Yeah, I know! Skincare routine? I could never imagine myself having a 5-6 step skincare routine aside from the basic washing of my face with water, and then using toners. I thought it's just vanity. Also, how dare I? I don't have perfect skin, and I get a lot of acne, how dare I post something about skincare routine? HAHAHA.
How did I come up with this... thing?
So I spend a lot of my free time browsing Instagram, I use it to read spoilers of manhwas I'm reading, I use it to watch mukbang videos, and from time to time, I'd see videos of people giving skincare tips. I started following these people and I came to learn a lot of stuff from their posts.
If you're wondering who I'm following on Instagram, here they are:
- @dr.zionko
- @skincareryan
And very recently, like, days ago, I'm following James Welsh on Facebook.
Both Dr. Zion and Ryan are in the medical field, and I'm not sure about James Welsh but he does a lot of skincare product reviews, and no, he doesn't just review any product. Even if that's the most expensive skincare product, if he thinks it doesn't do much for your skin at all (by checking the ingredients and stuff), he won't recommend it. Most of all, their advices are the same, so for me, that makes their advices very credible.
Know your skin type
I already know I have the acne-prone, oily type skin. So that tells a lot about what types of cleanser, toners, serums I should use for my skin.
The good thing is even before I start doing all these skincare routine, I already have my own very basic skincare routine. I just need to use the right products for my face.
First things I bought:
AHA/BHA
AHA/BHA with Salicylic cream
BHA Toner
Vitamin C serum
AHA/BHA
For acne-prone skin, use AHA/BHA. Twice a week.
Here's a link from the HealthLine to give you a full explanation on the benefits of using AHAs and BHAs.
There are side effects if you don't use AHA/BHA properly, like: burning, itching, blisters - especially if your skin can't tolerate it. Which is why, it's recommended by those people that I follow online to only use it twice a week. And always use sunscreen every morning.
AHA/BHA w SALICYLIC ACID
As for the Salicylic Acid cream that I use, here's another link from the HealthLine. The people I follow online mentioned that blackheads/whiteheads (clogged pores) should be treated with salicylic acid, because SA will penetrate into your skin and dissolve the dead skin cells that are clogging your pores. It will take weeks of using this for you to see its effect. So be patient.
Do you also notice those white "dots" we always see at the side of our nose? Those are called sebaceous filament. These are normal, and natural. Sebaceous Filaments produce sebum, and it's a way for our skin to moisturize. But again, too much sebum can cause acne. So if you want to treat them, or at least, minimize the sebum production on your face, you can use salicylic acid, too.
VITAMIN C SERUM
I use it every morning, after cleaning my face, and before sunscreen. We don't use Vitamin C together with AHA/BHA products. So I use AHA/BHA products in the evening. Again, here's a link from HealthLine to get a more detailed explanation on the benefits of using Vitamin C serum on your face. There's a lot of benefits in using VitaminC, I tell 'ya.
FOAMING & OIL-BASED CLEANSER
For oily skin, I also bought a foaming cleanser, or foaming facial wash. I couldn't find a CeraVe foaming cleanser, so I opted for other foaming cleansers that I found in Watsons.
I bought a Squalane facial cleanser from The Ordinary. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's an oil-based cleanser, or if there's a difference, but it felt like an oil-based cleanser when I use it. I don't use makeup that much, and if I do, I just apply very light makeup. But I always notice that I have a lot of sebaceous filaments on my nose when I use one of my sunblocks, the tinted one from Belo. So using this oil-based cleanser to get rid of the makeup, and sunblock is very helpful. You need oil-based cleanser to get rid of oil-based sunblock/makeup out of your skin. So after I use the squalane facial cleanser, I use the foaming cleanser that I have.
TONERS
I have a Micellar Cleansing Water which can be used to remove makeup, and this particular Micellar water that I'm using is good for oily, acne-prone skin. I'm not sure if that's a toner, though, but I use it if I don't want to use any AHA/BHA product.
