Hey Siri, take my makeup off!
I hope I’m not the only one that started to experience signs of aging in my early 20’s. I am confident the stress of college caused me to age faster than normal. Good skincare is the foundation to having good skin. The more time and effort we devote to our skin when we are young, the better we will age. I recently made some serious adjustments to my skincare routine and noticed improvements with fine lines, dullness, and adult acne. I believe everyone should have access to good skincare and that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. I have rounded up my favorite products from many different price ranges!
Cleanser: No matter your skin type, your cleanser should be hydrating. It’s so important your cleanser isn’t ‘stripping’ your skin and leaving it dry. When I say that I have used around 75 cleansers in my lifetime, I am not exaggerating. I have always struggled to find that ‘end all be all’ cleanser that checks all my boxes. I want a cleanser that is hydrating, takes off makeup, clears acne, etc. The list goes on. I have found that using two different cleansers (am & pm specific) helps give me exactly what I look for in a cleanser. The three criteria I look for in a cleanser are:
- Removes makeup
- Hydrating (doesn’t strip the skin)
- Deep cleanse (cleans out those pesky clogged pores)
The cleansers I have been using are Revision Skincare ‘Brightening Facial Wash’ (AM) and CeraVe ‘Hydrating Facial Cleanser’ (PM). I love this brightening cleanser because it really does wake up my skin and leaves it bright and fresh! No dullness here! The Revision Skincare cleanser contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These ingredients clean pores, improve skin texture, brighten skin, and restore moisture to your skin. I love this cleanser because it really does everything I look for in a cleanser! The CeraVe is great for removing my makeup at the end of the day and foams up nicely! Side note: I am against makeup wipes! I have used them most of my life but have always struggled with irritation. Six months ago, I started using a cleansing balm, and OMG! I have tried a few out (low & high end) and my absolute favorite is the Clinique ‘Take The Day Off’ cleansing balm. This does an amazing job of double cleansing (who else saw on Tik Tok they should ‘double cleanse’, lol) which has made a difference in my acne! The balm is also extremely hydrating and I love the way it preps my skin for my cleanser. When I am on the acne struggle bus, I use Tula ‘Keep It Clear’ foam cleanser. If you struggle with adult acne, the Tula cleanser is a game-changer! Trust me!
There are nights when I am exhausted and the last thing want to do is wash my face, I know we have all been there! I was once told by an esthetician that your skin ages 7x faster when you sleep with makeup on and I don’t think I’ve skipped a night since! I am not sure if that is true but it was enough to motivate me to get up and wash my face every single night! We all want the skin gods on our side, right? I am one of those girls that will do anything to help with aging and you should too! Wash your face!
Toner: I have used the same toner for quite some time. Anytime I decide to mix it up, I always end up going back to the same product. Using a toner is a crucial step in your skincare routine! I love the Dermalogica ‘Multi-Active Toner’ because it is gentle while still doing wonders for my skin, and I love the smell. It’s on the more expensive side, so sometimes I purchase the Thayers ‘Facial Toner’ instead. I really like Thayers but always end up going back to Dermalogica. I recently purchased the Colleen Rothschild ‘Micro-Mineral Soothing Toner,’ and I am so excited to give it a try! I have been trying out so many Colleen Rothschild products, and they have all been amazing! I’ll keep you posted.
Eye Cream: I have always been told and encouraged to use eye cream but have never been completely sold on the idea. I have a really sensitive eye area (my eyes are the main place I get eczema), so I tend to use Aquaphor and my steroid cream most of the time. When I am able to use eye cream, I use the Kiehl’s ‘Dark Circle Reducing Serum,’ which I love because it reduces dark circles and has vitamin C! I top that serum with the Tula ‘Glow Hour’ eye balm stick. This Tula stick has so many ingredients that help with anti-aging such as grapefruit & algae to brighten and lingonberry to protect from pollution & blue light. In the past, I have been a fan of Cetaphil ‘Hydrating Eye Gel’ which is more affordable and can be picked up at your local drugstore.
Vitamin C: In my opinion, incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine (especially in your 20’s) is KEY. I notice a huge difference in my skin when I am slacking on using my vitamin c serum. I have tried out so many serums that range dramatically in price, and my favorite, for the price, is Colleen Rothschild ‘Vitamin C Treatment Complex.’ This product is still up there in cost, but out of all the serums I tried, I think it’s the most bang for your buck (and it lasts for a long time)! The others I have tried include Skin Ceuticals ‘C E Ferulic’ (I would purchase this again if I could use Monopoly money, lol), Obagi ‘Professional-C Serum’ and Tru Skin ‘Vitamin C Serum.’ I have researched the Tru Skin serum and found most people claim it’s a ‘dupe’ for the Skin Ceuticals serum. In my opinion, the Tru Skin is good but not as good as the Skin Ceuticals ($100 price difference), which is expected. Not all skincare is created equal, and you get what you pay for!
Moisturizer: The moisturizer you use completely depends on your skin type! I tend to be on the dryer side (thank you, Accutane), so I go all out when it comes to my moisturizer. I cannot say enough good things about the Kate Summerville ‘Goat Milk Cream’ and the Avene ‘Eau Thermale Cicalfate- Post Procedure.’ They are both amazing! When I need to bring in the big guns, I use Avene ‘Eau Thermale Cicalfate Restorative Protective Cream’ which literally changes your skin. If you suffer from dryness, this is a MUST! Typically, I use the Avene (big guns) moisturizer in the winter.
