I’m a pretty sarcastic person but one thing I don’t joke around about is my skin care routine. In the past, I thought makeup wipes were an acceptable form of removing my makeup. Not only do they tug and pull on your skin, but they actually push makeup deeper into your pores causing more breakouts! Gross. I had little to no knowledge about skin care until two things happened:

I discovered ‘The Skinny Confidential’ and Lauryn Bosstick, who is a skincare FREAK! (Check her out, you’ll be hooked)
My skin went rampant.

I had been on birth control since I was 16 years old, a little over twelve years before I decided to take a break. It was great for a couple weeks and then MAYHEM! My skin went wild from the changes in hormones. I had full blown, pubescent acne that got so bad that I would literally start crying every time I looked in the mirror. It just seemed to keep getting worse and worse with no end in sight. That is when I buckled down and started researching a routine that would help get my skin back to its original form. Before we jump into it, let me warn you, fasten your seatbelts because it’s a ride!

I start my nighttime skin care routine by taking off my makeup with a damp makeup eraser. I then go in with a double cleanse. This is a tried-and-true Korean skin care favorite. Koreans know their skin care and honestly if they told me that horse poop was good for my skin, I might just try it! Ok, maybe not but I trust their methods! I start my double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser which helps get out the makeup deep in my pores. I have a couple favorites, but I cannot stop re-purchasing the ‘Green Clean Makeup Removing Balm’ from Farmacy. It smells like a lime mojito and just feels sooooo good on my skin. I also love this product because if you don’t have a cloth to remove it, it rinses off with warm water and won’t leave a greasy film on your skin like other oil products might. Next, I go in with a water-based cleanser. I love the Neutrogena ‘Hydroboost Hydrating Cleansing Gel’ for this step because it doesn’t strip my skin or leave it feeling tight and dry. PRO cleansing tip: make sure you’re cleansing for one minute MINIMUM with each product. If you do not know why this is important, I highly suggest listening to the ‘Breaking Beauty’ podcast, episode #91 to find out why! I literally yell at Siri to set a 1-minute timer and get to work. This tip has honestly taken my skin from ‘ok’ to ‘OK HUNNY!’

Something I like to do once a week or every other day, depending on the product, is a chemical exfoliant/peel. I’m obsessed with The Ordinary ‘AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution’. This product is to be used once a week max but gives you an incredible glow and helps clear up the skin. A chemical exfoliant I am obsessed with is the ‘Dr Dennis Gross Peel Pads’. I love them because you can use them daily and they help to visibly reduce dullness and uneven texture. If you’re looking for a gritty type of exfoliant, I love the Grown Alchemist ‘Polishing Facial Exfoliant’. I’m not an expert but do NOT exfoliate every day because over exfoliation strips the skin of its natural oils, which can cause breakouts. Immediately after I exfoliate, I go in with Hyaluronic acid to help restore moisture. This product is best absorbed on damp skin and I currently love the one from The Ordinary.

On the days that I do not exfoliate, I love to use an LED device. If I am looking to spot treat a stubborn pimple, I grab the 2019 Canadian Product of the Year winner, ‘Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment pen’. This product is so affordable and seriously WORKS! This pen has two lights that work simultaneously. The blue light works to kill the bacteria and the red light reduces inflammation. I also love the ‘Project E Beauty LED Face Mask’ that I bought off of Amazon! It has 7 light functions that have different benefits for your skin. I’m a huge multitasker so this mask is great for when I have a bunch of DMs to reply to or content to edit. You just strap it on your face, select your treatment time, the light you want to use and you’re off! It has seriously helped with the overall texture of my skin plus it makes me feel so boujee!

After I’ve used my LED mask, I typically go in with either a Retinol or Vitamin C serum afterwards. Right now, I am trying two products from the Image Skincare line and they’re working so great! The ‘Ageless Repair Cream’ (retinol) helps with fine lines and signs of aging while the ‘Vital C Serum’ helps renew tired, dull looking skin. If my skin is acting out, I also love The Ordinary ‘Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%’ which helps reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. After my serums, I go in with a moisturizer. I recently learned that I have dehydrated, combination skin which was super interesting since I drown myself with water daily. Turns out, the moisturizer I was using wasn’t cutting it. I love to use an ultra-hydrating sleep mask such as Laneige or Clinique ‘72 Hour Moisture Surge’ or go in with a super hydrating moisturizer from Dermalogica or The Ordinary. I like to take my moisturizer all the way down my neck (don’t forget the sides), down my chest to my boobs. They deserve the moisture love too.

Hot tip: Use an ice roller after you apply your serum. Not only does it help your skin absorb the product better, but it’ll also help tighten up your face and feels like an absolute dream.

My last two steps are eye cream and lip mask. I’ve been using the ‘Neutrogena Accelerated Retinol Rapid Wrinkle Eye Repair’. It’s a great product but because of the retinol in it (which can cause dryness), I alternate nights with the ‘Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask’ to restore hydration. As for my lips, if I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one product, it would be the ‘Laneige Lip Sleeping mask’. I think I have three on the go right now in all different flavors because they are incredible. They apply nice, smell amazing and you can wear them all day and night. I wake up in the morning with plump, moisturized lips which is unheard of here in Alberta, Canada. If I am feeling extra fancy, I will finish off my routine with the Laneige Cream Skin Mist which is like this creamy, delicious, fine mist that keeps your skin hydrated all night long.

There you have it, my obnoxiously specific night-time skincare routine in a nutshell. Yes, it takes time, but it is important to me, so I make the time. I am also heavily influenced so the products I use change often, but the routine is always the same. And as for my daytime skincare routine, I won’t lie, it needs work. Basically, it consists of a squirt of the ‘Glow Recipe Ceramide Serum’, a lot of ‘SUPERGOOP Glowscreen’ sunscreen and I am out the door. In closing, if I can leave you with one piece of useful skincare advice: NEVER forget to wear sunscreen!

Xx

My Meticulous Evening Skincare RoutinE

Experiencing Cultural Differences - Canada VS Europe

Mindfulness/Habits To Stick To When You Aren’t Feeling Grounded