Skin Care Routine
Wednesday August 17, 2011
This post is about my skincare routine.
I was hesitant to do a skincare post mostly because everyone’s skin is different and what works for me might not work for others. :cry:
But I’ve gotten this question in comments & emails so much, :deco13: :deco2: I thought posting it would be beneficial for myself & others. And since my skincare routine doesn’t change very often it’ll be relevant for a long time. :ok:
Let me just say I don’t consider myself any sort of skincare guru. :deco13: I’m just posting my current routine. I’ve been using the same products for about 3 years now and I’m very happy with them!
I’ll start out with describing my skin type!
I have an oily T-zone with other areas prone to dryness. I am also extremely acne-prone. I cannot stress that enough. I run a good 90% chance risk that any new facial products such as moisturizer, foundation, concealer, primer, and face mask will give me pimples. :mad: Because of my acne prone skin my routine is extremely strict and high-maintenance. However, when I follow it strictly I can go weeks, sometimes a few months without a single blemish! This is like night & day compared to my old blemish covered face. :)
Everything below looks more taxing than it truly is;
I was just being really thorough and wanted to completely cover everything.
Honestly this routine only takes me a few minutes a day. :deco8:
Cleansing & Treatment
- Clinque Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam
- Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer (Oil-Free)
- Clinique Acne Solutions Emergency Gel-Lotion
- Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser
- Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
- Clinique Mild Facial Soap
- Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion
Most of my daily products are from Clinique’s Acne line.
In the morning I wash my face with Clinque Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam. Next I apply a thin layer of Clinique’s Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer. If I happen to have a pimple or maybe a spot where I can feel a pimple starting to come in, I apply Clinique’s Acne Solutions Emergency Gel-Lotion over the area. :ok:
After work (around 5:00) I come home and typically remove my makeup with another cleansing. I do this about every other day especially in summer. This may be too drying for others but it’s a must for me. If I know I’m going out that night I’ll leave my makeup on instead. But if I do that too many days in a row (3 or more) I’ll end up with a blemish! Never fails.
After work I use a different cleanser. I use Neutrogena’s One Step Gentle Cleanser because it’s also a makeup remover and does a good job on somewhat heavy eye makeup but also doesn’t break me out.
(*If my eye makeup is extra heavy though I’ll use Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover and Clinique’s Mild Facial Soap for my face instead.)
I follow that with just applying a very small amount of Clinique’s Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer again and their Emergency Gel-Lotion over any blemish that I might have.
(*I usually skip this cleansing on weekends b/c it’s not needed plus I’m usually out all day.)
At night I wash my face once again. This time I almost always use Clinique’s Mild Facial Soap for a quick, not too soapy, rinse.
(*unless I’m wearing makeup obviously, then I’d use the Neutragena cleanser here instead.)
If I have a trouble spot where I feel new blemishes are trying to appear I’ll use Clinique’s Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion over these areas. Though it’s a “lotion” it’s more of a toner. It’s extremely drying so I only use it when I have blemishes otherwise I skip it. Every night I reapply a thin layer of Clinique’s Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer again and the Emergency Gel-Lotion over any visible blemish areas.
I follow all of those routines with a moisturizer…
Moisturizing
I use two moisturizers.
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer and CVS Luminous Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream.
I only use the Ultra-Calming daily moisturizer in the morning after applying the Clinique products. It’s the last thing I put on before I start applying makeup. The night cream I use after my post-work and night routines.
Makeup
- Missha M BB Cream
- Benefit Boi-ing Concealer
- Benefit Get Even Powder
- Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer
- Victoria’s Secret Fluid Concealer
Including my basic full-face makeup routine with this just because I think it goes hand-in-hand with a skin routine especially for acne-prone skin. :deco8:
Blemish Free Face:
I apply some Missha BB Cream working out from the base of my nose covering my face evenly but also lightly. I keep it thin. I then add another small drop for chin and under eyes separately. Next I dab on some of Benefit’s BOI-ING under eye concealer to hide dark under eye circles. I follow that with an all over application of Benefit’s Get Even Pressed Powder with a large kabuki brush. Done :)
If There’s a Blemish:
First I’ll take my concealer brush and dab a little (very little) of Clinique’s Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer in “Light” over the blemish. I then add a tiny bit of Victoria’s Secret Fluid Concealer in “Light 10″ over the area if it’s particularly red blending with my concealer brush. Next I grab Missha BB Cream and follow the “Blemish Free” instructions above!
