Skincare
Very confusing topic. Lots of resources online and hard to navigate. Let’s start with a basic routine to get 80% of the results and slowly introduce more steps to push that last 20% to a perfect skin.
“You need to start somewhere. It doesn’t need to be perfect yet.”
The simplest skincare routine:
Logic: Wash the dirt away, hydrate the skin and protect the skin from dirt.
Products:
Cleanser: deeply cleanses pores, maintains hydration, and enhances product absorption.
e.g.: CeraVe FOAMING Face Cleanser
e.g.: KLAIRS Gentle Black Facial Cleanser
Moisturizer: hydrate and keep face moist
e.g.: CeraVe Facial Moisturizer
e.g.: Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream
Sunscreen 50 SPF+: prevent sun damage
e.g.: La Roche-Posay suncreen spf50+
e.g.: Biore UV Aqua rich sunscreen spf50+
Skincare routine:
Morning routine:
Wash with cleanser
Hydrate with moisturizer
Protect with sunscreen
Night routine:
Wash with cleanser
Hydrate with moisturizer
I think the basic routine is good. 80% of the results comes from these 3 simple steps. Nevertheless, if we have the opportunity, time and money, we could try to aim for an even better skincare routine.
Before exploring more products and steps, we need to ensure we get a healthy lifestyle to support that extra push.
Already have in place a very strong “Sleep, Exercise, Diet” plan
Wash the pillow cover and face towel once a week
The more complex skincare routine:
Additional products:
Toner: First step after cleanser. Hydrate the skin and prepare it to absorb all the other good ingredients.
e.g.: DearKlairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
Chemical Exfoliant: Remove dead skin
e.g.: Paulas Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant
Retinol: Anti-aging and clear acne
e.g.: CeraVe Resurfacing RETINOL Serum
Serum: different type which helps you target different needs
Vitamin C: Hydrating, repair, bright, anti-inflammatory, boost collagen, etc
e.g.: Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop
Propolis: Glow, anti-aging, smooth, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, minimize pores
e.g.: Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide
e.g.: COSRX - Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule
e.g.: BY WISHTREND Propolis Energy Calming Ampoule
Sleeping mask: skin barrier, hydrating,
e.g.: LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask with Niacinamide & Squalane
Lip sleeping mask: hydrate lips
e.g.: LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
Eye cream: Minimize dark circle, puffiness and wrinkle
e.g.: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
Clay mask: exfoliate, draw accumulate dirt out, minimize pores, reduce blackheads, glow, etc.
e.g.: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores
e.g.: Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask
Face mask: different type which helps you target different needs, moisturizing
e.g.: JM Solution Marine Luminous Pearl Deep Moisture Mask
Skincare routine:
Morning routine:
Wash with cleanser
Apply toner
Apply serum: Propolis
Apply Moisturizer
Apply sunscreen
Night routine day 1: Normal + retinol (Every 2 days)
Wash with cleanser
Apply toner
Apply serum: Vitamin C
Apply retinol
Apply sleeping mask
Apply lip mask and eye cream
Night routine day 2: Chemical exfoliant (Every 2 days)
Wash with cleanser
Apply toner
Apply chemical exfoliant
Apply Moisturizer
Apply sleeping mask
Apply lip mask and eye cream
Night routine day 3: Clay mask (once per week)
Wash with cleanser
Apply toner
Apply clay mask, wait 9-15mins, wash off clay mask
Apply serum: Vitamin C
Apply Moisturizer
Apply sleeping mask
Apply lip mask and eye cream
Night routine day 4: Lazy relax face mask (once in a while)
Wash with cleanser
Apply toner
Apply face mask, wait 18-20mins, remove face mask, Not wash face
If face not moist enough: Apply Moisturizer and sleeping mask
Apply lip mask and eye cream
For more complex skincare routine, I would start with toner, chemical exfoliant and retinol. Really effective enhancement to the basic skincare routine. Then, for specific needs add serum, sleeping mask and clay mask. Lip sleeping mask and eye cream are very extra.
Skincare products
SimpleLifeBalancing.