There's this Witch Hazel toner, too, I didn't buy it, my husband did. We're using it for other purpose, but since it's good for the pores, I also use it together with Micellar water, and as long as I don't plan to use any AHA/BHA product for that particular routine.
And lastly, I also have a BHA toner from Neutrogena that I use together with other AHA/BHA products. BHA can go deeper into our pores, cleanses it and helps unclog our pores, that's why it's good for getting rid of blackheads / whiteheads. And I like it because it feels cool and refreshing afterwards.
SUNBLOCK
Sunscreen is certainly the most important one, aside from the products that cleanses our face (facial cleansers and toners). I've always used the Belo products, because I find it hard to look for gel-type or water-based sunblock that is not so pricey. I knew about Biore before but honestly it's quite expensive and is smaller than the Belo sunblock. But now, I wanna try it, it's water-based which I really like, and I like how lightweight it feels, and doesn't leave any white cast on my face.
BENZOYL PEROXIDE
I also bought Benzoyl Peroxide, used twice a week if I have a breakout, or a very big and painful acne (inflammatory, cystic acne), or if there's a pimple that's kinda blocked and couldn't get out. And I only use it until those cystic acne has dried out. Also, I apply it only on affected areas, I don't put it all over my face.
PIMPLE PATCHES
I also bought pimple patches, haha, I really thought these are just small, circle bandaids to "hide" your pimples. I didn't know its purpose is to really help get the gunk out and helps healing the pimple.
NIACINAMIDE SERUM
I added Niacinamide serum, too, which, aside from the fact that it helps with your acne, it is also helpful in regulating oil, minimizes pores, treats hyperpigmentation, reduces fine lines and wrinkles (anti-aging) and protects against oxidative stress. Here's a link from HealthLine, again, for a more detailed explanation on what it does to your skin.
MOISTURIZING GEL / LOTION
Recently, I found CeraVe products online, so I bought a foaming cleanser and a moisturizing lotion. I saw that even though you have oily skin you still need a moisturizer. I haven't received these products yet, I've been dying to find out if CeraVe works for me. But @skincareryan seems to be a huge fan of CeraVe products and really promotes using these two products. If you want a very basic skincare routine for oily skin, you can just use these two (foaming cleanser + moisturizing lotion), with sunblock, of course.
I actually have another moisturizing product, it's an Aloe Vera gel that has Centella Asiatica, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, and Arbutin.
- The Centella Asiatica is good for oily, acne-prone skin, as it provides just the right of moisture you need.
- Hyaluronic Acid keeps your skin looking hydrated and plump. You can read more about Hyaluronic acid from Paula's Choice.
- Collagen is quite popular, it helps with skin elasticity, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and is also used for anti-aging.
- Arbutin has lightening effect, helps fade hyperpigmentation, and even out skin tone.
RETINOID / RETINOL CREAM
It promotes cell turn-over which then prevents signs of aging, also helps in increasing production of collagen, and unclogs pores which helps with acne. I plan to use it twice a week, in the evening. It's used mainly for acne and anti-aging. Why use anti-aging now when we're still young? It's because we want to retain our youthful skin, right? So we use anti-aging products as early as we can, not when we're already old and wrinkly. By the way, if you're looking for anti-aging facial or eye creams, make sure it has retinoid/retinol in it.
The are different "percentage" in some retinoid products. I remember I was prescribed with a Retinoid cream 0.025%, which is used to treat acne. Higher percentage is for anti-aging. I've read that it's not recommended to go to bigger percentages immediately. You might want to get proper prescription from a dermatologist if you really want it, as it might irritate your skin. But that doesn't mean there are no over-the-counter retinoid/retinol that you can buy. You can actually buy it if you're willing to take the risk.
LIP BALM WITH SPF 30 & LIP NIGHT MASK
Lastly, I bought lip balm with SPF30, and a lip night mask from Laneige (very pricey!). My lips have darkened, and I'm pretty sure it's because of sun exposure, and perhaps, lack of hydration. I started noticing my lips darkened when I started trying to be kikay, by applying tint lipstick - which is very dehydrating to our lips. And I also haven't used lip balm with SPF in the past, so now, I wanna give it some love and give back its natural color, too.
