Archived Post
What is your current evening skincare routine?
I’m still finishing up my SUQQU Cleansing Oil, which I use for removing makeup, along with Shiseido’s Eye & Lip Remover (dispensed onto a cotton swab or facial cotton to remove every last trace of makeup along my lash lines as I wear contacts at night and can’t have ANY trace of makeup land in my eyes once they’re in or else it feels like someone is rubbing glass in my eye!). I then apply Differin, Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Gel, and Tatcha Water Cream (just opened it a night ago, I was using Tatcha’s Soothing Triple Recovery Cream, which I loved enough to repurchase). If I have any acne, I use spot treatments by Mario Badescu (Drying Lotion or Buffering Lotion).
— Christine
Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil as first cleanse followed by either Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip or Philosophy Gentle Cleanser. I spray Pixi Milky Mist and then immediately apply 1/2 pump of Sunday Riley Good Genes. I use Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic and Vit C gel around my eyes and then after it has dried completely I moisturize with Sunday Riley Tidal and a small amount of Marula Oil. I have been trying Boscia Tsubaki Cream/Gel moisturizer every other night in place of the Tidal just to see if it gives better moisturization. Lastly, I apply a scant amount of the Nivea Smoothing Skin Gel just on my neck and a miniscule amount tapped on my eye bags. As I mentioned in my morning routine, I am trying this as a friend used it successfully to decrease her under eye bags but this product is not recommended for use around the eyes.
Remove makeup with Shu Uemura cleansing oil. Rinse and wash with Fresh Soy Cleanser. Then follow with Algenist Retinol serum, Bobbi Brown eye cream, and Latisse.
If my skin has zits, I might use EradiKate or another zit cream with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If my cheeks and neck feel dry, I will add Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb.
My pre-bedtime skincare routine is ridiculous, but I suppose it works?
First, baby oil on a tissue to remove all eye makeup, then coconut oil rubbed into my face to loosen up my foundation, followed with a Simple Exfoliating Wipe to get it all off. Then, in this order: The Ordinary Buffet, The Ordinary Retinoid 2%, Ole Henrikson Truth Serum, (wait a bit), The Ordinary Rosehip Oil, Marula oil, and presently Ole Henrikson Sheer Transformation because I not only ran out of my HG night moisturizer, Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Moisturizer, but Ulta no longer carries it! Have to order it online now, unfortunately.
Oops! Forgot my Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid & Retinol Eye Serum! That’s actually the 1st step after cleansing.
Nancy at it again with the great comments! Impressed with your routine.
I have been thinking of making the leap to The Ordinary, but whenever I deviate from my Paula’s Choice routine, I break out or my skin gets textured/discolored.
Too much perfum with Suqqu skincare products. I am so appreciate of the samples I get with the new eyeshadow purchases and foundation I got. But I don’t like fragrance on skincare….I can’t even go to sleep. Also smell so artificial…Chanel, Shiseido, La Prarie, dept store brands.
I still use Sisley eye cream. La Prarie has fragrance. Yuk.
I use African Botanics or RMS oil, which I truly love. I have oily skin, but my skin drinks up the oil.
I use alcohol free toners….not expensive brands like Mario Badescu.
I like Le Mer, but it is so expensive and I feel even the cream is artificial.
My skin type: I have Oily skin all over that is easily dehydrated. I used to have SEVERE cystic acne. It was really bad, to the point I had mini lumps, (cysts) on my jawline and the hollows of my cheeks!!! My acne is currently undercontrol, and my skin is clear and even! My biggest concerns for skin care, are prevention, and fading the acne scaring I have on my cheeks from the cystic acne!
To start off my skin care, I take a quarter sized amount of ponds cold cream cleanser, and I massage that all over my face and eyes to remove my makeup. After massaging the cold cream around my skin, I wet a wash cloth and remove all the greasy makeup!
Then I take a foaming cleanser, I’m currently using The Face Shop’s Rice Water Bright cleanser, and I’l take less than a pea sized amount. And spread that onto my wet face and wash away!
After washing, I’ll pat dry with a CLEAN face towel.
Then splash some Paula’s Choice 2% BHA into my palm, smack my hands together, then I pat the BHA all over my face, focusing on my cheeks where Im working on getting rid of acne scarring!
Then I take ONE pump of my Prescription Topical anti-acne gel. My family doctor prescribes me this gel, it’s the strongest she can give me. (I worked up to this strength too. I slowly upped the dose until I got here!) And I smooth that all over my face.
Once those have dried, I’ll smooth Marcelle’s New Age Night cream (It’s a thick cream!) onto my cheeks and jaw line, to hydrate those areas.
I apply some Clinique eye cream next. Focusing on the dehydration lines I have, and my lids!
