Summer Skin Care Routine

My skin care journey has been a wild ride but I can finally say I’m content with my skin. I’ll always have a bit of redness and a zit here and there but it doesn’t bother me as much anymore. The big win for me is that it’s been 7 months since I’ve work makeup. That’s a huge milestone! I had worn makeup since high school because I was always been insecure about my skin. I started breaking out at 12 years old and rarely went a few days without a new zit popping up. At first I thought it was because my body hated me. And so I hated it back.

As I got older, I realized my body was trying to do its job and I had to help it along. My body works hard at what it does, but that doesn’t mean it does it well (according to my standards). For one thing I’ve learned that chocolate is terrible for my skin. Even a sliver of it can cause a breakout. So I’ve had to give that up. And I used to enjoy a chocolate dessert after dinner for over 20 years! But skincare is also a huge part of how I care for my skin, so let me share what products I’ve come to love.

I was browsing the Skincare subreddit and found that many users swore by the CeraVe line. I’d never heard of it before but I wanted to give it a try. With summer on the way, I wanted something with more SPF for those the one hour I spend outside with the dogs.

Cleanse
So I wash my face with cold water and the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. It’s got a thick and creamy consistency and my face doesn’t feel stripped from oils after it. I had been using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash but I wanted to dry something gentler. And then I dry my face on my towel. I read somewhere that drying your face after you wash it isn’t a good idea… That you should air dry it, but I haven’t been able to do that yet. The feel of a towel on my face is too good but I never rub. Dab your skin to dry it.

Moisturize
First I spray my face with the Tea Tree Water to give it some moisture and allow the following products to glide on. Next goes on a mix of CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25, Amino Acids + B5, and Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. If I have a particularly bad dark spot or scar I need to fade, I spot treat that area with the 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. These guys paired together have given me some soft, smooth, and supple skin for the summer.

I would like to rebuy the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for a little extra moisture. I want to see if it can give me a little bit of a dewy look because my skin has been pretty matte lately. If I do want a little bit of a glow I can place a little of the Rose Hip Oil on my cheeks for that look. It’s also worth noting that the Rose Hip has reduced my dark circles. Be careful and never use it too close to your eyes. My dark circles are genetic and will never go away but at least I look less undead and more “cute tired.”

Nighttime Routine
At night I cleanse the same way, a double cleanse this time, but I don’t moisturize the same. Instead I apply either the Rose Hip Oil or Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane. I used the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil when I lived in California but I don’t have the money to drop on such luxurious items. So far I’ve enjoyed The Ordinary one, but since it causes UV sensitivity, I don’t use it every night. It’s used to lessen signs of aging. When it comes to good skin care practices, it’s better late than never!

Extra
Every Sunday night I apply a thick layer of The Body Shop’s Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask and follow it with the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. I like to put these on before a shower so I can wash the Peeling Solution off. It’s a bit scary to use! Take caution, as once I didn’t wash it all off and I ended up burning myself… Lesson learned!

Please Note
What works for my skin may not work for yours. Also do a patch test on your skin before using any product. Skin care is a personal process. Make sure you see a dermatologist if your problems persist. It’s took me almost 20 years to feel comfortable in my own skin. But now when I wake up in the morning and see my face be beautiful without makeup… It makes me happy. If I can do it, so can you.