Last winter I already experienced how the dry New York City air effects my skin negatively. This winter the dry air is paired with maskne, making everything even worse. My adult skin has embraced both problems. So my else combination skin (during the other three seasons) has turned dry with rather painful pimples on my lower cheeks and chin. After finding a few great care products last winter [see here], I have recently finally come up with the perfect beauty routine for my skin right now. Since they differ, I present my morning routine to you today and will write a separate post on my evening routine.
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After washing my face with cold water (I need it to wake up), I brush over my face with a cotton pad soaked with The Ordinary Glycolic Acid. A few months ago I started using reusable makeup remover pads because I can easily protect the environment a little better here. Especially in the morning my face isn’t particularly dirty and it is so easy to throw the used pads into the laundry. I then immediately apply The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. This serum is my magic bullet against dry skin. It is a little sticky, but I don’t mind it. Also, The Ordinary products are cheap and work greatly that I can easily live with one texture I don’t totally love. A few minutes later I add The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% on top. My inflamed skin has only gotten better since I have started to again use this serum twice every day. It took a few weeks before all pimples had healed, but the result is wonderful.
Afterwards, I put The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG on the area around my eyes. I know I use a lot of TO products and, I swear, I don’t get paid for this (sadly). I just find them so effective. The eye serum has definitely helped to make my eye wrinkles less visible. Moreover, it works wonders against puffiness and instantly makes my eyes look more awake. The last step then is the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream. It soothes my skin and helps both against its dryness and inflammation. It is about as expensive as the other four products together, but totally worth it.
In my next big step I put on sunscreen. Every single day. I hope it still helps because I have definitely damaged my skin for years by exposing it to the sun unprotected. It took me a while to find an eye cream with a high SPF. As you can see, I really like the Supergoop! sun protection products. The Supergoop! Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40 nurtures and protects the thin skin around my eyes. When it is a little cold, it takes a second to warm up and melt on the skin. If you have ever gotten normal sunscreen in your eyes and cried, you would appreciate this eye cream a lot. I am speaking from experience, of course.
As for sun screen for my face and neck I have three to choose from. It really depends on the day, my mood and the makeup I am planning to put on afterwards. I love all three products: The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 With Antioxidants is the cheapest by far. It is a little thicker and whitens my skin. Then again I don’t really care because I put foundation on afterwards. Supergoop! Glow Screen is amazing because it makes my skin glisten. I then use a lighter foundation or sometimes none. Last, but not least I also love Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen for being invisible and as smooth as a primer. The Supergoop! products have a higher SPF which I also value. But they are much more expensive.
As a final step before my makeup I apply some Sun Bum Lip Balm with SPF 30 because my lips are quite dry in winter, even though I don’t even use lipstick at all these days. Only after that I start putting on makeup (mostly only on my forehead and my eyes).
© janavar