I’ve been meaning to update my day and night skincare routine for a while (my last was in 2014!) Goodness, I hadn’t realised that it was so long ago! I’d been trying to write a post about my skincare routine for a while, but what with one thing and another, never got around to writing it.
I also get a lot of requests to share the products I’m using in my routine. The thing is, a lot of my basic routine remains pretty constant. The products change from time to time, depending on my skin needs, how I feel etc.
So, instead of just sharing my skincare routine once a year, which will change, I’ve decided to keep to an evolving skincare routine post. I’ll endeavour to share my routine every 2-3 months. It’ll give you an idea of what I’m using, how they work for me, how I use a product or fit it into my routine, and it’ll give me a point of reference as well. Also, it’ll allow me to highlight certain products that I may not dedicate a full post to. Win, all around methinks!
For starters, here’s my skincare routine that I’ve been doing for the past month or so. I had a much more complicated routine before this. But about a month ago, I noticed that the skin on both my cheeks were taking on a very bumpy feel. It wasn’t visible, but the texture of skin had changed, and any glow I had was gone. Naturally so, for the skin was uneven, even if unnoticable to someone else. I was very upset.
So, one day, I sat down, and stripped back all my skincare. Then, I built back a routine that was very simple and basic. Whether it was the products I used, or the routine I was on, my skin is now back to normal. Hurrah! 😀
I cannot say that this will work for you, if your skin is feeling sensitive. There are one or two products in there that I can, hand-on-heart, say that they helped. But in the main, you’d have to work with your skin and within your budget 🙂 Consider this then, a guide. Where the products have been reviewed, links will be given to the review so you can read my thoughts in full detail, find out prices and where to buy etc.
Day time Skincare Routine
While my skin was feeling bumpy and sensitive, it was also parched. Don’t ask me why, nothing had changed in my routine or products. So maybe it was internal, or the weather. I went back to boosting hydration.
Cleanser – REN Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk
I’d had a lot of success with the REN Evercalm Soothing Mask, so I went and bought the Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk. The texture is a thick cream (not milk) but my dry skin loved it! It was so soothing and a pleasure to smooth and massage over the skin in the mornings. It also rinses off fairly easily, and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth without drying it out. Just use half a pump, and it’ll last you quite a while. One of my best buys yet!
Face Mist – Caudalie Grape Water Spray
I follow up my cleanser with a spritz of the Caudalie Grape Water Spray. it is soothing and calming and adds a little moisture to the skin. My skin was feeling sensitive so I’d cut out all acids. This then, acted as my “toner” step.
Hydrating Serum – Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate or La Mer The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum
I alternate between the new Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate or more often, the La Mer The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum. The Clinique one serves me well and layers well under moisturiser. However, I felt that the La Mer one gave my skin that additional boost it needed to recover, and I liked the creamier texture. I use them both interchangeably, but I do lean a little more positively towards the La Mer.
Moisturiser – Melvita Apiscoma Soothing Face Cream
If there is one product I credit for saving my skin, it would be this Melvita Apiscoma cream. Within 3 days of using it, my skin was almost back to normal. The bumps had gone away, and it was on the mend. Not only that, it delivered enough moisture to the skin to keep it hydrated all day and all night (!) and was a soothing treat. I have decided that I am never going to be without this cream in my stash and the next time my skin decides to go a little bonkers, I’m going straight to Melvita for another tube. It’s a skin saver, and if you have sensitive skin, you must try this one. The absolute bees knees!
Sunscreen – Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF50 PA++++ Hydrofresh
Rounding off with my sunscreen, which is the new formula Shiseido Perfect UV Protector Hydrofresh version that has a creamier texture. It did not irritate my skin so I kept it in rotation. Regulars will not be surprised to see this one LOL!
