Hi guys! So a few people have asked me to share my skincare routine or have asked for some advice recently, so that’s what I’m going to do! Recently, I’ve really done a lot of research and buckled down onto a regimented skin care routine because I wanted to see results. My skin type is combination meaning parts of my skin are dry and other parts are oily, usually the sections remain the same. So based off that and also more individualized concerns, I did research on what products and things to try. Disclaimer: I am no skin care pro nor a dermatologist but I discovered products and a routine that worked really well for me and my skin type; however, I think reviewing these products and talking about them with you all could help you guys discover something to help you!

Okay, before I dive into my routine let me explain what most skincare routines should consist of from start to finish. First things first is to cleanse your skin with a cleanser. If you’re wearing makeup remove that first and I recommend washing your face twice after removing makeup. I’ll explain how I like to remove makeup in a bit. After cleansing, you want to use a toner which will help close your pores and tighten cell gaps after, reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. Some toners can also address other concerns. Next, one of the most important steps is to have a serum. Serums are designed to be more highly concentrated with ingredients that target more concerns strongly. Serums will help you fill up on nutrients. Because they aren’t super thick, they can penetrate your skin more easily and do a great job at whatever they are supposed to like skin-brightening or hydrating. If you want to use an eye cream, after serum is the time. Next, do spot treatments. Allow the spot treatment to dry before moving on to moisturizer to lock in the moisture and seal in the products you’ve applied. After, you’ll want to put on a face oil for extra hydration. That is the basic structure to a skincare routine! You can add other products at times based on needs like night time masks.

AIGHT, let’s dive into the products I’ve been using and how I like them. Here is a list for anyone who just wants it quick and dirty hehe.

1. Remove makeup with: Micellar Cleansing Water and Neutrogena Makeup Wipes
2. Purity Made Simple: One Step Cleanser
3. Twice a week: The Ordinary: AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
4. Caudalie: Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner
5. Vinopure Skin Perfecting Serum
6. The Inkey List: Caffeine Eye Cream
7. Once and awhile, Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment
8. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer
9. The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
10. Facial Massage with Rose Quartz Gemstone Facial Roller
11. Twice a week, Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
12. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

OKAY yes it seems like a lot at first glance, but everything has its purpose and I love all these products very much. Let’s jump into some mini-reviews of each product as I go through the routine! So, firstly I do wear makeup pretty often (when quarantine wasn’t a thing lol) and it absolutely has to go at the end of day to keep my skin clean. I start by putting some Micellar Cleansing Water on a cotton pad and removing my eye makeup and going in with the makeup wipes all over my face. The Micellar Cleansing Water is super good at removing intense eye looks. I’m also on a dance team and I use it to get rid of heavy stage makeup. Next, I’ll wash my face with the Purity Cleanser and it is so light and effective. All it does is cleanse your skin but I feel so fresh after. It does not target any other problems, so depending on your skin this could be perfect or you may need something stronger. If I wore makeup that day, I usually have to go in again with the Micellar Water because some stubborn eyeliner has shown itself and then I will wash my face a second time. This cleanser is so gentle that you can wash your face twice!

Now, my absolute FAVORITE product and part of my skincare routine, is The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution aka the best chemical exfoliant ever. This is very intense stuff and should only be used twice a week but I swear it is a miracle worker. If you take nothing else away from this blog post, you have to HAVE to buy this product. Best part is, its only $7.20! What it is, it is an exfoliant that helps get rid of blemishes and visibly leaves the skin looking smoother and clearer. It honestly just feels like it melts off all the bad stuff and leaves the good. NOW DISCLAIMER this is not for sensitive skin at all and before you use it, please do a patch test! It does burn for a little bit when you first apply it but afterwards it REALLY works. After just 3 uses, I saw a huge difference. Even my dad, a typical brown man who never really notices much, commented how my skin was looking amazing, GLOWING. THAT IS WHEN I KNEW. You put it on and wash it off after NO MORE than 10 minutes. Please don’t burn your skin off or something (I don’t know if that is possible but just don’t leave it on longer than 10 minutes). Wash it off with some Luke warm water! I enjoy putting it on though, it looks like blood which is amusing but when I put it on, I feel like my skin is being reborn.

Now to tighten up your skin and close your pores after washing and the twice a week exfoliant, I go in with the Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner. This toner is super light and goes on very nicely. I put a little bit on a cotton pad and rub it all over my face. This combined with the Caudalie Skin Perfecting Serum has made my pores DISAPPEAR. When I put makeup on, it is so smooth now. If you do need a toner that targets other concerns instead, you can opt out the toner because I saw a huge difference when I was just using this serum. The serum is not heavy at all and has helped brightened my skin as well. This serum is a little pricey though but serums are the most important part of skincare routines. They have the vitamins and ingredients you really need to get deep into your skin to fix things. I love the way this serum leave my skin looking. Additionally, I have found my favorite dark circle corrector from the Inkey List, the Caffeine Eye Cream! As a brown girl, having dark circles was kind of a given and it has been so hard to find a cream to help long term. If you need a dark circle cream, TRY THIS. and it is inexpensive, we love that.

If I’ve had some unforeseen blemishes pop up, I use the Murad spot treatment to zap them away. After using it for 3-4 nights, the pimple is usually gone. I apply it and let it dry before sealing everything in with my favorite moisturizer, the Ultra Facial Moisturizer from Kiehl’s. Any time random dry patches come up on my skin, this moisturizer gets rid of them in seconds. My skin has felt so moisturized for so long now. The last and final step is to seal it all in. I use the Ordinary Rosehip Oil. The smell isn’t my favorite and when I first put it on, I’ll admit I cringe a little, but once I rub it in, I feel all buttery. To really seal the products and massage in those ingredients, I use a rose quartz facial roller. Now, this isn’t a necessity as you can just use your hands to massage your face, but it is a really nice tool to have that I have become very fond of. I roll in an upward direction to keep my skin young looking and not sag, and it feels amazing. You leave it in the refrigerator so it’s cold when you use it and it feels great. Facial rollers help promote your skin to push out toxins. It helps to chisel your face also. If you want, it is a nice tool to have and makes your skin feel great and I’ve been looking good so I love it! That massage helps boost your mood and will help your other products work better. I wake up every morning feeling like a newborn baby. I finish up with the Laniege Lip Sleeping Mask on my lips for baby soft lips. This mask has gotten rid of any dryness on my lips.

An added treat for my skin is the Water Sleeping Mask from Laneige which hydrates my skin so well. I put it on twice a week, but not the same days I use the exfoliant, i.e. I use the exfoliant on Tuesdays and Fridays and the mask on Wednesdays and Saturdays (for now, after quarantine I might change that lol). Overnight masks have a lot of great benefits because when you are asleep, your skin heals.

So that’s my skincare routine! I have seen a real difference in my skin after sticking to this regiment. It took time to find what worked for me and what would help as I struggled with acne for awhile but now my skin is doing really well! Taking care of it will pay off. You should of course, also be trying to drink more water and have a healthier diet which can affect your skin also. I do use other face masks and oils sometimes but this is the majority of everything! If you guys try any of these products, please let me know what you think! I would love to know if my recommendations helped you out in any way. Please share this with your fellow skin care lovers and newbies alike! Research is how you find your routine and that is what I did. I’m still learning new things about how to take care of my skin everyday and I love it! I go to sleep with shiny oily looking skin (lol) but I wake up looking smooth and cool. I hope this post helps, subscribe below for more if you haven’t already! Much love to you all for the support.

-TRR