Every once in a while, someone will ask me about my skincare routine. I feel like a bit of a tool sending someone the link to my website, but it really does make the most sense. I use so many products, and verbally telling someone one or two products wouldn’t be comprehensive, and they may not remember the exact product names.
In the past, whenever I’ve sent a link to my site with my skincare routine, people often question if it has remained the same since 2020, when I originally created the post. The answer is yes. I’ve made slight tweaks here and there, but the general process and types of products I use remain the same. I realize that I should probably update it to show exactly what I’m doing now, so this post is an update to my previous 2020 post detailing my skincare routine.
Note: None of the below are affiliate links. I’ve linked products only to make them easy to find.
Morning
- Wash: iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
- Treat: Maelove Glow Maker
This is a big change for me. I used to use the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic for years. It’s the gold standard in vitamin C, and many estheticians and dermatologists that I’ve worked with have said this. However, it’s super expensive. It’s gone up in price over the years and is almost $200 now, so I started looking around recently for an alternative that was less expensive. The thing with the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is that they had a patent on their formula, but that patent recently expired, and so now other companies can make something similar. This Maelove Glow Maker is the most similar that I’ve been able to find and is a fraction of the price. - Treat: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- Treat: Clindamycin 1% lotion
- Hydrate + Protect: iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 40 (Beige)
Night
- Wash (double cleanse 1): CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
At night, I double cleanse. The first cleanse is for getting off the sunscreen. - Wash (double cleanse 2): iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
Once I’ve washed off the sunscreen, the second cleanse is to actually get my skin clean and treat it with whatever actives are in my cleanser. - Treat: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- Treat: Depending on how my skin is feeling, I choose one of the following:
- Tretinoin 0.025%: I use this the most frequently. It’s a retinol that’s a prescription.
- Glycolic acid: I usually end up using this one once or twice a week. If I’ve used the tretinoin a few days in a row, I start to get a bit peely, and this helps take off some of the dry skin.
- Epiduo Forte: I only use this when I have a zit I’m trying to get rid of because it has benzoyl peroxide in it.
- Skip altogether: If my skin is feeling especially dry, then I don’t use one of these treatments, and instead I just focus on hydration with the hyaluronic acid and moisturizing.
Other
- Spironolactone: I’ve been taking spironolactone for years, which has really helped clear up my hormonal acne. It doesn’t help with non-hormonal breakouts, but my skin completely cleared up when I started using it. It was a night-and-day difference. It’s a prescription, but I highly recommend going to a dermatologist and talking to them about spironolactone if you’re getting cystic hormonal acne.
- Botox: I get Botox every 6 months or so. I wouldn’t say that it helps with the quality of my skin, but of course it helps with any lines that form from moving my face.
- Minoxidil: This isn’t a skincare item, but I figured it was worth noting. I use minoxidil every night in my hair, and I do think that it’s helped my hair grow thicker. It’s not going to give you hair that you never had in the first place, but if you feel like your hair has gotten slightly thinner, this might help with regrowth.