Skincare Regimen

Well, since I’ve just started and don’t have any issues to address, I’ll start out by detailing my own comprehensive regimen… yeah it’s crazy, yeah it takes a fair amount of time, but I (personally) think it’s worth it. My skin looks awesome, I get compliments all the time, and (hopefully) my skin will look good as I get older and age well.

Step 1: Cleanse

Aqua Glycolic Facial Cleanser I’ll be honest, I looooove my glycolic acid! I never got my acne under control until I started using this, so I’m a big fan of glycolic acid. We know AHA’s and BHA’s are great for the skin, so that’s benefit #1. Benefit #2? It never stings or irritates my skin. In fact, it makes it pretty soft. One thing to look out for that can be kind of annoying in the beginning is that you massage it into your dry face, then add water as you cleanse and eventually wash off. Not a big deal once you get use to it, but when every other cleanser in the world says “apply to damp face,” you kindof get used to it. It’s annoying if you forget but, whatever. Not a big deal. Another thing: WEAR SUNSCREEN. You should be wearing it every day anyways if you’re concerned about the health of your skin, but with this especially, as it increases your sensitivity to the sun (all AHA’s do). Anyway, it’s noncomedogenic and “pH balanced for gentleness,” and I recommend it. Also, it smells like nothing. It’s not scented, but literally it has no scent, it pretty much smells like water. Score.

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser Yeah, I use two cleansers in a row. You don’t have to, of course, but I like how this one feels on my skin. If I had to recommend one over the other, I’ll say the Aqua Glycolic every time, however! One downside to the Aqua Glycolic cleanser is that although it does a great job, it sortof feels like you’re rubbing lotion all over your face. I know it IS effective but sometimes I like something that FEELS effective as I’m washing my face. Enter the Ice Cleanser. It gets very sudsy and makes my skin feel cool and refreshed.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Three cleansers? Wow. Overkill? Yeah, maybe. But I order tons of stuff from Sephora (this IS Product Junkie) and received this is a deluxe sample. I don’t normally use it on top of my skin care routine, but I had it so, why not? It also got pretty sudsy, and my face felt soft but cleansed afterward. It smells kinda funky though- it’s not a very strong scent and goes away quickly, but the Biore cleanser definitely smells better.

Clean and Clear Cream Cleanser Ok ok I know this is the fourth cleanser up here, but it’s not an every time face wash, just a sometimes face wash. If I’m feeling extra blackhead-y (ew. what a wonderful phrase I just invented) I’ll use this. Like the Biore cleanser, it makes your face feel cold and wonderful. Like the Glycolic cleanser, it kindof feels like your rubbing lotion all over your face, but it does feel pretty soft afterwards, which is what every girl is going for, right?

Step 2: Tone

I’ve heard claims that using toner is unnecessary, messes up your skin’s pH balance, etc etc. That’s fine if you believe that, and maybe it does, but I know for a fact that if I removed my toner from my regiment, it would definitely reflect on my face, and not in a good way. I use Aqua Glycolic Toner and I have mini freak-outs if I run out for even a day.

Step 3: Topical antibiotic

Not everyone needs one, so don’t take this as a necessary step. When people find out I have an Rx for a topical antibiotic, they’re extremely surprised, since my skin is in great shape. But it’s in great shape BECAUSE I use it (among all the other products I have). I use Evoclin, which is a 1% clindamycin phosphate foam. I love it. It can kindof sting sometimes, but usually nothing too bad.

Step 4: Extras

This again is optional, but after using Evoclin I use DCL AHA revitalizing gel 15. I used to use it at night only, afraid that it might make my face sticky or weird under make up, but as long as you apply the right amount and allow it to sink in before applying your moisturizer and make up, it’s not a problem. It’s supposed to help with my milia.I switched to using it in the mornings because at night I’m currently trying Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel. So far it’s working pretty well, but I’ve only been using it for a couple weeks. It’s 2.0% Hydroquinone. There has been some buzz about Neocutis Blanche, a skin lightening cream that won Allure’s Beauty Breakthrough award, but it’s Rx only.

Step 5: Moisturize and Protect

Ideally, you want your moisturizer to also be a sunscreen, which considerably speeds up your skincare process (you have to wait for your moisturizer to sink in and then apply your sunscreen and then THAT has to sink in before it can work properly…) and it just seems like it may be creating too many layers on the face and affect make up application. So I say go with a 2 in 1. I like Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. It’s supposed to make your skin look luminous with its “natural light diffusers.” Some people worry it’s more sparkly but really it’s not very noticeable, more of a subtle glow and plus I’m 19- sparkles are totally welcome. If you’re worried about the smell, I think it smells good. However, I kindof like how sunscreen smells (the neutrogena kind, at least, and this one). Don’t get me wrong, I have smelled my fair share of disgusting smelling sunscreens (La-Roche Posay, anyone? Don’t even get me started on that- it’ll have a post all to itself) but I have been complimented by a couple different people, most of them being guys, (one who happens to be my boyfriend) who asked what I’d just put on my face, because I smelled good. Sunscreen smelling good? Maybe! It’s definitely not bad, so you have that.

Step 6: Eyecream

Yes I’m afraid of wrinkles at 19 but don’t judge me- it’s a preventative thing! Mostly I use different samples I get from all over the place (most people are more than happy to give you samples of things, especially eye creams as they are pretty expensive and they understand that people want to try it first, and know it works before spending a ton of money on it, and usually a little bit will last you a long time), but lately I’ve been using Kinerase Under Eye Rescue from a sample I received at my local beauty supply store.

So there you have it, my normal skin care regiment. This doesn’t even include all the crap I supplement it with, but this post is long enough already. More to come… but ’til then, this has been Product Junkie, sharing all her OCD skincare tips with you. Now go wash your face! and WEAR SUNSCREEN!

Tags: alpha hydroxy acids, aqua glycolic, aveeno, beta hydroxy acids, biore, clean and clear, DCL, evoclin, glycolic acid, kinerase, la roche-posay, milia, murad, neocutis blanche, philosphy