The (Clean) Beauty Routine That Transformed My Skin
Project 365, Day 180/365
I’m not about to pretend like I have skincare figured out. I’ve gone through so many regiments in my day, it’s hard to keep them all straight. I also happen to be a bit skincare fickle. Even when I find something I like, my eye wanders…on to something new, more exciting. I love trying different brands, not to mention my skin changes so much over the course of the year (seasonal) that it needs different things at different times.
And don’t get me started about how much it’s changed since moving to the desert from an essentially tropical climate. My face went from being squarely in “oily” territory to mostly combination and occasionally dry. Never did I think I’d see the day that I’d classify my skin as dry, but here we are. Thanks a lot Southern California. My hair loves it here, my skin…not so much.
Anyhow, I’m always curious what other people’s skin routines are, what products they use, so I figured I’d share currently what’s taking up my medicine cabinet. You’ll see quickly that it’s essentially two brands which I turn to again and again for either the same or even different products.
But first, let me outline what I look for in skincare and also a little more about my skin.
Must haves:
- Truly cruelty-free, meaning they don’t just skip animal testing, but any parent company they belong to also does not test on animals. Usually, when a company sells in mainland China, you can guarantee they are not in fact CF. I use the website Cruelty-Free Kitty as my regular source to check a brand I may not be as familiar with.
- Vegan or at the very least “clean”, meaning free of toxins and ingredients like sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and others.
- Easy-to-use, not overly fussy or wasteful packaging. If I can’t unscrew a bottle fully to scrape out any remaining packaging, I’m not using it. (Example: I love Drunk Elephant’s Lala Retro Whipped Cream, but its packaging is like Fort Knox and I don’t trust that I’m getting it all when it stops pumping.)
Skin type:
- Acne-prone
- Large pores prone to clogging up and getting gunky
- Combination: Oily when it wants to be, specifically in the T-zone, though now, mostly dry and tight if I’m not using the right moisturizer.
- Mid-30s, a few fine lines, a little softness around the neck and eyes, but mostly keeping it together
- Occasionally sensitive, though has gotten less so as I age…thankfully.
Got it? Sound like any of you? Alright, here’s what I’ve been using the last few months that I really, really like at the moment and have re-purchase two or three times already:
Cleanser: Farmacy Whipped Greens
Why I like it: It’s not drug-store cheap but it also doesn’t break $30, so I think it’s a decent price point for a “premium” skincare brand. Plus, I’ve had this same bottle for well over two months and still have about 1/3 left. I prefer cream cleansers as I tend to believe they get my pores much cleaner, and this one does a great job of stripping away my makeup without stripping away my face oils. It’s very similar to my other love, Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser.
Toner: REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner
Why I like it: Once upon a time, I saw Hilary Duff tout this brand on Instagram, and that girl has great skin (and okay, a ton of money for probably a ton of facial treatments, but still). Toners tend to be either super weak, like water, or burn my skin, but this is a great happy medium. It feels refreshing, not overly stripping, and after a few weeks, my skin truly did look more youthful, brighter and glowy.
Moisturizer: Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer
Why I like it: WOW I LOVE THIS MOISTURIZER. Like I mentioned earlier, my face gets very dry, flaky and tight out here in LA. In Florida, I’d never need to buy a product with the words “ultra-hydrating” in its name, but this is the perfect consistency for my face right now. Thick, goes on easy, absorbs fast, non-greasy, and works well under makeup. Plus, the packaging is plastic-free (bottle is glass, top is wood) and it comes with this little metal spoon for scooping out, which sticks to the top via a magnet.
Face Oils: Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil and/or Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
Why I like them: Proof that I live in the desert? My thick moisturizer benefits from an additional face oil. And no, none of these make my face greasy. I tend to use a face oil only at night, though I’ve been known to squeeze a few drops into my morning cream just ’cause. The Youth To The People oil is nearly half the price as the Biossance rose oil, and I like them both, so figured I’d link them both for you. I’ll say the YTTP oil is more about getting that extra kick of moisture and suppleness, while the Biossance oil really helped my skin texture and provided that inner glow you always hope to get from products that promise it.
Dark Spot Remover: Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
Why I like it: This stuff has been instrumental to me in limiting any acne scarring I would have normally gotten from that fun new maskne we’ve had to deal with this year. I use it every other night, rotating with the next product I’m about to share, and my skin clarity is so much better than it’s been in a LONG time. Dark spots and red scars don’t linger quite as long as they used to anymore, and I’m giving this 100% of the credit.
Night Serum: Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum
Why I like it: It’s rare that a skincare product actually does much more for you than clean or moisturize, I find, and this stuff works. I only use it every few days; when I do, I wake up in the morning with smoother, softer skin. ALWAYS. And after getting through a whole bottle, I promise you’ll notice a drastic change in your skin’s texture if it’s a little rougher like mine can get when I use the wrong products. On nights when I use this, I cleanse, tone, and then just slather this on and skip everything else. I don’t want to get in its way at all.
Scrub: Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub
Why I like it: Isn’t it great when a free sample of something turns out to be something you end up really liking? That’s how I discovered this scrub. It smells wonderful, is gentle but you can basically see your skin cells clumping up while it exfoliates. I use this about once a week or whenever I see it in my cabinet and think “hmm…this will feel good.” A little goes a long way.
And that’s that. It might sound like a lot, but most of the products are something I alternate with others so it’s not too much all in one day. I’ve really pared down my routine. I used to have day-time moisturizers, night-time creams, day serums, night serums, cleansing balms and cleansers and honestly, my skin was no better off. In fact, it was probably worse off. As was my wallet. I consider this simple+, meaning it’s not too many steps to drive me nuts in the morning or night, but is a little more than just washing and slathering on cream. All these together have really balanced out my skin in a way that I’m very happy with and while I still get the occasional breakout, it’s much tamer than it used to be. Plus, the texture of my skin has really come leaps and bounds in the last year since I changed some things up.
Anyhow, that’s what I’ve got for you today. Hopefully something here helps you out if you’re on the hunt for something new and you love the brands or products as much as I do!
See you tomorrow, FOAS.