Daily Skincare Regimen (Updated)

The last time I wrote about my skincare routine was 2015, and ever since then many things have changed - products come and go, more steps are applied, and going cruelty free means having to replace some of my holy grail products. Therefore, it's only normal if I write another post about my new, updated routine, since I no longer use all the products I used last year. This time, I'm trying to be more elaborate on my explanation, while still keeping it as short as possible to avoid dragging and boring people to death. Additionally, for some extra fun, I've put my unmotivated Gudetama in every picture. Have fun counting how many different Gudetamas I've used in all my pictures, and hopefully you'll gain extra something by the time you finish reading this long post. 

Oh, in case you don't notice, all of the brands listed here are cruelty free unless stated, and the names of products I use are all written on the pictures, so make sure you see them. :)

1. Cleansers

The first step to every appropriate skincare routine is cleansing. After a long day outdoors - working, playing, studying, or whatever it is I do - my face sure is far from clean. In fact, it's infested with dirt, bacteria, dust, and who knows what that clogged my pores, especially if I also wear make up (which  is almost every day, except for Sundays). I always believe more is more in terms of cleansing which explains why I have different cleansing products. 

In the morning, I don't double-triple cleanse my face. I simply use facial foam. When I'm extremely lazy and unmotivated, I just dab some cleansing water on a cotton pad and wipe it all over my face. 

In the afternoon/evening/night when I have make up on, I remove it first with cleansing water and cleansing oil. Cleansing water is used to erase color make ups, and the oil is used to clean my entire face. Afterwards, I wash everything off with water, then continue with a facial foam to make sure there's no dirt and residue left on my face. Sometimes, on those days where I wear heavy make up, I'll wipe my face again with cleansing water when I'm done with the foam. 

Once or twice a week I also exfoliate my face using a gentle peeling gel. It works well to lift my dead skin cells and promote skin turn over, and it leaves my face smooth and plump, which is why I love peeling gels. 

Extra tips: To get the best of your facial foam, use a bubble maker to create soft bubbles with only little product. Some say that the finer the bubble is, the better it penetrates on your pores. 

Products on pictures:

• B-Lab Cleansing Water - bought at Althea. It works well to remove make up, but not mascaras or heavy-duty waterproof color make up. 
• Holika Holika Fresh Cleansing Oil - bought at a local online seller via Shopee. It removes all kind of make up and dirt perfectly, but don't get it near your eyes cause it stings. 
• B-Lab Cleansing Foam - bought at Althea. It leaves your skin squeaky clean without the dryness that a facial foam normally has. 
• Etude House Bubble Maker (non CF) - bought in Seoul. It's used to create extra soft bubbles from your regular facial foam without using much product. I regretted buying from Etude House because I found that Missha carried the exact same thing with almost half Etude's price (and Missha is CF!). 
• Holika Holika x Gudetama Lazy & Easy Smooth Egg Peeling Gel - I've talked about it in my previous post, so I won't repeat the same thing. I'll just say that this thing does what a peeling gel should do, and it's not abrasive at all. 

2. Toners

My favorite step of all is probably toning my face. I love how toners are able to clean that leftover dirt that your facial cleansers can't pick up. It's also a very important step before I move on to a more concentrated product that addresses specific skin condition. My mom only uses toners to clean her face from make up, but in a modern world, or to be more specific, in a korean beauty world, toners do more than cleansing the face - they moisturize, prepare skin for the next step, and some can even brighten and tighten pores. Toners do wonders. That's exactly why I have more than one toners: one toner for when I have troubled skin and one for normal, daily use. I tone my face day and night, and never leaves it out no matter what. 

How to use a toner, you ask? Use it after basic cleansing. As toners are mostly in form of water (though some have thicker consistency), I dispense them on a cotton pad and swipe it all over my face and neck. 

