My current routine revolves around cleansing and moisturizing. I have dabbled over the years with a little bit of anti-aging here and there, however I haven't made those permanent steps in my regimen. It might be the year I start adding in Vitamin C/Tretinoin but for now, we are all easy peasy. For us dry skin girlies, less is more really comes into play with cleansing. Over washing your skin is a quick route to dehydration and dry patches. My perfect formula is now to "double cleanse" at night with a quick morning refresh. It is always always ALWAYS crucial to get any dirt/makeup off before bed. You will regret it otherwise- ask me how I know! Haha.
My version of a double cleanse is to pre-and-post swipe with Bioderma. I loveeeeee love love Bioderma. She's my holy grail homegirl and the best micellar water. I'll use Bioderma to take most of my makeup off (always with these cotton pads- they're a splurge but THE best), wash my skin with a cleanser and then Bioderma again to make sure everything is clean. On no makeup days, I do the same exact process. In the morning, I repeat the Bioderma but skip the cleanser. I have a few different cleansers I enjoy that work well with my sensitive skin- usually something gentle and hydrating. Right now I have the Augustinus Bader Cream Cleansing Gel in my rotation. It's very good- gentle and hydrating. It also leaves my skin feeling instantly hydrated which I love. The only con is the price- she's a pricey one. If you have especially sensitive skin or love a skincare splurge, I think she's worth trying.
Another similar option I also love is the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser. I like both the Kiehl's and AB because they cleanse without drying my skin out, an important step in keeping a hydrated glow.
Moisturizers + serums are what pack a big punch for hydration. I adopted a pre-makeup routine from TikTok last year where you apply a hydrating toner, a moisturizer + hydrating serum. For dry skin, this works like a dream to apply makeup and also leaves my skin very moisturized and glowy. My favorite combo is to first use the TIRTIR Milky Toner, the Minimalist Marula Oil moisturizer (amazingly good and less than $8!) and then the ANUA 7+ Hydrating Ceramide Serum. I also love the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and the Kiehl's Hyaluronic Acid Serum too. Typically you would want to apply a serum before moisturizer to better penetrate the skin, however for wearing makeup adding the serum at the end helps to create a more tacky, "primer like" texture to the skin. For no makeup days, I just flip the two steps and my skin is instantly fresh and healthy looking.
Some days I also just leave the serum out altogether and go for moisturizer only. My night routine is kind of a toss up. Most of the time, I skip the toner unless my skin really needs extra hydration and I'll just use a serum + moisturizer. I also think every once it awhile it's good to go completely product-free! On occasion I like to let me skin breathe and have a break.
An occasional extra step I like to add in is a spray of the Avene Thermal Spring Water. I originally purchased this when my skin was going through a rough patch and needed some extra TLC. It's essentially canned water, however I like to use it as a very last step for a boost of hydration. It helps to lock in any products and I also think it's calming on my skin. While not something I have to have everyday, I do enjoy.
One final step that is the cherry on top for very glowy skin (seriously my fave + a total game changer!) is the Colorescience Sunforgettable Tinted Sunscreen. This product is hands down the best mineral sunscreen I've used. I like both the Classic and Flex versions which offer great SPF 50 sun protection and a slight skin tint for a little bit of natural coverage. The tint for both is very skin like with a dewy, fresh faced finish. Whenever I get complimented on how healthy my skin looks, I'm always wearing this! Definitely a must-buy.
That's the tea on my glowy skin regimen! I'm a big skincare lover and after lots of trial and error, I love this current routine and the results it gives. If you try out any of these products/steps, let me know what you think!!
What are your skincare must-buys?
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