Does your beauty routine include face yoga? How much does your daily beauty routine cost? Welcome to The Klog Beauty Diaries. Inspired by Refinery29’s Money Diaries, we thought it would be fun to recap a day in the life of people with different occupations and highlight their beauty routines. In this Klog beauty diary, we feature a 42-year-old data scientist in Munich who does facial yoga.
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Occupation: Data Scientist
Industry: IT/Consulting
Age: 42
Location: Munich, Germany
5:45am – Rise and shine! I usually get up 15 minutes before my alarm clock goes off so that I don’t feel like I’m in a rush. Time for a fast yoga routine (daily OM) for about 10 minutes to get my blood pumping a bit faster. After that, I carry out my Face Yoga Method morning routine (life-long membership for $129) for about five minutes to release overnight tension in my jaws and forehead. Whereas my skin care addresses my dermis, the face yoga increases blood circulation and muscular facial toning of my face. I already experienced some great progress dealing with frown lines and eye asymmetry and heavily recommend this as an anti-aging companion for your daily skin care routine since you can address deep wrinkles though face yoga. -$129
6am – Overall cleansing time! Time to start my morning beauty routine with the basics. Before showering, I gently massage my Missha M Perfect BB Deep Cleansing Oil onto my dry face ($25) and then step into the shower. My body gets the rest of facial scrubs I did not manage to use up within the six or 12 months of recommended time to use on the packages. I hate to waste skin care products, and my body loves those leftovers.
I wash my hair with Kérastate Resistance Bain Force Architecte ($26) and condition with the Kérastate Nutritive Lait Vitale Conditioner ($30).
After showering and rinsing my cleansing oil off, I gently apply the COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser ($14) I bought at my favorite K-beauty shop MIIN-Cosmetics in Munich. I use an Ordinare silicone sponge to massage my face during that. It deeply cleanses my pores and they definitely seem smaller after doing so. It brings my pH level back after oil cleansing and leaves my face less irritated.- $95
6:15am – Now it’s time for fun! Two weeks ago, I bought the Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite EyeCare Pro for $300. Hope it’s worth the money…but I think a can already see first results. It is supposed to boost collagen production, but honestly, I just like wearing this mask because it makes me look like an anti-aging superhero. So much fun! During the three minutes it takes, I brush my teeth and massage my Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream ($45) all over my body. It smells so nice.
When the SpectraLite ceases, I take off my superhero mask and transform back into my plain self. I immediately apply the Easydew EX Repair Control EGF ($88) to my eye area. This incredible cream boosts cell renewal cycle and increases collagen production. When I have severe break outs, it helps get rid of inflammation within three days (not joking) and prevents scarring.
6:20am – Toning Time! I spray my COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner ($20) generously onto my face, excluding the eye area to prevent my skin from getting thinner there, and pat my face until it has all soaked in. I know, normally an essence is used after the toner, but since my Benton Fermentation Essence ($32) has a watery texture and my second toner does not, I use this one before it.
The next one is my favorite product. It was love at first sight. I’m talking about the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Skin Treatment ($31). It’s a toner and booster in one product. If have enough time, and layer it. Time for another cup of coffee to let the booster sink in!
6:30am – Now it’s time for intense skin concern treatments. Last week I started my radiance boosting vitamic C regimen again. So I apply the content of one dropper of By Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C21.5 Advanced Serum ($34) to my entire face and eye area. Pat, pat, pat. While it soaks into my skin, I apply my Benton Fermentation Eye Cream ($31) to keep wrinkles away from my eyes. I smile a lot and am really surprised that I have very few and very light wrinkles in my eye area. Next to last, I seal in all the good stuff in with the By Wishtrend Vitamin 75 Maximizing Cream ($28). Letting it soak into my face and dry a bit, I finish my coffee and fetch sunscreen and makeup. -$93
6:45am – Last but least, the most important step for my face, sunscreen! Since I am always struggling with my huge melasma that runs all over my face if I don’t treat it permanently, sunscreen is so important to me. I choose my sun protection depending on the amount of sun exposure I’ll be getting. If it’s a cloudy morning, no need for SPF 100, so I’ll use my Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in shade 23 ($21) with SPF 43. I love this BB cream. At first it looks a bit grey on my face, but then melts into my skin and compliments my skin tone. Before I got to know K-beauty, I had a really hard time finding a foundation that matched my skin tone. In Germany, everyone seems to need a more pinkish toned foundation than I do. My skin tone has a rather olive type of color, even though I have a very light skin tone. So I really love Korean foundations; they match my shading far better than others. And they cover up really well. -$21
6:50am – Makeup misfire! I am almost 43-years-old but am really bad when it comes to make up, so I use very little. At the moment, I use a waterproof brow pencil from Sephora ($10) to define my brows and Tony Moly’s Panda’s Dream Smudge Out Mascara ($15). Ready to go, and because of the cuteness, I apply the Tony Moly Pikachu Cushion Blusher #03 Peach Orange ($12). -$37
7am – Done and ready to go. Have to arrive at the training centre at 7:45am.