Products on pictures:

• Muji Light Toning Water Moisture - bought at a local online seller. This is the toner that has moisturizing agent. On my oily skin, sometimes it feels too moisturizing, but quite like it. If you have dry skin, this toner is the one you have to try. I think it's excellent for sensitive skin, too. 
• The Bath Box Replenish Toner - bought at The Bath Box online store. It's a local brand, using all organic and natural ingredients with no alcohol, paraben, petroleum, or artificial fragrance. It has aloe vera, blueberry, and green tea extract to soothe skin. They say it also works as anti-aging and anti-inflammatory agent. In the mornings when I don't work and too lazy to moisturize my skin, I'll just spritz this toner all over my face and my face is instantly hydrated. It works as a face mist you can carry around and spray whenever you need more moisture as well. 
• COSRX One Step Pimple Clear Pad - bought at Aland in Seoul. These pre-moistened pads are the best-selling item from COSRX, and it's very practical to use. You just take one cotton pad out and directly swipe it on your face. Although it's marketed to target pimples and acnes, it doesn't work for that. Well, from my experience, this product doesn't do anything to my acne, but it exfoliates my skin with its BHA ingredient and wipe away excess oil. It's nice to know that your toner does something more than cleansing. 

3. Face Masks

Face masks are optional steps, and I only use them once or twice a week. I use one whenever I feel my skin needs extra hydration. I like using face masks as they're practical and has cooling, soothing sensation. Every time I use a face mask I feel more relaxed and my skin looks extra glowy and healthy instantly. Face masks come in different types - sheet masks, gel masks, clay masks, modeling mask - and I normally use sheet masks or modeling mask. 

Sheet masks are easy to find everywhere, and they have tons of variations and ingredients, so you can pick one that suitable for your skin. Modeling masks, on the other hand, are messier and take longer to prepare. Despite the extra measures you need to take, modeling masks perform better to tighten pores than sheet masks, and peeling the mask once it hardens is satisfying. 

Other than that, there's also this hydrogel eyepatch I use to treat my eyes and reduce swelling and puffy eyes. Unsurprisingly, because I'm an idiot, I forgot to take a picture of the product to include here. *sigh

Anyway, use face masks whenever you can. Lately I've been too lazy and preoccupied with work to use one, but I always try to find time to use it at least once or twice a month. Use a mask after you tone your face and don't use it on a dirty face.

Extra tips: If you don't wanna waste your money on face masks, buy one bottle of aloe vera gel and soak some cotton pads on it, and put them around your face. It works just as well as normal sheet masks. 

Petitfee Black Pearl & Gold Eyepatch.
(Definitely not my own picture. I took it from a blog here.)

Products on pictures: 

• Anskin modeling mask Green tea - bought at a local online seller. It takes time to prepare and apply it to my face, but its cooling effect lasts long even after I peel the mask off. Every time I finish using it, my face looks more radiant and smooth. I love it!
• Petitfee Black Pearl & Gold Hydrogel Eyepatch - bought at Althea. I forgot to take a picture of it, but it's a mask that you put under your eyes (around the eye bags) to soothe and reduce swelling with some tightening effect (good for more mature skin). 
• koelf hydrogel mask - bought at Althea, haven't tried it.
• COSRX holy moly snail mask - bought at Aland in Seoul. It's simply the best snail mask in the market - very hydrating, very soothing, and actually does something to your skin. You have to try it. 
• Innisfree it's real squeeze mask (non CF) - bought in Seoul. It comes with a lot of different variants, and many say Innisfree produces one of the best affordable sheet masks, and I agree. 
• The Face Shop Face Mask (non CF) - bought in Seoul because of the packaging. The one I've got is the Halloween edition in collaboration with Kakao Friends. I really adore Ryan the Lion and that's why I bought the set in the first place. It contains 5 different mask and I've only used one. For me, they're okay. 

4. Facial Oils

I used to shudder at the thought of putting more oil on my already oily skin. After much research, however, I found out that facial oils don't cause oily skin to be more oily, but it can instead balance the amount of oil on the skin. So I decided to try one from a local brand, The Bath Box. 

I only use facial oil on days when I don't feel like layering multiple creams and too sleepy to finish my skincare routine. I use it in conjunctions with the face toner from the same brand. I spray toner on my face generously, and while my face is still wet, I put 2-3 drops of oil on my palms, and rub it on my slightly wet face. Thus I can prevent the oil from making my face looks extra shiny and the oil can be absorbed better and faster to my face.

If you have extremely dry skin, facial oil can be your best buddy. It's also perfect for women who have concerns for aging skin and fine lines or wrinkles. You just have to find the perfect oil formulation that suits your needs. 

Extra tips: Mix 1 drop of facial oils with your foundations to achieve natural dewy look. 