Sometimes I’ll come back over the blemish areas with a tiny extra dab of the BB Cream in extreme coverage-need cases. :ok:
Other Stuff
There are other various things I do to keep my skin healthy and clear. :deco2: I’ll list those here. These are things that are either indirectly beneficial or products I might not use daily or didn’t fit into the other routine categories.
Collagen – I wrote this post about taking daily Collagen supplements. I’m still taking them daily.
Hair, Skin and Nails daily vitamins – Something I wrote about more recently. This is a multivitamin but it also contains collagen.
Water – drinking lots of water! It’s something I’m always forcing myself to do. I do this best when it’s water from a washable Starbucks Customizable Cold Cup. I have one at home & one at work. If I have a breakout I switch to only drinking water! No tea, no coffee, no soda JUST WATER. And it clears it up more quickly than if I don’t do this switch.
Clean Scene Gaga for Glow Gentle Facial Scrub – A must for me in winter! I started using it this past winter because I get bad dry winter skin no matter how much I moisturize and the dry skin will break me out if left untreated. But all past scrubs I tried broke me out or could only be used once a week. This one is extremely gentle and doesn’t cause me blemishes! It can be used daily if needed but I try to only use it 2~3 times a week when I have dry skin.
Blotting Paper – For my oily skin it’s fantastic. I try to use one at around 2:00 every day (at work.) But I sometimes forget. My skin looks better when I don’t forget though :). I’ve tried a lot of different brands and they all work fine for me.
Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel – this is an intense spot gel you place right over a blemish. I find this “draws out” a blemish. I only use it when I know I can no longer “suppress” the blemish away but instead must bring it out to clear it. It works usually in one day but I prefer to try to suppress blemishes away to avoid scars and dark spots.
Clinique Acne Solutions Post Blemish Formula – Used to fade dark or red post blemish spots. This works OK but isn’t really necessary since I can cover with concealer. I don’t rush to buy a replacement when I run out.
Boscia Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment – For dark under eye circles. Works amazingly well but at $40 I don’t rush out to replace it. Wish it were cheaper.
Fruits & Veggies – Honestly, I often had red blotchy, uneven skin until I started eating more raw fruits & vegetables on a daily basis and less sugary, fatty or oily foods. :deco8:
Clean Pillowcases – At least once a week or more I clean all my pillowcases and sheets. An unclean pillowcase can transfer acne-causing bacteria and clog pores transferring oils, products, etc. This one is sorta obvious I think.
Well that’s it! That’s my routine + a little more.
“In closing” lolol I’ve used a countless number of other products from high-end to low end, prescription to over-the-counter. :deco13: Miracle products that work for everybody except me. :drops: So, as much as I appreciate the helpfulness and desire to share personal experiences and advice, I’m really not looking for suggestions or anything like that. My current routine & products keep me clear and happy :) Thank you though. :P If you have questions though I’ll do my best to answer :)
Tags: beauty
64 Responses to “Skin Care Routine”
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I just saw that Fukunaga Yu finally got married, and she’s pregnant as well. You have any idea with this good news? :)
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This is great! We have the same skin-type.
My favorite tip that I do too is Clinique cleansers and washing sheets and pillowcases. Thank you for posting! ;3 -
Clinique products are truly amazing ♥ I remember when I was a teenager & had REALLY bad skin, Mum bought me the Pro-Activ line which did shit, & then we switched to Clinique. Haven’t looked back since. It’s nice to see you have so many Clinique products in your routine! :)
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Clinique saved my life. :C I justed wish they smelled better. In terms of BB cream, I’ve been using Missha’s bb cream for about 2 yrs, but I haven’t noticed a big difference for my skin, but the coverage is amazing.