My Daily Routine
Every morning, right after I wakeup:
- Wash my face with foaming facial wash - to get rid of all the serums, creams, lotions I put on my face the night before.
- Garnier Micellar Water and/or Witch Hazel Toner
- Vitamin C
- Sunblock
- Lip balm with SPF30
At lunch time, since I take a bath after lunch:
- Wash my face with AHA/BHA soap
- Neutrogena BHA Toner
- Niacinamide Serum
- Aloe Vera Moisturizing Gel
- Sunblock
- Lip balm with SPF30
In the evening, my routine varies:
- If I'm using tinted sunblock from Belo, or if I applied little makeup that day, I will double-cleanse. I use the Squalane Oil-based cleanser first, then the foaming facial wash next.
- Garnier Micellar Water and/or Neutrogena BHA Toner
- AHA/BHA with Salicylic cream or Benzoyl Peroxide or Retinoid - I alternate applying these products every night, and just use twice per week.
- Niacinamide Serum, if I don't use any of those products above.
- CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion / Aloe Vera Moisturizing Gel
- Lip night mask
And just in case you wanna know, I brush my teeth before I do all these. And always, always wash my hands first, before touching my face.
Because of these videos I found online, I get to understand the products, the ingredients, the acids and the actives more. I get to understand what it does to my face, and why it's necessary. It might get daunting at times, but when that happens, I'll just make sure to at least wash my face, use toner / micellar water, and sunblock in the morning.
Sunblock is the real MVP among these serums and creams. Without it, everything that you've applied on your face will not work when your skin gets burned from the sun, and sunblock is our #1 shield against (premature) skin aging. And I also posted before why we should apply sunblock every day.
I went to a Dermatologist years ago
As long as I can tolerate the stuff she prescribed me with, it's really okay, and my skin looks and feels really great. But honestly, it's painful and it stings a lot. And I came to learn that anything that stings shouldn't be on your face. Glycolic soap + clindamycin + glycolic cream stings so much, I wouldn't want to put it on my face.
I was prescribed with:
Morning:
Wash with Glycolic soap
Use Clindamycin Phosphate 1% Toner
If Glycolic cream is 15%, use it morning and evening, if more than 15%, use it only once a day
Gel Sunblock with SPF 30
Evening:
Wash with Glycolic soap
Use Clindamycin Phosphate 1% Toner
If Glycolic cream is 15%, use it morning and evening, if more than 15%, use it only once a day
Retinoid Acid Cream 0.025%
Glycolic is a type of AHA, I think it has the tiniest molecules, so it can penetrate deeper in your skin, cleans your pores, get rid of dead skin cells, and can also be very irritating. Which is why it stings. And you're suppose to use AHA/BHA products twice a week, preferably at night. But I was asked to use it everyday, morning and evening. I must've tortured my skin a lot back then. But if you want fast results, and your skin can tolerate how much it stings on your face, then, I guess you can go for it.
But for me, now that I'm older, I just don't want to be harsh on my skin anymore. My mindset right now is that I will pamper my skin, give it extra care, whether I can (or can't) completely get rid of my acne, I'll just do it as part of me giving myself some love. I want to enjoy doing it, rather than being afraid of how much it hurts.
Lesson Learned
If you want to learn more about skincare routine, you can follow these people on social media. I bet you will also learn a lot of things from them. And you can try and start on your own skincare routine, too.
It's not just the brand, or even the product. You have to know what your skin needs. Know what acids, actives, you need, and look for those when you buy for facial wash, creams, toners, moisturizers.
You should start giving yourself some love right now, and you will thank yourself later. I'm excited, and I'm expecting that even when I grow so much older, I won't look that old, and that I will look younger than my age.
I remember one of our neighbors told me that she thought I was 19 or 20 years old. I'm almost 30, btw. And I thank myself for using sunblock on my early twenties. That definitely helped in protecting myself from premature aging. So if that's your goal as well, then you should start on your skincare routine, too!
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