Confession: my current “skincare” regimen consists of taking off my makeup with a pre-moistened wipe. Not even a name brand wipe. Nope. A generic version. Sometimes I follow it up with a drugstore spot treatment for any pesky pimples that pop up. But, that’s it.
I wasn’t embarrassed about that until recently. With skincare finding its way into more and more articles and social media posts, I’ve been starting to worry about the effects (or lack thereof) of my bare-minimum approach. Cult-favorite brands like Drunk Elephant are all over my newsfeed. Refinery29’s “Money Diaries” series (my not-so-guilty pleasure) constantly talks about the writers’ 12-step routines. My peers are even putting their spare cash into Botox funds.
Now that I’m 28, I know it’s time to focus on my skin more than I have been. Beyond me not wanting wrinkles down the road or zits now, I’ve realized I deserve it. My face deserves it!
Living in NYC over the last year-and-change, my skin has been at its worst. Blame it on the grime in the city air or the germs from my subway-touched hands, I don’t know. But my skin more than earns a little calm reprieve once a day.
Yes, I said once. Baby steps. I’m only going to be doing my new routine at night for now, but I will be putting an SPF moisturizer on in the morning. A good compromise, right?
I did a bunch of research before deciding on what exactly this new routine would consist of. I literally started by typing “skincare for 28-year-old” into Google. It led me to a lottt of info…which led me to reading more reviews than I care to admit. And thus, Haley’s Skincare Regimen of 2020 and Beyond was born.
Ok, so let’s cut to the chase. What products am I going to use? (Psst: the total is less than $114! That’s, like, one Drunk Elephant product.)
1. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, $21
First things first: gotta remove the makeup. I can already tell this baby is better than a wipe, because I can see the makeup dissolving as I wash. It feels super soothing and smells that way, too.
2. Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner, $10.95
My coworker told me about this one when she heard me rambling about trying to find the right products. Later the same day, I saw it on Cupcakes & Cashmere’s Instagram round-up! It’s supposed to help manage acne without being too harsh.
3. The Ordinary Lactic Acid Serum, $6.80
I’ve heard great things about The Ordinary, and the price point sold me. During my research, I read that I need a product to exfoliate my skin—and this one does just that. I only plan on using this twice a week so I don’t dry out, though.
4. Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Serum, $24.99
Two words: Hyaluronic acid. We’ve all heard Eva Longoria pronounce it on those commercials. Every article I read told me I needed this ingredient or else my face would burst into flames. Or something like that. Anyway, it has anti-aging properties and I am all about that.
5. L’Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream, $17.99
This step was the hardest when it came to making a decision. I knew I needed retinol in my routine for wrinkle prevention, but I didn’t want to add another step by using a serum. So, I figured I could find a moisturizer that has retinol in it and and kill two birds with one skincare stone. This one had good reviews, so fingers crossed! I’m not going to use it every night, though, since retinol can be harsh on skin. On days I don’t use it, I’ll use the Eucerin Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer I already have on hand.
6. First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Age Delay Eye Cream, $32
The short and sweet answer? This just had great reviews. I have super dark, sunken-in under-eye circles, no matter how much sleep I get. Thanks, genetics! Here’s hoping this little number does the trick.
Don’t worry, I took a “before” photo of my skin so I can check back in with a progress report. Until then, do you use any of these products? Tell me about your own skincare routine in the comments!
Colorfully Yours,
Haley
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