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haha true that…i’m not a fan of the clinique smell either~~
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Thank you so much! It looks like we have similar skin types, haha~
I definitely want to give some of these products a try now :) I love Benefit’s Get Even, and Clinique’s products are great (if somewhat pricy – -’).Also, do you use sunscreen, too? Or is the SPF in the moisturizer good enough?
Again, thank youu T v T this is actually so helpful hahaha
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aw thanx for sharing~~great tips n_n
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How do you “suppress” a pimple away? I thought the only way to get rid of one was to wait for it to come out.
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I also use Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer , it’s really good and doesn’t irritate my skin either~! hehe~ As for the collagen supplements, hmm, I also want to give it a try.. Hopefully they’ll have it at the local health food stores here~ ^^b
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Oh my gosh I think you just helped me solve my own problems. I, too, have an oil t-zone, but everywhere else seems like it’s just dry. Whatever I try (face wash, scrubs, masks, etc.) seems to make little blemishes show up and it bothers me. I’ve been going months without getting a single blemish just up until a few days ago when I decided to put moisturizer on. Now I have like…random red dots on my face.
FOREVER UPSET. Hahaha! I will definitely check out the stuff you’ve mentioned! :)
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Wow, thank you for sharing your skin care routine with us Jenny! I couldn’t do that because mine is so simple, I couldn’t fill a post with it, hahaha.
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I have the same problems with my skin that you described, and I’ve yet to find a solution. I think I’ll try out yours and see what happens. ;) Very helpful, thank you~~
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Thank you so much for the tips, they’re really helpful! :)
My skin is mixed type and very prone to acne too. I’ve been trying my best to get clear skin but I haven’t invested much on the products and that can make all the difference.
Clinique products are great, I used some in the past and I liked them, specially the soap (it lasts forever too :) ).
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I love clinique cleansing producs. I also get very oily in the t-zone with some dry areas. Not only that i have very sensitive skin so using the wrong producs can give me horrible rashes around my nose and chin area. And clinique has also been a really big life saver for me *0*
It’s nice clinique also works good for you :D and i wouldnt have thought you had skin problems. You skin looks flawless :0 -
Yay! Thank you so much! :) Flaw-free post~~
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I also use neutrogena products but some of the others like clinique and aveeno aren’t easy to find it here(Brazil) or are too expensive… sadly.
Thank you for this post. I start to taking vitamins (sundown) and collagen after reading one post from your blog. My hair and skin are so thankful for that.
x Tati
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Thanks for posting this! :) Lots of great tips here – I have oily skin too T__T I also love the Clinique Acne series (unfortunately it’s so difficult to find in Europe, they sell a series called Anti-Blemish Solutions instead which does not work as well :/) It’s great to get some new tips and also to be reminded of some things, like one really should eat more fruits! :DDD
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Jenny :”) You hard working blogger!! I’m going to try out clinique now yaaaaaaaaaaay~~ Your hard work definitely pays off. You have the BEST skin that I have ever seen. :O No sun spots either!!
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Wonderful post! My current skin care routine is not working well as it used to so I’ll definitely try Clinique once my skin care stuff runs out, lol. Great job on posting by the way! Your posts so far have been all so wonderful~!
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Thank you for sharing! Sephora has the Clinique acne solutions kit for such a good price that I decided to pick one up :) Here’s to hoping this will work because it sounds like we have very similar skin. Oh, I’ve also read that it’s good to have a steady, consistent skin care system so it’s great that you’ve found what works for you!
