I change my skincare routine quite often, mostly because I like to discover new products but also because my skin’s needs constantly change.
My Skype is dry and sensitive. It is also very dull and uneven, with large pores and blackheads on the nose.
Since I changed my routine and started using Hera and various other brands, my skin became smoother and brighter. It’s not as dry, sensitive & dull as it used to be. My only trouble left is redness on the nose and blackheads, which I’m slowly starting to get rid of by using appropriate products.
Cleansers
I have quite a few cleansers in my bathroom, and I use all of them depending on my skin’s needs and mood. I currently love the Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, the Su:m37 White Award Cleansing Foam, and the Mamonde Rose Bubble Cleanser. All three of them are very gentle and brighten the skin without drying it.
Toners
Right after cleansing my face, I dry it with clean tissue paper and proceed with my exfoliating toner, the Pixi Glow Tonic. It contains Aloe vera, Ginseng, Witch Hazel, and Glycolic Acid to tighten pores, remove dead skin cells, and tighten and brighten the skin.
I also use the Hera Cell-Essence (even though it is called an essence, it is more like a toner) to firm and tighten my skin.
Serums
I start my serum routine by using the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid on my nose and cheeks. It does an amazing job of tightening pores and removing deep, stubborn blackheads. To reduce fine lines and fight early signs of aging, I introduced the Su:m37 Secret Programming Essence into my routine a few months ago. I absolutely love it as it visibly improves skin’s overall appearance and firmness.
My routine wouldn’t be complete without using a lightening serum to brighten my dull skin and even out my (uneven) skin tone. For this task, I use the great Hera White Award Biogenic Effector and the Su:m37 White Award Spot Essence EX. The Hera Biogenic serum also reduces the yellow tinge in my skin. So far, I haven’t noticed any brightening results from the Su:m37 spot essence, but I still use it since it contains excellent anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients.
At night time, I apply a tiny dot of the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (or the Paula Choice 2% BHA Liquid) on my nose, and I follow with my Paula Choice 5% Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment (I might replace it with the Cosrx AHA 7) which contains 5% of Glycolic Acid. This serum is quite incredible as it visibly smooths uneven skin’s texture (bumps, blackheads…), brightens & even out uneven skin tone, and reduces dead skin cells. It also contains 0.5% Salicylic acid, a powerful anti-troubles ingredient to reduce sebum and more.
Once again, I apply the great anti-aging serum Su:m37 Secret Programming Essence, and voila.
Whenever I am not too lazy, I also use the whitening serums I use in the morning, but since I have to wait around 30 minutes (niacinamide + glycolic acid = fail) after using my AHA serum (the one I mentioned above by Paula Choice).
Moisturizers
Time to moisturize my dry skin, and for this task, I always use an emulsion under my moisturizing cream. I use my all-time favorite emulsion, the Hera Aquabolic Moisturizing Emulsion or the Su:m37 White Award Emulsion. They are both super lightweight and make my skin super moist & soft without clogging my pores.
The two moisturizing creams I’ve been using for the past few months are the Hera White Program cream & the Su:m37 White Award Ultimate Whitening Ampoule in Cream. Both are the best brightening creams I have ever tried. I use the Hera in the morning and the Su:m37 at night. The Hera provides real brightening results, while the Su:m37 provides more moisturizing and anti-aging results.
Twice a week, I use the Mamonde Rose Honey Sleeping Pack instead of my night cream. It contains anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients such as rose oil and more. Whenever I use it my skin is glowing in the morning, which makes it a must-have for me. You can find the full review of this wonderful sleeping mask on my blog.
Eyes/Lips
I do not use any eye cream at the moment, though I seriously need one.
For my extremely dry and chapped lips, I use the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask or pure coconut oil. Both are excellent and leave my lips super smooth and soft in the morning.
Makeup removers
For removing my makeup I use the Laneige Fresh Brightening Cleansing Oil or the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. Both perfectly remove waterproof makeup & leave my skin super clean. You can find a review of the Laneige cleansing oil here. Of course, I always double-cleanse with one of the foam cleansers I use in the morning.
Masks/Scrubs
One of my favorite times of the week is when I get to pamper my skin with scrubs and masks.
I haven’t used manual exfoliators (beads) much since I boarded the chemical-exfoliators-are-wonderful train. Still, the one I always keep in my bathroom is the Iaso White Peeling Gel.
It visibly improves skin’s uneven texture without irritating at all, which is great for sensitive skin. I tend to use it mostly in the winter and in the summer or whenever my skin is too irritated or too sensitive to stand AHAs.
The other exfoliator I use is a chemical one, and it is the Paula Choice 10% Weekly AHA Treatment. It does everything a scrub should do: brighten the skin, tighten pores, remove blackheads, visibly improve skin’s appearance and texture, even out skin tone, and, of course, remove dead skin cells. I noticed a huge change in my skin’s appearance since I started using it.
Wash-off masks are a big deal to me since I absolutely adore them. I know a lot of people swear by sheet masks only, but I can’t stand the feeling of having one on my face.
It’s not really a sheet mask, but I love pouring some Mamonde Rose Toner on cotton pads and applying them all over my face for a few minutes as it tightens, soothes, and brightens my skin.
I don’t feel like spending a fortune on a wash-off mask (except a Hera or Sum:37, maybe), so I usually use cheaper brands like Mamonde or Innisfree.
Mamonde makes great masks at a very decent price, and the ingredients are very good. I am currently using the great Lotus Micro Mud mask, and I love it as it leaves the skin super clear and blackheads-free.