I get asked all the time what my skin care routine is. My skin type is dry and sensitive. My biggest concerns with my skin is having it look dry, dull, tired, redness, pulled tight (not in a good way), wrinkles and minor texture. I use a lot of different products, and they are all for different reasons. If you have any questions please ask :)
Morning Routine:
Cleanse with Fresh Soy Cleanser
Moisturize with Fresh Lotus Moisturizer
-I do this every morning, it never changes. Very simple!
Night Time Routine:
Cleanse with Fresh Soy Cleanser using Clarisonic Mia 2
-This is always the first step no matter what night time treatment I am doing.
After cleansing, I change up what I do for different nights of the week. Here is a weekly overview of what I do:
- Sunday: Exfoliate with Lush Ocean Salt Scrub, then GlamGlow PowerMud DualCleanse Treatment, followed by Peter Thomas Roth Eye Cream and Fresh Seaberry Oil or Josie Maran Argan Oil (some times I layer them)
- Monday: Dr Brandt Retinol Eye Cream and Fresh Peony Brightening Mask
- Tuesday & Friday: Cane & Austin Retexurizing Treatment Pads, followed by Cane & Austin Eye Cream and Moisturizer
- Wednesday & Saturday: Peter Thomas Roth Eye Cream and Fresh Seaberry Oil or Josie Maran Argan Oil (some times I layer them)
- Thursday: Exfoliate, Peter Thomas Roth Rose Mask (only if needed), Dr Brandt Retinol Eye Cream and Fresh Peony Brightening Mask
- Every day: Water, water, water! I try to drink at least 100 oz of water a day, some times more.
When I am doing my skin care nightly routine I always listen to my skin. If it looks dry, I will use the PTR eye cream and beauty oil. But if my skin has texture I will do my glycolic treatment. My schedule is not strict, I first look at my skin to see if it needs something specific that night. Notice on Sunday I am doing a little mini facial. On Sunday’s I put my kids to bed a little early and take some time for myself to pamper my skin. Always set some time aside for you. Side note- on mornings that I work out I cleanse and moisture both before and after I work out.
How to use each product:
- Cleanser: Click here to read my post on how to wash your face
- Using a cleanser with clarisonic: I squirt some cleanser on the brush head of the clarisonic then use the clarisonic as they instruct.
- Exfoliate: Apply some product to your finger tips, gently massage in circular motions to a wet, clean face. Thoroughly rinse off.
- GlamGlow Mask: Apply to a clean face and let it sit for 10 minutes. With wet hands massage the mask into your face. It will turn into an oil and you want to massage it in. Then thoroughly rinse your face and gently pat dry. You want to keep as much of the oil on your face as possible so don’t rub your face with a towel.
- Eye Cream: Click here to read on how to apply eye cream. Always apply eye cream to a clean face before your moisturizer, beauty oil or night mask.
- Moisturizer and Beauty Oils: Apply a small amount to your finger tips and apply to the skin where needed.
- Fresh Peony Brightening Mask: Apply to the face just as you would a moisturizer, making sure to cover the entire face in a thin layer.
- Cane & Austin Glyolic Products: First cleanse skin, then take 1 retexurizing pad and gently rub it around your face, avoiding eye area and mouth. Wait about 10 minutes for the product to fully soak into the skin. Then follow with the eye cream and moisturizer.
Why I use each product:
- Fresh Soy Cleanser: Cleansing is so important! This is the only cleanser that washes off my makeup, gets my skin clean, and is extremely gentle.
- Clarisonic Mia 2: This helps me get a really deep clean and helps with any skin texture.
- Fresh Lotus Moisturizer: This is a heavy enough moisturizer to give the hydration my skin needs. When it soaks in my skin feels like silk and makes a perfect base for applying makeup.
- Lush Ocean Salt Scrub: Exfoliating is key to getting off dead skin cells and keeping the skin looking fresh. I think this one does a great job.
- Fresh Seaberry Oil & Josie Maran Argan Oil: Both of these are amazing! This is such an amazing way to hydrate the skin, making it look dewy and glowing.
- Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Eye Cream: I use this when my eye area needs moisture. This eye cream is very thick and does the job.
- Dr Brandt Retinol Eye Cream: I use this for dark circles under my eyes. This brightens up my under eye, making me look rested and awake. This eye cream also helps a lot with fine lines and wrinkles.
- GlamGlow PowerMud Treatment: This deep cleans and hydrates all in 1. It pulls out all the yucky stuff that your face has collected then gives it a big dose of moisture. I choose to follow this treatment by using beauty oils then going to bed. Next morning my skin looks great.
- Fresh Peony Brightening Mask: This is used for the same reason as the Dr Brandt eye cream, to brighten and lighten the skin.
- Peter Thomas Roth Rose Mask: This mask is gentle enough to be used daily. This mask brings moisture and calms down any redness or irritation. I will use this any time I feel like I need it.
