My Current Skincare Routine

Full disclosure here, I’ve never really done a lot with skincare. I posted about my nighttime routine back in 2017 which included some skincare bits but to be honest that routine did not last much longer than that post. I find that when I have a ton of steps I am less likely to stick to a skincare routine which is why the only two steps that I’ve done consistently in my adult life is cleansing and moisturizing. Less is more in my opinion and I have sensitive skin on my face so trying a bunch of different types of products usually doesn’t end with my skin feeling all that great.

So, a few months ago I decided that I wanted to try some new skincare products. I had a few criteria when it came to deciding what products to purchase. The first, and probably most importantly, was that I didn’t want to add more than 2-3 additional steps to what I was already doing currently. Secondly, I wanted the products to be ones that I haven’t normally used in a skincare routine before, I felt like I had found a cleanser, moisturizer, and eye cream that I loved already so I really wanted to focus on actually trying new types of products. And thirdly was that I wanted them to be affordable especially because of my track record with skincare I didn’t want to spend a fortune only to not like the products or not use them as consistently as I would like. So I started by researching what types of products make up a good skincare routine and then I took all that information and went to the Ulta website to see what I could find.

I’ll start with my go to skincare bits that I have been using for years and that I find that they work really well with my skin.

Cleanser: Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

I’m pretty sure this is the first cleanser I ever bought as a teenager and I have used it religiously ever since. I guess those Hayden Panettiere Neutrogena commercials really worked to convince me! This cleanser is really gentle on my skin and even on days when I am running so late and all I have time for is cleansing in the shower and have to leave the house with no other products on my face, I don’t feel like my skin gets dried out at all.

Moisturizer: PÜR Get a Lift Facial Firming Cream

Now, I’m not one to fall for the gimmicks of skincare claims. Yes, this product does claim to have facial firming properties but that’s really not why I use it, I just love how moisturized my skin feels when I use it. It is not greasy and doesn’t leave a tackiness on my skin. I will forever be grateful to the sales girl at Ulta who introduced this product to me!

Eye Cream: L’Oréal Eye Defense

I bought this on a whim several years ago during one of my drug store shopping sprees and had heard good things about L’Oréal products. I loved it from the first time I used it. It has this really nice cooling effect which helps wake me up in the morning but also makes me feel refreshed when I go to bed in the evening. I have never tried a different eye cream before and I’m not sure I will ever need to!

Here are the new products I have been trying out. I purchased four new products and the nice thing is that two of them don’t even have to be an everyday product!

SPF: Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector

I feel a little embarrassed that as a 33 year old woman, I have waited this long to try an everyday facial SPF. I think what I always pictured was a product similar to the facial sunscreens that I wear in summer that leave my face feeling greasy and kind of sting when I apply them but literally every article I read about skincare routines recommended an SPF that you wear religiously every single day. When I was browsing the seemingly millions of options on the Ulta website I relied heavily on reviews and also product lines that I had heard of before. This one by Clinique fit the bill and it truly is a great product. It absorbs completely without feeling heavy or leaving a sticky residue and it gives me the piece of mind that I am using a product that is protecting my skin from sun damage on a daily basis!

Facial Serum: Neutrogena Hydro Boost

You guys…there are soooooooo many different kinds of facial serums out there. This was the one product I felt so overwhelmed when trying to choose what to get. I decided to go with this one by Neutrogena because they are a brand I trust and it had fairly decent reviews and the price was not astronomical. I put this on before my moisturizer and the jury is out if my skin feels more hydrated but I do feel like it makes my skin feel smoother when I use it consistently.

Exfoliator: Clinique Exfoliating Scrub

As I mentioned, the skin on my face is pretty sensitive so I have avoided using an exfoliator except for the occasional use on my nose or chin. From what I read during my research, it’s good to use an exfoliator at least once a week to help clean out your pores and get rid of dead skin cells that have built up on your face. I decided to go again with a brand that I recognized and picked up this one from Clinique. I use it once or twice a week and I love that the grittiness of this particular exfoliator doesn’t irritate my skin so much as long as I don’t scrub for too long.

Eye Mask: Pixi FortifEYE Toning Eye Patches

I used to subscribe to both Birchbox and Ipsy and in one of my monthly boxes, I got an eye mask sample. I tried them out on one of my at-home spa nights and was instantly hooked. I knew I wanted to find a new one to try when I was looking for new skincare and I came upon these ones from Pixi. This is the first Pixi product I have tried and I am really liking them. I like to stick the pot in the fridge and then put them on while I am in the bath. I love how soothing they feel under my eyes and especially if I feel like my eyes have strained a bit too much that day, I feel like they really help to relax that part of my face.

Cleanser: Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser