My Skincare Routine {2017}

Hey Stunners
Todays I’ll be sharing with you the long awaited post about my skincare routine. Before I get into the detailed routine and products I use, I first want to share with you, my skin type and concerns.
I believe, and I know so many other ladies do too, that the first step to caring for your skin is knowing your skin. Understanding your skin type and concerns will help you purchase the right products and allow you to develop the ideal routine that works for you.
I have combination skin, my T-zone gets very oily and the rest of my face is pretty normal. I don’t have major concerns when it comes to treating my skin other than trying to keep my oily T-zone at bay and using products for fine lines and wrinkles. I must however state that one’s skin can definitely change as the seasons change. I find that my T-zone isn’t as oily during the winter season but that my “normal sections” become dehydrated and seem to lack moisture.
So it’s important to notice these changes and treat them accordingly. I don’t use products for oily skin around my whole face. I try and “spot treat” where I use products specifically for oily skin around my oily T-zone and products for normal skin around the rest of my face. This does seem like extra work but it works for me and I’ve noticed a considerable difference in my skin.

Key ingredients to look for in products for oily skin:
Ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, Totarol, Kaolin Clay and Tea Tree will help combat oil and shine. Salicylic Acid is a gold standard ingredient to look for if you have oily skin and suffer from acne and breakouts. It kills bacteria, reduces oil and exfoliates! Totarol is an antibacterial and a great antioxidant.
Kaolin Clay absorbs sebum and draws out impurities and Tea Tree is an antibacterial. Tea Tree is an astringent that cleans skin and helps treat acne. Look for these ingredients when choosing products for your oily skin.

My morning skincare routine consists of 6 steps:

• Cleanse
• Tone
• Treat
• Moisturize
• Eye cream
• Use SPF

Cleanse
I first use the Garnier Micellar cleansing water for sensitive skin (R79.95) with a Dove Fine Cotton Wool pad (80 Dual Textured Pads-R22) to remove all sebum from the previous night. I apply a small amount of the African extracts Rooibos purifying, 3 in 1 wash, scrub and mask (R52.95) around my T-zone, this helps eliminate excess oil, unclog pores and evens skin tone. This specific product contains Salicylic Acid and its one of the key ingredients as mentioned above for oily skin. On the rest of my face, I use the Avon ANEW flawless bright even tone cleanser (+/-R100) this has improved my skin tone, does not strip my natural oils and leave my skin feeling smooth and supple.

Tone
When I came across the African extract rooibos purifying range I decided to buy the toner (R51.95) as well. I found that using this for my whole face dried out the “not so oily” parts. I use this toner specifically for my T-zone and it’s also a great spot treatment for that “unwanted pimple”. I pour some on cotton wool or tissue (get it nice and wet) and leave it on the pimple. It dries it out completely and in a day or 2, the pimple is gone. Works like magic! Lol. On the rest of my face, I use the Dischem Rosewater (R28.95 last I purchased). What is great about this product is that helps to maintain your skin’s pH balance, it hydrates, revitalizes and it also has antioxidant properties that help strengthen skin cells.

Treat
For my morning treatment, I apply 3 drops of the “The Ordinary’s” Hyaluronic acid 2% + B5 (R230) serum. Hyaluronic acid is very popular in the skin care industry and the reason for this is that it’s a great anti-ageing ingredient. It hydrates the skin by binding water (1000 times its own weight), so it locks in the moisture, giving the skin back its plumpness while reducing the appearance of wrinkles at the same time.
Once I’ve spread the Hyaluronic acid evenly I then add 3 drops of the “The ordinary niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1 %”(R200). This serum has a high concentration of both niacinamide and zinc and is supposed to help reduce the appearances of blemishes and help with congestion (dull skin) of the skin. It has helped minimize the size of my pores and my skin looks radiant.

Moisturise
I’ve been using the African extracts rooibos dual action moisturizer (R51.95) for a very long time. This Moisturiser mattifies my t-zone and gives a hydrating feeling that I need for my combination skin type.
Eye cream 
For the very delicate skin around my eyes, I use the

Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Eye System(Bought on promotion – R200)

This is a dual system including a cream as well as an elixir. Its creamy, non-greasy and hydrates dry skin with no irritation. It helps with fine lines and adds firmness under the eyes.