Night Time Skincare Routine
For the night, I too pared things down to the basics. So basic in fact as to be embarrassed at the number of serums, potions and lotions I’ve stocked up 😛
First Cleanse – Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
I don’t wear a lot of makeup these days (when I do, I go over with a micellar water or makeup remover first) so for very light makeup, the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel works well enough to remove makeup and act as my first cleanse. It also did not irritate my skin, which is why I kept it in my routine.
Second Cleanse – Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
I was using a different cleanser, but switched to something I knew my skin liked and that was the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. A friend had given me hers, and I decided I’d better use it up. You’d likely see a lot of it – I have a lot to go through LOL!
Toner /Facial Mist – Caudalie Grape Water Mist
As in the morning, I eschewed my acid toners, and went for the Caudalie Grape Water mist to hydrate the skin and to act as a toner. I am generous with its use, because what comes next requires damp skin.
Facial Oil – Pai Bioregenerate Rosehip Oil or May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon
To soothe, heal and hydrate my skin, I’d go with a layer of either one of these two oils, both of which are favourites. I apply them as a “mask”, which means they’re the last thing I put on my skin and I don’t follow up with a moisturiser. The May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon is more of a blam than an oil, but in our hot weather where I live, it remains fairly liquid. This one calms, moisturises and heals my skin all at once, and smells wonderful.
On alternate days, I use 4-5 drops of Pai Bioregenerate Rosehip Oil, which is a recent repurchase. My old bottle was used up to the very last drop which is quite a feat! While my old bottle was quite old, it didn’t go bad, which came as a surprise to me. For treating my skin and helping it heal, I prefer the Pai Bioregenerate Rosehip Oil to the May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon. I feel that the Pai Skincare one gives my skin an additional boost in healing and brightening, which I don’t see as much in Blue Cocoon.
So that’s my skincare routine as at August 2017. Now that everything is back to normal, I will be going back to using my acid toners and active skincare, and putting back more complicated stuff into my routine. What fun! LOL! 😀
I’ll update in 2-3 months what I’m using then, and hopefully, will be able to tell you if that’s helping my skin or if it’s a straight dud 🙂
Do you have any queries about the products I use or my routine? How about sharing yours!
I love seeing what other people are using on a day to day basis, so I hope you found this interesting, if not helpful 🙂 Do note that while these worked for me, we are individual enough that it may not work for you! 😉 Feel free to ask any questions and please share your routine with me! It’ll be interesting to see how it evolves from time to time 🙂
Paris B
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I recently overexfoliated my skin with the Timeless vit C serum (2 drops too many) and my skin had the same cellophane look and rough patches you described.
I relied on lotion masks to hydrate and Avene recovery cream to smooth out the rough patches.
I’ve learned to detect the signs of over-exfoliation or just overuse of actives. Usually, it’s when my skin takes on that dull papery texture, that you aptly describe as cellophane! Glad you’ve gotten your skin back to normal – you have amazing skin! 😉 (and I’m curious about Avene’s cream – I’ve never tried their products yet)
I find it interesting to look at the skincare routines of others 🙂
My daytime routine:
1. Pat with wet towel
2. Hydrating lotion (I am using the Minon Lotion 2 now)
3. Laneige White Dew Original essence
4. Laneige White Dew cream
6. Eye cream (I don’t stick to a brand for this)
5. Laneige SPF50 sunblock
My nighttime routine:
1. Remove makeup with Simple Michellar Water (I only use a bb cushion)
2. Laneige White Dew Skin Refiner (as a toner)
3. Laneige White Dew Emulsion
4. Anti-ageing essence (I don’t stick to a brand for this)
5. Olay Micro-sculpting Cream/ Laneige Time Freeze cream
6. Eye cream (I don’t stick to a brand for this)
Thanks for sharing your routine Tracy! I’d love to see how it evolves from time to time (if it does) so please do share the next time around 😀 And you’re quite a fan of Laneige eh? haha Not a bad thing – just an observation 😀 What’s the antiaging essence you’re using right now?
