Spring/Summer 2016 Skincare Routine

It's been awhile since I've shown you the products I'm using in my skincare routine. Before I go into the A.M. and P.M. lineup, let me tell you about about my skin type. Living in NYC, I tend to have combination-oily skin in the fall and winter seasons and oily-very oily skin in the spring and summer. It's not quite summer yet but there have certainly been a few days here and there that have felt like summer. I also struggle with hormonal cystic acne and PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). However, pregnancy has changed my skin and for the better. My skin has been a little drier, more on the combination side, and I rarely breakout. It's been amazing not having to deal with those huge bumps from cystic acne. (Apparently if you're having a girl you tend to struggle with pregnancy acne. Not sure how accurate this is but it is in my case...I'm having twin boys.)

As far as over the counter acne medications in pregnancy, there is some controversy over the use of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide depending on which doctor you talk to. My doctor told me it was perfectly safe to use benzoyl peroxide but cautioned me from using BHA's in high concentration. Some doctors will say both are safe to use but it's really up to the patient to make the final decision. It's kind of like making the decision to cut out all caffeine or having a cup of coffee a day. There are some medications like azelaic acid and certain category B antibiotics like azithromycin that are prescribed in pregnancy if you don't respond to over the counter topical treatments. Keep in mind I'm not a medical professional and the information above is what I've learned throughout the course of my pregnancy thus far.

AM ROUTINE

4-5 times a week I work out at the gym so I like to quickly cleanse my face in the morning with the Bioderma Crealine H20 Micelle Solution ($17-$18). I swipe with a cotton pad and it gets rid of any residue or dirt from the night before. Then, I moisturize with Rodan+Fields Unblemish Oil Control Lotion SPF 20 ($28). I have to cross the street to get to the gym, about a 3 minute walk, so sun protection is necessary. I'm not crazy about the scent but it's only on my face for the duration of my workout. *I tried the Spot Fading Toner ($41) from the Unblemish line before I found out I was pregnant and it smells awful due to the hydroquinone in it. The fumes would literally go into my mouth and it felt like I was inhaling toxic fumes. Didn't use it long enough to see any results on PIH since the ingredients in it weren't safe during pregnancy.*

My normal routine on non-gym days and post workout:
Acure Cleansing Gel Facial Cleanser (superfruit + chlorella growth factor) $6.45-$9.99: At the time of this post, the Acure Organics site is down but you can purchase this at various sites like Amazon, Birchbox, Jet.com. Acure sent this to me awhile back, don't ask how long since the packaging is different now, and I'm finally getting around to using it. It's a gentle cleanser and foams up just a little bit. It doesn't smell as fruity as I'd expected but it has a mild, pleasant scent.
Secret Key Witch Hazel Pore Clear Toner (9,900 won at Tester Korea): This is a solid and affordable toner and great for those with combination/oily skin.
Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence (22,500 won at Tester Korea): Supposedly a dupe for the SK-II First Treatment Essence. I've never splurged on any SK-II products so I can't say if this is true or not. Free of paraben, alcohol, mineral oil, benzophenon, and a few other bad stuff. It has a watery consistency and I'm enjoying it so far.
I.MYSS Natural Toc Face Tuning Tea Tree Eye Cream ($30 Memebox inflated pricing): I'm on the fence with what I think about this. It's not the most moisturizing eye cream considering it has a thicker consistency. If you have a dry under eye area, I would spend your money on something else. What I'm not crazy about is how long it takes the product to absorb into the skin. I feel like it just sits on the skin and never fully sinks in.
Pro You S Wrinkle SC Renewal Ampoule ($96 according to Memebox info card): Free of paraben, alcohol, mineral oil, artificial fragrance, and triethanol. This is fragrance free with a clear, runny consistency. It absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves my skin hydrated and soft. I'm not sure where to purchase this so I'd probably have to use a buying service to track it down. Pretty sure it's significantly cheaper than $96 in Korea or else I'll think twice about buying it.
Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops in C+ Lemongrass - Radiance ($48): This arrived in my mail much to my surprise a little over a month ago. Allure has giveaways at the beginning of every month and at other random times of the year. FYI, the BIG giveaways are every day in the month of August. Sometimes they notify the winners and other times it just shows up at your doorstep which is what happened in this case. You can mix the drops in anything (skincare or makeup) or use it on its own. I've been mixing in exactly one drop into the Pro You Ampoule every morning. I don't use it at night because vitamin C and benzoyl peroxide should not be used in the same skincare routine. Any more than one drop of this will leave my skin very oily so beware if you have oilier skin. I love the citrus scent and it does seem to instantly brighten my face.
Rose Mine Azulene Calming Gel ($29): This has no fragrance, a light consistency, and is soothing for the skin if you have any redness or have been out in the sun for too long. I don't really need any hydration at this point in my routine but I like using the gel to cool and soothe my skin after the gym. It contains hyaluronic acid, aloe vera powder, rose water, and guaiazulene (an antioxidant derived from chamomile which has anti-inflammatory properties).
Leaders UV Moist Sun Gel SPF 30 PA++ (discontinued): Mentioned this in my April favorites and it doesn't break me out. I'm almost finished with it but I do wish it had a slightly higher SPF with another + to the PA. Otherwise, it has a very faint fragrance and it doesn't leave me feeling greasy.

