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Hey! I'm finally writing something about skin care! I want to start my journey by documenting my current skincare routine so that I can compare it with my future routine.
(Just a disclaimer, there isn't much of a difference between my morning and night routine..)
I start off my mornings with a shower, and then I do my makeup before I dry my hair. Since I'm a beginner, my skincare routine doesn't consist of much. I have oily skin so I like to keep it light to prevent my skin from becoming more oily throughout the day.
I do my cleansing in the shower and switch between my 2 go-to cleansers which I have been using for the past few years. The Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub (Wow a mouth full) and the Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub - This has probably been my 3rd or 4th purchase? I like it because I never broke out while using it and it's also an exfoliant which leaves me with baby soft skin. The only problem is that after reading many reviews of other products, I realized that other than being an exfoliator, it didn't seem to do anything else for my skin nor did it leave my skin feeling refreshed or hydrated. However I didn't mind it because I thought using moisturizer would be able to help with that.
Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam - I first tried this product when I got it as a sample from Skinfood. It made my skin feel super soft after using it but because this is an egg white foam cleanser, it made my skin feel tighter and a little dry which was not too bad since I have oily skin. It smells like a typical foam cleanser. (If that made any sense)
 
For toners, I use the Muji Toning Water and occasionally the Mamonde Rose Water in the mornings but specifically only the rose water at night.
Muji Toning Water - This toner doesn't have a scent and is VERY light. (almost as if I'm just putting plain water on my face) They come in different types. I've used the regular moisture one and strangely, I find that it worked better on my skin than the high moisture one.
Mamonde Rose Water Toner - I love this toner for the rose scent and how my skin absorbs it really quickly. I usually use this toner at night but whenever my skin feels like it needs extra moisture in the morning, I use them both together. when I do wish that it would feel a little more hydrating but my moisturizer can do that job. I would probably keep repurchasing and use it as a replacement toner in the mornings.
 
To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what serums were used for when I started to "build" my skincare routine.
I purchased the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum since it was a popular product at the time but I also bought it for the green tea extract which I knew was good for acne prone skin.
As for the moisturizer, I use the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel. I have been only using creams and lotions before I discovered gel moisturizers. I like how it feels on my skin and how it didn't leave a heavy or greasy feeling like lotions or creams did. The amazing thing about this is the affordable price and the amount you get which will last you a very long time.
My night time routine has a few more steps than my morning one since that's when I have to remove my make up at the end of the day.
To remove my make up, I start off by using Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes to remove most of my make up. I like these wipes because it's quick and easy to use since I only have to use one towelette over several cotton pads to do the job. But lately, I've been really wanting to try cleansing balms (specifically the one from Heimish) because it's more environmentally friendly compared to these wipes which you can only use once.
I then use the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion (Moist) as my second cleanse to remove any left over make up and to help hydrate my skin. I saw this product on Get it Beauty where they mentioned that you can also use this cleansing lotion as a "mask" by soaking a cotton pad and leaving it on parts you want to hydrate.! This is probably my 3rd or 4th bottle! I love how it doesn't irritate my skin like a lot of make up remover does.
After double cleansing, I usually go straight to using the Cosrx One Step Pimple Clear Pads. This product has changed the way my skin looks and feels and it made me want to try all the other products in their line!! Since one side of the pad had little bumps on it, I was able to exfoliate and remove even more dirt and make up that I had missed from the double cleanse. The toner soaked in the pads also helped my skin become more clear and with my acne.
Before discovering this product, I was using OXY Medicated Acne Pads which was a similar type of product in the Western market. I found that it really helped my skin for a while until I started to break out. I realized that it was possibly due to the high alcohol content in the pads (It had a REALLY strong rubbing alcohol smell) which became too harsh for my skin. I had been using this product for a very long time so I guess it was a way of my skin telling me, "I've had enough!!!!! Be more gentle with me!!!" so I was very happy to have discovered the Cosrx one.
As I mentioned in my morning routine, I occasionally use the Mamonde Rose Water Toner in the morning for extra hydration but I use this as my main night time toner after the pimple pads. I felt that just the pimple pad alone wasn't enough as a toner so I used the rose water toner as well.
 
After toner, I would use the Pearlessence Rosehip Balancing Facial Oil to help with my acne scars and for when I want my skin to feel a little more plump. Since my skin is oily to begin with, I only use this oil once a week either all over my face or just as a spot treatment. I also use the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil as a spot treatment for acne or acne scars.
As for moisturizers, I use the Mamonde Rose Water Soothing Gel. This soothing gel is a little heavier than the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel but still great for those with sensitive skin. Because it is a little heavier in consistency, I tend to grab this as my night time moisturizer. This product smells soooo goooddd!! It has a very strong rose water smell (duh) I feel so relaxed whenever I apply this on my face. It's just the perfect way to end the night for me.
So there you have it, my morning and night time skincare routine!! It's no 10 step routine but perhaps as you continue with me through my Asian Beauty journey, I will gradually get there! I hope looking back into this post, my skin and knowledge on skincare will improve immensely and I will no longer be a newbie! (but I probably will still be a newbie since I'm constantly learning.)
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