The photo that inspired me to start taking care of my skin. I was 31, never wore sunscreen, and my "skincare" was a two-in-one makeup remover/cleanser wipe from Costco. (Right) I'm now 38 and love how much healthier my skin feels

What sunscreen do you use? Looks great!

Thanks! I switch it up all the time, but today I wore an SPF 50 Liquid Sun Shield from Dr. Brandt. It’s chalky, but I’m a bit pale and that doesn’t bother me. It blends in maybe 30 minutes or so. That was for my face, but my body is SPF 60 from Neutrogena (I live in a very sunny climate so I now put on SPF from head to toe).

OP here. I’m not especially loyal to any particular brands and I sometimes change things up, but below is my general routine.

AM:

  • Wash face using cleanser and Foreo. (I’m currently using the Fulvric Acid Brightening Cleanser from The INKEY List.)
  • Some sort of gentle face mask or a peel as my skin seems to need it. Some of my favorite gentle masks are the toning mask by Fresh or the daily five-minute mask from Alypn Beauty.
  • In the shower, I like to use the Peter Roth hyaluronic acid mask while I wash my body and shave. It makes my skin feel so smooth.
  • After my shower, I usually some sort of hyaluronic acid while my skin is still wet, followed by toner, a vitamin C serum, under-eye cream, and sunscreen.

PM:

  • I remove my makeup with my good old makeup remover wipe from Costco (some things never change). I’ve tried other stuff, but I honestly always go back to these wipes.
  • Some sort of balm-type cleanser. I’m currently using the Oat Cleansing Balm from The INKEY List. (I like a lot of their stuff and it’s super cheap.)
  • Hyaluronic acid again and some toner.
  • Under eye cream.
  • Some sort of retinol product. I’m currently using Dr. Dennis Gross stuff, but I’ve also used Sunday Riley and (don’t hate me) some random tube I picked up while on vacation in Mexico. I won’t do the Mexico thing again as it was way too harsh on my skin.
  • Some sort of moisturizer and/or (if I feel like it) an overnight mask. I like the 10% Niacinamide Night Mask from Farmacy a lot. I also have some sort of vibrancy mask from Shiseido that I like, although it’s mostly the smell that I enjoy and I can’t tell if it’s doing much for my skin.

I have somewhat oily skin, I think. I don’t have many issues with acne, but I do get a random pimple here or there and my t-zone tends to get pretty greasy.

I used to think skincare was so boring and for many years I even slept in my makeup. The photo on the left was what made me see that there were consequences to me constantly skipping sunscreen and not bothering to actually care for my skin. I currently do more than I probably “need” to, but that’s because I find my current routine so relaxing and enjoyable! None of it takes all that long either. Maybe 10 minutes in the morning and another 10 minutes at night. I feel better mentally doing it and it’s soothing.

I’m probably doing some stuff the wrong way, but I’m learning and I love how much I enjoy the process.

I don’t think using a toner after hyaluronic acid is a good idea. toner should be the first thing you apply.

some serums should go afterward, the oil-based ones. but from what I have learned, it should go: cleanse, toner, exfoliants (BHA, AHA, etc.), water-based (which is what hyaluronic acid is - and also I have read that applying vitamin C should go before HA), emulsions, oil-based, and then your moisturizer, and finish with sunscreen.

what you will want to do is get a spray bottle to spritz your face with filtered water between applications when necessary (so after you apply the vitamin C and let it soak in for a minute, you spritz your face and get it damp again and then apply the HA) so that it goes on damp skin.

Are you referring to the Alpyn 8-acid polishing peel?

How often do you use the Peter Roth hyaluronic acid mask?

Daily, while I shower. It’s gentle and soothing on my skin.

Your skin does look wonderful :slight_smile: I do notice that your skin is dehydrated. I have circled and pointed out the areas where you can see superficial dehydration lines. These are not wrinkles.

You’re using a lot of activities daily, and I notice you aren’t wearing a moisturizer/cream before your sunscreen. I would suggest dialing back the frequency and amount of actives in your routine, adding a moisturizer to your daytime regimen, and potentially swapping some of your treatments (at least occasionally) for more nourishing, hydrating, and moisturizing products :slight_smile: ETA: forgot to include photo

Hi! This is… weird but if I dm you a picture of my cheek like this could you please give me recommendations? I learned so much from your red circles and explanation

Yes of course, happy to help!

Interestingly, not using moisturizer could be part of the problem, along with the activities! When your skin is dehydrated and/or stripped of its natural oils (through over-exfoliation for example), you will produce more oil to compensate for the lack of hydration.
I would start with an oil-free and lightweight moisturizer, and work up from there. Focus on consistency. I think you (and potentially others) would be shocked to see how healthy your skin can be when prioritizing hydration in your regime. Happy to chat if you ever need recs :slight_smile:

This! I would love it if anyone had solutions to the oily t-zone post-moisturizing issue

I just use a tiny bit of no-sebum powder on my zone

moisturizer is meant to “lock in” the hydration. so if your skin isn’t already damp when you apply moisturizer, it will produce oil to compensate for the dryness.

the same goes for hyaluronic acid. applying that to skin that isn’t damp will just give you the opposite results than what you want, as it draws moisture from not only the air around you but also your skin, to “plump up.” so if you apply it to dry skin, it will draw moisture from your skin directly and just dry it out even more.

only apply moisturizing agents when your skin is already damp!

I agree with everything you’re saying except for the part about the skin producing oil to compensate for the dryness. Moisturizer/HA won’t be as effective as it could be, but it generally wouldn’t be the cause of an oily T-zone

correct, the moisturizer is not the cause of the extra oil, the skin’s dryness is though. the moisturizer can’t be effective if you apply it to already dry skin, so your skin will then produce oil to form a barrier and keep your skin from losing even more moisture. that’s why you should apply moisturizer and HA to already damp skin, so that it forms that barrier for your damp skin and then it won’t need to produce extra oil.

and HA will absolutely seep moisture from your skin if you apply it without it already being damp at application.

Looks great! I would also advise on not using waterproof mascara/eyeliner anymore and investing in some cleansing milk as an eye makeup remover.

Why no waterproof mascara? PFAs? It’s the only type that will hold my curl. :disappointed: