my current skincare routine
in learning to be a better listener to my skin and its needs, i’ve learned to adapt my skincare “routine,” and focus one the ‘care’ part, than the ‘routine.’
after my eczema diagnosis and allergy test 5 years ago, I really started to understand how important it is to both listen to your dermatologist and listen to your skin. it’s less about having a rigid routine, but more about being able to understand and accommodate what your skin is telling you it needs!
since my jaw surgery in january, the skin on that side of my face has changed quite a bit - I’ve (temporarily) lost feeling in some spots, the skin is more sensitive - both to ingredients and to touch, has a few more dark spots, freckles, and of course, a tiny scar. so in caring for my post-op skin, I skipped out on some of the harsher ingredients (retinols, AHA/BHA/exfoliants) for a while, but am slowly bringing them back.
*due to my allergies, the products I use do not contain: methylisothiazolinone, quaternium-15, formaldehyde, (and for the most part, they do not contain fragrance.)
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MORNING
as a night showerer, I don’t wash my face in the morning. I just rinse with water, or use a little bit of toner if I’m feeling a little dry.
I let my face air dry while I brush my teeth/hair and get dressed, and then apply 1-2 pumps of C-Firma, Drunk Elephant’s vitamin C serum.
once the vitamin C has set a bit, I use a pump of Drunk Elephant’s Protini moisturizer, and 1-2 pumps of B-Hydra if my skin is feeling particularly dry - which typically happens if I don’t sleep with my humidifier on. [and if that’s the case, I’ll spend some time with my hey dewy mini humidifier on as I go about my morning routine].
I’ve been using my herbivore jade roller more since surgery, and since I keep it in my skincare fridge, it feels extra good on the sore side of my face. it helps me look a little less puffy/tired in the morning, and brings me some much needed non-medicinal relief around my scar and stiff jaw muscles.
I follow up with Drunk Elephant C-Tango multivitamin eye cream around my eye area.
after moisturizing, I apply supergoop’s play everyday lotion (SPF 50) to my face, hands, neck, chest, and any area that may be exposed by my choice of clothing.
it’s very rare that I wear makeup (especially foundation), but I love a dewy glow, so I’ll spray a bit of fresh’s vitamin nectar antioxidant glow water before going about my day.
NIGHT
I use youth to the people’s superfood cleanser to wash my face, and then typically use glow recipe’s watermelon glow toner once i’m out of the shower.
when my face is dry, i’ll use one of two Drunk Elephant products: TLC framboos glycolic night serum, or A-Passioni retinol cream, and follow up with protini.
if I need extra hydration, I’ll sleep in one of two products: farmacy’s honey grail ultra-hydrating oil, or summer fridays’ jet lag mask (there was a recall of jet lag earlier this year - the product I have was unaffected, and I do truly love the mask, but I will not repurchase after I finish this tube).
WEEKLY
in addition to changing my satin pillow case (at least) once a week - my weekly routine rarely changes.
sundays are my exfoliation nights. recently, i’ve been using Drunk Elephant’s new sugared koffie almond milk body scrub in the shower (I’ll use this on wednesdays or thursdays as well, depending on how my skin is looking and feeling), and then after I shower, I spend 20 minutes with their TLC Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA mask on (I had to work back up to 20 minutes after surgery, so I started at 10 minutes initially). on those nights, I don’t follow up with Framboos or retinol, but instead, moisturizer and oil, or I’ll sleep in the F-Balm mask.