One of my friends recently asked me to send her a skincare routine and told me that she had no budget- she wants to invest in her skin. I LOVE that she wants to start taking care of her skin, and I love even more that she knows that it’s an investment that’s so worth it! While I do thing there are some products that are worth the expensive price tag, a lot of my skincare staples are budget-friendly.
I typed up my current skincare routine for her in my notes app to share with her, so I thought why not share with all of you?! I’ve included the details and a brief explanation of each step in my routine below.
I have been using this same routine for over a year now, and I don’t see myself switching anything up anytime soon. It’s really been working for me, and I’ve seen dramatic changes in my skin. I’ve NEVER been the person with good skin, and I feel like I’m finally confident in how my skin looks. It’s very rare I have pimple and if it is, it’s almost always hormonal.
AM Steps: I keep it simple in the morning.
- Water cleanse: I have sensitive skin and don’t want to dry it out too much or destroy my skin barrier so I ONLY use water to wash my face in the morning. Luke warm- you never want to use hot water because its too drying.
- Vit-C Serum: Skinceuticals C E FERULIC® WITH 15% L-ASCORBIC ACID L This is a little pricey, but I swear by it. It will give you that “glowy” glass-skin look, help improve texture and decrease fine-lines, etc.
- Eye Balm: Evan Healey Eye Balm: I use this morning and night. Hydrates sensitive skin around eyes, makes makeup around eyes look less crease-y. Has really helped with my crows feet.
- Sunscreen: Elta MD clear: Lightweight, no smell, wears beautifully under makeup, no white cast, mineral not chemical. **sunscreen is the best anti-aging product out there! Apply it rain or shine or even if you’ll be inside all day. If you’re only going to use ONE product, sunscreen is what you should be using. If possible, re-apply after a few hours.
PM: This is my every night routine, but I also mix in masks or treatments 1-2 times a week.
*My fave device is the glow-pro which is a microneedling device if you’re interested in taking it to the next level. Works great for scars, stretch marks, acne and gives your skin an amazing glow. Also helps masks and treatments work better and absorb better into your skin.
- Double cleanse- SUPER IMPORTANT!
- Start with an oil cleanser to remove any dirt/makeup. I love this one and buy the ginormous one. I even use it on my body in the shower. Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil
- Use a gentle water-based cleanser to remove oil. This will help unclog pores and really cleanse skin rather than remove makeup/dirt. I have found this to have literally cleaned up any breakouts. I hardly EVER break out since I’ve been doing this. Swear by it!!
- I use Cerave gentle hydrating cleanser or anything I may have on hand
- Toner: I have been using and loving the Glow Recipe Pore-Tightening Toner. When I’m trying to manage breakouts, I really love the Glycolix Toning Pads. I’ve been using these on and off for more than 6 years. They work great for body acne, too! Start with 5% and work your way up if you have sensitive skin!
- Anti-aging Treatment:
- When I’m not pregnant, I use an RX called Tretinoin that I get from my dermatologist. It is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women, but this is a game-changer and will literally take years of your skin when used correctly. Here’s how to use it:
- Wait for skin to be COMPLETELY DRY or this won’t work or may even harm your skin. I highly recommend going to the dermatologist and getting an RX for tretinoin (not pregnancy safe). Start by literally using the smallest amount once a week and work your way up. This will literally reverse aging, make your skin look like a baby’s butt, will erase wrinkles and you’ll thank me in 10 years when you still look 30. Google before and afters. The only problem is that because it is so effective, it can be harsh on your skin if you overuse it. Seriously use way less than you think and work your way up. Start with the lowest RX possible. It will still work!!!
- Let that dry for like 15 minutes then hydrate your face like there’s no tomorrow!!!
- **When I AM pregnant (which is currently!!), I use a pregnancy safe retinol alternative called BAKUCHIOL RETINOL ALTERNATIVE SMOOTHING SERUM which is derived from mushrooms. It has many of the same benefits as retinol, but it’s all natural and doesn’t cause irritation.
- Moisturizer- Never skip this step!! Also, a good rule of thumb for moisturizers is start from thinnest- (Serums, oils) and work your way up in thickness, lotions to creams to balms, etc.
- I start with Clarins double serum (obsessed). My mom and I have been using this for forever. Swear by it. Let it dry before next step.
- Next, add a thicker moisturizer to lock everything in. I use Cerave hyaluronic acid serum. . I have bought this like 15 times and slather it on. LOVE.
- Apply same eye balm as AM routine
- If my skin is really dry, I do something called “slugging” which is basically sealing your skin for the night (some people do only around eyes every night). I use La Roche Posay cicaplast balm, which is also great for eczema flare ups and I will use on my kiddos, too).
I hope this little skincare how-to guide was helpful! I’d love to hear from you if you’ve tried any of these products or if you have any holy grail products I need to add to my list to try!
XX,
Kelsey
