Welcome to Step by Step, a series where influencers, beauty professionals, Klog readers, Soko Glam staff, and more will be sharing every step in their current skin care routines. Here, a former Klog intern and current beauty marketer shares his hydrating routine.
As a beauty lover and someone who works in the industry, you’d think the easiest question for me to answer would be,”What’s your skin care routine?”. But because I’m constantly testing new brands and products, I don’t always have a good answer. My apartment is packed with basket after basket and shelf after shelf of different products that I’m constantly trying and experimenting with. My routine can change day in and day out.
My skin is also complicated. It’s incredibly acne-prone, but not oily. Rather, it’s bone dry as a long term side effect of my six-month course on Accutane. And given its acneity, my skin is also incredibly sensitive. So, my list of no-go products is pretty long.
But, despite all this, I do have a handful of favorites that I love and trust, and incorporate into my routine almost every day. Take a look below to find out what’s in my current rotation!
My Morning Routine
In the morning, I only use one cleanser: the Innisfree Blueberry 5.5 Rebalancing Cleanser. It’s gentle and has a balanced pH, and it has a great morning scent. I then apply two sprays of the Troiareuke H+ Healing Ampoule Toner. This high concentration toning solution is so hydrating and creates a perfect base for the rest of my routine. I follow that with the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum to help alleviate any discoloration and prevent sun damage throughout the day. To top that off I slather on my Innisfree Orchid Enriched Rich Cream, and then follow with the most important step, the Mamonde Calendula Everyday Aqua Sun Cream. These two are both super hydrating and keep my skin feeling supple all day long.
My Nighttime Routine
My nighttime routine is slightly different. I start with an oil cleanse, using the Manyo Factory Pure Cleansing Oil. It’s so gentle and feels and smells amazing on my skin. In the evening, I swap out my gentle morning cleanser for a more aggressive exfoliating one. I love the Skin Medica AHA/BHA formula. I apply an essence after my toner, usually the Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence for lightweight but powerful hydration. Then, instead of vitamin C, I use one of my many different hydrating serums so my skin has an extra dose of moisture overnight. Instead of sunscreen, I follow up my face cream with the La Mer Genaissance De La Mer Eye and Expression Cream, and seal everything in with the Round A’Round Green Tea Seed Oil.
Bottom Line
I’ve found that this routine carefully addresses my diverse array of concerns – from dryness and sensitivity to acne and scarring. I’d guess if you ask me the same question three weeks from now, I’ll have a new roster of products I’m loving, mixed in with my classic favorites. But that’s the fun of beauty after all!