Okay, I’m about to look like a crazy, and honestly, you don’t need this much shit in your life, probably. I started getting into skin care when I started getting into makeup. My skin wasn’t doing worse necessarily, but I was made more acutely aware of what my skin type was and what it needed. I’ve mainly had pretty good skin for most of my life. I had like a disgusting rash on my cheek in grade 5, but other than that, no acne or very much breakouts except for hormonal ones like when I get my period.

My skin got a little more high maintenance as I grew older, though. I honestly used to just let the water run down my face in the shower (lol), didn’t even use soap or any kind of moisturizer. But I think that wearing makeup and probably the stress of like adult life or whatever took a toll. I can’t really say for sure. All I know is that I want to take care of my skin, and here’s what I’ve been doing so far. I think it’s been working pretty okay?

DAILY

Cleanse

To be honest, I’m not really fussy with cleansers and can mostly use whatever’s on hand. I do have favorites (Sibu Seabuckthorn Cleanser, One Love Organics Easy Does It, to name a few) but if they’re not readily available or on hand, I will use whatever’s there. Currently, I use the Human Nature Nourishing Facial Wash in the morning and Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser* at night. If my face is breaking out in too many spots, I filch a bit of my sister’s derma-prescribed anti-acne gel cleanser, but I can’t use it too much because it’s quite drying.

Tone

I currently use the Antipodes Ananda Antioxidant-Rich Gentle Toner* and sometimes Glossier Soothing Skin Mist (more for prepping than toning). I like both a lot, though my favorites are usually toners with tea tree extract in it such as LUSH Tea Tree Toner and The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner.

Moisturize

This is where I like to play, to be honest. I have a ton of moisturizers, though my favorites to use are facial oils. Currently, I use a rotation of Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream* and Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil for the day. At night, I will use any of the oils I just mentioned oils.

If I feel in need of extra moisture, One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-tasking Wonder Balm, which is a coconut oil-based moisturizer that feels (and smells!) amazing. I leave it on at night for parched skin. For any weirdly/extra dry patches or spots, which I get around my mouth area, I’ll dab a bit of Glossier Balm Dotcom on it.

Eye Cream

I currently use One Love Organics x Elizabeth Dehn Vitamin E Eye Balm, though I’ve purchased the Indie Lee Calendula Eye Balm recently, and have been rotating both. I apply only around my orbital bone and it really helps with the fine lines, especially since I have dry skin.

Makeup Remover

I’m not too fussy about this, as long as it removes makeup. I don’t like creams or oils that you have to wipe off, but other than that, I’m pretty un-fussy. I also like using a bi-phase remover like this one by Laneige.

Sunscreen

Also not too fussy about this, as long as it doesn’t make me look shiny midday. These are two of the ones I like using: Sunkiller Perfect Water Essence* (yes, that is truly what it’s called) and Bioré Aqua Rich Whitening Essence*, the latter of which I keep in my to-go bag.

TWICE, WEEKLY

Exfoliate

I use the One Love Organics Brand New Day Microderma Scrub + Masque which uses pineapple enzymes to exfoliate dead skin instead of microbeads or ground-up apricot shells. It’s pretty amazing. Whenever I remember (which is not very often), I also try to use a Clarisonic with whatever cleanser I have on-hand.

Masks

I primarily use the Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque, which is amazing and very refreshing to use. I sometimes (not often) use the Glory Boon Facial in a Jar (French Pink Clay), but it tends to be a messy affair, so I rarely do it.

I forgot to take a photo, but when I feel the need to do a moisture mask, I use the Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack* or sheet masks. My favorites are by Dermal and Beauty Buffet.

AS NEEDED

Blemishes

For blemishes, I used to use a derma-prescribed cream (again for my sister), tea tree oil from The Body Shop, MyChoice Anti Acne Whitening Facial Cream* but none of them really worked that well for especially big blemishes. I ordered the Indie Lee Blemish Lotion recently though, and honestly, I haven’t had anything that’s worked as well as that one.

When I’m out and can’t sport a face of drying acne mixture, I use some acne patches, too. I got a bunch from a BNT News quite a while back, which are my favorite— Leaders AC-Free Spot Patch—but the Nexcare ones you can buy from Mercury Drug are good, too. The film’s just thicker and so more obvious than my discreet ones from Leaders. I wish I could grab a pack or five here, alas. Only in Korea. Or eBay.

Boosters

A category for serums and such. I know serums are kind of a weird, somewhat strange category, but I really like the ones I have. My favorites are the Antipodes Worship Superfruit Antioxidant Serum* which I apply before my moisturizers if my skin is feeling particularly bad, One Love Organics Morning Glory Brightening Serum, and the Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum.

Etc.

I used to use retinol a lot more often than I do now. It might have been too harsh on my skin (so I’ve stopped), but when it wasn’t fucking my face up, it gave me really good results. I kind of really want to go back on retinol, but I think I might switch it up and every other other day (two days in between applications) as opposed to every other day. Anyway, I use the La Roche Posay Redermic R and the La Roche Posay Redermic R for Eyes.

And that’s it for my excessive skin care routine. Honestly, when I feel too lazy, I’m just “Remove Makeup-Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize,” but usually when I’m in the middle of it, I end up doing the whole shebang because I feel like I’ve already started it—might as well follow through!

* Items marked with an asterisk are PR Samples.

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