Haha yes it has evolved quite a bit and I am always trying to find ways to streamline my skincare routine 🙂 Aha, yes I am a huge Laneige fan, especially the whitening line, reasonably priced and works well for me. I am still on the hunt for a good eye cream (sadly I have dry skin and laugh lines around my eyes!) and anti-ageing serum though – am using Laneige Perfect Renew Serum (a bit light for me)/ Olay Micro-sculpting Serum (too silicony). I like the Elizabeth Arden capsules, but they are rather heavy for summer weather now.
I personally find the Laneige Perfect Renew a little light too. I have been using the Missha Time Revolution Serum and that is quite nice. I don’t always recommend or use Korean Products but I noticed you use Korean skincare so this might be something you can look into 🙂
Hello Paris B, wow, thanks for the recommendation!”) Somehow Missha is always under the (or my) radar – shall go check it out! Haha I used to be a loyal Japanese skincare user but Korean products have won me over in recent years with their higher hydrating properties (and yet not as heavy as say Western ones).
Yes I do find that Japanese skincare tends to lag behind a bit in terms of hydration. Not sure why. I can’t really do Korean skincare but the Time Revolution thing is not bad. Here’s my post on it if you missed it! 😀
I’m using almost the same products in morning & night routine so I can use it up faster ? & try another skincare..
AM
1. Hadalabo AHA BHA face wash or Senka gel cleanser
2. Secret Key starting treatment essense
3. Hadalabo gokujyun premium HA lotion
4. Missha time revolution ampoule
5. Mamonde rose water gel
6. Olay revitalizing eye serum
7. Skin Aqua UV moisturizing gel spf50+/++++
PM
1. Heimish all clean balm
2. Hadalabo AHA BHA face wash or Garnier micellar water (sensitive)
3. Pixi glow tonic (1-2 times a week)
4. Secret Key starting treatment essense
5. Hadalabo gokujyun premium HA lotion
6. Missha time revolution ampoule
7. Sulwhasoo overnight vitalizing mask
8. Olay revitalizing eye serum
(Actually I’ve just finish Kielhs’ Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate before replacing it with Missha ampoule.
Not repurchasing PSLRC as it tends to pilling under my moisturizer/sunblock, although I like that it contains vitamin C & it does smoothen my laughing line..)
P.S.: Was using glow tonic daily & at one point my cheeks started to feel itchy.
Good thing is I only introduce 1 product at one time so I know this one is the “culprit”.
Incidentally a friend noticed this too. Regular used of Glow Tonic left her skin feeling weird. So she cut back too like you and it was OK thereafter.
I love the way you think Sandra! I should stick to the same things day and night and use them up more quickly haha 😀 But thanks for sharing your current routine! It’ll be interesting how it changes or evolves the next time – so do share it next time too! Interesting that you mentioned the Missha ampoule. I’ve put the Missha Time Revolution Night repair serum in my routine – bought it coz people said it’s an ANR dupe, so I wanted to see if it was 😀 I’m guessing you’re liking it? Incidentally, I do like the Kiehl’s PSLR concentrate. I think it’s really nice and effective and I didn’t experience any pilling. Sorry to hear it didn’t work for you. Must be all the silicones in there!
I love a simple skin care routine. Introducing retinoids and acids into my routine has helped me immensely. Love the post. Thanks!
Indeed, sometimes a simple routine is best! 😀 Which are your favourite retinoids and acids you’re currently using?
Thanks for sharing your AM & PM routine. Its always so fascinating :-). I am intrigue by the REN cleanser & Melvita moisturiser. Will definitely check it out.
My AM & PM routines are fairly simple involving acid toning. AM-Sukin cream cleanser-Pixi Glow Acid toner-Caudalie Grape Water Mist-Clarins Toner-Hada Labo Premium lotion-Laneige eye cream-Belif True moisturising bomb moisturiser-Shiseido sunblock
PM-Same cleanser, Caudalie mist, Pixi Glow acid toner, Clarins toner, Hada Labo lotion & Laneige eye cream. I will add on Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair serum & Antipodes moisturiser. Twice a week if I do not acid tone, I will use Alpha-H Liquid Gold. Once a week I use an overnight facial mask from Origins.
