Daily Skincare Routine
My Morning and Night Skincare routine used to change every couple of months as I explored and played with new products.
I have Combination to Normal skin that can become oily through the T Zone when dehydrated or Brisbane’s signature heat and humidity is at its highest points, that is also very Sensitive due a large array of skin allergies.
Since switching from the Pill to a Mirena my skin has been less able to adapt quickly as hormonal acne came in, and has stuck around. This has made changes in my routine less frequent as I have built a core from products that I have found over the course of the past 10 years that my skin loves.
Acne products are often too stringent and easily over sensitise my skin, so this routine has been built with a focus on my skin’s general health.
From July 2022, with the help of a dermatologist I have began a course of Isotretinoin (or Roaccutane) with the aim to hopefully manage and eliminate the acne I have been dealing with for two years. This routine is missing some of the actives I have loved using over the past two years and found made a huge difference to frequency and severity of my breakouts. While I will keep this list updated with my routine as it changes, I am also making list of the Active products that I cannot wait to use again once this course is finished that will be available soon.
For transparency, some of the links included on this page are Affiliate links. If you do not support these please Google the products to purchase instead. All of these products are ones that I genuinely use daily and love. From time to time, some of these products may have been gifted to me by the brand to try. These will only be added after I have trialled them for four weeks and decided whether I like them for my skin or not. Gifted items will always be annotated as such, including if an item was previously gifted but I have repurchased.
Morning Skincare.
Cleanser - Summer Friday’s Super Amino Gel Cleanser
First up is my go to cleanser for the past year and a half. I first purchased this on a whim while feeling bored of my previous cleanser and I’ll admit, the main reason I chose this was for the gorgeous glass bottle. But the texture and feeling post cleanse kept me coming back. Super gentle, deep cleaning and never leaves my skin stripped.
Serum - Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum
Late last year I went for a tailored facial at Beauty on Latrobe to help me get to the bottom of some of my skin frustrations, and at the same time I had just run out of my previous Hydrating Serum. After some consultation and the most divine facial that helped deeply rehydrate my skin, my facialist recommended this Ultraceuticals serum. The difference since beginning to use Ultra B2 is insane - my skin is significantly more hydrated and I have less random bumps from thicker oil on my forehead - all things my facialist said I needed assistance with.
Eye Cream One - La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eyes
It seems like overkill to use two eye creams each day, but the combination of Roaccutane dryness and recent hay-fever has made this a necessity for me. However, for anyone with sensitive or allergic eyes this is my all time favourite eye cream to soothe. It is super hydrating, very lightweight, and I truly cannot emphasise just how much it soothes the sore, itchy skin I get around my eyes after a few days of hay-fever weeping.
Eye Cream Two - Hunter Lab Peptide Eye Renewal
Next I use a half pump of the Peptide Eye Renewel from Hunter Lab. This Eye cream is a gorgeous light texture that is super hydrating, and a little goes a really long way. I find these bottles tend to last me six months even with use morning and night. I also use any left over on my lips to help give them an extra hydration boost.
Moisturiser - Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
In Summer, this is my night moisturiser as the creamy texture doesn’t always agree with very hot and humid Queensland weather. In wintertime it becomes my daily moisturiser as well. Since beginning Isotretinoin this has become a particularly welcome part of the morning to help lock in the hydration from the Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum.
Sunscreen - Ultraceuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 50 Hydrating
Another recommendation from my facialist that I purchased after my previous sunscreen randomly stopped agreeing with my skin. A broad spectrum SPF that is like layering a second layer of moisturiser on top, which has been a huge benefit to counteracting the dryness I have started experiencing since beginning Isotretinoin. There is also a Mattifying version for people who do not want or need the extra hydration. I struggle with finding sunscreens that do not irritate my eyes no matter how far from them I apply and more than a month into use I have never experienced irritation in my eyes.
Lip Mask - Clinique Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment
My holy grail lip product that I use to lock in all of the other layers above. I don’t believe in traditional lip balms and years ago learnt that lip balm is really just a barrier treatment to help lock in hydration, which is often best sourced from other products. I still stand by everything I wrote in this article and four years later this treatment is still my only choice to lock the rest of my skincare in.
Evening Skincare.
Balm Cleanser - Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser
This balm cleanser is so good at getting off sunscreen and makeup. Plus it is one of the few I have tried that doesn’t irritate my eyes or my skin. Because it is made using different seed oils, the butter really melts into a soft oily texture to help lift the day off your skin. It comes with a Bamboo Slough to add if you want to use it for exfoliating but I have never tried this addition as I prefer the more gentle exfoliation acids and enzymes.
Cleanser - Summer Friday’s Super Amino Gel Cleanser
Serum - Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum
Serum - Alpha-H Vitamin E Serum with 1% Ceramide Complex
This serum is one I mostly save for when my skin really needs it, if it is super dry or experiencing dermatitis. The combination of Vitamin E and Ceramides adds a long lasting hydration and helps my skin to recover and heal faster. This is definitely a product that could be used daily if you had dry skin.
Eye Cream One - La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eyes
Eye Cream Two - Hunter Lab Peptide Eye Renewal
Moisturiser - Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
Because its night time I layer this moisturiser on extra thick and let it really soak in before bedtime.
Facial Oil - Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate
When I need some extra hydration and a general boost I switch between using a hydrating mask and an oil as my final step for the night. This Rosehip from Pai has been an amazing addition to my routine. Filled with Omegas and high in Antioxidants, Rosehip oil is a great, gentle way to to help improve fine lines, scarring, and skin texture. While it doesn’t make up for being able to use stronger actives, I am really enjoying this oil and notice a huge difference each morning in the fullness of my skin.
Hydrating Mask - Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask with Avocado & Glacier Water
This overnight mask is an incredible way to boost hydration. I originally purchased it to use once a week in place of my moisturiser, but since beginning Isotretinoin I have been layering it over the top of moisturiser to help lock everything in and do a lighter weight version of slugging to help keep my skin from drying out further.
Lip Mask - Clinique Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment
A bonus hack I’ve been using a lot recently, if you are experiencing dry skin around your nose during cold and flu season use any remnants of this lip treatment on the sore skin around your nose to help really lock all your other products in and also create a barrier against tissues.