Do you have a basic skincare routine?
For the longest time, I didn’t. Like, I didn’t even wash my face before going to bed. (Yikes!)
Can you relate?
Well, hopefully not, LOL!
But on the off chance, you are like me and have been a bit lazy about taking care of your skin in the past, then you will want to learn more about my basic skincare routine.
Why is it so basic?
Because it’s the only way I know I’ll stick to it. Plus, I think that beauty companies are often trying to convince us we need a million products to take care of our skin when that’s not the truth. A few simple but effective products are all we need to keep our skin clean, hydrated, and protected.
That’s why I’ve created a basic routine, because at least if I’m doing the bare minimum, I know I’m doing more good than bad.
So if you’re interested to learn more about my very basic skincare routine, plus the affordable beauty products that I swear by and use on repeat, keep reading.
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A Little History About My Skin
Traveling in Dubrovnik once I started getting better. You can still see the redness of my skin.
I think part of the reason I’ve been so lazy about my skincare is that in the past, I was very lucky. Growing up, I had really good skin. Was it the genetic lottery? Maybe. Or perhaps it’s because I’ve always been super vigilant about drinking a ton of water and eating my fruits and veggies, which I like to think has kept my skin clear and hydrated. (After all, we are what we eat, and what we put in our mouths every day impacts our health and overall wellness.)
Related: How to eat a mostly plant-based diet without giving up meat
Whatever the reason, I never really developed a skincare routine because I didn’t have any skin issues. Unlike a lot of teenagers, I wasn’t plagued with acne beyond the occasional pimple, and I never had super oily or dry skin. At the time, I also didn’t have any discoloration or scars either.
But when I turned 30, my luck ran out. I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, a very rare autoimmune disease where my immune system attacked my skin.
Related: Read more about my journey with this disease in this post
Within a matter of months, I had a debilitating rash all over my body, including my face, and I lost most of my hair. It was horrible. Even worse, it was a disease with symptoms that everyone could see.
It took many years and many different medications and protocols before the doctors and I figured out the best course of treatment. Thankfully, it’s now been over 10 years since I’ve had any symptoms, and I’m officially in remission. But that harrowing health experience completely changed my overall outlook about my health and wellness.
Once I felt better, one of my top priorities was taking care of my skin, which meant I was finally ready to embrace a skincare routine! However, I knew it needed to be simple or I wouldn’t stick to it. So below I’m sharing my basic skincare routine and the products I use on repeat.
My Basic Skincare Routine
Morning Skincare Routine
I usually workout in the morning, so I do my basic skincare routine after I exercise and shower. The basic breakdown is this: cleanser, toner, face massager, serum, an anti-aging face and neck cream, a second cream with SPF 40, and then eye cream.
I don’t wear a lot of makeup and never wear foundation or powder, so I will sometimes double up on the SPF creams I use to protect my skin. (One thing I’ve learned about protecting my skin is to wear SPF year-round, even in the wintertime.)
And that’s it for my morning routine! See below for a breakdown of my favorite products.
Evening Skincare Routine
Ok, my evening skincare routine is super basic, otherwise I won’t stick to it. And full disclosure? There are still days here and there when I skip this (sigh) but not if I’m wearing make-up.
My evening routine consists of this: cleanser, serum (sometimes), face lotion or a hydrating face mask, eye cream, and occasionally oil.
One thing I want to note here is that at my age, it is recommended to use retinol products. I tried Oil of Olay’s retinol face serum and eye cream, but I wasn’t sold, so I stopped using it. I am very wary of using strong chemicals on my skin especially after all I’ve been through, so I’m not ready to try another retinol product right now. That said, I know many people who swear by it and have found it to be effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and fading age spots.
See below for my favorite skincare products.
My Favorite Skincare and Beauty Products
Morning Skincare Routine
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser – I use this daily in the morning/shower.
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Brightening & Exfoliating Cleanser – I use this 2x per week in the shower.
Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner – I’m super basic when it comes to toner. I know this is also a bit of an astringent which doesn’t work for everyone, but I use it daily because it hasn’t dried out my skin and works really well for me.
Face Massager by Ella Kristine – (I can’t find the exact one I use so I’ve linked a very similar one here.) I’m kind of obsessed with this roller. When I use it, I feel like I’m getting a face massage. I highly recommend it and it comes with a travel bag so it’s easy to bring with you on the road.
Sephora Ultra Glow Serum – This vitamin C serum is one of my favorites from Sephora and it’s considered a clean beauty product. (You can learn more about clean beauty products at the Environmental Working Group’s site, where they do a thorough breakdown of all skincare products.)
Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream – I got a sample of this and was hooked as soon as I tried it. Now it’s officially part of my skin routine and it’s the first face cream I use after I put on serum. Please note that I don’t use the version that comes with SPF because I use a separate cream for that.
Supergoop Superscreen – I’m a big fan of all of Supergoop’s sunscreen products. I use Superscreen for my daily SPF protection on my face. But when I go to the beach, I also use the following Supergoop products: Unseen Sunscreen, and Play Everyday Lotion SPF 30.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream – I use the same eye cream during the day and at night. I’ve been using this one for years and still love it. It’s pricy but a small jar lasts for months so it’s worth it.
Evening Skincare Routine
Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash – I use the same cleanser that I use in the morning.
Sephora Ultra Glow Serum – I don’t always use a serum, but when I do, it’s the same one. However, I’ve heard incredible things about CE ferulic by Skin Ceutical and the Active Botanical Serum from Vintner’s Daughter, but both are very expensive, so I haven’t tried them yet.
Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream – Laneige is a Korean skincare company and I swear by all of their products. A make-up artist at Sephora introduced me to the brand and I’ve been a convert ever since. Every cream, mask, and lotion feels so soft and soothing on my skin. It’s never sticky, thick, or grainy. My skin always feels super hydrated when I use the products which I’m guessing has something to do with their water science technology!
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask – You guessed it! It’s another Laneige product. I substitute this one a couple of times a week instead of using the water bank moisture cream. It feels so soft and cooling when I rub it into my skin. I absolutely LOVE IT! What’s also great about this mask is it’s light enough to leave it on all night.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream – The same eye cream that I use every morning.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Moisturizing Face Oil – If my skin is feeling particularly dry, I will also use this oil for extra hydration.
What’s Your Skincare Routine?
I’m guessing your skincare routine is not as basic as mine, lol! But that’s ok. If you think about bio-individuality, no two faces are the same. It makes sense that we all need different things to take care of our skin.
However, one thing that has always been important to me is to find quality products at affordable prices. I’m pretty sure that this comprehensive list of my favorite skincare products reflects that. So if you’re looking to switch things up with your skincare routine, I hope you find these recommendations helpful.
Now I’d love to hear from you.
What is your skincare routine and what are your favorite – can’t live without – skincare products?
Please comment below and share your recommendations with the Let’s Be Merry community because I’m guessing all of us are always looking for new, quality skincare products to add to our routine!
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