My Skincare Routine – 2022

I can’t be the only one who jumps on the ‘new year new me’ mantra. But seriously I committed to taking better care of myself this year – mind and body. I was listening to a podcast that brought me to my senses. The host basically said something like if you knew you only had one car for the rest of your life, how much care would you take after it? How much more so would you be of your body? Profound right? 

I did a lot of research before I bought the products. I have two main skin concerns – texture and oily skin. I also have very visible skin pores, which I wish were smaller, but that’s not really a skin concern is it, it’s more of a beauty preference. It was important for me to do due diligence before buying because good skincare isn’t the cheapest and I didn’t want to splurge on a product that wouldn’t ultimately help me. 

1. Cleanser 

The first step in any skincare routine is obviously cleansing. I wanted something gentle but effective. I found this Vichy Phyto Solution Intensive Cleansing Gel. I thought it was a good choice because it has salicylic acid which is an active ingredient great for tackling oiliness and texture. So far, after using the face wash, I find that my skin feels clean and moisturised.

2. Toner 

Do I need a toner? No? Did I still sneak in a toner in my routine? Yes. Well, my skin is oily. And according to my research, my skin feels the need to overcompensate on sebum production because it’s actually dry. So using a toner is my way to introduce moisture to my skin in as many ways as possible. The toner I use is the Mineral 89 Hyaluron Boost with Anti-Aging Effect. Hyaluronic acid is a great natural lubricant that is also found inside the human body. Despite its name, it’s actually not an acid but rather a moisturiser. The only thing I have against hyaluronic acid is just like any micronutrient, your body doesn’t really stock up on it and the only thing you can do is continue use. 

3. Vitamin C Serum 

In the morning I use Vitamin C for two reasons. Firstly it protects against free radical damage which makes sense as, during the day, sunlight will contain some free radicals from the sun. Secondly, I do have some areas on my face that I would like to brighten. I still need about 6 weeks to see if my skin likes this ingredient because Vitamin C may encourage the skin to be oily since it is drying. The product I am using is the Regena C30 Pro-Vitamin C Serum from Facetheory. It has a great smell and feels very moisturising to the skin. 

4. Moisturiser

To lock in the moisture I use the Avene Hydrance RICH Hydrating Cream. It’s the most moisturising and rich moisturiser I have ever used. As I mentioned earlier, having dry skin is important for me to make sure that the products I use help my skin get the moisture it needs. 

5. Sunscreen

Sunscreen during the day is a must for me. I read somewhere once that no matter how good products you’re using on your skin, it may all come in vain if sunscreen is not used. So yes, even though I spend most of my days indoors I do apply sunscreen religiously every 4 hours until the sunsets. I didn’t feel the need to have the best of the best so this Garnier Ambre SolaireSensitive expert+ LSF50 does the job. It has the highest amount of sun protection factor (SPF) and it is lightweight and gives a dewy-matt finish. I actually do enjoy this product except the application can be a bit difficult if you’re not careful because the texture is runny.

6. Salicylic Acid 

Every Friday and Saturday evening I apply the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant from Paulas Choice. It’s life-changing, trust me. This product single-handedly has reduced the texture on my face and the beauty is I don’t have to use it that often. As it is an active product, I always make sure to use my moisturiser to keep my skin from drying out. On the days after I use it, I do try to keep out of the sun and wear sunscreen all the time. Beautiful product and I can without a doubt encourage you to incorporate it into your routine. 

7. Niacinamide 

Last and definitely not least is this ingredient. Niacinamide changed my skin forever! It’s such a great ingredient and I attribute the disappearance of whiteheads from my nose to this product. I use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum. I can safely say this is one of those products I can never remove from my skincare routine. And what’s even better, it was only 6 euros! Honestly use this serum, you’ll thank me later. I use it alternately with vitamin c as the two products may interfere with each other if applied at once. 

K-Beauty Gang

I jumped onto the k-beauty wagon and it’s been going well, supposedly. The problem is my skin is from the ghetto and does not respect good products. I have been using the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner for the longest of times. But my skin is literally like we don’t care. Of course, when I apply the product I immediately feel a difference but unfortunately, it’s not lasting. The days when I apply one of these products looks the same as when I don’t. So in as much as I appreciate the products I haven’t seen much improvement on my skin. 

If you’re going to buy a product based on my recommendation please note that I am not an aesthetician of any sort. Please do your due diligence in researching and learning what times are great to use which products. Look out for part two of this article in 6 weeks where I review in depth some of the products and give you guys an update on how things are going. 

Which products are you using? What products can’t you live without? Let me know below.