Embarrassingly, I really didn’t start a skincare routine until after I turned 30. I’d also just had a baby, and I was convinced that my skin was looking haggard as a result. Truthfully, I think I was just accidentally comparing my normal adult skin to her perfect baby skin, which is incredibly dumb. I stopped once I realized it, but taking better care of my skin on the daily wasn’t a bad takeaway.
But it needed to be an easy skincare routine. (See above – I just had a baby!) And I didn’t even know where to start.
I have a coworker who is the same age as me but has absolutely porcelain skin. She makes no secret of the fact that she puts the effort in to achieve that, so I asked her what her skincare routine was. That was the beginning of mine.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, but the opinions are 100% my own.
Skincare Routine – Process
Before I get into detail on the exact products I use, I want to explain the simple steps for applying the products. I have a basic skincare routine for mornings, and a simple, separate one for evenings.
The first step of both routines is to apply grapeseed oil to clean, wet skin. I really only use soap to clean my face when I am in the shower or if my face is specifically dirty (e.g., after a workout). On normal days, I simply wash my face with water. Then I just don’t dry off. I will move a bit of the water around from my face to include my neck and chest, or wherever I want to apply the oil. The reason I don’t dry off is because damp skin is much more absorbent than dry skin.
I also mix compounds into the grapeseed oil – vitamin C in the morning and bakuchiol in the evening – for their desired effects (detailed below). So after washing my face, I put about a dime-sized amount of grapeseed oil in my wet palm, then add a squirt of my add-in. I rub my hands together a bit, then all over my face and neck.
I then go about other aspects of my morning or evening routine for a few minutes to allow the oil to sink in before adding anything else. I’ll apply the oil first thing, then brush my teeth, change my clothes, etc. After a few minutes, I apply a lotion – sunscreen in the morning and night cream before bed.
That’s it! The whole thing only takes a few minutes, so it was not difficult to add to my day.
Skincare Routine – Products
Grapeseed Oil
There are a lot of oils that could work here, but I chose grapeseed because it is lightweight and free of a lot of contaminants. It also doesn’t have much of a scent, which I like. This is just for general moisture, and to act as a carrier for my mix-ins.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to brighten skin and can be especially helpful for dark spots or hyperpigmentation. It also causes photosensitivity, though, so it is extremely important to follow up with sunscreen.
The other thing to watch out for with vitamin C is that it is prone to oxidation and degradation from light. The best way around this is to get it in an opaque bottle that doesn’t have to be fully opened every time you use it (think- pump top). Also, don’t stock up on a ton at once. Only buy what you need, and resupply whenever you get low.
Sunscreen
I have become a bit pickier about my face sunscreen, but I really like Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen. It is moisturizing and has SPF 50+, but doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy or with a white caste. Ultimately, anything that fits your personal preferences should do, just don’t skip this step!! Sunscreen is probably the most important thing in keeping skin healthy and looking young.
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a naturally derived retinol alternative. While still breastfeeding I looked up if I could use retinol and found it was ill-advised. High levels of vitamin A are known to be bad for a fetus, and retinol is just synthetic vitamin A. Topical use is probably not a huge contributor to having high levels in the body, and I am not sure how much of that would transfer into breastmilk, not to mention my baby was obviously well past the fetus stage, but I would still rather err on the side of caution.
Plus, I found bakuchiol as a recommended alternative. Turns out it has pretty much the same benefits as retinol with fewer side effects. I have never used retinol, so I can’t personally vouch for that, but I have been happy with bakuchiol!
Night Cream
This is both my last step as well as my oversimplified moisturizing option. When I travel for short trips, I often take only this and my sunscreen to save on space. In my daily routine, though, it is the perfect last step to lock in the moisture while still allowing my skin to breathe.
That’s it for my simple routine! A few minutes in the morning and evening have led me to a handful of new compliments about how fresh my skin is looking, and I feel better for it. I would love to know what other easy tips you may have to add!
