My Natural, Nontoxic A.M. + P.M. Skincare Routine

A couple of years ago, I shared a green beauty version of the 10-step Korean skincare routine. While I never did the 10 steps every single day, I still use many of the products mentioned. It’s really a maximum of 6 steps, and it’s quicker than it sounds.

The major thing I changed from my routine is cut out facial oils and heavy creams on the advice of my dermatologist. Since I have somewhat sensitive combination skin, she recommends only using products that are liquid or gel-like in texture to prevent breakouts and clogging pores.

Facial oils might be fine for you depending on your skin type, but this is what’s been working for me. This routine, plus visits to the dermatologist every few months to get treatments (usually a peel or blue light therapy) is keeping my skin in top condition—no breakouts, no irritation, no dryness. Plus a healthy diet, exercise, yada yada, helps too.

P.S. I wish I could take a milky floral bath every day like in the photo above. (Wait, why don’t I?)

A.M. SKINCARE ROUTINE

Step 1: Clean skin with gentle exfoliating cleanser

Step 2: Spray on hydrating essence

Step 3: Apply vitamin C serum

Step 4: Dab on eye cream

Step 5: Apply day cream

Step 6: Apply sunscreen

: Tata Harper Cleanser – $82

: Tata Harper Essence – $68

: Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum – $88

: 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream – $26

: Andalou 1000 Roses Day Cream – $15

: Supergoop! SPF 50 Setting Spray – $28

Notes: The Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum has vitamin C and a bunch of other good stuff. I’m liking it, but I know I can switch to one of the other more affordable vitamin C serums I’ve used in the past at any time.

It was a challenge to find a natural sunscreen that isn’t creamy. Originally in this post, I recommended a watery mineral sunscreen from La Roche-Posay. The Anthelios Mineral SPF 50 is actually a body lotion, but I don’t see why I can’t use it on my face—it’s paraben-free, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free—and the bottle is more than double the size of their facial sunscreens for the same price. This one is titanium dioxide based. Give it a good shake before using. I’m pale, so the white cast mineral sunscreen leaves is not too noticeable on me. It dries matte.

Recently, I discovered Supergoop! SPF 50 Setting Spray, which is I absolutely love because it’s a clear liquid. It’s not mineral, but it has no parabens, synthetic fragrance, or oxybenzone, so it’s cleaner than other chemical sunscreens. If mineral sunscreen doesn’t work for you, it’s okay. I don’t spray this directly onto my face to avoid inhaling the chemicals, so I spray it into one palm first and pat it onto my skin.

Now I use the Supergoop! mist for my face, and the La Roche-Posay mineral sunscreen for the rest of my body.

P.M. SKINCARE ROUTINE

Step 1: Clean skin with gentle exfoliating cleanser (same as morning)

Step 2: Use toner on organic cotton round to remove any excess dirt or makeup

Step 3: Apply a few of drops of retinol serum all over face and neck

Step 4: Dab on eye cream

Step 5: Apply night cream

: Tata Harper Cleanser – $82

: Thayers Witch Hazel Toner – $8

: Tree of Life Retinol Serum – $10

: 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream – $26

: Andalou Recovery Cream – $18

Notes: I was tired of spending a fortune on retinol serums, so I found this $10 one that’s top rated on Amazon. Retinol can be dry or irritating for some people, so be sure to test it on a small patch of your skin first. Only use it at night because it’s photosensitive in sunlight.

The Andalou Naturals creams are usually light and gel-like in texture. I can use the same cream for day and night, but they’re so affordable that I can buy different ones.

WEEKLY MASKS

: Goop Exfoliating Instant Facial – $125

: Tata Harper Mask – $58

I always have this Goop Exfoliating Instant Facial stocked because it exfoliates my skin and makes it glow. I hope you’re noticing a pattern here with all the exfoliating—even the retinol exfoliates—but the keyword is gentle. So this is why I don’t have dry skin anymore and I don’t need heavy creams or facial oils, even on the harshest of winter days. Yes, this Goop mask is pricey, but getting one peel or facial is more. This is gentle enough for me to use every 2-3 days.

I still like the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask, and I have fun with trying new masks on a regular basis. Currently, I’m using and liking Herbivore’s Pink Clay Exfoliating Floral Mask.

♠

There you have it. I know a few of the products are on the expensive side, but the Tata Harper cleanser and essence last at least six months for me. The other products are mostly affordable yet effective. Andalou Naturals is particularly accessible, available in many health food stores, so I recommend checking out more of their products in you’re on a budget.