LASTLY! I’ll apply a good amount of Avene’s Hydrating Face Mask all over my face, neck, and chest to hydrate, and seal in any and all moisture!
I forgot to add this in before I hit post:
My cystic acne was/is caused by a hormonal condition I have, Called Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome.
It’s a condition in the Ovaries. That causes a LOT of pain, and cysts on the actual ovaries themselves!
Shannon, my daughter and I both have PCOS. It ain’t fun. And depending on how the hormonal imbalance configures within the individual, there can be weight gain or loss at some crazy levels, excess facial hair, infertility, PMDD, etc.
Yes!!!
II go to the gym most days a week, and have for a year now, i eat healthy, and iv gained weight. Its nearly impossible to loose weight with this condition. It’s so frustrating.
Then you add in the other side effects? It’s a really emotionally challenging, and physically challenging condition!
My daughter also has PCOS, but the thin type. She eats more than anyone I know and has a problem finding clothes to fit her size 00 frame. She has all the struggles that come with it, in addition she has a thick oily secretion from her scalp that has her using baking soda and apple cider vinegar on her hair every morning in the shower. It’s the only way she can get rid of it, then half way through the day it starts coming back and she has thin fine hair and is very self conscious of it. It will go away for a few weeks and then it comes back again. IVF procedures have not helped her infertility issues unfortunately.
It’s pretty bare bones these days as my pain is worst at the end of the day. I wash/gently exfoliate my face in the shower with the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish. I’ve been skipping serum as late because I’m just too exhausted by then but the one I would use in the evening is the Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum. But these days I just throw on the same moisturizer I use in the morning, the Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid. I’ve been skipping eye creams and any boosters like the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery oil lately as well but would in healthier times use those.
Technically since this goes on my face I’d also add that I use the Origins Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief which is fantastic for my constant headaches. I just put a little on my fingers and work it over my temples, above my eyebrows, along my jaw, etc. Basically anywhere that’s hurting that isn’t like under my eyes or something. It’s much less abrasive than any other topical pain stuff and works better for headaches I’ve found. I’m just bummed that the rollerball version was only a holiday special edition as that’s a waaaaay better application method. If they have it come December I’m definitely stocking up on that version.
For make-up removal I am working my way through samples of various eye make-up removers, currently the Ulta Oil-Free pads. Since it is summer, I am using make-up wipes instead of an oil cleanser, a Japanese product called Bifesta Moist Cleaning Sheets. Then Shiseido Pureness Foaming Cleanser with the Clarisonic. I follow with SK-II essence and Dr. Brandt Needles No More Wrinkle Smoothing Cream under my eyes. I alternate between prescription Retin-A and Ren Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial. I pat on Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil over whichever and slick on Clarins lip balm. If I have a break-out, I will use a little Benzac AC 5 (removing the Retin-A from that area first). Sometimes I put Clinique line correcting and acne serum on my nose to control the clogged pores there.
Mature skin +50, Menopausal: I use a pile of different products depending on the day. I tend to not wear the same product night after night, but assault my aging skin in varying degrees of intensity and then take a day off. I follow Caroline Hirons approach to skincare: I’ve acquired these products over time and these are my favourites. I use one in each category, sometimes pair them up too and apply in the following order.
1. Cleanser: Oskia Renaissance cleaning gel, Indie Lee Rosehip cleanser, May Lindstrom The Honey Mud, FAB facial cleanser (I always double cleanse, the heavier first, followed by a gel or liquid, never foaming).
2, Tone: Reserche Biologic P50, Drunk Elephant Glycolic, Zelens PHA, SKII facial essence (zelens and SKII I use for nights with retinol because they are much gentler)
3. Spritz: Josh Rosebrook, May Lindstrom
4. Eyes: Drunk Elephant Shaba eye complex, Dr. Gross Ferulic + Retinol, Tata Harper restorative eye cream
5. Treatment: Dr. Gross Ferulic + Retinol, Kate Sommerville RetAShere, Kate Summerville Derma Quench (I layer the two KS products sometimes), DCL C scape high potency (I always use this alone, aggressive vit C treatment good for pigmentation issues), Sunday Riley Luna (alone..all in one treatment/moisture)
6, Moisturize (Night creams): Skyn Oxgen Infusion Night cream, Zelens 3t complex, Algenist Genius
or 6. Oil: Drunk Elephant Marula, Zelens Vit D, May Lindstom the Youth Dew, Darphin Essential Oil Elixir, Sunday Riley Juno.
Days off antiaging: Cleanse, SKII tone, May Lindstrom spritz Jasmine Garden, May Lindstrom Youth Dew followed by May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon.
It looks crazy, but it’s pretty straight forward actually. I tend to work with certain combinations.
Wwendy do you find the Oskia worth the cost of bringing it in from the U.K.?
