My skin care routine!

dont judge :/

So after YEARS of constantly trying out new products and such, I've finally come up with a skincare routine that works! Of course I'm still open to trying out new things, but many of these products have reached holy grail status so I'll always end up going back to them! I won't go as in depth for some products as I will on others, but if you have any questions, feel free to throw em.

For facewashes, I've got:

Cetaphil

My whole family uses this, it’s a staple in our bathroom! I’ve used both the gentle skin cleanser and the daily facial cleanser (normal to oily skin). There are slight differences between the two in terms of texture etc but to me, they perform the same way. Compared to the gentle skin cleanser, the normal to oily cleanser (with the right amount of water) lathers up a bit and it has a scent which could be a drawback for some but I personally really like it (smells like babies). It’s gentle enough to use it as an eye makeup remover too. I’d still suggest you apply some baby oil prior to removing your waterproof mascara just to avoid irritating the eye area.

The pump is great and convenient in the shower. A little bit goes a long way and for the price, it’ll last you a LONG time. It’s cheaper by ounce so buying the larger bottle as opposed to the 8 ounce bottle would save you more money.

It cleanses well and removes excess oil and doesn’t make me feel like I have to run for a moisturizer right after I get out of the bathroom (which many facial cleansers tend to do). I use this twice a day: once in the morning and once at night before using my dermatologist prescribed face wash.

My skin has always been my biggest insecurity. I’ve tried out several different skincare products, from drugstore to high end and Cetaphil is hands down the best facial cleanser I’ve come across. It leaves my skin looking its very best. And I will continue purchasing it.

Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur:

I suffered from moderate acne for I’d say 2 years before I decided to go to a dermatologist to see what he’d recommend and he prescribed this face wash to me alongside some oral antibiotics and topical gels. It’s very affordable if you have insurance (cost me $5).

The face wash has a nice creamy texture and works great. I had no side effects and the results within the first two weeks were fantastic. My acne started to clear up almost immediately.

In the beginning I used this day AND night and then applied my moisturizer and topical gel. But since my skins already clear, I only use this face wash at night to prevent any blemishes or zits from popping up. Sometimes I skip it entirely. I did notice my skin drying up a little bit when I first started using it but eventually it went back to normal (I guess my skin got used to it.).

I’ve heard multiple people complain about the products their derms prescribed to them and how it made their skin worse so I was quite nervous of the skincare regimen I was given. However, I’m so glad I followed through with his plan cause my skin has never looked and felt this good.  Keep in mind though, just cause it worked for me within the first few weeks of trying it out, doesn’t mean all products will work that way for you. For some, you might have to go through the ‘purging’ period where all the gunk from inside comes out to the surface. I’d say you give it at least a month or two to see whether or not the product is working for you before you decide to stop using it entirely.  

Overall, I highly recommend it for anyone with light to even moderately severe acne as another solution if you haven't had any success with any other face washes, creams or oral medications.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub 

I don’t exfoliate my skin EVERY DAY, rather every two-three days or whenever I feel like I need a slightly more polished canvas to work with. I tried this out cause I ran out of my Queen Helene mint julep face scrub (LOVE it <3) and I didn't quite like the St. Ives face scrub I had lying around; I felt like the grittiness of it was too harsh for my skin so I decided to switch it up with something mild. I like trying out different skincare brands so I picked up this one.  For $7, you’re getting more than your money’s worth. Similar to many of their other face washes from their line, I haven't experienced any irritation or breakouts etc.

The product states that it treats acne before it even emerges which is something I've been searching for my acne-prone skin. I wouldn’t say that it kills it entirely but I noticed that it does make the blemishes/zits go away a lot quicker (overnight, even) so I don’t have any complaints.

Upon use, it instantly makes my skin feel super soft and smooth. It has a pleasant scent, like a cool cucumber. This product is great if you already have clear skin and just want to maintain it that way. 

Aveeno Positively Radiant brightening cleanser

I like having a variety of things that each target something specific which is why I bought this cleanser to keep my skin even and radiant looking. Haven't had any bad experiences with it thus far, my skin seems to like it also. It smells great.

Just so you know, I don't use all of these cleansers ONE AFTER ANOTHER D: sometimes id use cetaphil on its own or if i feel like im about to break out or something, id use my dermatologist prescribed face wash after cetaphil..or if i want my skin to have more of a glow, i reach out for the brightening cleanser and so on. 

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Toners: I have two!

