Stop for a moment to read my past comments about developing a skincare “regimen” and not really feeling that, simply because I was fine with 1) relying on those African juices; 2) not interrupting my pathway to sleep by stopping in the loo to wash my face before bed; 3) maintaining my general desire to be unfussy about everything. I knew changes were needed, as you can see from the previous post, but I…didn’t want to make them.
But you can ignore everything I said in that previous post.
When a gal enters her 40s, things change. When a gal enters a year into her 40s, things really, really change. All that said, smooth, African juicy skin or not, I made a conscious decision to focus on skincare. (Because even after that post, I wasn’t really doing much. This stubborn nature is precisely why my ninth-grade Algebra teacher threatened me with a belt. *shrug*) And it’s been going quite well. Here’s what I’ve been doing:
- Washing my face twice a day. Honestly, this was hard for me to start doing. When I’ve laid on the couch long enough to yawn after multiple episodes of Family Feud and Law and Order, heading to bed means heading right to bed. I wasn’t in the mood to do all of that. For me, washing in the morning was enough. (Judge me if you like. ‘Tis what ’tis.) But that’s over with. I do my five/six-step routine morning and night and–drumroll, please–I love every single bit of it.
- Researching skincare. That means reading articles about skincare, watching YouTube videos about skincare, dreaming about skincare…well, perhaps not, but you get my drift.
This past weekend, I visited San Antonio for a ladies spa and wellness weekend (the source of the photo in the thumbnail, which also includes my more-than-happy-to-join-the-photo-photobomber). During my facial at the spa, my esthetician mentioned that my skin was doing quite well. This was awesome to hear; it meant that the changes I had implemented were working. So, here’s my routine, AM and PM:
- Cleanse. In the morning, I prefer either Ambi African Black Soap or a light cleanser of my choosing. In the evening, I typically use Lancome’s Creme Radiance, a clarifying cream-to-foam cleanser. I use a spin brush for my face in the evenings, by the way. Mornings: the good old hands.
- Exfoliate. I don’t do this every day. Perhaps every other day, or every, every other day. Real talk: exfoliating my skin is the bee’s knees. I don’t know; there’s something about the texture of the product against my skin, removing all those impurities. Yes and please and thank you. My favorite exfoliating agent is Garnier’s Blackhead Eliminating Scrub with Charcoal. It has Salicylic Acid, which helps my post-facial wax, sometimes acne prone face.
- Tone. Look: toner is life. Provides additional cleansing after the main cleanser, shrinks pores, refreshes the skin, and all the other lovely things described here. I enjoy it immensely. Currently, my favorite toner is L’Oreal Hydrafresh Toner.
- Micellar Water. This is a new product for me. I typically use it at night as a makeup remover. So no more makeup wipes for me, for the most part. In the morning, it can function as a cleanser, which I’ve used for that, as well. I love the feel of it on my skin. Not too heavy, definitely refreshing. I use Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1.
- Spot Treatment. This is when I add products that deal directly with any acne or blemish issues. I’ve been sticking with Murad’s Outsmart Acne Clarifying Treatment for a minute now.
- Moisturize. The final step for me. Light, not too heavy, refreshing: my criteria for a moisturizer. Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin for the win.
Of course, due to my abundance of research (I don’t do many things halfway once I set my mind on doing them), there are a few things I’d like to add to the routine. I’m newly intrigued by pre-cleansing oil, the pre-cleansing before the cleansing. My oily T-zone didn’t see the need to add oil to oil, but seems legit. We shall see. Secondly: serums and eye creams and masks. The package(s) is/are on the way. I’ll report when they arrive.
So, the moral of the story: my Algebra teacher was right. I should have listened the first time. But since Ms. Baker and I met again during my Sophomore year (and I finally listened and passed), I’ve renewed my intent to keep this skin healthy and aglow.
What’s your skincare routine? Share in the comments if you please.
This Square Peg. 
I got so excited when I saw you’d posted this! (Also, I’m glad you eventually explained who the random dude behind you was. I was ready to text you and ask if you had something you wanted to tell me. :D)
I’m excited because as part of a recent (‘recent’ meaning over the course of the last few months) initiative to take better care of my body, I’ve started implementing a skin care routine (of sorts). It started around the same time I decided to make working out a multi-weekly thing and taking better care of my teeth. I decided 2020 was going to be the year I finally “completed what I started to do” (see this upcoming week’s Watchtower lesson). Like you mentioned, it often requires a bit of a sacrifice before bedtime, but one thing that’s helped is making sure I do it before I get too comfortable.
But I digress.
Like you, I’ve started caring more for my skin. Because of a hormone imbalance, I’m prone to terrible, painful cystic acne. That part of it, I’m now taking care of with the help of a mild prescription – it blocks the hormones that my body is producing too much of, thereby balancing things out both under and above the surface of my skin.
Once I worked on the problem of my cystic acne and started getting that under control, the rest was fairly easy. For cleansing in the mornings, I use a Dove bar. I’ve found Dove is the only bar soap my face likes. Post-cleanse, I wipe my skin down with micellar water (I got excited when you mentioned this, too) and pat dry with a soft towel. For moisturizing, I use Nivea cream lotion, along with a drop of my oil mixture (I use that oil mixture on my body as well, putting a drop into every pump of lotion and mixing it together. It’s comprised of sweet almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and coconut oil.)
At night, I do the exact same thing, only I swap the Dove bar for Rice Water cleanser, a gentle foaming wash. When I want to exfoliate, I use St. Ives apricot scrub – an oldie but goodie that has never let me down – and when I want a mask, I use Bentonite clay.
Love this into infinity. 🙂 There’s something about setting your mind to something and getting into it wholeheartedly, and we can’t go wrong with taking care of ourselves outside and in. It’s awesome that the cystic acne is getting under control, for sure. Loving the products you’re using, and you’ve inspired me to make an oil mixture, as well. I’m really into that healthy, healthy glow. And I LOVE Bentonite clay. Thanks for reminding me about that; I have a jar and can use it for a mask. Thanks for sharing, my friend. Love this.
Our skincare routines are really, really similar. I recently posted mine on my blog, too, if you were interested. 😊 Totally agreed what you said about exfoliating & toning. They both make the biggest differences, don’t they? & ever since finding products that work for me, I’m always excited to get my routine going & to find new things to try, as well. Curious to know about the new things got! Hope they’ve all worked for you!
Yes, toning and exfoliating are so amazing. Really love how my skin feels after doing both. I added some masks in my routine so I’m going to write about those soon. Thanks!