Beauty Regimen 2.0: What I am currently doing to my face – Daytime routine

My current beauty regimen has totally gone out the window this past winter.

I don’t know WTF has happened, but my entire face has intermittently been breaking out into rough, red, itchy, dry eczemic (?) patches around the eyes and any part where my skin is thinner, and I had to pretty much pull the plug on using ANYTHING but moisturizer (Complex 15) and a dab of rosehip oil (I used Radha, but as they don’t ship here any more, I had to switch to this rosehip seed oil which I now slather on all over my body as well in the hopes of achieving perfect skin that will be exposed in the summer) on my face.

My face was as angry (if not angrier) as a toddler who has had their toys they could not handle playing with nicely, confiscated in front of their face (true story).

No wait.

Nothing can be angrier than a toddler who has had their toys confiscated.

But my skin came close.

The funny thing is that I don’t actually use moisturizer; this is the first time in years I have used actual MOISTURIZER because my skin was just so mad at me.

(Actually, some articles have even noted that using moisturizer may not do what you think.)

Now that winter is finally letting up, I am slowly easing back into my skincare routine which has and always will be the following:

MORNING ROUTINE

STEP ONE

O.R.G. Mineral Exfoliant (Body)

What is is
O.R.G. Mineral Peel Body is a chemical, physical exfoliant that actually removes the dead skin cells right off on your fingers to reveal fresher, flatter, more even skin.

I take the Body version because the Face one is basically the same. You just pay more for the word “Face” to be written on the bottle.

How I use it
I spray it on my just-woken-up dry skin, let it rest for a bit and then rub off all the dead skin cells. It is gross and not a trick. I thought it was a trick (which I have t say, the

STEP TWO

Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser

What it is

A fantastic skin balancing, creamy cleanser.

The best I have ever tried. It doesn’t strip my face of moisture, it is creamy, lathers well, I don’t need a ton, and it is SO CHEAP by the ounce versus what you get.

How I use it

Just a small dime size, rub it all over my slightly damp face and massage it into the corners to remove oil and dirt, and to wash off the dead skin cells from the O.R.G. Mineral exfoliant.

STEP THREE

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid

What it is
It is a light leave-in exfoliator that feels like water.

How I use it
I use this in lieu of moisturizer. I don’t know why, but my skin doesn’t feel tight at all after I slap on a few drops of this all over my face.

This BHA liquid helps exfoliate my skin and absorbs in beautifully, removing all tightness as well as removing dirt and crap out of the pores to keep my skin pimple-free.

I read another article recently – Moisturizer is bad for your skin and about how you don’t actually need to moisturize your skin but to keep it exfoliated so that it creates its own moisture barrier.

I am not sure how true this is for my body – if I don’t moisturize but exfoliate instead, my entire skin breaks out in scaly patches of eczema, but it is very true for my face. Aside from this winter, I have not really used moisturizer in years.

As I said, it stops my skin from feeling tight instantly after I wash it, and it seems to work very well in exfoliating it because my skin is always baby soft after I apply it, and then do my daily exfoliation with my beloved HOLY GRAIL of HOLY GRAILS, O.R.G. Mineral skincare that never irritates my skin no matter how often I use it.

STEP FOUR

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Lotion

What it is

It is a moisturizing AHA lotion exfoliant (another type of exfoliant, the twin if you will, to BHA) that removes built-up layers of dead skin (as exfoliants do). I find that it “boosts” the effects of my BHA layer and helps act as a mini moisturizer of sorts.

How I use it

I layer it on top of the BHA serum and before my skin went toddler-mad, I found that it really did help my skin texture and helped reduce my skin spots down to clearer, brighter skin.

Most people are unable to use both together, but my skin is pretty resilient, and I am able to use both without irritation or stress on the skin or any feeling.

The skinny on AHA & BHA

AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids, e.g. glycolic and lactic acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy/salicylic acid) act to “unglue” the bonds holding dull, dead skin on the surface. Once those bonds are broken—gently and evenly—skin naturally sheds. So, although you won’t actually see your skin exfoliating, you’ll soon see the smoother, younger-looking skin hiding beneath.

How AHAs and BHA are Similar

AHAs and BHA have shared benefits. They both diminish the look of lines and wrinkles make skin look and feel firmer
hydrate improve the look of dull, uneven skin tone smooth out rough texture.

But each also has unique properties making them preferable for certain skin types and concerns.

How AHAs and BHA are Different

AHAs work on skin’s surface, and are water soluble. They’re generally preferred for normal to dry, sun-damaged skin, due to their ability to enhance natural moisturizing factors within skin. They’ve also been proven effective in reducing the visible signs of sun damage.

Sherry’s Note: This is perfect for me because my skin is “normal” and as I don’t use moisturizer, the AHA acts as a moisturizer in its place. Plus, I have some sun damage near the edges of my eyes (I suspect from my sunglasses having rubbed away the sunscreen at the edges when it touched my face), so my skin is a little sun damaged and spotted.

BHA works on skin’s surface and inside the pore; it’s oil soluble, so it’s most often preferred for normal to oily skin prone to bumps, clogs, blemishes, and enlarged pores. BHA also has natural skin-calming properties, so it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin prone to redness and/or rosacea. This well-rounded, gentle ingredient is even suitable for skin prone to milia.

Sherry’s Note: This is also perfect for me because I get major cysts (mostly from eating really badly like a lot of chocolate or oily foods), and my skin is normal AND oily in some spots, prone to bumps and easily clogged. I absolutely 100% need this.

Source: Difference between BHA and AHAs.

STEP FIVE

A dab of any, or all of the following for day-time only. I don’t use any other products but these ones because they don’t interfere with my foundation and soaks into my skin once dried.

(A) Organic Rosehip Oil

What it is
Rosehip oil is meant to help your wrinkles, your spots, everything.

How I use it

No more than a little drop around the areas that are RED and itchy but not necessarily just “dry”… it works instantly to calm down that area and provide a boost of heavy moisture.

(B) Paula’s Choice RESIST Omega + Complex Serum

What is is

It’s a omega-3 fatty acid serum with lots of good anti-aging stuff in it.

How I use it

If my skin is just a tad bit dry, I may put on a little moisturizer-like serum. It really does feel like a lotion / moisturizer, and I dab it in the areas where it is a bit too red (not necessarily dry because exfoliation should peel those dead skin layers off).

(C) Paula’s Choice RESIST 10% Niacinamide Booster

What is is

It’s a miracle wrinkle reducer apparently. Just a few drops and it helps bring back your skin to the way it should be when you’re young and fresh. It is supposed to improve skintone and texture, which all sounds good to me. It seems to do something from what I can feel so I’m pretty happy about it.

How I use it

Few drops, all over my face. I pretty much use a dropperful which is probably overkill but you can never be too wrinkle-free, amirite?

(D) Paula’s Choice RESIST Hyaluronic Booster

What is is

It is a super moisturizing serum meant to help put more moisture into the skin with just a few drops. I like it because it is a nice slippery feel.

How I use it

I mix it into the Niacinamide booster as an all-over serum or into the AHA lotion because it is the same sort of texture, but a little more viscose.

(E) Paula’s Choice RESIST Brightening Essence

What is is

I got it for $5 as a brightening booster, and have been using it on and off but dang it is strong. I do it on occasion, not daily. It is meant to refine uneven skin tone and to help you skin with even more Vitamin C, niacinamide, etc.

All good stuff in my opinion.

How I use it

Again, mixed into my lotions or just as-is.