My Updated Skincare Routine
Welp it has definitely been a seriously long time since I wrote a blog post but I wanted to get this somewhere where I can explain my process etc. Last year around this time I wrote a blog post professing my love for all things Drunk Elephant. You can see before and after photos of my skin and how Drunk Elephant completely changed the way I approach my skincare etc. Since then, I really haven’t deterred much from that same routine, but I have made a few tweaks here and there and wanted to share things I feel are deal breakers and things that I feel you can replace for a less expensive alternative.
My AM routine:
Given that it is winter and I am in need of more hydration, I have been using a lot of moisturizing agents.
One pump Protini
Two pumps B Hydra
A few drops of Marula
One pump D Bronzi
A few drops of Cleen Beauty Vitamin C Serum.
You’ll notice a few changes here from my original post
D Bronzi: This is not a skincare agent, more of a make up product, but it gives me a hint of tint on my face before I apply make up.
CLEEN Vitamin C Serum: I shared this on stories, but my friend is the product developer behind this new skincare brand sold exclusively at walmart. Their Vitamin C Serum actually has a higher content of Vitamin C than Drunk Elephants does..and its $9, you really can’t beat it. I used up what I had from DE and started using this and haven’t noticed a bit of difference in my skin which is a GOOD thing, meaning it works just as well, if not better.
Marula Oil: I never added this to my AM routine because I always thought oil meant break outs, and thats completely not the case. I started added 1-2 drops of this to my daytime routine and it feels sooo much better. The bottle is expensive, but it has actually lasted me for over a year. A little bit goes a long way, so the price seems very much worth it.
The truth:
Protini is probably my least ‘favorite’ moisturizing agent in the line, but I feel that I need that extra oomph in the winter. I probably will not repurchase it when that one I have is done, because it will be moving onto spring. I’ll just continue the same routine without it.
PM Routine:
CLEANSE:
Remove makeup with Bye Bye Makeup
Cleanse with Cetaphil
-Bye Bye Makeup is one of my favorite products out there. I have tried Drunk Elephant’s product Slaai which is similar, and still prefer Bye Bye Makeup. It completely gets mascara off of my eyes and I never get out of the shower looking like a raccoon.
-I used to use the DE cleanser but wasn’t in love with it for the price. I went back to my trusty Cetaphil cleanser for $7 and I have no regrets, my skin definitely feels the most clean after using it. One thing I definitely recommend is double cleansing. I use Bye Bye Makeup to remove my eye makeup, cleanse once using Cetaphil which gets the rest of my makeup off, and then cleanse again to make sure my skin is completely clear of all oils/dirt/make up. Nothing is worse than drying off after you’ve ‘washed’ your face and getting make up on your towel.
SKINCARE:
Two pumps TLC Glycolic Serum
One Pump Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer
This is the same routine as previous and honestly probably won’t stray from it. I LIVE for this Glycolic serum. The only time I stray from it is when I use the Drunk Elephant Retinol in place of it. When I wrote my original post, their new retinol product hadn’t even hit the market, so I wasn’t able to try it to write a review. Since then, I have tried it and I absolutely LOVE it. It is known for being really potent, and it definitely is. I use it with Lala and sometimes add a few drops of Marula depending on the dryness of my skin. Similar to Marula, a little bit goes a long way and I have yet to purchase a second tube. It is also not intended to be used daily, usually just once or twice a week in the evenings.
RANKING:
Someone messaged me and asked me to rank products in order of what I see most important/transforming and I thought that was such a great idea because it is obviously an investment and something you don’t do all at once. For me, the main priority is keeping my skin clear of blemishes and breakouts, then moisturizing and evening out which is why I’ve ranked Gylcolic and Retinol #1 & #2, because those are the two chemical exfoliants that have made such a huge difference in breakouts.
D Bronzi (ranking last simply because it is not really a skincare product that will change your skin in any way other than adding a tint, though I do love it and continually stock up!)