- Cane & Austin Glycolic products: All of these products are used for skin texture and tone, wrinkles, rebuilding collagen, dullness, large pores, break outs. These products are ah-mazing!
List of all products I use:
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Fresh Lotus Moisturizer
Clarisonic Mia 2
Lush Ocean Salt Scrub
GlamGlow PowerMud DualCleanse Treatment
Fresh Seaberry Oil
Josie Maran Argan Oil
Fresh Peony Brightening Night Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Rose Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Dr Brandt Retinol Eye Cream
Cane & Austin Retexuring Treatment Pads
Cane & Austin Corrective Treatment Eye Cream
Cane & Austin Moisture Cream
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Comments
48 responses to “My Current Skin Care Routine”
Would you do post on a daily skin care routine that you would recommend for someone that has oily skin?
Here is one I did a few months ago on oily, acne skin: https://www.lifescandyjar.com/skin-care-routine-for-oily-acne-prone-problematic-skin/
With your Clarisonic, which brush head(s) do you use? Do you switch it up or use one specific one consistently?
I use the cashmere brush head, and it’s the only one I use. I replace it every 3-4 months.
do you think the cashmere is better than the sensitive brush head ?
I got the cashmere brush head, and while yes its soft and gentle i dont see where it is getting all the makeup off, i feel like it doesnt?
love your skincare blogs, they are always my fave to read :)
Do you wear sunscreen during the day? If so which one?
Yes, i would also like to know what sunscreen you use in the day time. Please & Thank you! :)
My skin is so dry, it seems like no matter how many oils I use or serums I use it is still dry. Have you had any success with hydrating masks? Any suggestions?
Thanks so much for doing this update! I bought the PTR eye cream on your advice. Have you watched Caroline Hirons on YouTube? She’s has started doing some great overviews for products like acid toners and cleansers etc. You’d probably enjoy it! xx
Oh. I also have a question about my skin. I went on a real acid trip, skincare wise. Got into glycolics, salicylic acids, AHAs etc. and my skin started to peel, almost like I was sunburnt but I’m not. My nose was by far the worst. I stopped the use of most of them but have been using Alpha H’s liquid gold every 2 or 3 nights, but my skin is still mildly peeling. It’s accentuated when I wear foundation as it really sticks to the flaky areas, and I’ve tried heaps of different foundations to avoid it. My skin I would say is dry/normal as it feels tight after using some cleansers, with some shine in the t zone. I never thought my skin was sensitive as I have never had a reaction to any products on my face or body.
Would you be able to impart any advice? I’ve had a look online but have concluded nothing. I hope it’s not due to the acids as I like them.
Thanks so much lovely. I appreciate your guidance xoxo
Oh, should add I stopped with most of the acids just over 6 months.
One side effect to using acids is peeling skin. For prevention of peeling skin, I use beauty oils on nights that I’m not doing acids. If your skin is currently peeling back off on the acids and focus on hydrating. When your skin repairs itself then you can add the acids back into your routine.
Someone already asked, but I would also like to know if you use SPF as part of your morning skincare routine. If so, which one. Thanks!
When you say your skin has texture, what does that mean? Thanks you.
Also, I just took a look at your skin care recommendations for oily skin. I have really dry skin but I been having break outs left and right over the past few months. I’m 27 and my face never broke out this much even in high school. My skin care routine hasn’t changed. I use a gentle hydrating cleanser (I have sensitive skin too), a Mia2, and Argan oil as a moisturizer. It seems like most products to help with bumps are for oily skin but when I use those, they are too harsh for my face and it breaks out even more. But products aimed for dry skin don’t help with bumps and pores (cause I guess since your face is dry, these usually aren’t a problem… Yay me). Could you please give me some suggestions/recommendations/advice… Anything that could help. I’m at a loss over here. Thank you.
I second this question Natasha! Lucky us :/
Things to do for texture with dry skin is using a Clarisonic, exfoliating and I love the GlamGlow mask. Their power mud mask is also amazing. All of these things are safe for sensitive skin and won’t dry you out.
I used to have bumps on my cheeks and the texture was the worst. I started washing my face with oil. I have a small bottle and fill it up with half extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 of bottle with tea tree oil, and 1/4 bottle with castor oil. Before washing, shake up bottle to distribute all oils together and squeeze a nickel size and apply over dry face (avoid eye area as the tea tree oil will sting). After about a minute, with a warm wash cloth, steam face for a few seconds and wipe off, do this 2-3 times. Then dry face, and wash with coconut oil, (this you can use on your eyes, it gets the stubborn eyemake up off easily), steam face with warm wash cloth, and wipe away access. Rinse your face, but leave the excess oil on. I have been using this method 2-3 times per week (depending on how dry my skin is). I swear, within a couple of months, my bumps went away and my skin is soooo soft. Hope this helps you Natasha!
Thanks for the tips!
Do you use the Clarisonic every night? Cause my skin isn’t sensitive but it becomes that way if I use it daily. Is the difference in the brush head (I use the sensitive brush) or would it just be my skin? Thanks :)
I use my Clarisonic every night. If your skin gets sensitive from using it, try the cashmere brush head or use every other day.