Hyaluronic Acid: Even if you don’t have dry skin, I am a firm believer in everyone and their mother incorporating hyaluronic acid into their skincare routine. Trader Joe’s hyaluronic acid is hands down, the best product for the price. I alternate between Trader Joe’s, The Ordinary, and the Peter Thomas Roth hyaluronic acids (the PTR is $65, but I have found it at Marshall’s many times for $20). I tend to change up my products because I feel like my skin gets used to a particular product after long use, and mixing it up helps prevent my skin from plateauing.
SPF: Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. I never leave the house without SPF on my face/neck. Sun is extremely damaging and speeds up the aging process. Adding sunscreen to your skincare routine is so easy and essential for preventing signs of aging. There are many SPF products I love and use every day for different reasons. I love the Jan Marani ‘Antioxidant Daily Face Protection’ (a splurge but one you won’t regret), Tula ‘Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel,’ and CeraVe ‘AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.’ The Jan Marani has a nice tint to it, making it great for ‘no makeup’ days! The Tula SPF gives a nice glow, and the CeraVe is nice because it kills two birds with one stone (moisturizer + SPF). I have used many other SPF products that are great, but I am currently using the three I mentioned above. I will link the others I like below!
Oil: If you struggle with dry skin, you probably already use a facial oil. I incorporated oil into my skincare routine during my Accutane treatment and have continued to use them for years afterward. Pre-Accutane, the thought of putting oil on my face was terrifying, lol. I assumed it would lead to more breakouts and more problematic skin, but that is not the case! There are two oils I love and use AM/PM specific. The AM oil I use is The Ordinary ‘Hip Rose Seed Oil’ and PM Sunday Riley ‘Juno Oil.’ Purchasing Sunday Riley is definitely a splurge, but it’s one of those products I find myself repurchasing over and over again, totally worth it!
Retinol: One of my girlfriends recently asked me which retinol I use, and it inspired me to write this post! A great over the counter retinol is Differin Gel, which you can find at Walgreens, ULTA, etc. It’s great that you can grab it without a prescription and visit to the dermatologist because sometimes that’s just a hassle (and expensive). I use the prescription-strength retinol that was prescribed by my dermatologist. I have used Differin Gel in the past and had a great experience. I would say that Differin Gel is the training wheels of retinol. It’s extremely mild and great for someone that has never used retinol or has sensitive skin. It’s a GREAT starting point! Another mild retinol is Skin Ceuticals ‘Retinol 1.0’. The retinol I currently use is like the big girl bike (without training wheels); it’s extremely strong. Retinol thins the skin, which helps with aging, and if using retinol, SPF is IMPERATIVE in your skincare routine. As the skin thins, it becomes more susceptible to burning, and I cannot express the importance of using an SPF enough! One of my besties shared a brilliant hack with me, and I am passing it along with y’all! She puts a small amount of retinol on her knees a few nights a week. I noticed my knees are starting to wrinkle (around the knee cap), so I thought this was a great idea and have noticed a huge difference but remember, SPF.
Collagen: Anyone that knows me knows I love collagen. I love it so much that junior year of college, I did an entire project over collagen (project in my professional selling class) because it truly is something I am passionate about. There are so many health benefits associated with taking collagen, and I find it easy to incorporate into my morning routine. When it comes to what collagen does for your skin, well, so many things! Collagen is a major component of your skin and impacts elasticity and hydration. As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, making it important to supplement your diet. For years I took Vital Proteins ‘Collagen Peptides’ and truly saw great results. Three months ago, I found out that powdered collagen has a 30% absorption rate, while liquid collagen has a 99% absorption rate. I was SHOCKED! I started taking Modere Liquid Collagen and have seen a dramatic change in my skin and hair. Liquid collagen is far more costly than powdered, but for me, it’s so worth it. If you struggle with breakage, brittle, dry color-treated hair, collagen is a must! If you don’t have trouble with your skin and or hair, you should still take some form of collagen for the other health benefits associated with it. In fact, my Mom takes collagen for her osteoporosis. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.
Dermaplaning: I’m sure you have seen other women shave their facial peach fuzz? It’s called dermaplaning and it’s amazing. Unfortunately, we don’t keep our baby like skin as we age, and our peach fuzz prevents our skin from absorbing all skincare products. Back in the day, I would get my face dermaplaned at the same time I would get my facial but after discovering I could dermaplane at home, I never looked back! I use the Stacked Skincare ‘Dermaplaning Tool’ (replacing the razor’s every three uses) and these replacement razors. That dermaplaning tool is more expensive than these but I liked the idea of having a tool that would last me and required inexpensive razor replacements. I have used these less expensive ones and they are great! I love dermaplaning for three reasons 1. No peach fuzz, 2. Better makeup application and 3. Skincare products are better absorbed.
This is all based on my personal experience and what I have found to work for me. I have struggled with my skin most of my adult life, and I hope someone reading this can benefit from my trial and error. Think about how much time we spend doing our makeup, we should be spending at least the same amount of time on our skincare! Remember, SPF!
“I regret taking such good care of my skin”- said no one ever!
Xoxo, Kayla
