Hey y’all! I’m not going to fake the funk: I do not have great skin. I have enlarged pores on my cheeks, hair all over my face, and a mild, yet annoying, case of hormonal acne. My skin is dry and flaky, and aged looking. Listen, I’m only in my mid-twenties. I’m at the stage of my life where eye serums, facial creams, intense moisturizers, and a dermatologist should be in my future. However, I’m one of those #brokemillennials, so I can’t afford high end skin care or a dermatologist. Times like this, I wish I was an esthetician already. Anyway. I’m here to share my skin care routine for the summer, as I am actively trying to get my skin under control. From my face to my toes, I want luscious, beautifully melaninated skin, and now is the time to start. Let’s get started.

Morning:

• In the morning, I want to start off my body right with drinking a cold bottle of water. I know typically you are supposed to use warm water to boost your digestive track. I have also read where you have to do this within the first 10 minutes of waking up, and on an empty stomach. First off, I’m not getting out of bed for at least another hour after I wake up. I know myself. But I always keep water by my bed, so drinking water shouldn’t be hard. We’ll see though.
• After drinking my bottle of water, it’s time to start on my skin care routine. Because I have dry skin, I use a cream cleanser. Right now, I use the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser with my Vanity Planet Ultimate Skin Spa spin brush. I typically use the exfoliating brush because my skin is pretty dry. BUT if I am going to use the Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains mixed into my cleanser, I use the daily cleansing brush to buff everything in. I really enjoy this face wash because it makes my skin softer and feel less dry.
• After rinsing off my cleanser, I will apply the Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Soothing Toner for Dry/Very Dry Skin. This toner is gentle on my skin and I find that it doesn’t dry my skin out badly. If I don’t use it, I use apple cider vinegar and water. It works just as well for me.
• Between toner and moisturizing my skin, this is when I will typically brush my teeth. I’m only mentioning this because after I brush my teeth, I like to use the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask on my lips. I have really dry lips, and I find moisturizing my lips after I exfoliate my lips (right after brushing my teeth) really helps keep my lips soft and kissable.
• It is important that I moisturize my dry skin in steps, so that I can ensure that my skin stays soft and supple. Firstly, I spray my face with Evian Facial Spray, apply my Vitamin C Serum by Nature’s Design, followed by the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel all over my skin. Sometimes, if I’m feeling extra dry, I may mix a few drops of my Leven Rose Jojoba Oil into my moisturizer, and spread it all over my skin.

It is after I do my morning skincare routine that I may or may not put on makeup. My routine is the most important “prep step” of my makeup routine, regardless of the type of makeup I plan on wearing. 

For my nighttime routine, I basically do the same thing as my morning routine. If I wear makeup, I use an oil (avocado or jojoba) to remove my makeup from my eyes and face, and then I wash my face the same way I do in the morning. Moisturizing is the same, except that I use the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ as my moisturizer because it is heavier. I will also apply my eye cream which is a sample of the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer. I try to do facial masks when I think about it, but I haven’t done any in a while.

My routine is pretty basic, but it works for me. If you have any tips for dry skin that you would like to share, please feel free to share them with me in the comments. I hope this post finds you all in good health, happiness, and love. I will talk to you all again soon!