October 28th, 2022
Gabby’s Skincare Routine
Having a consistent skincare routine is essential to having healthy skin. When I was first getting into skincare, I blindly bought products promoted by beauty YouTubers, without thinking about what would be best for my skin. My current routine has been working really well for me these past few months, so I thought I’d share it.
Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser; Paula’s Choice
I use this cleanser on a daily basis in the morning and at night. It’s a very gentle cleanser and always leaves my skin feeling clean. The texture is silky smooth and there’s no scent. When using my cleanser I always make sure to wash for at least 60 seconds. If that sounds familiar, it’s likely because you’ve seen posts related to the viral “60 Second Rule” on social media. Cleansing for 60 seconds allows for the ingredients in the cleanser to actually work, if you don’t properly wash your face then the cleanser won’t be as effective.
Pore Reducing Toner; Paula’s Choice
I use this toner on a daily basis at night. Most people with a skincare routine use their toner in both the morning and at night; however, I only tone at night because I like to keep my morning routine as simple as possible. This toner feels very lightweight on the skin. I apply this using my hands. I simply pour the toner into the palm of my hand, rub my hands together so that it’s evenly spread on my hands, and then lightly press on my face using both hands. I’ve been changing the way I’ve applied toner recently. I used to use cotton pads, then I tried pouring my toner into a mini spray bottle and spraying it on my face, and now I use my hands. My favorite method was using the spray bottle, but the bottle I used for that was clear (see-through). And I recently learned that clear containers compromise the efficacy of skincare products due to light exposure. Anyways, I like using my hands to apply toner, since it’s much gentler than using a cotton pad.
2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant; Paula’s Choice
If you’re into skincare, you probably already know what this is. The BHA liquid exfoliant by Paula’s Choice is a holy grail product. One of the active ingredients in this product is salicylic acid which is great for preventing acne. I use this exfoliant 3 nights a week, and I apply this with my hands. For me personally; I’ve noticed that using this product has reduced the appearance of blackheads on my nose.
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%; The Ordinary
Although the name of this product is confusing (I can’t even pronounce it), this serum works wonders. It’s a vitamin C serum and if you don’t currently use any serums, you should consider adding vitamin C. It helps to brighten your skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and reduce redness. I like The Ordinary’s serum since they keep their ingredient list simple and I like their pricing (other brands that sell vitamin C, have very high prices for a college student).
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA; The Ordinary
I always make sure to moisturize twice a day. This moisturizer keeps my skin hydrated without feeling heavy. The moisturizer I was using right before I tried this one, had a much weirder texture and a strange smell. So once I switched to The Ordinary’s moisturizer, it felt so much better. I’d be open to trying other moisturizers, but for now, I’ll be sticking with The Ordinary.
Mineral Mattescreen; Supergoop
Finally, we have my sunscreen, which is used on a daily basis every morning. I am still in the process of finding a sunscreen I love. I’m currently using this one and it works well. I like that it’s a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast. But I don’t love the texture of this one. It feels grainy, and I’d prefer something smoother. So what I do is mix this sunscreen with my moisturizer so that the texture becomes something smoother.
xo,
Gabby
