I am so excited to share my clear glowy skincare routine after spending years experimenting with different skincare products!
Having a skincare routine has been a very important part of my life for the past 4 years and it’s not just because I love the results, but it’s also because of how calming it is to apply the products.
I do not believe that great skin is simply a matter of DNA. Your daily habits have a big impact on the condition of your skin.
There are so many different skin types and it is important to pay attention to what skin type you have.
It took me so long to understand my skin because I spent YEARS being frustrated and aggressive with it.
As someone who grew up with terrible acne and purchased every drying acne product on the market to try and get rid of it all, I can tell you that having a good skincare routine is CRUCIAL.
But please keep in mind that having acne and other skin impurities is completely normal and trying to get rid of every blemish and skin pores is unrealistic.
So set realistic goals with a simple routine and watch your skin transform.
Making a conscious effort of taking care of your skin can help make it clear, healthy, and glowy. Your skin is the largest organ on your body and taking care of it daily is essential in a healthy lifestyle.
My Clear Glowy Skincare Routine
Having a skincare routine that works for you can prevent breakouts and other skin issues.
It does take dedication and patience to religiously follow a skincare routine daily, but with a simple routine that you enjoy makes it much easier to stay committed.
I used to have oily skin that was acne-prone. I would break out all the time and I would pick at it – which I learned later on that is a HUGE mistake!!
Clear Glowy SkinCare Routine – Morning Routine
Step 1: wash with water
I stopped washing my face with cleanser in the morning because I realized the more I washed my face, the oilier my face got.
Excess washing stripped my skin from its natural oils and as soon as I stopped doing that, my skin became so much healthier.
In the morning, I just wash my face with plain water and I pat it dry.
I use these face towels just for my face and I keep them in their own drawer in my bedroom.
Step 2: Vitamin C serum
Next I use a vitamin C serum. I splurge here because I have tried A LOT of them, and none of them give me the same results like the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic.
Vitamin C has been studied extensively and is an amazing antioxidant for your skin meaning it protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure.
Vitamin C also promotes collagen production, which has the potential to thicken the outer skin layer, reduce fine lines, and is essential for firm, youthful skin.
Step 3: Moisturize
Moisturizers help to protect my skin barrier especially in the winter from the cold winds. Moisturizers also help to seal in moisture and the vitamin C serum.
I am not as picky with my moisturizer as I am with my serums and my skincare actives. You can opt for something that is budget friendly like the Cerave Am Facial Moisturizer.
Other budget-friendly brands I love and recommend for glowy skin moisture include Aveeno and La Roche Posay.
Step 4: Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is THE most important step in all of this. If you do NOTHING else, do this one step to protect your skin.
I noticed my skin drastically improved when I became consistent with applying sunscreen.
There are different kinds of sunscreens: physical and chemical.
Personally, my skin does better with physical sunscreens, also known as physical blockers. Physical sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect damaging UV rays away from the skin.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreens contain organic compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone and they are absorbers of UV rays as they attempt to enter the skin.
Check out my full list of products that I use and love here.
After you’re done with your morning skincare routine, it is time to make yourself a high-fiber, high-protein smoothie to nourish your body from the inside out.
Clear Glowy SkinCare Routine – Evening Routine
Step 1: Oil Cleanser
In the evening, as soon as I finish work, I wash my face.
I always do a double cleanse which helps to really clean my face without stripping it and drying it out. The oil pulls out impurities, makeup and stubborn sunscreen.
I first use the DHC oil cleanser and I gently rub it in circles on my face and eyes to get the makeup and skin products off.
Step 2: Water-based Cleanser
Then I wash off the oil cleanser with a water-based cleanser like the Cerave hydrating facial cleanser.
Double cleansing is the best way to get rid of the residue and build up from the day and AMAZINGLY has kept breakouts away. I actually break out when I don’t double cleanse! Try it for yourself and let me know how you like it.
Step 3: Tretinoin or retinol
Disclaimer: I do see a dermatologist for my tretinoin as it is a prescription medication.
Tretinoin is part of a class of medications called retinoids. This medication does wonders for my skin and provides anti-aging benefits.
It definitely took some time for my skin to get used to this potent cream, but once it did, I started seeing transformation in my skin health and it even helped reduce excess oil production on my skin which helped alleviate my breakouts.
My skin now has a natural glow and people ask me how I maintain healthy skin. It is mostly due to my consistent tretinoin cream.
What I love about tretinoin is that there are many medically reviewed studies on this medication, and research has shown that it does provide anti-aging benefits to the skin. Tretinoin has been proven to prevent, reduce, and treat wrinkles. It also helps to treat and prevent age spots. By stimulating collagen production in the skin, it strengthens the skin resulting in a more youthful and bouncy appearance and who doesn’t love that?
If you do not have access to a dermatologist, you can start with a retinol. It is not as potent as a prescription, but if you are consistent with it, you will definitely see results. Retinol can be found over the counter. Many brands carry a retinol and as someone who used retinol before switching to tretinoin, I can say that not all retinols are created equal. Skinceuticals and Paula’s Choice are two of my favorite brands that I have personally seen amazing results.
Bonus: if you tend to break out a lot, this is the one product you NEED to be using.
Step 4: Moisturizer
You can either use the same moisturizer you used earlier in the day or you can use a heavier one.
Because my daytime moisturizer has SPF in it (I double up on my sunscreen), I do not use the same one at night.
I like my night time moisturizer to be heavier and thicker to really do some heavy duty moisturizing while I sleep so I wake up with glowing skin.
Step 5: Exfoliation and Face Masks (only 1-2 times per week in my clear glowy skincare routine)
As I have learned the hard way, it is very important to be gentle with your skin and gentle exfoliators are something I use a few times a week.
There are a few different types of exfoliators and two of the most common ones are: chemical and physical exfoliators.
Chemical exfoliants are acids that help get rid of dead skin cells and keeps dry skin at bay. They help to gently take off the top layer of your skin without the damage that physical exfoliants create.
I completely got rid of physical exfoliants, you know the St. Ives Scrubs (do NOT use these on your face) and really anything with harsh beads and essential oils. I noticed my face would react to products that included any of these ingredients so I now choose fragrance-free whenever I can.
I now only use chemical exfoliates like those with salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid.
Face masks are also a weekly must and I am OBSESSED with the clarifying skin mask from Skinceuticals. I have used this for over a year and I love how my skin looks and feels afterwards.
Here is a complete list of my skincare products mentioned in my clear glowy skincare routine!
Happy skincare buying 🙂