I recently treated myself to a Botnia facial at Shop Good (I recommend if you’re local to San Diego)! My skin needed some major maintenance help: I’ve been dealing with redness, oil buildup, and clogged pores these days. I also just needed some TLC from poor sleep, health changes, and work stress (UGH). Thank goodness for facials. But for my day-to-day maintenance, it made me realize I needed to start incorporating AHAs and oil cleansers back into my routine. They help remove oil and dead cells that build up around the pores to minimize their appearance.
That said, here’s my updated skincare routine & some BEAUTIFUL products that come from a few of my favorite skincare brands: YINA, OSEA, & Ursa Major. I’m also excited to feature two brands that are new to me: HAN Skincare Cosmetics and Monastery.
STEP 1: DOUBLE CLEANSE
Prone to breakouts or wear lots of makeup? I highly recommend double cleansing, especially in the evening. Oil-based cleansers draw out oil-based impurities such as sebum, dead skin cells, pollutants, SPF, and makeup. Sebum buildup and bacteria can cause infections that lead to acne. A gentle water-based cleaner can help remove debris such as sweat and dirt and any residue from the previous step. Especially if you’re prone to oil, double cleansing is a safety net for preventing sebum-related breakouts.
- OIL-BASED CLEANSER: Loving the ROSE cleansing oil from Monastery, a natural skincare brand based in San Francisco that blends high quality ingredients from nature. The ROSE oil cleanser includes rose essence, which is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic (helps repair skin conditions like acne, aging, and rough skin). I massage the cleaner for a minute before removing with a damp cloth.
- WATER-BASED CLEANSER: Im also obsessed with the Ocean Cleanser from OSEA, a refreshing gentle cleanser that delivers mineral-rich hydration & gently exfoliates. Skin feels so renewed, balanced, & refreshed after. Smells calming & comes in a large bottle.
STEP 2: SERUMS
- HYALURONIC SEA SERUM – OSEA: My skin is so dehydrated so I’m in need a good HA serum, which helps increase hydration, firms, & minimizes the appearance of lines. This one from OSEA includes key ingredients like HA, seaweed, and snow mushroom, which hydrates, restores & helps seal in moisture. It’s pricey but a little goes a long way.
- SKIN REFINING SERUM – HAN (*NEW RELEASE*) I was SO excited to try this on! It contains natural fruit enzymes that help gently exfoliate, smooth, & brighten dull skin. It’s also beautifully hydrating and keeps skin soft & balanced. Absorbs well, silky lightweight texture, and safe for all skin types. At $28, it’s a great price point too! I’ve been using this one nightly.
- MOUNTAIN GLOW GOLDEN SERUM (Ursa Major) (*NEW RELEASE*): This is liquid gold! Made with 44 clean actives, a few drops of this serum helps address signs of aging, boosts radiance & glow, plumps, moisturizes, reduces redness, and evens out skin tone. If you’re a minimalist, I recommend this heavy hitter serum that does all the things. I’ve been using morning & night, feels like a spa treatment!
STEP 3: MOISTURIZE
- HYDRACLOUD CREAM – YINA (*NEW RELEASE*): I love everything I try from Yina! Their line of products are powered by Traditional Chinese Medicine and formulated with the most purposeful ingredients. They just launched a NEW moisturizer and I’m loving it! It features ingredients like Ginseng complex, Niacinamide, and adaptogens!
- It feels ultra light, whipped, soothing, healing, and fantastic on my skin!
- Benefits: Strengthens the skin barrier, moisturize, hydrate, soothe redness & inflammation, and plump/brighten skin.