Products on pictures:

• The Bath Box I'll be Perfect Rebalancing Oil - bought from the bath box online store. Like I said, it contains all natural ingredients and is specifically designed for oily skin. It still feels too heavy to layer it with other face creams, so I normally skip this step unless I want that extra hydration on my skin. I used the oil every night when  I was in Korea since it was autumn, and it really helped to keep my skin from flaking or looking dry. Facial oil will be your best friend especially during cold, dry weather. 

5. Actives

What do you mean by actives? Well, it's hard to explain since I'm too still learning, but I'll try. Actives are products with certain ingredients that have direct, active result on the skin, or to quote from a more knowledgeable blogger, actives are 

• Skincare ingredients that have been Shown By Research™ to be capable of altering the actual structure or function of skin when used in a properly formulated product (for example, retinoids, AHA and BHA chemical exfoliants, or various vitamin C derivatives), or

• Skincare products that deploy those ingredients in an objectively effective formulation (for example, an L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serum that doesn’t offer the L-AA at such a low concentration and such a high pH that the whole product becomes a pointless atrocity like the one at the bottom of this post from the Holy Snail herself).

So yeah, for the past year, I've incorporated one active in my routine, which is BHA. What is BHA? BHA or Beta Hydroxy Acid is a chemical exfoliant (just like peeling gel, but it exfoliates your skin from the inside) to remove build-up dead skin cells. Well, why do you need it when you have peeling gel? From what I've read, BHA works better as it is gentler, penetrates into the skin deeper than normal face scrub/peeling gel, and has other benefits like promoting cell regeneration, reducing inflammation, hyper-pigmentation, and is good for oily and acne-prone skin (like mine). Is it different from AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)? Yes, it is. To put it simply, Crappy Candle says that BHAs are most recommended for acne because it can get down into pores, while AHAs tend to be recommended for anti-aging benefits and skin texture improvements. If you want to read more about active ingredients, BHA or AHA and the differences between the two, check out this article, this, or this. 

I apply BHA every other day, and only at night, as it requires some waiting time in between. When you apply active ingredients on your skin, you have to wait at least 20 minutes before layering it with other products or the actives will not be absorbed properly and rendered useless. In other words, if you use a lot of products with active ingredients, there will be a lot of gaps between one step to the other in order that the actives can  penetrate well into the skin.

My favorite way to apply BHA liquid is to pour a little amount on a cotton pad and swipe it on my face. Some people suggest pouring the product directly on your palms and rub it on to your face, but I don't think it works as well. 

Products on pictures:

• COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid - bought at an online seller. Though it says it can reduce the amount of blackheads, I don't see any improvements regarding my blackheads, probably because I don't have many to begin with. I do, however, feel that my skin texture has improved, and my pores are tightened since I started incorporating BHA into my routine. Previously, the only actives I used was vitamin C-derived serum from C20, and I hated how it oxidized quickly and needed to be refrigerated all the time. I've also used Paula's Choice 2% Skin Perfecting BHA Liquid Exfoliant that has different BHA ingredients from COSRX. COSRX uses 4% Betaine Salicylate, while Paula's Choice uses 2% Salicylic Acid as its main active ingredient. I have to say, Paula's Choice's BHA liquid works faster and is more powerful, maybe because Salicylic Acid is indeed harsher than Betaine Salicylate, but Paula's Choice products are much more expensive, so I think COSRX is a decent alternative. 

6. Essence

The next step is to apply some essence onto my skin. Just like toners, I really like how essence transform my skin. Essence has more concentrated ingredients than a toner, and it works similarly to ampoules or serums, though normally is found in a lighter texture. There are mixed opinions regarding whether essence is useful, but I do think as long as you pick different use for different products in your routine, your skin will benefit from it. What I mean is that my essence has a different function from my serum. I usually opt for brightening essence (I've used galactomyces for over 3 years now), while I always look for some anti-aging benefits for my serum. Because they have different purposes, they are needed. In fact, essence was the first thing I added to my regime when I first dived into the world of multi-steps Korean skincare routine, and I could see the difference it made. Before, my skin was dull, but after the introduction of the essence, my skin got brighter. Even my friends started to notice the difference after a while. 

I apply essence day and night (since my essence is very much light and watery) by dabbing it onto my skin directly without cotton pads. I admit there were times I didn't use essence because I ran out of it and didn't bother getting a new one. During those months, I used facial oil as a replacement. Well, in the end, as long as your skin gets enough nutrients, it's up to you whether to add essence into your routine. 