Sometime if i felt acid tone had made my skin a bit dry, i will just maintain your modified 3-step method of toner but minus the Pixi Glow acid toner.
I guess only we know our own skin well enough to add or reduce/replace products which will work for our skin. Still deciding on adding back Vitamin C to my skin 🙂
Sounds like you have a good, solid routine! And you’re absolutely right. We must first of all, know our skin and be familiar and comfortable with it. Once we are, we’ll know what works and what doesn’t and how we can counteract problems we face. That’s half the fun of playing with skincare! I think you’d like the REN cleanser. It’s rather like the Sukin but more gentle I feel 🙂
My routine is very simple. I use Senka Foaming Cleanser, Missha First Essense, Missha time revolution ampoule and SKII Stempower cream for night time. During daytime, I skip the SKII cream for Biore sunscreen. I have been struggling to finish the sample sachets like Melvita rosewater and argan oil, Shiseido whitening range, Clarins and Loccitane before they expire.
Thanks for sharing, Margarent 🙂 I’m actually using that Missha Time Revolution thing and it’s pretty decent! One of the better Korean skincare products I’ve tried that lives up to its hype. Do you not use any moisturiser in the day time?
I use Astalift Lunamer Emulsion II for dry skin. A little goes a long way as it can be very rich.
Ah ok. I’d never tried anything by Astalift except a tiny sample of their famous gel thing. It was OK. Nothing too lifechanging so I never bothered about it after that LOL!
Rosehip oil has always been my go to for any skin crisis. I use it for the whole family and always keep a backup bottle. I’ve yet to try the Pai one. Will add it to the wishlist for sure.
I haven’t had a lot of luck with straight rosehip oil (clogs my pores for some reason) but Pai works so well for me, I can’t live without it. Seriously! I do a mask with it every other night (when I get lazy) and it leaves my skin so incredibly soft
Here’s my current routine:
AM:
1. Simple moisturising facial wash
2. Rohto melano cc vitamin c toner
3. Clarins lotus oil
4. Biore aqua rich SPF 50 sunscreen
PM:
1. Bioderma micellaire water
2. Simple moisturising facial wash
3 . 0.025% tretionin cream all over (including around the eye area)
4. SANA nameraka eye cream (use it on my lips too)
Thanks for sharing your routine BFG 🙂 I’ve heard about the Rohto Melano CC toner and am curious about that so I’ll have to look it up! And you use Lotus Oil in the day! I found it quite greasy. How do you make it work?
I like the stripped down version of your skincare routine. I think the sukin rosehip oil is pretty decent and quite a good dupe for the antipodes one. Very affordable pricing. I usually mix with another more pleasant smelling oil to mask the rosehip scent. Haven’t tried pai tho. Have u tried sukin? There are a few staples i usually stick to in my skincare, an acid toner, hyaluronic acid and facial oil being essential..others i find hard to justify putting more stuff on my limited counter space :/
You know, since I stripped it down, I haven’t felt the need to go back to a complicated routine! I switch up a few products here and there, but have kept it pretty basic (for me) and that’s great 😀 I haven’t tried Sukin’s rosehip oil, but I have tried a couple of their other products. I don’t think I was aware that they had a rosehip oil! LOL! When it comes to a skincare routine, just go with whatever you are comfortable with, that works for your skin. And you have beautiful skin! 😀 So you must be doing something right 😉
I recently developed severe sensitivity to everything in my current skincare routine for no discernible reason 🙁
Stripping down to Bonanza gel masks and Simple cleanser and toner seems to be calming my red and prickly skin down a tiny bit.