PM ROUTINE

Calmia Herb Cleansing Oil Gel (17,500 won at Tester Korea): Contains organic argan oil and a blend of organic herbs like lavender, rosemary, chamomile, basil leaf and green tea extracts. It's no surprise that it smells herbal but I catch a whiff of the scent you get after you've just blown out a candle. Weird, I know. I prefer cleansing oils but this does a good job at taking off makeup. I wear mascara about three times a year so I'm not sure how it does with removing stubborn eye makeup.
Ariul Stress Relieving Pureful Cleansing Foam ($18 Memebox info card): There are a few acne triggers in this product according to CosDNA: Myristic Acid 3, Stearic Acid 2, and Lauric Acid 4. I haven't broken out at all from the cleansing foam so I've continued to use it. It has a slight artificial lemon scent and you only need a pea sized amount to turn into a generous lather. Don't squeeze out too much product because it can feel like there's some sort of film left over on the face. Best suited for combination-oily skin.
Secret Key Witch Hazel Pore Clear Toner
Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence
Garnier Ultra Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream Anti-Age + Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream ($14.99-16.99): This is a fairly new product on the market and I was lucky enough to receive this through Crowdtap and Garnier. It has the light feeling of a gel and visibly reduces dark circles, bags, and tired looking eyes. Not recommended if you have a dry under eye area but I really like this, especially for the upcoming warmer months. I don't have an issue with dark circles but I've got some major puffiness. Haven't noticed a huge difference with bags under my eyes but I do like the light, cooling effect of this product.
Pro You S Wrinkle SC Renewal Ampoule 
Rodan+Fields Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment ($97): I'm not sure if I like the packaging of this because it's a pain in the neck to pump out an equal amount of product with the "dual chamber" as R+F calls it. I normally use a 2.5% concentration of benzoyl peroxide but this one has 5%. It hasn't dried out my skin at all or caused any flaking which is nice. Again, the smell is a little funky as this seems to be the case for the Unblemish line but it's not as terrible as the toner. Since I hardly break out these days, I probably only use the treatment 2-3 nights a week. $97 is a hefty price to pay for an acne treatment. While I do like this, I most likely won't purchase it on my own. My sister in law gifted the set to me when she was working for R+F. It's cheaper to buy all four products as a set for $171 with a choice between the Spot Fading Toner or Clarifying Toner.
Rose Mine Azulene Calming Gel

MASKS AND TREATMENTS

I tend to use mostly sheet masks in the fall and winter and rely on mask packs in the warmer months.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($28): I don't use this as much as I did a few months ago for whatever reason. It's not because I don't like it. You can use it every day but I've been applying it 1-2 times a week. I've read reviews where people complain about the greasy film it leaves behind. I didn't notice this until I read those reviews, but it doesn't bother me all that much.
Secret Key Lemon D-Toc Peeling Gel ($8.84-$10): This is one of the most raved about K-beauty products so I don't need to say much about it. I've also mentioned it in numerous favorites and previous skincare routines. Great way to gently exfoliate your skin and has replaced scrubs for me.
Banila Co. Claypatra Mineral Salt Clay Pack ($8 at Amazon): I can tell you off the bat I wouldn't purchase this again. It's an okay mask, nothing to write home about. I don't like the strong scent and it doesn't seem to do much in the sebum and pore department. Anyone with normal to dry skin might appreciate that this does not dry out your face at all or leave it feeling tight.
Michael Todd Kaolin Clay Detoxifying Facial Mask ($34): A pore clearing detoxifying treatment mask formulated to lift deep set impurities, calm inflammation, balance oil production and neutralize bacteria. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, artificial dyes, synthetic fragrance, artificial dyes, triclosan, mineral oil, and phthalates. This mask has been great in clearing out gunk and purging out pores. There is a slight tingling for the first few minutes after application and the best way to describe the scent is earthy. It's not the best smell but it's certainly tolerable given the results. I highly recommend this mask if you have combination to oily, acne prone skin. For me, I don't find the mask drying at all but it's targeted for my specific skin type. I use it twice a week and will increase to three times a week in the warmer months. The packaging has changed since I purchased the mask. It's now available in a tube rather than a pump bottle.
Nature Republic Fresh Vegetable Pack ($16.11 at Korea Depart): I have the huge tub, 300 ml, of this but it's also sold in a squeeze tube form at half the size, 150 ml. For ease of use and sanitary reasons, I'd recommend the tube. There is no spatula included with the tub so make sure you have one around to scoop out the product. It's got a jelly like, jiggly consistency that can make it difficult to take out of the tub. It smells amazing, like a bunch of fruits mashed together. I like the cooling effect of the product and you can store it in the fridge to make it really cold. My skin feels refreshed and appears a little brighter after use.

So there you have it, all the products I've been working with the past few months. Sometimes I'll replace a product with something I want to test out but the products listed above are a part of my core skincare routine.

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Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer