My Simple Skincare Routine

Hello my beauties!!!

As promised, here is my updated skincare routine that I've been following for the past 6 weeks. As you'll know from reading my previous posts, I've tried out a lot of new products over the last few months (some had more success than others). I had really clear skin for about 4 weeks around April/May but then I tried to introduce new products and my skin went crazy! So I decided to strip my routine back to what I was using when my skin was really good, whilst also keeping a few of the new products. I also started using a new chemical exfoliant and experienced purging for the first time. Luckily it cleared up within a week but it really signalled to me that I needed to simplify my routine. So without further ado, here is my new and updated routine...

AM Routine


AM Routine:
  • Nivea Refreshing Facial Wash Gel- This cleanser has a nice scent to it and leaves my skin fresh and clean. However it doesn't foam up as much as I'd like and doesn't do much to control my sebum production. I'm still looking for an effective cleanser that's gentle yet deeply cleanses my pores, without over stripping it.
  • Natures Aid Triple Strength Rose Water*- I've been using this for the last few months and don't have any complaints. I like that it's a natural toner and only has 3 ingredients (water, alcohol and rose oil). I find that it helps to soothe my skin after cleansing and adds back some moisture. Will definitely keep using rose water as my toner in the future.
  • The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%- This serum has been a game changer when it comes to my oily skin! It completely reduces the amount of oil in my t-zone and is really good at helping to fade acne scars as well. Definitely a holy grail product that I will continue to repurchase again and again :) I first bought the 30ml bottle and it lasted me about 3 months. So I purchased the 60ml bottle which should last double as long!
  • Neutrogena Hydro Boost Awakening Eye Gel Cream- Technically you don't really need an eye cream as a good moisturiser will do the same job. But I wanted to add another step as my morning routine felt too basic. I really love how this glides over my under-eyes and instantly refreshes them. However I think I'll take out this step when it runs out.
  • Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel- When I ran out of this moisturiser around May/June I saw that the price had gone back up to £12.99 which I thought was too much for a 50ml jar. So I replaced it the the L'Oreal Hydra Genius Aloe Water but I found the consistency too watery. So I decided to go back to the Water Gel and managed to find a £5 off voucher on Ebay. This moisturiser is another holy grail for me as it makes my skin feel so smooth and absorbs into my skin really well. Best moisturiser I've ever tried :)
  • Neutrogena Clear Face Oil Free Sunscreen (SPF 55)- Before I bought this in April I'd never used a sunscreen for my face. But after watching loads of YouTube videos I realised that sun damage is one of the first signs of aging. Also, certain products are less effective when you don't use sunscreen. So I got this one specially formulated for oily and spot prone skin. It doesn't clog my pores or break me out and I've already bought a second bottle :) I couldn't say if it's the best one out there as I haven't tried any others but it seems to suit my skin for now.
* 3 times a week on alternating days I'll swap the Rose Water for the La Roche Posay Astringent Micro-Exfoliating Lotion. I use this as my chemical exfoliant which has Lipohydroxy Acid (LHA) in it, which is a derivative of salicylic acid and renews the cells at a slower rate. This makes it ideal for people with sensitive skin because it isn't as harsh.


PM Routine


PM Routine:
  • Nivea Micellair Professional Makeup Remover- This is a micellar water that has dry oil in it that you have to shake to combine. It removes any waterproof mascara or eyeliner with just one swipe of a cotton pad and it literally takes everything off without any rough pulling or tugging. It's a miracle product that I wish I'd found sooner!
  • Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash- I use this to take off my face makeup with my spin brush, to really get into the pores. It effortlessly removes everything on my face and prepares it for my second cleanse. I've been using it for the past couple of years and find it really effective :)
  • Nivea Refreshing Facial Wash Gel- Same as AM routine.
  • Natures Aid Triple Strength Rose Water- Same as AM routine.
  • Balance Cosmetics Vitamin C Power Serum- This is a very basic vitamin C serum and, if I'm being honest, I chose it because it was cheap. I wouldn't say I've noticed much of a difference in the overall brightness or evenness of my skin tone but it has a pleasant scent and spreads well. I've bought another bottle of this serum, so I'll see if I achieve more noticeable results with further use.
  • Neutrogena Hydro Boost Awakening Eye Gel Cream- Same as AM routine.
  • Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel- Same as AM routine.

Extras (once a week):
  • Clay Mask- I have a collection of 6 masks that I switch between depending on what my skin needs that day. I love clay masks as they are great at drawing out oil and impurities. My favourites are the Pixi Glow Mud Mask (on my t-zone), L'Oreal Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Mask and T-Zone Australian Pink Clay Mask.
  • Pixi Fortifeye Toning Eye Patches- I love using these eye patches to soothe and hydrate my under-eye area. I like that they come in a jar with a spatula to separate them.
  • L'Oreal Smooth Sugars Clear Scrub- This scrub is made with kiwi seeds and fine sugars to lift and eliminate blackheads. I alternate between this scrub and the Olay Daily Facials for Combination/Oily Skin. These are water activated cloths that exfoliate and cleanse your skin in one step. I love how luxurious the foam feels on your skin after you rub the cloth into a lather. You really feel like you've had a facial at a spa! I switch between these 2 products each week as my physical exfoliators. I like how they're both gentle enough for my sensitive and oily skin.

Overall Thoughts: 

My skin is far from where it was a few months ago but it's definitely calmed down on the sebum production front and I no longer feel like an oil factory in the evening haha. I think the niacinamide serum is the main product behind this improvement and I will continue to repurchase it. Another product that's made a difference is the Water Gel which is the nicest moisturiser I've ever used. I love the light gel consistency and how it absorbs so easily into the skin. The Micellair Waterproof Cleansing Water has also made my eye makeup removal a lot easier compared to the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water I was using before. I would have to really tug and pull at my lashes to remove my waterproof mascara, whereas this one leaves zero residue and requires a lot less rubbing. 

Tweaks and Adjustments:

Firstly I want to find a more gentle cleanser that cleanses my skin without stripping it. I'm thinking of trying the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, as someone from Skincare Addiction recommended it to me. I'm also thinking about changing my Vitamin C serum at some point as I haven't noticed any results with my current one so far. I might try TO Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% as I get on so well with their niacinamide serum. Furthermore, I want to add an anti-aging product to my nighttime routine as I've noticed some fine lines around my eyes. I was thinking of getting the Nivea Regenerating Night Cream (normal/combination skin) or their Hyaluron Cellular Filler Anti-Age Serum. 

For my chemical exfoliant, I'm still deciding between the Pixi Glow Tonic and TO Lactic Acid 5% + HA. I've been using the LRP astringent toner for about 6 weeks but I don't think it's very effective. So I'm thinking of swapping the Vitamin C serum to my morning routine and using a chemical exfoliant in the evening; either the Pixi Glow Tonic or TO Lactic Acid. I've used the Pixi Glow Tonic before and saw a big difference in the overall condition of my skin. However, I recently purchased The Ordinary Lactic Acid which I've heard is the mildest AHA because you can use it everyday, making it a lot easier to incorporate into my PM routine. I've also purchased the Revolution Cica Serum (aka. Centella Asiatica) which is meant to calm and soothe redness and inflammation.

I'm going to start implementing the above changes over the next month or so, before deciding on a final skincare routine. I'll introduce each new product a week at a time so I can see how my skin reacts to it. Then I'll trial the routine for a month before doing another updated skincare routine. So watch this space!!!

Who Cares, We Care, Skincare :)

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