Have you ever done dermaplaning? What are your thoughts?
Rachel Help!!! First off I want to say how amazing your blog is and how much I enjoy reading it. I am obsessed with all things beauty and specifically skin care. I recently got a hydrafacial (I had 2 previously with no problem) but this time I had a different lady doing it. Today I woke up and I feel like I have texture on my skin (small white bumps). I don’t know if I’m breaking out or if it’s a reaction to the different products she used. This is also the first time someone put an SPF on me right after the facial. Usually I just have bare skin all day and stay in and just let the products penetrate and do their magic.
Sooooooooooo my question is what should I do to get my face back to being smooth? I am about to embark on a long road trip and take lots of pictures and probably stress my skin out with lots of different types of weather. What would you recommend as far as treating my skin/maintaining it until I am done with my road trip?
Thank you!!!!! I don’t know if you need to know this but I have combination skin (normal but oily in the Tzone). I have a clarisonic mia that I use daily and I wash my face with Purity face wash.
I’m curious about what products you think are best for girl in tier early 20s. Best eye cream, day time moisturizer, and night time moisturizer. I have combination skin that is slightly more on the oily side.
Girls in their early 20s****
She has a recent post about it here: https://www.lifescandyjar.com/eye-cream-use-age/
I noticed you don’t use a toner. I’ve heard that their essential to restoring your skins ph levels. What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Rachel,
I LOVE when you post about skincare:) You’re skin is so beautiful, even though you say you are dry, so I try to follow your tips as best as I can since I’m dry too.
I have a quick question!
I think I’m dry for the most part.. When I put my makeup on some days after I apply moisturizer and a primer but, even then, the makeup seems to just kind of separate and flake off ESPECIALLY around and on my nose area. Is this due to being dry? Or a completely different problem all together? It’s really frustrating. Anything I can do to keep my makeup from completely flaking off?
what do you recommend for a hydrating moisturizer on the cheaper side?
What do you think of the PMD. Do you think it’s worth purchasing? And what type of improvements would it make to the skin? Thanks!
Hi
I noticed you don’t use a toner in your skin care routine. May I ask why? I heard that it balances the PH levels of the skin after cleansing. What is your take on it?
I love that you have such an amazing routine for skin care! :)
A toner is used to balance the pH of the skin. But I feel if I use a cleanser that is pH balanced, my skin doesn’t need balancing. That’s why I don’t use a toner.
Love these blogs, they are so very helpful! :) I was just wondering though if you could recommend an eye cream that’s not too expensive? I always get nervous trying new products for my eyes as I worry that my eyes will react badly or it won’t work, so I didn’t want to spend too much at first. I would love something that is soothing and helps with redness and puffiness. Thank you! :) x
http://www.lululocket.blogspot.com
Thank you for such an informative post! I’ve been using the Fresh Lotus moisturizer since summer based on your recommendation, and absolutely love it. Do you change it up once the cooler weather hits? I have combination skin leaning towards dry and am wondering if I will need something heavier for the cooler, drier months. Thanks!
In the drier months I use my beauty oils at night more often. I usually stick with the Lotus moisturizer for daytime.
Hey Rachel! I was just thinking about how you store/organize your skin care products! Would love to see some pics! Hahaha hope I’m not coming off as nosy! Lol
Hi Aleena! Some of it is nicely organized in organizers I purchased at the Container Store. While some of it is stuffed into my bathroom closet. :)
Hi Rachel, Any chance you could write up a winter routine for products and what day you use them. Since we’re coming up to winter I picked up most of these products but was curious how it will differ in the winter months. Thanks
I have a question, what is the difference between exfoliating and using a face mask?
Exfoliating gets all the dead skin off the surface of your skin. Check out this post I did on exfoliation. Using a mask adds to your skin whatever your skin needs, almost like a skin boost.
Have you tried the Fresh Mask and scrubs? I am considering purchasing their exfoliator and their rose and black tea mask.
Great post! I am on a budget so could you recommend a couple MUST HAVES to get me started with this routine. I will add to it as I can. Thanks!
Must haves are an eye cream, oil (either fresh seaberry or josie maran argan oil), and a good daily moisturizer. To exfoliate on a budget use organic sugar in the shower.
Hi Can I ask? I am in my early 50’s, what skincare range do you recommend for that more mature age? It feels confusing when you get to this age, I feel.as to what skincare range to use, there are the Salon type skin care ranges, and also the cheaper types, I want to do the best I can for my skin and have always looked after it (sunscreen, eye cream, moisturiser etc) but now I am this age I am unsure what range I should be using
Once you turn 50 I consider your skin “mature”. It’s always best to work preventatively. Now is the time to begin using the better products.
Have you tried any Rodan and fields products? I’d love to tell you more if you are interested? I have specials I’m currently offering as well. Just let me know. Christinastevensrandf@gmail.com