Neutrogena Pore Refining toner:

Bought this on impulse and ended up liking it a lot! I've been using this for about two years now. Its a gentle toner which contains both AHA (glycolic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid). It smooths out my skin and the benefits of alpha-hydroxy and BHA are a plus. It good quality stuff and helps take off traces of left over makeup at the end of the day after cleansing.  It also doesn't make me break out. 

I know some toners can really irritate the skin but this one works wonders. It has never stung my face when I put it on, and it feels really refreshing. It has helped my acne scars fade and does a good job keeping my pores clear.  

I only use it once a day at night before I go to bed and always wake up to velvety smooth skin <3

Olay oil minimizing toner:

I bought this about two weeks ago because it stated it was 'oil minimizing'. My t-zone gets really oily so I'm always on the hunt for something that'll work but isn't heavy on my wallet. Olay has been a reliable brand for me. I've tried several of their cleansers, scrubs and moisturizers and have never been disappointed. So I didn't even hesitate when I picked this up. 

I apply this after washing my face every morning. Its gentle and helps my make up glide on. It does a great job minimizing the oil on my t-zone. Since I started using it, I have to blot my face less often and when I do, its very little. I'm happy with my purchase! :)

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Moisturizers:  I'll be breaking these down into two sub-categories:

Morning moisturizers

The same way I switch up my face washes, I do the same with my moisturizers depending on what I'm looking for. 

Cerave moisturizing cream

My sister got me hooked to this. She worked as a Medical Assistant at a dermatologist office and many top-rated dermatologists recommended Cerave/Cetaphil products to their patients. 

I like that this cream comes in a big fat tub, you definitely get a lot of product for your money. It can be used on both the face or the body. Its lightweight and hydrates without making it feel as if you have something sitting on top of your skin. The consistency is just right. Its neither runny nor too thick. I like that it gives a matte finish. It fragrance free, non greasy and is also gentle enough to be used underneath the eyes (yes i moisturize my under eyes cause they get dry and then my concealer sets into my fine lines, etc etc O_O)

Its super moisturizing so its good for people who have eczema or for those who have really dry skin. I have dry elbows and after just one application of Cerave, the roughness goes away almost instantly. Great stuff, and really inexpensive when you realise how long the tub will last you. Moisturizes like nobody's business. Highly recommend this!

Olay Active Hydrating moisturizer

This is one of my favourite heavy duty moisturizers. Its a rich lotion that moisturizers really well but not thick enough to a point where it can clog your pores or cause breakouts. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of it. Has a grandma like scent..like a combination of roses and baby powder or something. This leaves my skin soft and supple. Definitely something I'll be repurchasing. 

Garnier Moisture Rescue lightweight moisturiser 

I liked that this absorbs into my skin fairly quickly and that it makes my face really soft. It has a very calming/refreshing scent that I really like and spf is always a plus. I use this when I'm too lazy to apply sunscreen separately over my moisturizer. I just wish it had a slightly higher SPF content. The packaging is cute and green. It comes with a pump so its great for traveling. For the price, it does a decent job of moisturizing. I'd be happier if it didn't make me as shiny at the end of the day, makes you look like you could fry a potato on your face =/

This stuff goes on sale so often so I can slather face, neck and back of hands without a care!

Night moisturizers:

Most of the time, I use Cerave at night also. Other times when I feel like pampering my skin more, I'll go for my Olay regenerist moisturizer or my anti oxidant night cream by Neutrogena. I love all of them.


Olay Regenerist night recovery cream

 Its a purple, lightly scented serum/cream moisturizer and applies flawlessly onto the skin, leaving it satiny smooth. It almost reminds me of a face primer  (like the smooth silicone-y affect).  I've been using for the past 3-4 months and I feel like it has improved the texture of my skin.  It really reduces the fine lines around my eyes and mouth. Overall, it keeps my skin looking youthful.  The only thing is that it is a bit heavy, so I restrict it to night time use. For this product, a little goes a long way so try not to over-do it cause it might just make you look greasy.  

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Treatments:

Duac Topical Gel

I was prescribed Duac as a spot treatment for my acne. It’s a 45 gram tube that contains 5% benzoyl peroxide and 1% clindamycin; both of which work as a peeling agent to increase skin cell turnover. The product is a little expensive even with insurance ($15 for me) but the tube will last you for a good 5-6 months, depending on how much you use it.

For some zits or blemishes that randomly pop up, a night or two of sleeping with Duac on totally eliminates them without leaving any evidence that they were ever there. It works amazingly on active acne or whiteheads. Be careful not to overdo it though as it may cause your skin to peel.

