Skin is the largest organ in the body and when we have skin issues, it can make or break our mood. For me, the key to having clear, healthy skin is keeping my routine very simple. This routine is something that I have worked on for years, and required a lot of trial and error to get right for me. For a little background about my personal skin situation — I have dry, fairly sensitive skin and I tend to get oily in my T-Zone (especially when I am wearing makeup). I am also prone to redness in my skin, but that has significantly improved recently since cutting out dairy (this is something I will go over more in another blog post). So here is my daily skincare routine:

MORNING

STEP 1 –

In the morning when I wake up I simply splash my face with warm water. I DO NOT use face wash. I know this sounds crazy, but my skin is always clearer when I wash my face only once a day (for me, that is usually after work). I’m not going to pretend to know the reasoning for it, but I think that if you have a lot of skin problems, it’s best to create a simpler skincare routine. Less is more!

STEP 2 –

My next step is to use a hyaluronic acid serum. This has done wonders for my skin! The reason hyaluronic acid serum works so well to hydrate the skin is because it penetrates the layers of skin below the surface, whereas using a cream or lotion will just hydrate the skin’s top layer. There are many hyaluronic acid serums on the market, but the one I am currently using is THE ORDINARY Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum. I was originally using a $75.00 serum I purchased at my local dermatologist’s office, but this serum works just as good! The trick to any hyaluronic acid product is that you only need a tiny drop (about a dime size), anymore and it will become too sticky on the face. This goes for all hyaluronic serums, even the more expensive ones.

STEP 3 –

When my skin is feeling extra dry I will also put on a tiny bit of face cream to add some additional moisture to my skin. Right now I am using the IT COSMETICS Confidence in a Cream™ Transforming Moisturizing Super Cream and I really like it! It smells nice without being overwhelming, and it is not super heavy like a lot of face creams. This step is optional and I only use it when I feel that my skin really needs the extra moisture.

NIGHT

STEP 1 –

When I get home after a long day at work I start by taking off my makeup, IMMEDIATELY! If I don’t take my makeup off right away I notice that my skin just does not look as good the next day. I am currently using Garnier Micellar Water to remove my makeup. I know this is a controversial product, but I personally feel like it does a great job, and I have tried a lot of different products!

STEP 2 –

After taking off as much makeup as I can with micellar water, then I wash my face with facewash. I never use a micellar water just on its own. Right now I am using The Perfect Cleanser with plant stem cells, azelaic acid, and antioxidants from my local dermatologist. This product is very good for my sensitive skin and does not dry me out. In the past I have used Cetaphil face wash for sensitive skin and that also works well.

STEP 3 –

Next I go in again with my hyaluronic acid serum and then sometimes use a tiny bit of face lotion (again, only if my skin is feeling a bit dry).

STEP 4 –

This last step has been critical to my skin looking great lately. It’s the Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant. I used to sometimes develop patches of rough texture on random places on my face, especially between my eyebrows. This product has all but completely cleared up this issue for me. I have to thank my bestie Sarah for turning me on to this because it is something that I will now always keep in my skincare routine!

And that is all folks…I keep it really simple with only a few products and my skin has looked better than ever since I developed this routine. If you have any must try products in your skin care routine, comment down below!