Hi Lea! Yes! I purchased the supersize 200ml at 50 GPB from Cult Beauty UK. Yes, It was expensive, but far cheaper than two of my other heavy duty cleanser favourites:
May Lindstrom honey mud is a whopping 87 GBP for 100 ml (half the product at almost twice the price)
Omorovicza is 48 GBP for 100ml (half the product at about the same price).
The Oskia comes with a pump that dispenses a small amount of gel which transforms to an oil texture on the face. I use it a my first step cleanse which is my heavy duty good for end of day makeup/sunscreen removal. It’s every bit as effective as the other two and I find I use less because of the dispenser.
Hope this helps!
I remove my makeup with two different cleansers, first with Clinique’s Take the Day Off oil and then with an old granny staple – Ponds Cold Cream. I usually follow up with my Clarisonic and some Ivory soap (seriously, it has cleared my acne wonderfully and it’s just soap and water!) and then when my skin is clean and cleansed I apply Roc eye cream and La Mer. It’s simple, but it’s effective for my skin.
I used soap and water for years. I found Ivory too drying, even as a teenager, but I loved Camay and I used it well into my 40’s.
Temptalia you wear the night contacts too? Really? How’s your experience with them?
I had a lot of trouble using them, as my eyes are drier and more sensitive, and I had never, ever used contacts until my mid-20s, so I struggled a lot to just get them IN my eye. I switched eye doctors, and my new eye doctor has provided some treatments/suggestions that have made it easier to wear them these days, so they aren’t an ordeal to put in every night.
I love the effect of having 20/20 vision during the day, so there’s no worry about carrying around glasses or makeup in my contacts and so forth. I’m not presently a candidate for Lasik, and I might never be due to the dryness in my eyes. (I’m not certain I would get Lasik if I could either.) So, Ortho-k lenses are a good solution for now!
I have never heard of this before and immediately began researching them! Wow! Absolutely fascinating, I am going to ask my eye doctor about them at my next appointment.
I also have sensitive eyes so I am nervous about the acclimation process you describe (been wearing glasses for almost 20 years now)…
Could you go into detail about the suggestions you receive (or are they kind of standard tips doctors will give when prescribing them)?
You have given me some hope that there is an alternative to the, admittedly scary, option of Lasik!
Hi Zoe,
For me, I have drier eyes, so between that and not being used to physically putting contacts in my eye, I was also not used to having anything on my eye either… and Ortho-K lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses aka hard lenses, so they will be felt more than soft lenses (which are more popular and usually the type worn by most during the day)… it took me months to be able to insert the lenses within a few minutes. I think the first week or so took a half hour. I can usually get them in within a few minutes (the right eye is almost always one and done, the left eye remains harder but can usually get it in one or two tries) these days.
My current eye doctor said that I have a lot of irritation that she thinks is from allergies (even though I don’t feel like I suffer from allergies, like sneezing, itchy eyes, etc. and I have previously had allergies during spring and whatnot when I was younger), so I take allergy medication (over the counter, daily) like Zyrtec or Allerclear. I also had my lower tear ducts plugged with silicone plugs (they are designed to stay in there long-term, but they are removable), which helps me retain more of my tears. She also recommended taking vitamins for my eyes, and I really feel like those made a big difference in comfort (I take what she recommended, EyePromise EZ Tears, which I purchase from Amazon).
I definitely think I am outlier as most do not have as many issues as I did with adjusting to them from the reading I’ve done of forums and the like 🙂
Wow! Thank you for such a detailed and personal response! I appreciate the time you took to put this together and explain some of your own history and details.
You are very inspiring! And have helped normalize something I didn’t think could be for me (I can barely have the eye doctor put drops in my eyes as it is).
Maybe a dust allergy? It’s hard to avoid and the symptoms are more subtle.
Thanks for the tips on vitamins! I am bookmarking this page so I can keep it as a resource.
Your responses always make my day!
If I’ve worn makeup or done something very dirty, I’ll wipe everything off with Bioderma Sensibio micellar water and then go I with a foaming cleanser (trying to finish a Lumene one rn) and a konjac sponge. I tone with Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing toner and follow with Paula’s 2% BHA lotion, and then add treatments/serums: The Ordinary Buffet and vitamin C followed by Paula’s Choice Resist 1% retinol serum which I’m testing now. After all that I usually don’t need a separate moisturizer 🙂 I’m currently waiting for CosRX snail mucin essence and thinking abt where to add it – after exfoliant maybe? Ideas? I love reading abt people’s regimens!