My skin got dry during the first few weeks of application but over time, my skin developed tolerance and stopped flaking. I put it on almost every night or anytime I feel a pimple forming and it gets rid of it almost instantly. Now I hardly get any breakouts at all, and if I do, they’re really tiny and disappear within a day or so.

This cream is no miracle worker. You just need to be consistent. I know we all have those lazy days but I strongly urge you to stick to your skin care routine, apply it faithfully, and push through the dry period that you will most likely experience because the end result is definitely worth the hassle.

Retin A 

yes my last name is spelled wrong u__u

After my face cleared up, I still had a few scars from my past acne so my dermatologist prescribed me Retin-A. He instructed me to use Duac at night and Retin-A during the day, but cause Retin A can make your skin super sensitive to the sun I decided to just wear it at night and alternate days with duac. It is IMPORTANT that you wear sunscreen during the day while you use it because it might darken your scars even more or burn the skin even. Initially it made parts of my face dry up a lot (cheeks, even under my eyes) but eventually it went away. The Retina A has worked wonders so far. Now when I wake up in the morning after using it, my skin is soft and supple. I have noticed an overall youthfulness and glow to my skin, even skin tone, and a slight reduction in fine lines around my mouth.

If upon the first two-three weeks of use, you experience redness, dryness, break outs..just know that for most people that's natural cause the skin takes a little time to adjust to the product.  It's not easy in the beginning but nothing worth anything ever is! Stick with it and you will fall in love with it too!! I simply cannot say enough about this product and my pictures are my best proof! The price is high, I admit ($15-$30) but the product lasts for over eight months and when you add that up compared to the poopy products you are buying monthly and seeing no results, you are actually saving money. 

Physicians Formula dark spot corrector and skin brightener

This stuff is meant to even out your skin tone so on days where my skin looks splotchy, I reach out for this and apply a thin layer of it underneath my moisturizer. I love the texture of it, it melts right into the skin making it really soft. So far so good.

L'oreal revitalift eye cream

This sample sized eye cream came free with a L'oreal product I purchased. Its my first eye cream so I have nothing to compare it to. Its fragrance free and moisturizes my under eye area well. I use it as a night-time eye cream and haven't experienced any irritation or discomfort so far. I'm only 21 so I can't tell how well its working. My eyes look the same as they did before I started using it. 

I only use it in hopes that by the time I reach my late 20s-early 30s, I wouldn't have saggy skin around my eye area ):

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Face Masks: 

Freeman Super fruits facial mask:

For the price, I'm all on it. Its a peel-off mask and I don't know about you, but a peeling mask is like one of the most fascinating things to me. As a kid, I used to be really into  peel-off nail polishes even. Whatever you've got, I'll peel it D: 


Anyway, moving on the product itself...
It's a combination of EIGHT superfruits: Goji, Acai, Pomegranate, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni and Blueberry that combine to purify, detoxify and soothe stressed skin and to brighten it overall. 


Its a sticky gel like formula that you smear all over your face and wait a couple of minutes for it dry before you start peeling it off. It has a pleasant fruity smell. Very refreshing. And unlike many other peel-off masks, this stuff comes right off without having to struggle to take it out. I hate it when the masks rip off  while peeling, it takes away from the experience =/ I prefer having it come off in one go.


I like this stuff a lot. I apply it at night before putting on my night cream and wake up to glowing skin the next day :)


Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

Another great product. Its a drugstore skincare classic. I picked this up after trying the mint julep face scrub from the same brand and really liked it. Its cheap, easy to find and WORKS AMAZING!  Its a clay based mask and has the consistency of a toothpaste. And it has a strong minty scent. Like spearmint gum (which I love<3) It takes a little longer for the stuff to dry up entirely but when you wash it off, your skin just looks so nice and clear cause it really sucks out all the grime. It's great at tightening the skin, extracting blackheads and drying up pimples and other stuff we girls clog our pores with in the name of beauty. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Its a must-have in everybody's skin care! 


Boscia Luminizing Black Mask:

Its a great face mask. It never peels off entirely or as one whole piece though so it can be quite a messy process. It can also get stuck around all your face hairs so I'd recommend you remove it in the direction of your facial hair growth. But the product does absorb oil and unclogs your pores. I haven't noticed much on the brightening aspect of this product but its not a big deal for me. It is definitely towards the pricier side so I probably won't be repurchasing this since I have dirt cheap products that work just as well (perhaps even better).


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So yeah, there you have it! If there are any skincare products you swear by, feel free to share it in the comments below (: