Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

My Skincare Formula

April 20, 2024

(PS – this is slightly edited from when I first posted.)

Again – emphasis on MY – so if you care to adjust what you do just remember your mileage will probably vary so use what works for you even if you have to go through a few products to find what works. If you need more products that’s okay too. Everyone’s skin is different and mine is quite finicky. For reference I am 61 with dry/dehydrated and sensitive/reactive skin.

I also will add that I have a little notebook to keep track of what I’m using and note reactions from products, how well they work, and how I like them. It helps me to see what I’ve used in the past and keep what works and toss what doesn’t and why they didn’t work. And sometimes I take pictures of current routines in case I haven’t written anything down (supposed to be for Instagram – heh). and it helps to see exactly what I’ve used at a certain point in time in case I want to repurchase something that has worked and can’t remember what it was.

I decided last summer to just go back to basics with these five products after jumping in with too many new products and messing my skin up. It’s really the formula I’ve used for a long time and for a good reason – it works. It also keeps my routine easy with only a few products so it’s easier to stay consistent. I still have the idea of a skincare wardrobe with different products to choose from within my formula categories depending on weather and skin needs. It’s something to work towards.

One thing to add – I only use fragrance free products since I have very sensitive skin and I’m not big on oils because even though I have dry skin, oils still do tend to clog. And HA kept to a minimum if at all – it just doesn’t work for me.

Morning Routine
- Cleanser – A good basic foamy cleanser. Gels tend to be dryer so I prefer cushier cleansers and they clean better than super gentle formulas which really don’t work for me. Sometimes I use a good micellar product if I’m feeling lazy or time is of the essence.
- Toner – Right now I have three in rotation – one gentle (no alcohol, fragrance free) for a basic prep step. I have another that is an essence/toner but more moisturizer when I feel I need that. The other is an exfoliating type when I feel I need to clear the deck so to speak. A lot of people say toner isn’t necessary but I love this step and my skin just does better with it.
- Moisturizer – A good all purpose moisturizer to keep skin hydrated all day. It can vary during colder weather or more humid weather, but generally something basic.
- Sunscreen – I use mineral sunscreens only with an SPF of 30 max usually. And I only use a pea size amount. Yes that is sufficient for my skin to keep it protected. Last summer I was using way too much and it dried the crap out of my skin because apparently zinc oxide can be drying. So, this is all I need for ME. There are two sunscreens I’ve used with higher SPF but they are lighter and thinner in formulation without sacrificing the protection.
Evening Routine
- Cleanser – A good cleanser that takes all the makeup off in one swoop and rinses clean. I’ve tried double cleansing and it does more harm than good to my skin. I’ve tried cleansing balms and oils and don’t generally like the feel of them, and balms have to be wiped off which my skin just doesn’t take to that well. I can also use my micellar cleanser and moisturizer after if I’m too damn tired for a full routine. If I’m not wearing makeup my morning cleanser can do the job.
- Toner – Same as in the morning.
- Moisturizer – Same one I use in the morning. Again, like I said above, this can change from lighter moisture to a heavier cream depending on how my skin feels during weather transitions.
So as you can see it’s only four products – cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen and five if I use a different cleanser for makeup removal at night. This base formula does not change. I can also see if a new step or new product works or doesn’t since I use the same products on the daily. Currently though I’m using up some of my stash but staying within the formula. I need to find my holy grail products so that I use only those for the long term and can add other things in should I desire. So, still some kinks to work out but on the whole keeping it simple.

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» My Skincare Formula » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

My Skincare Formula

April 20, 2024

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