SPF
The final and one of the most important steps to my morning routine is to use an SPF. I received the complete Nimue skin care kit from Rubybox a while ago. All the products sent to me worked amazingly well and I would definitely repurchase but some of the products are slightly out of my budget. I have been using their Professional SPF 40 and even though the texture is quite thick, it spreads evenly and settles well onto the skin. It’s unfortunate that this a professional product meaning I can’t repurchase it. I’m on the hunt for an SPF that works well, that isn’t too oily or tacky and doesn’t give a ghost like flashback when taking pictures once I’ve applied foundation.

My evening skincare routine:

My evening routine consists of 5 steps

• Cleanse
• Tone
• Treat
• Oil
• Eye cream

Cleanse
I do the exact step as mentioned in my morning routine by removing all my makeup using the Garnier micellar cleansing water. This stuff is liquid gold! It removes everything on my face with ease and doesn’t leave the skin feeling oily like other makeup removers are known to do.

Tone
Same product used in my morning routine.

Treat
This is the exciting part of my evening routine. I always feel like my future self will thank me for this while applying it. lol!
I start by applying 3 drops of the “The Ordinary “Buffet””(R380). This product lives up its name, its a powerhouse of real goodness. This is the most complex product of the range which is why it’s one of the most “expensive”. If you’re over thirty (or heading to it, like me) and your skin is losing firmness and overall vitality, this is a non-negotiable addition to your anti-aging skin care regimen.
Once this has absorbed I add 3 drops of “The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2%”(R300). Retinol is known as Vitamin A, it’s anti-aging, produces collagen and it can prevent as well as reverse skin damage and aging. So ladies this right here is a must in any skin care routine. You NEED this!

OIL
I’ve always been a fan of rosehip oil and made a vow to stay committed and use it every evening and I PROMISE you, you won’t look back. Rose Hip oil has amazing regenerative properties, with high levels of vitamin A and essential fatty acids, and is often used to treat scars, reduce wrinkles and the signs of premature aging that is often as a result of sun damage. I use 2 -3 drops Soil Organic Rosehip Oil (+/- R90)

Eye cream
I mainly use Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Eye System
I recently purchased the
Benefit. It’s potent! Eye cream(R80)
I must admit, I bought this product after eavesdropping on a benefits consultant and a customer and I was completely sold but I can’t say I’ve noticed any difference. I guess I’ll give it more time. It does claim to do many great things but some of the reviews aren’t that great so I’m not getting my hopes up.

4 other things I’ve added to my skincare routine:

1. Derma-Rolling. A derma-roller contains hundreds of tiny needles. When in use, these needles create micro-injuries on the skin, which in turn sends collagen and elastin production into overdrive to compensate as it heals—leaving your complexion tighter and plumper than it was before. I’ve had this tool for a while but I just can’t get used to hurting my face. LOL! It’s really painful but the results speak for itself. I use a 1.0mm needle derma roller so it’s advised that you derma-roll every 3-4 weeks.
2. Masking. I’ve been enjoying my 1-2 times a week facial home treatments. I use different masks and at times try out home remedies specifically for my skin type. I will post a few reviews on the ones I’ve tried (There are quite a few)
3. Sleep on a satin pillowcase.  Satin is soft to the touch and allows your face to glide easily against the pillowcase. Other fabrics, such as cotton, flannel, and wool, can cause creases, lines, and wrinkles to develop around your eyes, forehead, and mouth. In addition, satin keeps eyelashes and eyebrows more intact as you move your face back and forth on the pillow. It can also help with reducing hair breakage. It’s important to change your pillowcase frequently because hair sebum and oils from products (conditioners, mousse, styling gel) will streak onto your pillow and in turn leak into the pores. Nasty, I know!
4. Drinking lots of water. I recently downloaded the “Water drink reminder” on the play store. This is great for those of us who get so busy during the day that we forget to drink water. I drink about 2L of water a day but would love to drink close to 3L. Water has many benefits not only for our skin but our entire body. It helps the skin look more youthful and radiant.

I know this might seem like a lot of steps but trust me, there are ladies who layer serum on serum, especially the Korean ladies. They love taking care of their skin.
It’s a small investment that your future self will thank you for. These products should last between 4-6 months so if you consider the overall cost then it doesn’t seem that bad.
The “The Ordinary” products are not available in South Africa. I will have another post where I review this range and will give you more details. The rest of the other products you can purchase from dischem or clicks.
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Stay tuned to my next post.

Toodles Stunners