Do you use any products with SPF? I’m very paranoid about sun damage and always use moisturizer and body lotion with sunscreen
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Oh my gosh! Its like I was channeling you lol. I was just wondering what skincare products you use :P
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but are u a skin care gyaru…eh? ehhhh? ;)
i feel like i need to print this out and highlight it. my mom told me she still had acne until her late 30s…so im throwing hope out the window…>:/
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This is a great post. You don’t wanna see my face without make up. After years of acne it’s just a discolored/bumpy mess ;_;
It’s awesome that you found a routine that works so well. When I see your photos your skin always looks so smooth and even. I have never used clinique stuff but neutrogena is pretty good. I might buy some before I have to leave =3
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This post is really interesting, I’m not used to have skin problem even I don’t care but recently, my skin changed so I was wondering what should I try to make it better because it’s making me crazy T.T My smooth skin face need to come back ! Anyway, I think I will try Clinique and Neutrogena products ~
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Love clinique products! I’ve used their 3 step solution, then used stupid proactiv that dried the shit out of my skin and made my acne worse then switched to clinique’s acne line then finally bought products through trial and error and created my own skin routine that includes the cliniques mild facial soap. Thanks for this post!
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I’m still in the process of finding the perfect skin care routine for myself and sometimes it’s so frustrating I feel like giving up. T_T There are seriously way too many products to try. There are lots of reviews for skin care products online but it’s nice to see how they might work when used in combination, so thanks for taking the time to write this out!
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Just a randon question. Why do you use different cleansers for different days? Like on work days. Is there a reason?
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Thank you for going so in-depth with this! :) It’s fun to see people’s routines, especially if on the lookout for something new to try. ^_^
I definitely need to invest in some blotting papers. I have dry skin, but with the combo of heat + make-up, I get shine around my nose and chin. Might help with the acne in those areas I imagine! D:
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This was such a helpful post! I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Acne Solutions line. I think I will have to try it now.
With the BB cream, have you noticed if it leaves a white cast on your face? I bought one from Skin Food, but it made me look like a ghost and I’m already pale to begin with.
Anyway, thanks so much!
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MAC is supposed to be coming out with BB creams (in all different shades!!! oh happy day) soon, so maybe when they are released you can try some from their line?
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aaaaaaan post bookmarked lol – yay!
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Great write-up of your routine. Maybe because I don’t have *that* many products in my routine, I’m always curious to see what other people use. Mostly, I’m too lazy to do too much to my face in the morning and at night.
I love love LOVE the Aveeno ultra calming moisturizer with SPF. At first, I was like “WTF, $14 for a drugstore moisturizer?” but that was like 2 years ago and I’m *still* using the same bottle. That thing lasts forever! I like it a lot, but I think when I’m done I’ll go for the biorre sunscreen that everyone raves about just for a change, if I can find it.
Now you’ve inspired me to write up my routine, but it definitely won’t be as impressive.
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Great post, thank you for sharing! That’s a lot of products! :O
I don’t really have lots of acne, but big pores, blackheads and whiteheads and scars/hyperpigmented blemishes from pimples. :( Tried drinking water often, cut out things I know that break me out, like chocolate and paprika chips, nothing helps.
I made an appointment with the dermatologist. Thank goodness consultation and skin type analysis is free
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I believe that acne is caused from toxins within the body. I am almost vegetarian with the exception of eating chicken and fish occasionally. I can see a lot of difference in my skin based on my diet compared to when I was much younger, though there are a lot of factors such as hormones and sometimes certain foods and agitate it all even more. 90% of what I eat is raw vegetables and fruit. For anything that I put on my face, I use organic products. My press powder (only use a little power on my face), lotion and cleanser are all organic and work wonderfully, I even make cleansers and lotions occasionally through such things as aloe vera and hemp oil.
Understanding how the body internally plays with the health of our skin is pretty important. :)
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I love this post!!!!
*bookmarks*
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WOW! What a post. You sure have to go through a lot but it seems it’s worth it as your skin always looks flawless in your pics. :)
I’m trying to keep up with some of these too. Lately, my acne has come back (been pretty acne free for ~3 years!) and scarring at times ( orz ) so I’ll look into some of the healing gels you mentioned. However, I found my skin started breaking out like hell when I used Clinique products! (The usual wash + moisturizer + toner combo!)
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Awesome! I love CLINIQUE:) it is best for sensitive skin. but really i cant do like you since i always forgot to apply it on my face and rather than that im too lazy lol