My typical nightly facial skincare routine only consists of five products. My morning skincare has only two.
For some people, having so few steps may seem strange and they think it would be ineffective. In reality, if you can find the right products for your skin, you don’t need tons of different products. Skincare can get expensive with soaps, serums, moisturizers, and whatever else people use.
I used to be one of those people who had many steps in their skincare, but most of those steps didn’t do anything to help my skin, if anything they made it worse. I have ultra-sensitive skin, especially on my face. Products with scents and fragrances are an automatic no. Many skincare items that I’ve tried over the years would make my skin burn or form a rash.
I had to cut back. I needed to find the right type and brand of products that worked for me. I’ve been blessed with decently clear skin, and I’ve never had to battle acne or been prone to getting many pimples. This luckily made my search for the right products for me a bit easier.
The products that I use are very gentle but have been working very well for me. Yes, I get a pimple here and there, but that’s pretty normal, no one’s skin is perfect. Those who may be prone to having more pimples or have been fighting acne may need more steps in their routines, but I feel that some of these products may be beneficial for people with sensitive skin like mine or are just looking to cut back and have a simpler, but effective, routine.
With my sensitive skin, I have found skincare products that are both effective and affordable.
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1
Removing makeup is always the first step of my nightly skincare. The Garnier’s micellar water is gentle on my skin and doesn’t leave it feeling super dry or super oily. Using micellar water over makeup wipes is a personal preference, but I would recommend it to anyone. It is very gentle on the skin, but it removes all of the makeup or dirt. For only $8.99 at Target, Garnier’s all-in-1 micellar water is gentle and non-irritating for sensitive skin. It is also very quick at stripping the makeup and dirt off of my face. The 13.7 fluid-ounce bottle lasts me nearly a year, so along with being an excellent makeup remover, it is very cost-friendly.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
I love this cleanser. In the morning and after removing my makeup at night, this cleanser is fabulous for getting rid of excess oil, dirt, and makeup. It is non-drying and not oily which leaves my face feeling clean and with a good moisture balance. It is advertised for normal to oily skin and is formulated not to disrupt the natural skin barrier. It includes ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide and helps calm your skin while locking in your natural moisture. CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser is gentle, cleansing, and fragrance-free which is perfect for sensitive skin.
Plum Beauty Skin Scrubbers
I use the Plum Beauty Skin Scrubbers when cleansing my face with the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. It carefully and gently exfoliates your skin while foaming the cleanser to leave your skin feeling soft and clean.
Aveeno Calm+ Restore Triple Oat Serum
Aveeno has always been a brand that I have turned to when it comes to finding skincare products for my sensitive skin. Their gentle cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and many of their other products have ingredients that are friendly towards people with more sensitive skin. I love Aveeno’s Triple Oat Serum because it rehydrates and calms down my skin after exfoliating with the scrubbers when washing my face. It is great for locking in moisture and soothing the skin. It’s my favorite part of my routine because it soaks into my skin and leaves it feeling smooth and hydrated.
Aveeno Positively Radiant Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer
Again, I love Aveeno. I use the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer at night at the end of my skincare routine. It is ultra-hydrating, nourishing, and has no SPF since I use it before bed. Although I do not have an acne problem, for those who do this would be an excellent night-time moisturizer because it has acne-fighting salicylic acid to help. It has a heavier weight when you first apply it to the face, but it leaves your skin very hydrated and healthy.
GlymedPlus Ultra-Hydrating Lip Balm
My grandma got me this as a gift one year, and since then I haven’t gone back to Aquaphor. It rapidly soothes dry lips and heals them as well with botanical ingredients. It is glossy so it looks like you have lip gloss on even though you don’t and it’s very hydrating for your lips. Have three tubes so that I can have them on me at all times. This product does have peppermint oil in it, so it may have the slightest burning sensation when first applied, but it works amazingly and I would choose it any day over Aquaphor.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
When I do get a pimple, I use this. It is applied directly onto your pimple and I sleep with it on. It uses salicylic acid to reduce the appearance of redness of blemishes, sulfur to unclog your pores, and zinc oxide to absorb excess oil. This keeps me from having to pop my pimples and risk scarring or infection, but rather dehydrate the pimple so that it goes away in a few days without any risk of scarring.
Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF 30
Due to it having SPF, Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer is my morning routine moisturizer. It is more lightweight than the Aveeno moisturizer I use, but its lightweight feel and SPF are perfect for during the day use. I’ve been using this since I was a kid and I love it. Its ingredients are sensitive skin friendly and will forever be a product that I have as a part of my skincare routine.