I remember Vichy’s normaderm and thermale line working wonderfully for my last skin tantrum but I can’t seem to find it anymore. Thinking of giving Melvita a try after reading your post!
Ugh! I’m so sorry to hear that! It sucks when our skin just goes crazy for no reason right? But I’m glad you’re getting it calmed down. I find the Caudalie Grape Water spray very good for calming irrited, red skin and seriously, try the Melvita cream. It doesn’t do much except calm skin and hydrate, but something that’s all our skin really needs! I hope your skin gets better soon!
Hi, I’ve been your regular reader for years but never comment before ?. I have dry sensitive skin too, and in the same time I’m an avid diver/swimmer. I’d prostrate gratefully if I only tan myself after a trip, because I’ve had second degree burn already just by being sunburnt. And yes that shiseido blue sunscreen thing is really helpful and protective, no more second degree burn after using that.
Anyway, just want to share my absolute skin saver during those sensitive, burnt, painful, reddish skin time.. I’ve tried truckload of products (Kiehls ultra facial cream, kiehls hydro something the salesgirl suggested to use together with the ultra facial cream to boost the moisturizing and calming effect, avene series, clinique series, hada labo series, face shop series, za series, shiseido, eucerin and kose) some worked, some didnt, but I swear by this
– Eucerin Ultrasensitive Soothing Care
This cream is no joke, its calming effect is almost immediate, like putting silver silvadene over burnt skin, and its moisturizing and calming effect is prolonged until the next wash. There was no disgusting flaky skin in between. My skin calmed after just 2 weeks of twice daily use. Within 1-2 month, the redness disapppear almost completely. I change my skincare a lot according to my need, but this cream is a regular must have for 2 years now. It might be too rich for normal skin, but during those flare, this works magic. I still apply it thinly daily as moisturizer in the morning during my normal skin day.
Recently I tried a sample from Kose, the herbal gel, I am quite impressed (almost as impressed as I was with this Eucerin Ultrasensitive Soothing cream) with it too, will probably try it later.
My current routine (my skin is at its best now so I use less products)
1. Shiseido White Lucent Facial Wash
2. Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate
3. Naruko La Creme facial renewal essence (previously I use Shiseido white Lucent Luminizing Infuser followed by Shiseido Ultimune, but it was too pricey to maintain and I didn’t see impressive result)
4. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner
5. Eucerin Ultrasensitive Soothing cream
6. Shiseido White Lucent All Day Brightener Spf50
At night, it’s 1-4, followed by Shiseido Luminizing Surge.
Anyway, do u have any suggestion for eye cream? I think my current eye cream is good, but it is pricey and I always read reviews saying there are cheaper eye creams that can do the same thing or even better.
Hi Akmal, thank you for sharing your routine and your must-have for soothing skin! It is heartening that it is a product that is easily available and I’m sure, not too expensive as well 🙂 I haven’t been diligent about eye cream except very recently, and if budget permits, I like the Shiseido Future Solution LX eye cream. However, as you are looking for a more affordable alternative, that isn’t it! LOL I’m also trying one from Caudalie VineExpert, that is quite decent. But I don’t have many other recommendations, sorry!
I’m so glad to have found your blog Paris B, it’s so informative and interactive.
Day routine
1) Faceshop acerola cleansing foam
2) Mamonde rose water toner
3) Shiseido ibuki softening concentrate
4) Skinfood Royal honey eye cream
5) Shiseido waso color-smart day moisturiser
Night routine
1) Shu uemura ultime8 oil cleanser
2) Faceshop the therapy foaming
cleanser
3) Etude house wonderpore toner
4) Shiseido ibuki softening concentrate
5) Innisfree green tea moisture essence
6) Skinfood royal honey eye cream
7) Shiseido ibuki refining moisturiser
My left cheek has been bumpy after a trip to China last September ? Your post has inspired me to consider trying replacing night steps 5&7 with a rosehip oil.