MORNING + NIGHT SKINCARE ROUTINE

The last time I had great skin was when I was 13. Not long before that, I remember hearing the word "acne" and not even knowing what it was. It's pretty strange to think about, seeing that acne has been a constant struggle for me for over a decade. If anything good can come out of having far-from-perfect skin, it's knowing that I need to take care of it!

I have oily/combination skin which is prone to cystic acne (those really painful zits that sit under your skin for forever). I also have a lot of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If I have anything going for my skin, it's that it's relatively smooth. My main concerns are acne and skin discoloration. 

I try to keep my skincare routine simple because skincare is expensive; it involves a lot of trial and error to find something that works for each person. Below is a list of products I currently have and how I use them:

MORNING ROUTINE

I don't actually wash my face in the morning. Until a few months ago, never in my life did I consider foregoing exfoliators and cleansers upon waking up. I'm so glad I did, though! I've found that stripping my face of its natural oils, especially when I wake up, can cause inflammation and irritation – this can also make my breakouts worse when I am dealing with an acne flare up.

What I do instead is spritz my face with rose water from Pearlessence (I got mine at TJ Maxx) and let my skin drink it up. If I wake up oilier than usual, I use a cotton makeup round with Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water and gently blot my face to get rid of some of the oil. 

I follow up with CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion and wait at least 10-15 minutes before applying makeup. This moisturizer is one that I think would work well for a variety of skin types. My husband, who has incredibly dry skin, uses it as well and really likes it. 

NIGHTLY ROUTINE

Going to bed with makeup on is one of the worst things you can do to your skin. I wear makeup pretty much every day, so it's a must for me to make sure 100% of that stuff is removed before heading to bed. 

To remove my makeup, I use the Garnier micellar water, mentioned in my morning routine. Once I've done that, I go in with my Foaming Facial Cleanser from CeraVe and massage it into my skin for a few seconds before rinsing it off. I then let my face air dry and moisturize with CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion, and spritz my face with rose water. 

#WHENEVERIWANT

For a long time, I used to think that face masks were an occasional treat for my skin. So, I just didn't use them all that often. One day when I was binge watching Lisa Eldridge videos, she revealed when she uses face masks  – whenever she wants. If Lisa can do that, I can do that as well, right? Done. The bottom line is, if your skin is in dire need of a face mask, use one. I've regularly been alternating face masks about 3 times a week, give or take a day or two. 

I have a number of face masks, but the ones I keep coming back to are Pearlessence's Turmeric & Honey Reviving Mask and their Aloe & Charcoal Detoxifying Mask (both available at TJ Maxx). I also love the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mud Mask. 

WHAT I'M TRYING TO INCORPORATE

SUNSCREEN

I'm not one to spend much time in the sun, but SPF is definitely a worthwhile product to include in my regime. My skin is naturally tan, which gives me more protection from sun damage than someone with fair skin, but no one has complete immunity from the sun's rays.

SERUMS

Specifically Burt's Bee's Brightening Skin Perfecting Serum. I'm currently going through an acne flare up, and I know that once my skin has cleared, I'll be left with some really nice discoloration :(. I'm hoping that using this will speed up the fading process.

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DISCLAIMER: Skincare is something that is going to change for me over time. I don't use the same products I used a few years ago. Everyone's skin has different needs, and what may work for me, may not work for you! The list above is just what I do with my skin, which seems to be helping reduce problems for the majority of the time. This is not a sponsored post; I bought all products mentioned in this post with my own money.