening Serum, Sunday Riley; $85

In general, I’ve found that my skin reacts really well to Sunday Riley’s products. Their vitamin C serum won a spot in my rotation thanks to its ultra-hydrating properties and ability to target my toughest hyperpigmentation.

Mini Facial Toning Device, NuFACE; $199

I recently picked up this mini NuFACE, and I have a few thoughts. I really like it. In a nutshell, it’s meant to tone the face via microcurrents that help visibly tone, contour, and lift skin. If you have aging skin or feel like your face lacks definition and contour, chances are you’ll like this. I have a very round face, so it makes a pretty huge difference for my face shape (both immediately after use and in the long-term). I use it for about five to fifteen minutes, five to seven times a week—this is key. If you can’t commit to using it pretty much every single day, don’t bother getting it. I’ve been loving the routine and loving the results even more. A note: I try my absolute best to avoid using this over any active breakouts.

Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado*, Kiehl’s; $50

I rotate between two eye creams in the morning (noticing a theme here?). This is a classic eye cream—everyone loves it. Until recently, I’d actually never tried it before, but I was hooked from the first use. It is super thick and hydrating, leaves my under eyes nourished and plumped.

Pure Peach Retinoic Eye Cream*, Peach & Lily; $42

Retinoids scare the shit out of me, but I was intrigued by this eye cream’s retinoic complex, which claims to offer the benefits of retinol while being gentle enough for all skin use. My biggest fear when it comes to retinol is the purging, and since I’ve never had acne under my eyes before (knock on wood), I figured this was a good way to dip my toe into the retinol pool. I used to have mixed feelings about eye creams—I felt like they just never did much for me. This one proved me wrong. It noticeably plumps, hydrates, lightens, and moisturizes my under eye area.

Ultra Facial Cream*, Kiehl’s; $32

It should come as no surprise that I rotate between a few different creams in the morning. This best-seller really just feels like a solid choice to me. It’s on the thicker side (which I love) and delivers a hefty dose of hydration to my sleepy morning skin.

Pretty Pop Probiotic Power Whipped Cream*, Saturday Skin; $57

I’m a sucker for a whipped moisturizer. This one is lightweight and leaves behind a nice glow without leaving behind any grease or residue. It’s a great AM pick for dull, dehydrated skin.

Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream*, Youth to the People; $58

This incredibly gentle, light to mid-weight moisturizer is what I gravitate to when my skin feels angry, since it hydrates without sensitizing the skin. This isn’t the usual, heavy moisturizer I gravitate towards, but that’s kind of why I like it. When my skin feels out of control, I can rest assured that this cream won’t add flames to the fire.

Aventurine Gua Sha, Rosenice; $8.95

I was on the fence about rubbing all these weird stones and crystals on my face, and honestly, I still think a jade roller is kind of bullshit. That being said, I love my gua sha. I keep it in my skincare fridge (yes, I have a skincare fridge) and use it to depuff and sculpt my face. I often pull this out at random times of the day to give myself a quick facial massage and can confirm it helps depuff and contour my skin. I’ve been using this less since I got my NuFACE, but it’s still a favorite.

Unseen Sunscreen, Supergoop!; $34

To finish up my morning routine, I apply SPF, because I’m not an idiot. I have a bunch of options but find myself reaching for these three the most. This clear, scentless gel sunscreen glides right on the skin and acts almost like a primer, blurring small imperfections and pores.

Self Reflect Broad Spectrum Sunscreen*, Kinship; $25

This sunscreen leaves behind a sheen that leaves me looking well-rested and glowy. It’s subtly scented (kind of vanilla cupcake-y), which I usually really dislike, but this one’s so subtle that it doesn’t bother me at all—I might even like it. I like that it feels more like a moisturizer than a lotion, and thanks to a light pink tint, it’s perfect for no-makeup days.

The Beet Shield, Krave; $20

I told you I was into Krave. This sunscreen’s the most lightweight of the bunch; it’s almost runny in texture. It quickly sinks into the skin to soothe and protect, leaving behind little to no white cast and feels hydrating, without being remotely oily.

D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops, Drunk Elephant; $36

I mix in a squirt of this with my sunscreen every single day. Honestly, I don’t even really care about the skincare benefits of this product, because it just gives me this perfect bronzy glow that no other product has been able to reproduce. I’ve gone through three or four tubes of this and really don’t see myself stopping any time soon.

PM ROUTINE:

Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm*, Elemis; $64

I have an unnecessary amount of cleansing balms, and I’m currently trying to finish up some other ones, but I wanted to share three of my most-used ones. This one from Elemis is new to me, but it’s quickly become a favorite thanks to its deep cleaning, nourishing formula. It just feels really good to apply, and wipes away makeup without a fuss.

