My Current Skincare Routine (Morning & Night)

I've been on a skincare journey recently, aiming to downsize the amount of products I use and how much I purchase thoughtlessly, whilst still yielding good results, such as fading my hyperpigmentation, minimising the look of my pores and, keeping my skin soft and hydrated. I'm still on that journey, but here is my current routine, both morning and night. Let's see what's worth repurchasing, and what we can put in the bin.

Cleanser

I started using the Naturium: Niacinamide Cleansing Gel after my CeraVe: SA Smoothing Cleanser - my holy grail, - ran out. I was looking for something that would do a bit more for my overall complexion, rather than just focusing on texture. It's a nice cleanser. It isn't drying, lathers well and feels good on the skin. However, whilst it does say it is gentle, it is perhaps a little too gentle. Even after slathering away for a good minute with it, I still find comes off on the cotton pad when I go in with my exfoliator or toner. I usually reserve double cleansing for when I wear makeup, as not to over cleanse my skin on a daily basis, but with this cleanser, I need to double cleanse just to get the day off my face – makeup or not. Perhaps it's due to all the dust in Arizona, but I prefer not having to add another cleanser to my routine just to make this one work. As I said, it's a lovely cleanser, just a little too gentle for me.

Exfoliator

I've been on the hunt for a cheaper alternative to the Paula's Choice: 2% BHA Exfoliant. As much as I adore that product, it is rather pricey. So far, the Naturium: BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%, has been the best equivalent I have found, other than the tried and true Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution from The Ordinary. My texture has remained smooth and my pores minimised whilst using it, and it's done a brilliant job of keeping the black heads that plague my t-zone at bay. For being almost half the price of Paula's Choice, I can't fault it at all, and it's definitely a great option for those shopping for an alternative. I would happily repurchase this.

Toner

I love Caudalie products, and their Vinopure Purifying Toner is no exception. First off, I love the smell of this. I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I find it enjoyable. It's not strong enough that it sticks to your skin and plagues you throughout the day, but you do notice it as you apply it. Moving on from the scent however, this is just a gem in a bottle. I used it alone for a while to see whether it would have the same affect as my exfoliator, and without any trouble, it helped maintain my skin beautifully. It's mattifying, pore minimising, and left my face visibly clean and clear. She is the whole package, and I'd go as far as to say you could entirely skip a chemical exfoliator if you use this. It's quite gentle too, but it definitely puts in the work. This is a must have for me, and will be an instance repurchase when my current bottle is finished.

Serums

The only difference in my current morning and night routines is the serums. I quite enjoy this, as it cuts down the amount of products I use and have to purchase, keeping my routine simple. I prefer to save the more hard hitting serums for the night, so I don't have to worry about oversensitivity to the sun. So, let's start with my morning duo.

I'm a huge fan of rice as an ingredient in my skincare. For me at least, it does a better job at brightening and evening my skin tone then Vitamin C. As such, I've been using the I'm From: Rice Serum, for quite a while now. I believe I'm on my third bottle in fact. She is brightening, and you will see the effects quite quickly with regular use. It absorbs almost instantly, gives you a subtle glow and is made to strength the skin barrier, which is always a plus. I've used the I'm From rice mask and toner in the past and, they are also both brilliant products. Already lining up for a fourth bottle.

My other morning serum is the Anua: Peach 70 Niacin Serum 70%. This is a lovely, hydrating serum designed again to brighten the complexion, by reducing unevenness and melanin production – which is a plus if you have acne that tends to scar quite dark. Though I do like this, I don't think it works as efficiently as the Rice Serum, and when I used it alone, it didn't provide my skin with the same radiance and glow I was used too. For me, this feels more like a topper, boosting the effects of the rest of my skincare instead of being able to stand on it's own. I like the Anua line, but this serum just doesn't isn't giving me enough to work with. However, if you are someone with dry skin and some light complexion issues you'd like to combat, I would recommend this. If you are like me, and your unevenness or scarring is quite dark and dominant, I would opt for something else.

As for my night serums, I finally got my hands on the Good Molecules: Discolouration Correcting Serum. I don't believe they sell this in the UK unfortunately, but it has been a pleasure to use whilst being in America. Firstly, the price. I don't think anyone can scoff at it's extremely affordable price tag and, where one might think affordable usually means not very good, it isn't the case with this. It is a fantastic serum for discolouration. I've been using it religiously at night, and have actively seen significant improvement to my complexion and the fading of both new and old scars. I was pleasantly shocked when I realised that all the hype this product receives wasn't just empty air. It works, its affordable, it feels good on the face and it mixes well with other serums. If you were to buy anything from this routine, I would definitely suggest this one.

The Ordinary: Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane is my second serum of the night, and it's designed to combat the signs of ageing, texture and uneven skin tone. I always recommend slipping a product or two with anti-ageing properties into your routines once you hit your mid to late twenties, even before you have anything to worry about. After all, it's easier to prevent problems, then trying to fix them. That being said, I like this retinol, just not during the warmer seasons. It is oily. Too oily, even for my combination skin and, I'm saying that whilst only using it at night. I like using oils on my face, what I don't like is my skin feeling slimy, and unfortunately I get that effect with this in the heat. However, I'm not going to knock the product because it's not for my skin type in humid weather– it is designed for dry skin after all - so I will add that despite my personal ick, my skin never failed to feel plump and soft in the mornings. It is definitely moisturising, and will help lock in your other products without the need for a facial oil. Unless I find something I like more, I would repurchase this to keep a retinol in my routine, but only during the colder months.

Moisturiser

So, after my initial moisturiser ran out, I decided to give the Peach Slices: Snail Rescue All-in-One Oil Free Moisturiser a go. I'd seen some good reviews, it was a good price, and it promised a lot. It however, did not deliver, and worse then that, it did nothing. The basic premise of a moisturiser, is to keep your skin hydrated – using this, my skin went through one of its roughest dry patches since I was on Acutane. After only two weeks of use, I threw in the towel and stole my friend's moisturiser instead. I don't know if this simply doesn't gel with my skin or another product in my routine, but it wasn't moisturising – even after applying it three times in one day. Because I only used it for two weeks, I won't comment on it's other effects, but my skin is a lot better now for not using it, and that is enough for me to not only not recommend this, to anyone, but to also stay clear of it.

Due to having to switch moisturisers, I ended up using the E.l.f. Skin: Holy Hydration Daily Moisturiser. I wasn't expecting much and, it doesn't give much – but it does hydrate. I've used a fair few products from E.l.f before and they are usually pretty good, this was too. It's not a powerhouse, but it is a simple and clean moisturiser that definitely kept my skin hydrated through out the day. I wasn't wowed by it, but it works perfectly fine as an affordable, daily cream if you are looking for something clean and affordable.