Sadly, a skincare routine was never a part of my life growing up. I realized much later in life that I should’ve followed a good skin care routine to reap the benefits such as a glowing and healthy looking skin. I know you won’t believe me if I tell you that I actually realized the importance of skin care on my wedding day. Funny, right?
Nonetheless, since that day five years ago, I have been very particular about my skincare routine and I try to follow it religiously every day. I also try to keep it simple and do it in fewer steps so that it doesn’t take too much effort. Fortunately, I have never had acne problems and my skin has been good for the most part but because I have oily skin, it comes with its own challenges. Once in a while, I get milia which basically is a common condition for those with oily skin because it is formed due to clogging of pores when there’s dust, sweat or makeup residues on the face. So, it’s very important for me to follow a good skincare routine as much as I can.
After a lot of continued research and trials, I am finally in a good place with my skin care products and I have been able to see some very good results after using these for many years consistently. That being said, I also keep trying new products from well known brands because I am always curious of whats out there in the market. So, right here I am going to share my morning skin care routine along with the list of products that I use every day. Some of these products are new additions to my routine and I have used them for a couple of weeks now but have really seen significant results so I will share those as well.
Important Note– I have an oily skin so most of the products I’ve listed in this blog are more suited for the oily skin type. I also have a fairly light skincare routine as I don’t like building too much up on my skin. So, keep that in mind as you read through.
Step 1 – Cleansing
I have been using the Clinique Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser for 4 years now and it just keeps getting better. This cleanser is ideal for oily skin and it’s perfect to remove makeup as well. I use it twice a day – once in the morning as part of my morning routine and once in the evening to remove dirt and sweat gathered throughout the day. It’s a cream based cleanser but doesn’t have a thick consistency so its easy to rinse off without leaving any residues on the face. This cleanser works like magic on my skin so I would highly recommend it if your goal is to get a clean and clear skin.
You can buy this cleanser here || $24 for 5 oz
Step 2 – Toning
I use the Clinique Clarifying lotion 3 toner to remove any excess oil, dirt or makeup residues from my face. This toner is super light and doesn’t leave any stickiness. I use the toner as part of my morning and evening routine so I use it twice a day, specially after a makeup day.
You can buy this toner here || $21 for 6.7 oz
Step 3 – Vitamin C Serum
Because I have hyperpigmentation, I have incorporated Vitamin C serum as part of my routine over the last couple of years. Ever since I have started using it, I have seen noticeable differences in my skin texture and there are days when it actually glows. Yay!
I started my journey with the Clinique Fresh pressed daily booster and saw significant results. However, the bottle is expensive because it only lasts 7 days so you have to keep refilling it every week.
So, recently I found a great alternative in Sunday Riley’s CEO serum and I am addicted to this product. It has 15% Vitamin C, which is a perfect concentration for someone like me who is looking to even out the skin tone and also get a dewy finish. The bottle is as expensive as Clinique but it lasts much longer. A little goes a long way with this serum so you only need 1-2 pumps a day and you will be impressed with the effect it has on your skin. I instantly feel a glow on my skin because of this serum’s dewy texture and it also makes my skin feel soft.
You can buy the Clinique serum here ($86 for a set of 4) and the Sunday Riley CEO serum here ($85 for 1 oz).
Step 4 – Moisturizer
A very important step in the skin care process is moisturizing. I have tried many moisturizers over the last few years and when I say many, I mean MANY! After many trials and errors, my two constant favorites are,
- Sunday Riley Good Genes Serum – I started using this serum a few weeks ago. I am really impressed with the effect it has on my skin. The serum has a cream like consistency so if you have oily skin like me, you only need 1-2 pumps as part of your morning routine. It really leaves a bit of a dewy texture and is great for evening out skin tone over time. On days when I use this serum, I skip moisturizer after it because like I said, I don’t like building up too much on my skin. You can buy this serum here ($85 for 1 oz).
- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion – As the name suggests, it is dramatically different and leaves a very light and soft texture on your skin. My skin feels so hydrated and moisturized after using this lotion. Since this cream has a very light texture, I sometimes use it over the serum but its usually an optional step for me. You can buy this lotion here ($32.50 for 125ml).
Step 5 – Sunscreen Lotion
I have tried many over the past but my constant favorite here is Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream. If you’re looking for a tinted sunscreen that you can wear under makeup or just by itself, then another great option is Clinique Superdefense City Block Face Sunscreen SPF 50.
You can buy the Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream here ($32 for 1.7 oz) and the Clinique Superdefense City Block Face Sunscreen SPF 50 here ($34 for 1.4 oz).
Step 6 – Eye cream
This is not a mandatory step if you have healthy looking eyes and no dark circles, lines or wrinkles around your eyes but its always good to start taking care of your eyes early on. Although, I have heard a lot that dark circles and lines don’t start showing until about late 30s but I think that’s changing these days and a lot depends on your genes, your screen time, sun exposure etc. So, I have started including eye cream as part of my daily skincare routine because healthy eyes means less concealer to hide the dark circles and thats what I am aiming for.
After giving a few eye creams a shot such as Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique and Loreal, I have finally found the one that works best for me. I have been using Estee Lauder’s DayWear Eye GelCreme and have been loving the effect it has on my eyes. It is so soothing and moisturizing. And the best part is that you can store it in the refrigerator before and after every use and that way you get a more refreshing and cooling feeling around your eye area. I am telling you, this cream is a keeper!
You can buy it here ($46 for 0.5 oz).
Additional step for deep cleansing
1-2 times a week, I also use the Ayurvedic Face Scrub with herbal ingredients for deep cleansing and unclogging pores. This scrub also helps with tan removal. I use it right after cleansing and before toning.
You can buy it here.
Additional step for evening out skin tone
Once every 2-3 days, I apply Multani Mitti right after cleansing and toning, because it has some great soothing properties. As I mentioned, I have oily skin and that can sometimes lead to pore clogging due to residues on the face. Multani Mitti has some amazing properties that can help unclog pores, soak in all the excess oil and even out skin tone. I have been using this religiously since the last 6-7 years and there has not been a week when I have missed this step.
Additional step for dark circles
I have been using these Aloe Vera and Collagen eye masks on a daily basis for my under eye area. These eye pads are super hydrating and Aloe Vera is great for brightening.
That’s all about my skincare routine and I really hope this was helpful! If you enjoy makeup, then read my blog here on some of my favorite makeup products to try.
Leaving you with an unfiltered video of me. I would love to know more about you skin care routine so feel free to share in the comments below!
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