Cleanser*, Eve Lom; $80

Of all the stupidly expensive products I own, this $80 cleanser is one of the few I’d really consider spending my own money on. Beloved by countless beauty editors, this cleanser is sexy. The instructions suggest applying onto dry skin, after which you’re supposed to cover your face with a wet, hot muslin cloth for around five seconds to open the pores. They suggest repeating this hot cloth stage three times for optimum results; follow by removing the cleanser. Then, rinse the cloth in cold water and hold over the face and neck for around five seconds. I almost never do this, but it’s super luxurious and nice when I do! I tend to just use it as a cleansing balm. I have a full-sized tub at my apartment and keep a travel-sized one at my boyfriend’s place.

Prebiotic Oil to Milk Cleanser, Cocokind; $15.73

Cocokind is another new, pleasant discovery for me. It’s significantly lighter weight than my other first cleanse choices, but still does a solid job of removing makeup and grime. It comes out of the tube with a half gel-like, half oil-like texture that easily rubs into the skin and transforms into a milky, lightweight cleanser that glides right off.

Rapid Response Detox Cleanser, Renée Rouleau; $41.50

I’d like to amend my earlier statement about the Great Barrier Relief serum being my #1 recommendation from this article. This one also ties for first. During the beginning of quarantine, I was dealing with some of the most persistent, painful acne I’ve experienced. It came seemingly out of nowhere, and I had no idea what to do. Within a single week of using this product every night, most of my active breakouts had started to clear up and no new acne had formed. And unlike most acne-fighting cleansers, this one’s non-drying. I’ve suggested it to countless people struggling with acne, all of whom came back with rave reviews. And a fun fact: one time I drunkenly DMed Renée Rouleau and thanked her for making this product.

Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser*, Cosrx; $13

If my skin is looking and feeling good, I’ll normally use one of the three cleansers I listed as my AM cleanse. If my skin is in panic mode, I reach for the Renée Rouleau cleanser. This is what I use when I’m somewhere in the middle. It’s unexpectedly creamy for an exfoliating cleanser and simultaneously soothes and clears my skin.

NOTE: Following my cleanse, I usually apply the Great Barrier Relief serum. Sometimes, if I feel like my skin is stable, I’ll use another serum—something hydrating or brightening usually. This really only happens around once a week because I’m trying hard not to overwhelm my skin, so I’m not including those in this round up.

Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment, Sunday Riley; $122

Ever since my whole over-exfoliating trauma, I’ve been really hesitant about using exfoliants. Now, nearly a year later, I’m currently trying to up my acid usage from three times a week to four to five times a week. This has been with me for years. It’s expensive, but it works. I rotate between this and the following two exfoliants.

Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Serum*, Caudalie; $49

This lightweight, minty feeling (can you feel mint?) serum is a relatively new addition to my rotation. I was a bit hesitant to try because it’s formulated with essential oils, but a good friend promised I would love it anyway—she was right! It’s not a magical treatment (there really is no such thing), but it’s definitely helped diminish active acne and other blemish-like spots on my face.

2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant*, Paula’s Choice; $25.07

The above two exfoliants are absolute cult-favorites, and this one is no exception. It has a runny, toner-like texture that helps slough off dead skin cells and keep my acne at bay.

CBD Calming Eye Balm*, Cannuka; $38

This eye balm is just a delight to apply. It warms on contact and melts into the skin, deeply moisturizing my under eyes all night long. It’s a moment of calm self-care before bed that I look forward to every night.

ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream, Sunday Riley; $65

I’m a huge fan of this ceramide-packed, rich moisturizer. My skin drinks it right up, and it leaves me looking plump and smooth all night long. I love that it’s immediately hydrating and works over time to strengthen the moisture barrier.

Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer, Drunk Elephant; $68

I’ve gone through three or four tubs of this over the years—I just love the way it firms and smooths my skin. I especially love using it after a hot, summer day; it simultaneously rehydrates and cools down my skin. I especially appreciate its silicone-, essential oil-, and fragrance-free formulation.

The Dewy Skin Cream*, Tatcha; $68

Dani can have a little Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream, as a treat. This cream intensely hydrates and seals in moisture, leaving me with glass-like skin. It has a light, pleasant scent that enhances the already luxurious, pampering moisturizer.

Chia Facial Oil, Cocokind; $15.99

I don’t really have much to say about this product. I like it! It seems to like me! It' absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft and velvety—never greasy. My favorite part? There are only two ingredients.

Face Hero, Go-To Skincare; $34

I’m almost finished with my second bottle of Face Hero, and I’ve yet to find a harder working oil than this one. Whether my skin is dry, oily, pimply, or clear, this oil always meets me where I’m at and works to leave behind a silky smooth, deeply hydrated base.