Morning and Evening Skincare Routine

My skincare routine is my daily morning and evening ritual. It’s my personal 5-10 minutes out of the day that is set aside just for me. This week I’ll be celebrating my birthday which means one thing: another year another wrinkle. Okay maybe two things, a wrinkle and a solar lentigo (fancy derm term for sunspot). These wrinkles are a reminder of all the laughs over the years, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to prevent skin damage too!

After a lot of trial and error, I have finally narrowed down what works for my temperamental skin. My cheeks and forehead tends to be flakey, yet looks like an oil-painting by the end of a 10-hour shift. My morning routine is crucial in protecting my skin PLUS having the perfect base for makeup application that looks good and lasts all day.

My Morning Skincare Routine

I typically start off with water-rinsed face, no morning cleanser. With a dry face, I apply  The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% as my base. It helps keep my blemishes at bay and my skin feels less greasy by the end of the day! Next is Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel-Cream (P.S. GEL-CREAM! Not the “gel” formula). I find this one hydrating and one of the only moisturizers that actually absorb into my skin. My last step is sunscreen and I’ve been loving Etude House Sunprise Mild Finish SPF 50. I’m on my second bottle and this sunscreen is a game-changer for my oily t-zone. One thing I did learn from this sunscreen was to moisturize really well beforehand. When used alone, I tend to flake like a bad snow storm… yikes. But wearing this right over Hydroboost is a dream and my skin is perfectly primed and ready for fleeked brows!

left: no makeup after my 3-step morning routine
right: 5 minute makeup routine

My Evening Skincare Routine

After removing my makeup with micellar water, I gently cleanse with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. I then apply either: The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion or Lactic Acid 10% + HA. Also heard Kim K swears by this emulsion… so it must be doing something right, right? My last step again is Hydroboost. I typically keep my evening routine 3-steps, but every so often I’ll do a 10-minute mask with The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. If I feel like I need an extra dose of hydration, I’ll use a few drops of Squalene Oil on top of the Hydroboost.

As I go into my late 20’s, I’m now entering the find-the-best-eye-serum stage, which is still a work in progress. But this skincare regimen is my tried and true method. Every product mentioned above has been in use for about one year and every item repurchased multiple times! Please note that every skin is different – research which ingredients/products best suit your skin needs! Some of these topicals should be avoided in pregnancy – consult your medical provider if you are pregnant, are on medications, or have any medical conditions.