Products on the pictures:

• COSRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence - bought at a local online seller. It's a fairly new addition to my routine, as I previously always used Secret Key's Starting Treatment Essence. Sadly, Secret Key isn't CF, so I had to find a replacement and that's when I decided to try the COSRX one. The COSRX Galactomyces essence has a higher concentration of galactomyces than Secret Key's STE. Apparently, galactomyces is great for brightening and evening out skin tones; it works to prevent premature aging as well!  

7. Serum

Now comes what probably is the most important step in my routine - serum. I apply serum only at night on account of its texture. It is too oily for my skin if I apply it during the day. 

A serum comes with highly concentrated ingredients which targets specific skin issues like wrinkles, pores, acne, fine lines, discoloration, etc. Though it can be quite costly, it's definitely a step you have to to if you want to see some obvious improvements on your skin. Due to its concentrated active ingredients, most serums are thick in consistency, thus it is best to be applied later after all the lighter ones. A little goes a long way, so don't apply it thickly unless you want to waste your money. 

Products on pictures: 

• Skin & Lab Red Serum - bought at a local online seller through Shopee. This red serum is also another new addition to my routine. I previously used Secret Key's 24k Gold serum, but again, it's not CF so I found another replacement for it. I've read some great reviews about this red serum on the internet, with people claiming to see their pores visibly tightened, raging acne calms down, acne scars diminish, fine lines disappear, and yada yada yada, but I'm yet to see some apparent results on my skin. So far, my skin reacts well to the serum. It doesn't break me out, and I think it helps with my acne scars. For anti-aging, I can't say anything since I'm still young and don't have any wrinkles yet. It's always better to prevent them before they appear, right?

8. Moisturizer

Moisturizer is a common thing everywhere. As simple as your skincare routine can be, you'll always have at least one moisturizer. I've always used a moisturizer since I was young, even before I was introduced to this extended routine. Moisturizers come in many different forms, mostly they're called emulsions or cream. Emulsions are lighter than creams, and for me, I use both.

During the days, I apply emulsion as my moisturizer as it's light and it doesn't make my face feels oily. At night, I use heavier cream to give my skin the extra hydration when I sleep because I know at night your skin can lose a lot of moisture, especially if you sleep with the AC on. I never use them  together at the same time because I think it's useless. 

Products on pictures:

• Missha Super Aqua Hydrating Emulsion - bought at a local online seller through Tokopedia. It has a strong floral scent which goes away once it's applied. It hydrates my skin without making it oily. It's absorbed fast into the skin and what else can I say? It's just your regular emulsion. 
• COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream - bought at a local online seller. Another COSRX product, I know. I just love how simple and effective COSRX products are. The hyaluronic acid line from COSRX isn't as popular as their snail or AHA/BHA line, but believe me, hyaluronic acid is a powerful ingredient! It is actually a substance that is present in our body, with the highest concentration found in the eyes and joints. It is also known as a powerful anti-aging ingredient, and of course it hydrates the skin extremely well. Quoting from Paula's Choice website, Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan, a fancy name for a vital natural substance that’s a youth-supporting part of skin. As the chief glycosaminoglycan in skin, hyaluronic acid works to keep every aspect of skin stable, safeguarded, and constantly renewed. It also has the stunning capacity to attract and hold vast amounts of moisture for skin. After using the COSRX hyaluronic acid cream for a few months, I never experience flaky skin anymore (it happened sometimes, especially around the cheeks and forehead) and I wake up in the morning with supple, moisturized skin. 

9. Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a skin care. It protects your skin from the dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun. Many people are reluctant to use a sunscreen because they think it's too sticky or it's not important. The truth is, the sun can do such a damage to your skin, so you need to protect it. Aside from the probability to get skin cancer, the UV rays from the sun can also cause dark spots on the skin. That's why I never forget to apply some sunscreen whenever I go outside during the day. It's the last step I do in the morning, and as equally important as cleansers or moisturizer. 