Sephora Collection cleansing oil (just as good as the expensive ones I’ve tried!), then Ole Henriksen Face the Truth gel cleanser (formerly On The Go cleanser) on my Clarisonic with the sensitive brush head. Two or three times a week I’ll follow that with the Nip + Fab Glycolic Extreme night pads, and then every single night I use the Origins Mega Mushrooms Soothing Treatment Lotion (I haven’t used it long enough to decide if I love it or not). I then alternate between two nights of a niacinamide serum and then one night of a vitamin c serum (which is better used in the morning but I rarely do skincare in the morning). This is followed by the Sephora Collection eye cream (discontinued I think, and it’s nothing super fancy but it’s good enough for me) and the Belif Aqua Bomb moisturizer (best thing ever). When I last ran out of the Belif cream, I got the Rite Aid generic version of the Neutrogena water gel moisturizer instead because I was totally broke and hoping it’d be similar, but it’s not as moisturizing and it smells like baby powder.
Sometimes I’ll do a mask if my skin feels like it needs one, either the Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud mask if I’m feeling congested (like if I’ve been wearing a lot of heavy makeup), the Sephora Collection mud mask if I’m breaking out, the Origins Mega Mushroom mask if my skin is having a reaction or is just irritated, or either the Origins Drink Up overnight mask or one of the many hydrating masks PTR offers (I got a mini set) when my skin is very dry. I like masks a lot of quick fixes if my skin is freaking out, not so much as a regular or long-term solution.
TLDR; I think the Sephora Collection skincare is seriously underrated, and the cleansing oil is probably one of my favorite makeup removers I’ve ever tried, and I’ve never heard a single person even talk about it! It’s just as good as the Boscia Makeup Breakup and tons of others I’ve tried.
Thank you for suggesting the Sephora cleansing oil as an alternative to the Boscia.
I start by taking off my makeup with the Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm followed by the Olay Sensitive Skin Dry Cleansing Cloths. I then use my Clindamycin gel on any acne spots. When that is dry, I put on Differin gel and top it all off with Mad Hippie Face Cream or Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. I always use my Lansinoh HPA Lanolin on my lips, too! My evening routine is pretty simple. I actually do more products in the morning when I’m more awake and have more patience!
My morning routine is rather consistent, but things get a little more complicated at night!
Step one is to remove makeup. I will use a micellar water if I didn’t wear much, The Body Shop chamomille cleansing butter if I had a full face of foundation on, and Neutrogena eye makeup remover if I had stubborn mascara.
If I used a cleansing butter or oil I then do a second cleanse, using a Clarisonice twice a week, and a gel cleanser the rest of the time (Exuviance, First Aid Beauty red clay, Olay… whatever I feel like using at the time).
Then there’s toner, I just finished the one for sensitive skin by Darphin. I’m now using the Caudalie Grape Water as a toner post-cleansing.
Then I will either use a retinol cream (Jouviance) or a BHA treatment (Paula’s Choice) and about once a week a strong BHA + AHA combo (Jouviance). I’ll also apply anti-aging eye cream (currently working on a sample of Estee Lauder ANR eye version). And I finish with a good moisturizer, I’m finishing the one by Vinali.
Sometimes I’ll replace a step or add a mask, sometimes streamline when I’m too tired, so it varies a lot!
I start with taking my eye make-up off with some Bioderma. Then if I have foundation on, I take it off with The Body Shop cleansing balm. The I use my Foreo with a gel cleanser (I’m using the Juice Beauty Brightening one). Then I tone with Lush’s Tea Tree Toner, treat with The Body Shop’s Tea Tree anti-imperfection solution, put on some FAB triple remedy eye cream, and then finish this all off with Origins Night-A-Mins all over my face.
It’s a bit of mixture at the moment –
Swisse Sweet Almond Cream cleanser – leaves my skin hydrated and takes off my mascara too
Physicians Formula Argon Oil
Sukin Green Recovery Serum – new product to try and so far, so good
Natio Eye cream
Swisse CO Q10 Anti Aging Facial Moisturiser – all cruelty free range.
I am fairly happy with the above at the moment.
Garnier micellar water to remove makeup, philosophy purity cleanser to wash then innisfree jeju lava seawater skin as toner, followed by la mer the revitalizing hydrating serum or SKII whitening and spots treat serum, innisfree orchid eye cream , Paula’s choice resistance barrier moisturizer after that. If I want to use sleeping mask, I use laneige water sleeping mask or I am loving Sulwhasoo radiance energy mask. Sorry, I use mostly Korean skin care.
I use Proactiv morning and night, so my routine doesn’t differ much. However, I always make sure I put a little extra moisturizer on at night (First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream) and I always use Aquaphor on any dry patches, blemishes, and lips to help moisturize my skin and heal it!
Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap, followed by Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2 (this stuff feels so good!). Then Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ creme, Clinique All About Eyes (which is the only one that doesn’t make my eyes water and sting), and Kiehl’s lip balm.