A Simple, Yet Effective, Skincare Routine

Hi all! Yesterday I guest posted over on the Live Organized, Live Simple Blog. I am re-posting here. Check out Amanda’s blog for more great posts about how to live simpler to get more enjoyment out of life!

I am obsessed with skincare as self-care and I love trying new products. With that said, sometimes I’m tired or busy and I don’t have time for an elaborate skincare routine. It is so important to take care of ourselves, and that includes taking care of our skin. No matter where I am or how tired I may feel, I always go back to this simple, 5 step basic routine:

Step 1 – Remove Makeup It is so, so important to remove makeup, dirt, and sunscreen from your face every night. You need to have separate steps for removing your makeup and cleansing your face. Many cleansers can’t take off concealer or foundation completely, especially around the eyes and nose. This also allows your facial cleanser to really get in and clean your pores. I love using wipes to remove my makeup because they are so quick and easy, and I don’t have to deal with messy oils getting into my eyes. I reach for my Clean and Clear Oil Free wipes every night.

Step 2 – Neutral PH Facial Cleanser After removing my makeup I cleanse my face. Growing up I always thought that a cleanser needed to be somewhat harsh to really clean my skin – the opposite is true in fact! Harsh, stripping facial cleansers can damage your delicate moisture barrier and invite more bacteria into your skin, causing breakouts. Our skin’s natural PH is neutral and we need to use a neutral cleanser to keep that balance. My current favorite is Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser.

Step 3 – Toner I use an acid toner immediately after cleansing, applied with a cotton round. I find it’s a great way to get a regular dose of exfoliation into my routine without overdoing it. It also helps with keeping the pH of my skin neutral and preventing breakouts. I have been loving the COSRX Poreless Power Liquid. It has a low amount of BHA to slough off dead skin cells and tighten pores. It’s also the only product I have ever used that actually seems to clean my pores and make them look smaller. For my pregnant ladies out there – you can’t use BHA so I recommend an AHA product. I like the Pixi Glow Tonic.

Step 4 – Moisturize After toning we need to moisturize to keep from feeling dry and tight. I like to try out a lot of different types of moisturizers based on what my skin needs that day, but the one I consistently come back to is Cerave Baby Moisturizing Lotion. Don’t worry it doesn’t smell like baby. I like to use this one because it has all the great ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide of the classic Cerave lotion but since it’s suitable for babies it’s also formulated without parabens. I use it on my daughter, too!

Step 5 – Sunscreen The last step may be the most important. The number one thing recommended for anti-aging? Sunscreen! Oh and it lowers your risk for cancer, I mean that’s good too. But seriously, I am all about aging gracefully and I do not want wrinkles and sun spots for as long as I can help it. To get true, age defying, cancer preventing coverage, you need to wear SPF 50. Every. Day. I tend to be a fan of Japanese sunscreens. They’re lightweight, non-greasy, and go great under makeup. One of my favorites is Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence.

One final note – If I did my evening routine of removing makeup, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing – I just rinse my face with warm water in the morning. You don’t want to overwash! (Need to protect that moisture barrier!) Obviously, I do not use sunscreen in my evening routine.

That’s it, just five simple steps! Skincare is very personal and what works for me might not work for you, but hopefully you find this post helpful. If you try out this routine I’d love to know how it works for you! Come visit me over at Lauren Luvs for more great advice about Beauty, Style, and Mom Life! And thank you to Amanda for hosting me today!