Sensitive and Combination Skin Skincare Routine 2022
How many of you here have ever listened to your friend recommend a skincare product to you and rush off to buy it without thinking too much? (Or even buying products because their packaging are THE BOMB?) Inez is guilty as charged! Self-reminder for 2022, do sufficient research before purchasing skincare products.
I personally have sensitive, combination skin. (Nothing hard about this, my skin acts up when there are drastic changes to the weather or my hormones and it's oily at the T-zones but dry at the cheeks.) It's not very problematic, no acne, just the occasional blackheads and oil seeds/milia. For years, I've been struggling to find the correct products for my skin and it's safe to say that I've finally found my holy grails!
Morning Skincare Routine
Cleanser
So this one is an absolute gem for me. I normally sleep in an air-conditioned room every night and in the next morning, my face is always oily and shiny, (I have no idea either, because you would expect it to be super dry right? Guess again!) so this cleanser is gentle enough to remove all the oil thoroughly without giving you the squeaky clean effect after cleansing your skin.
Toner
After washing my face, I hydrate it with this toner which smells divine. Most importantly, it's alcohol-free. This helps to lightly hydrate your skin and calms it down. I find the toner bottle to be a bit faulty as it leaks when I pack it for travelling, hence I opt for the facial mist, leak-free and does not require cotton pads for application!
Pore-Refining Serum
Even though I do not have acne or problematic skin, this serum helps me prevent blackheads and milia from forming on my skin. It has salicylic acid which helps to remove dead skin cells which clogs your pores. I apply this mostly to my T-zone while spreading it thinly on my cheeks to prevent them from being overly-exfoliated. It's also lightweight and absorbs into the skin easily. The consistency is gel-like and has a fresh scent to it as well.
Day Moisturiser with SPF
Why buy 2 products when you can buy 1 only? This cream from Cetaphil combines both moisturiser and sunscreen together to make your mornings less hectic. I like how this cream gives me a beautiful glow upon applying and I honestly don't know what ingredient in this makes my skin colour look so much healthier. If you will be exposed to strong sunlight for the whole day, I recommend applying the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF50 on top of this to increase sun protection. This is my favourite sunscreen as it does not make your face look super oily, but it does leave a white cast on your skin if you apply too much. (Problem solved if you massage it into your face for some time.)
Nighttime Skincare Routine
Makeup Remover
My love for waterproof makeup explains why I require a cleansing oil to melt down stubborn mascara, and believe me, the search for makeup removers which remove waterproof mascaras was long and tedious. I have tried micellar waters, balms and cleansing creams which claim to remove waterproof makeup and I've been lied to more times than I can remember. This olive oil-based cleansing oil removes my makeup easily with just 2 pumps in 1 minute. (Yes, I timed myself.) If you're a lucky soul who is able to use normal non-waterproof mascara, I suggest the trusty favourite, Bioderma Sensible H2O because it truly is gentle enough for both eyes and face. After this step, follow on with the Purity cleanser and Thayers toner as above.
Retinol Serum
They always say that prevention is better than cure and I couldn't agree more. I like to incorporate some retinol into my skincare routine to help with any signs of ageing. Every time I use this, my skin will look its best the next morning. One thing I should point out is that I keep this in the fridge as Malaysia's climate is super humid and hot. Also bear in mind that this has a weird scent which might not be acceptable to some people.
Night Moisturiser
When my skin is problematic and pimples are starting to surface, this moisturiser literally makes everything disappear the night after. Back when I was in the UK, this moisturiser really quenched my skin AND did not add on to any blackheads and milia growth. (SUPER DUPER PLUS POINT FOR ME!) The smell of this is also amazing.
Extras
Face Mask
I know that Herbivore Botanicals' products do not last in Malaysia's weather but I keep this in the fridge and although there is discolouration, the results are still promising. This mask has a gel-like consistency and after application, it dries up and becomes a thin film on your face. Wash this off and your face is automatically renewed, hello baby skin!
Face Oil
Another skincare item which I've been searching for far too long would be a facial oil that did not make me breakout. I've tried Kiehls, Nuxe, Pixi and so many more and they just didn't suit me. This was the only one which suited me. (bye-bye money) I only use 3 drops on my face on Sunday nights right after the blue tansy mask and the results are truly astonishing. Remember to keep Herbivore Botanicals' products in the fridge because they don't last in hot weather!
Inez's top tip: Always buy small sizes even though the big ones are more worth it. Test the product on your skin first to make sure that it works for you!
That's all for Inez's skincare routine. I hope that all of you will take care of your skin well this year! May your skin glow like the gentle morning sun.
Comments