Quarantine Helped Me Build A Skincare Routine Part 1: A.M.

Show of hands—who’s been struggling with skin issues since we’ve been in lockdown? Unless you haven’t left your residence at all, you may have noticed that you developed maskne, dehydrated or dull skin. I’ve had a sprinkling of all three (though not extreme) and over the course of the past few months, I developed a solid morning skincare routine. While the actual brands may rotate the steps remain the same. Currently, I am using the following and there are things that I love and things that are so-so. I’ve been using these products daily for about six weeks to two months and one thing that I will say is that sticking to this routine every morning actually helps me start my day and be more productive because it’s easy to fall into a rut when you WFH. Turns out, my routine involves nine steps.  While some may think this to be excessive, I promise you it takes about fifteen minutes every morning and once I started seeing improvements it motivated me to keep it up. Mind you, this is not groundbreaking but it’s the reminder that consistency is key. Here are the steps and the brands that I am using to maintain my skin health.

• Cleanser
• Toner (with a thicker consistency)
• Hyaluronic Acid serum
• Vitamin C serum
• Eye Cream
• Brightening and Clearing Treatment
• Moisturizer
• Eye Balm
• Moisturizer
• SPF 30 (or higher)

Of all of the products there are four products that have impressed me the most. The Sweet Chef Oat Milk Latte Cleanser that although marketed as a makeup removing cleanser, it is a very gentle non-stripping cleanser that lathers well and leaves the skin feeling refreshed.

Next is the innisfree Ampoule Toner with Ginger Honey. I love the consistency of the toner. It is similar to my favorite toner— Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner. It feels great when applied to my damp skin. My preferred way to use this is to pour some into my hands and press into my skin. While it absorbs quickly it feel nourishing and gives my skin a hydrated look and feel and preps my skin for my serums.

The superstar of my routine is Gen-Z created brand Topicals. The Faded Brightening and Clearing Treatment is amazingly good and helped immensely with fading my maskne scars. I started to see results about two weeks after consistent use. The downside is the scent but it does fade once moisturizer is applied.

Last but not least of my favorites is the Tula Protect & Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel Broad Spectrum SPF 30*. This is a really good sunscreen. I love the mousse texture and how it melts into the skin revealing a healthy glow that is not shiny and leaves no cast. On top of that, it wears beautifully under makeup. I have tried it with a tinted moisturizer, a CC cream, and a foundation and it never changed the color or finish of my complexion products and did not pill underneath.

What are you currently using in your AM skincare routine? Leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram for more skincare, fashion and lifestyle content.

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*I currently work at Tula, but my opinion of this product is my own.

**Links to products mentioned above are affiliate links from which I do receive a commission.