Skin Care Routine Update

I've been playing cool the last couple of months with my skin care routine. Sometimes just doing the bare minimum. I try to maintain my skin but there are times when the idea of a multi-step routine is just tiresome. For the nights when I feel like that, I will just add a moisturizer and completely skip on toner and serums. I do of course make sure that my face is thoroughly cleansed, the thought that I might still have sunscreen and makeup on my face when I go to bed icks me out. So I make certain that a proper cleanse occurs.

In addition to cutting back on my skin care steps I also cut back on purchasing new skin care products. Knowing that there's a good chance the product might expire before I finish using it as helped me keep a firm grip on my wallet.

Here are the basic's of my current free form skin care routine.

Exfoliation

In the last 4 months or so I think that I might have used chemical exfoliants 3 maybe 4 times. Why you may ask, it's simply been laziness. My energy levels have been on the low side for the last few months, so keeping it minimal as been my motto.

However I have been using my Foreo Luna Mini, weekly to cleanse my face. As I mentioned in my Fall Favourites post, it's helped to smooth out some texture on my face. I also noticed that it's helped with evening out my skin tone on my neck, which I was happy to see.

Toners

This is step has pretty much dropped off the map for me. There have been some mornings where I'll use my Son & Park Beauty Water to gently cleanse my face and the odd time or two I use my Guerrison 9 Complex toner or the iUnik Rose and Galatomyces toners but that is far and few between.

With winter on the horizon, I need to start adding this step back in, I can already see that my skin is a bit dehydrated. My skin thrives when it's properly moisturized, it's soft, smooth and maintains a healthy oil balance. When it's not though, I start to get pimples and my skin then of course starts to feel rough, my oil production also ramps up. So back to the toners I go.

Serums

This step has been one that I've kept up, I just cut back on how many I've been using. In my head I'm not using that many but to someone else it would be alot. I'm currently using about 5 or 6 on the odd day. Side note 3 of those are samples so they won't be lasting too much longer.

I'm using the Ole Herickson Vitamin C serum and because I'm extra I've been apply the Sunday Riley Vitamin C serum on top of that. It might be a bit much but so far my skin hasn't freaked out yet. I also like to use The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide and Arbutin serums. Building up that moisture. Another sample product that I've been using is the Algenist Collagn Serum, I've written about my love for this guy in this post from last year.

Some mornings, I do the vitamin C and then the Algenist others I'll use The Ordinary line up. I don't have any skin concerns so I'll stick to serums that focus on moisture for now.

Moisturizers

Lately I've been using gel moisturizers, I've got the First Aid Beauty Coconut moisturizer and the Ole Herickson vitamin c gel moisturizer. They're okay, I'm not really blown away by either one. For now they're just place holders. 

I've got a few faves that I want to re-purchase if possible, so I'm going to keep my eyes open and try to pick them up on sale

Oils

Haven't been using or incorporating any oils into my routine right now. This will come back when I revise my winter routine. 

Assessment

With the weather already hitting minus degrees, I know that I have to start adding steps back into my routine. The toners simple as they are, add a good bit of moisture so I'll start doing the 7 skin method again, if you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out this post. 

I do also want a moisturizer that's a bit thicker and more emollient. Right now I feel that my skin is a bit dehydrated so I want something that's going to lock in all the additional layers of moisture I'm adding.

I also plan to get back to using chemical exfoliants regularly in my routine. I don't want any of that dead skin hanging around. I also have a few anti-oxidant items from The Ordinary that I also want to get into rotation again.

I just realized that I haven’t touched on my cleansing routine at all. Whoops. I like to do the 2 step cleansing method with a oil cleanser followed by a mild cleanser. Recently my favourite oil cleansers have run out so right now I’m working on getting some new ones since I haven’t been able to find my fave in store. I also like to use my Foreo Mini every other day or so just to not over do it.

How are you doing with your skin care routine? Have you stayed true to course or have you wavered like me?