This is an updated post.
Today I’m sharing my morning and night skincare routines with the products I use daily.* A few months back I shared this post which was an introduction into the Korean Skincare beauty routine. In today’s post I’m going to highlight new products I recently added to my routine and the results I’m getting. As per the previous post ‘the korean method’ involves many products, namely toners followed by serums and moisturizers. I honestly can’t say enough about it which is why I wanted to once again share with you my routine and the benefits I see in my skin.
morning skincare routine
TONERS
- I recently started using DIME’S Cleansing Balm to wash off makeup and it is absolutely fabulous! It literally melts away makeup and smells sooo good. You can do a double cleanse (if you really need it) by following with a mild water-based cleanser. I personally don’t always have to.
- After washing my face I mist on a little Rose Water to immediately hydrate my skin and get it ready for maximum product absorption. You can mist this on whenever you want to refresh your skin, and it smells beautiful. The first toner I apply is ACWELL. This helps in reducing pigmentation, acne and dark spots. This one too smells wonderful.
- Next is ANUA, a refreshing toner that soothes, calms the skin, and hydrates.
- Next is Moistfull Collagen. Although you can’t technically get collagen topically, this toner is a water essence type that hydrates and helps keep your skin moisturized.
- This is one of the latest toners I’ve added to my routine, Moon Glow Milky Toner by Good Light. It’s a super hydrating, nourishing and soothing face toner that also has ceramides to help promote a robust skin barrier function. It has a mild lovely ginger scent.
- A highly recommended toner is this HaruHaru Black Rice Toner which I also just added to my skincare arsenal. Crafted with Fermented Black Rice & Bamboo Shoot Barks, it gives skin elasticity restoration and soothing resilience. It’s available with or without a lavender scent.
- Hyaluron Skin Essence is the newest toner I just began using and absolutely love. Looking to achieve that Korean ‘glass skin?’ Look no further. Keeps skin moisturized, glowing, boosted, balanced and soft. Fragrance-free essence is gentle on the skin making it great for all skin types, leaving zero stickiness behind.
- Next toner is I’m From Rice, a rice extract from Korea, with niacinamide that is also hydrating and is totally amazing!
- And finally we have Strawberry Double Essence Toner, excellent for irritated skin, this toner is also very hydrating and soothing with milk protein and ceramide.
All these toners combined provide you with maximum hydration which is what our skin requires all the more as we age. Keep in mind that while applying these products one after the other your skin should be damp, (not drenched) and your products should last you a long time. I also don’t use anything but my hands for application and I make sure to apply everything down my neck and onto my decolletage as well.
SERUMS & CREAMS
- After my toners I apply Hyaluronic Acid Serum, a hydrating facial serum with a 100% pure hyaluronic acid formula that helps plump the skin.
- Next is COSRX Snail Mucin, the holy grail to glass skin! The Real Snail Essence: it is formulated with 96.3% Snail Secretion Filtrate, this essence repairs and rejuvenates the skin from dryness and aging. It improves skin vitality by reducing dullness and soothing dehydrated skin. And it leaves your skin sooo soft and with that healthy, luminous, youthful glow!
- Now time for eye repair. I use Biossance Eye Cream for lifting, firming and brightning. I love how this cream makes my under eye area nice and firm and moisturizes without pilling when I apply makeup over it.
- Next is Vitamin C Moisturizer all over my face, an antioxidant-rich moisturizer that brightens and nurtures while fighting signs of aging. My face literally soaks this in, I love it!
- Then I finish off by applying CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 for protection, with or without makeup.
SKINCARE SHOPPING LIST
night skincare routine
My night skincare routine is identical to that of the morning routine with just a couple of different products.
- After cleansing and applying all of my toners, serums and snail mucin, I apply a layer of Biossance Omega Repair Hydration. This is a fantastic moisturizer that contains ceramides and fatty acids to strengthen and repair the moisture barrier. I’ve been using this all year and absolutely love it, my skin loves it.
- I again use the Biossance Eye Cream for lifting, firming and brightning.
- Now is time for my Prescription Tretinoin Cream .025%. I spread a pea-size amount all over my face and neck area, more if needed. I am now using it nightly and I have built a tolerance for using it on damp skin (not recommended for newbies!).
- I also just started using Biossance’s Deep Repair Night Cream and can’t say enough about it. I use it after my Tretinoin application for extra hydration. It’s an ultra-rich nighttime cream that supports your moisture barrier and hydrates dry, stressed skin, which Tretinoin tends to create especially on people like me prone to dry skin.
Some people can adjust to using Tretinoin rather quickly and can use it daily in no time, while still others can do a couple times a week months into the treatment. You should keep in mind that everyone’s skin tolerance is different; it took me about 9 months before my skin could finally tolerate a daily application.
Tretinoin Cream is only available by prescription and comes in three strengths, .025%, .05% and .1% being the strongest. The .025% is the lowest available concentration, and the most prescribed by dermatologists to treat fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and signs of premature aging. Tretinoin is widely recognized in skincare as one of the most powerful and effective skin treatments available and is a retinoid that increases collagen production and speeds up the skin’s natural renewal process.
My goal is to gradually increase the strength of my Tretinoin and continue to have my skin tolerate it nightly on a higher dosage. I definitely notice improvements in clarity and the diminishing of fine lines since starting this treatment in conjunction with hydration from the daily use of toners. I know it seems like a lot of products but once you have the system down and are fairly organized, I feel it’s all well worth it. And honestly, it’s not a bad investment considering it may help slow down the signs of the aging process.
I’ll continue to update this post when necessary with any new products I may find useful to my daily skincare routine.
