PHOTO DETAILS: Squalane Oil | Facial Spray | Hyaluronic Acid Serum | Vitamin C Serum
I asked on my Instagram stories what blog post would you all like to see next and my updated skincare routine won by far. In my last skincare routine blog post, I had been using the same products for about 2.5 years. I still love the products I mentioned in my old routine but noticed my skin’s needs changing now that I’m in my 30s.
I’m still a fan of clean skincare and have found that works really well for my skin. Around 27 my skin went through like a second puberty and switching to clean skincare products completely transformed my skin—and it’s now back to normal.
I still enjoy Beautycounter products and credit the brand for getting me into #cleanbeauty but have also discovered a new brand—BeautyPie. It’s a British skincare company that sources high-quality ingredients from around the world but sells direct-to-consumer.
Without the middle man and by signing up for the membership ($59 for the year) prices drop considerably. Like from $60 to $17.50 for serum. I highly recommend you check out the brand.
Before we get into my updated skincare routine, I think it’s important to note my skin type because what works for me may not work for you: early-30s, dehydrated, break-out prone due to hormonal imbalances.
My Updated Skincare Routine 2023
MORNING ROUTINE
I never start the day washing my face as you only need to wash your face once a day. More can be drying for the skin. Instead, I use micellar water to remove the impurities from the night before. I used the Bioderma micellar water for years, but have found the Garnier works just the same—even though it’s cheaper.
It’s a common misconception that toners are drying, which scares people off of them. This alcohol-free toner hydrates and conditions skin with a blend of plant and Algae Extracts and contains other goodies like Arnica Montana Extract, Grape Seed Extract, and Vitamin K. All of this also keeps your skin at its optimum pH level, preventing acne and flakiness.
I continue to repurchase this eye cream year after year as I have yet to find another one that moisturizes as well and quickly sinks into the skin. Maybe in a few years, I’ll try an anti-aging one, but if you want a general eye cream to moisturize then I highly recommend this one.
Vitamin C is one of my favorite skincare products in my entire routine. If you don’t currently have a vitamin c serum in your skincare routine then go buy one now. This stable vitamin c is formulated with “super actives” like Ferulic Acid and Tranexamic Acid. They create a powerhouse brightening serum that takes on action on dull, uneven, scarred, or UV-damaged skin.
I’ve recently gotten back into facial sprays as a great way to top off the skin with additional moisture. But I have also recently discovered that facials sprays sprayed right before putting on your hyaluronic acid serum make it much for potent. Try it!
This miracle serum is perfect for adding much-needed moisture back into the skin, especially as we age. With three weights of Hyaluronic Acid, plumping Polysaccharides, Pro-Ceramides, and gravity-fighting Super Peptides, this product really plumps up the skin for healthy-looking skin.
With dehydrated skin, we often think we needed the thickest moisturizer possible, but it’s actually water. It took a few weeks for me to be convinced that I didn’t need a thick cream, but now I get it. This lightweight, gel formula adds much-needed water back into my skin three types of hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
Squalane oil acts as a great skincare topper to really improve the moisture barrier of your skin. This a natural, lightweight plant-derived solution to support healthy hydration. Our bodies produce our own version of squalane that starts to decrease around 30.
EVENING ROUTINE
I only cleanse at night since you only need to wash your face once a day. The night is best to wash away the day. I’ve been using this cleanser since November 2020 and recently tried to switch it up, but realized no facial wash I’ve tried compares. This clean beauty cleanser provides a deep clean without dryness and contains jojoba exfoliating beads that don’t strip the skin of moisture. It also has this energizing citrus scent that leaves you feeling refreshed.
I also use the micellar water at night to make sure the impurities of the day are cleansed away for a truly clean slate.
In the morning I use a hydrating toner and in the evening I use a glycolic acid toner. When people hear acid it freaks them out, but our skin really needs AHA/BHA acids to gently exfoliate, regenerate skin cells, brighten the skin, and anti-aging. This glycolic toner has 7% glycolic acid, amino acids, aloe vera, ginseng, and Tasmanian pepperberry.
Eye cream twice a day is a must. I’ve always been using a spatula lately to dot on my eye cream and then the heat from my fingers to lightly blend.
I started adding retinol to my skincare routine in my late 20s and now will always have it. I’ve tried several retinol serums out there, but keep coming back to Paula’s Choice 1%. Retinol helps speed up cell production in your skin for anti-aging, brighter skin, and some have even said it helps with acne. I use this every night, but if you’re new to retinol try twice a week and work your way up.
I always go thicker on my night moisturizer to really lock in those moisturizing properties. This is a new night moisturizer to my routine, but I can say it definitely lives up to the hype in the skincare community. This clean beauty product is a rich cream that feeds the skin with plumping hydration and antioxidant-packed Japanese purple rice for a dewy glow. It feels so luxurious!
I’ve also used the Biossance 100% Sugarcane Squalane Oil for many years.
SKINCARE EXTRAS
These are more of my treatments and skincare items I don’t use on a daily basis like face masks and intensive exfoliating treatments.
Ok I know I should be using some sort of SPF daily, but I just haven’t found I like that doesn’t have that typical SPF, greasy feel. Instead, I use this SPF when I go for walks or sit outside for extended periods of time. Most SPFs seem to break me out, but this one is sensitive enough for babies so it’s good for me.
I can’t live without a clay mask in my skincare routine…ever! This clay mask is a deep-cleansing creamy formula—also made with AHAs—so it helps clear pores while it exfoliates. I find that this mask doesn’t overly dry my skin like other pore-cleansing masks I’ve tried in the past. Plus, it’s only $16!
As someone with dehydrated/dry skin, I have often used this mask as a nighttime moisturizer. This clean beauty mask acts as an overnight mask formulated with vitamin C, superberries, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, plump, and brighten skin. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve repurchased this mask.
This treatment is infamous for a reason. It’s a vegan formula that packs a punch—mimicking a salon treatment. This chemical exfoliating solution helps fight visible blemishes and improves the look of skin texture and radiance. Since it is quite strong, it’s recommended to use it no more than once every 2 weeks for 7-10 mins. Trust me, you won’t need it more than that.
SHOP MY SKINCARE ROUTINE
What are your must-have skincare products? What is your favorite product in your skincare routine? Let me know in the comment section below!