1pm – School’s out! Since I need sun protection throughout the entire day and the sun came out, I touch up my sunscreen in the ladies’ room before leaving the office by spraying BE3 Sunscreen Sensitive Skin Progressive Spray ($20) in three layers onto my face. I pick up some vegetables at the grocery store and return at home at about 3pm. – $20
3pm – I study until 5pm and then head off to the gym for a short workout. At 7pm, I arrive back at home and prepare a small meal. I chat with friends, watch TV, read, and do face yoga…
8pm – My favorite time of the day: routine time! My skin care routine is more than just a beauty issue, it’s more about meditation, contemplation and pampering myself. A lot of my evening skin care routine is quite similar to my morning routine. I do oil cleansing with my Missha oil cleanser to get all the sunscreen, pollution, and annoying stuff off of my face. Then my COSRX cleansing gel, followed by my Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite Superhero mask, Easydew EX for my eyes, AHA/BHA toner, Benton Fermentation Essence, and the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Skin Treatment.
8:15pm – Exfoliation time! I have some spare time, so I exfoliate using the Missha Super Aqua Oxygen Micro Visible Deep Cleanser ($22). That gives me seven minutes of bubbly joy. After trying lots of exfoliators, this is effective and mild, and my skin loves it. And all the bubbles… – $22
8:30pm – I choose my spot treatments depending on my skin condition and concerns. Since vitamin C and retinol don’t go together well, I stick to my Codage-treatment during my Vitamin C regimen. I mix two serums addressing hyperpigmentation and anti-aging, namely the Codage Spring Break Detox and Skin Awakening Serum (110 EUR) and the Codage SERUM N°4 Anti-Spots & Lightener (90 EUR), using the BlitheTundra Chaga Pressed Serum as a carrier (58 EUR). I love, love, love this pressed serum. On one hand. it is perfect for blending serums into it and on the other hand it has a perfect texture for the summertime and keeps my skin hydrated without being oily or sticky. I finish everything with (drumroll…please) the Easydew EX Repair Control Renewal Moisture ($55) . – $313
9pm – I am preparing to launch a YouTube channel for people with similar health issues like I experienced. After one year in hospital, I learned a lot and want to share my recovery experience with others. And I think skin care will be a part of it, since beauty routines are a lot about self awareness and self love. My skin care routine really helped me a lot on my path of recovery.
11pm – I tell my boyfriend goodnight via WhatsApp (he is located in Zurich, Switzerland) and then crawl into my bed, but not before applying the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask ($23). It gives my skin an extra boost of hydration and the niacinamide helps to make my skin tone more even. I fall asleep while listening to ASMR-videos and sleep tight until the next morning. – $23
Skin care: $992
Hair and Body (incl. FaceYoga): $230
Makeup: $37
Total: $1,259
Final thoughts:
To be honest: I was shocked after I summed up my routine. Especially since I don’t earn that much at the moment during my vocational retraining time due to health issues. But I have been spending a lot of time and money since I turned 20 on beauty and skin care, and my K-beauty routine is a quite inexpensive one compared to my La Mer phase. And a more efficient one. Another cost driver is my age. I am 40+ and it takes more to stay in shape.
I am very happy that I have taken good care of my face and body and it definitely pays off now. And I learned to be more flexible within my routine depending on the most urgent skin concerns. I started K-beauty only six months ago, and the results are already overwhelming. That is why I am motivated to share my routine. Girls and guys: always take care of yourself!
+ Would you ever try face yoga? What’s the most expensive product that would be in your Beauty Diaries? Share it below!