In the past, sunscreen was sticky and uncomfortable to wear, especially on the face. Luckily, now there is a wide variety of sunscreen on the market, and many of them aren't sticky and very lightweight, just like moisturizer. Although in some make up, such as foundation or primer sometimes include SPF, it doesn't work as effectively as normal sunscreen. To get the amount of SPF stated on the foundation/primer, you need to use up to 5 times as much as you usually do to cover the entire face. Nobody wants to look like a clown or wear 5-6 layers of foundation on the face, right? Regardless of gender, I strongly suggest using a sunscreen when you go out during the day to protect yourself from UVA and UVB, even when it's cloudy outside. 

Extra tip: SPF doesn't add up. If you wear a sunscreen with SPF 50 and a foundation with SPF 15, the amount of SPF on your face isn't 65, but is still 50, which means it's the product with the highest SPF that counts. It's also advised to reapply sunscreen every two hour, though in reality very few people do that. I mean, it's kinda weird to slap more SPF on top of the already made-up and dirty face, right? Anyway, to learn more about SPF and its meaning, refer to this site.

Products on the pictures:

• 3W Clinic Intensive UV Sunblock Cream SPF 50 PA +++ - bought at a local online seller. It's the first and only sunscreen I've ever worn, believe it or not. It has lasted for almost 3 years and it will expire next year. It sounds disgusting, I know, but I feel like my sunscreen hasn't gone bad despite people's belief that sunscreen is only good for 6 months. I do, nevertheless, have a plan to buy a new sunscreen for my face next year just because I'm sick of this old 3W Clinic. This particular sunscreen is not sticky, doesn't leave white cast on my face, very affordable, and lasts forever. 

10. Sleeping Pack

Sleeping pack or sleeping mask is an extra step no one should be compelled to do. It's totally optional. I, myself, haven't used one since I used up my Laneige (non CF) water sleeping pack 3 months ago. You use it at the very last step of your night skin care routine just before you sleep. Sleeping pack works to retain the moisture of your skin while you sleep. Some sleeping pack also have added benefits (soothing redness, anti aging, super hydration, and so on), and most will let you wake up with supple skin the next day. I think sleeping pack is great if you have dry skin, or if it's autumn/winter. 

In my case, when I apply sleeping pack, I'll normally skip my night cream or else my face will feel way too greasy. 

Psst... I've just ordered some COSRX sleeping mask (overnight rice and overnight honey mask), so I can't wait to try those two out!

11. Trouble care

Well, just one last thing before I'm done. I think I've mentioned somewhere above that I have combination-oily skin. Did I say I'm also acne prone? I always have one or two pimples popping out, especially around my chin, and sometimes around the nose. I suspect it's either because of my hormone or my diet. Largely, though, I believe it's because of my unhealthy diet. During times when I can't control my appetite and eat fried, oily food, junk food, or unhealthy snacks excessively, pimples will appear and leave some scars. Thus, I always have some creams to treat my acne. I use it after I apply my essence (during the day) and after I apply my night cream (at night, obviously). 

Products on pictures:

• Skin & Lab Don't Touch Trouble Spot - bought at Althea. Due to its light, transparent texture, I use it during the day after I apply essence. It doesn't work fast to reduce the appearance of acne, but if I keep applying it regularly, it does calm my pimples. It isn't effective as a treatment for acne scars, though. 
• COSRX Centella Blemish Cream - bought at a local online seller. This cream, I must tell you, truly helps reducing acne scars and the appearance of pimples. I normally use it last, after I apply my night cream, and most of the times, the next morning my swollen acne will look better. I also apply it on the area where I have some acne scars, and it lightens that area a little bit. 
• COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch - bought at a local online seller. This is a patch you stick on your blemish, and the patch will absorb the oil and impurities of the skin. At first, it worked wonderfully on me. But lately I haven't seen the same result again on my pimple. I think this patch works best on pustules (acne with white or yellow centre filled with pus) but not so much on papules (inflamed acne, with tender, red bumps). 
• Pore strips -  Once a week or once every two weeks I'll use pore strips to pull out blackheads around my nose. I don't have any preferences for pore strips, as they all work the same. I've tried numerous pore strips, but if I have to pick one, I think Biore pore strips works the best on me. 

Beside those aforementioned products, there's actually a product I recommend the most for acne treatment. It's Paula's Choice Clear Acne Kit. I've written and raved about it before when I dealt with some breakouts. You can read it here.

I've elaborated on my skin care routine, now is the time to sum everything up.
Overall, here's the order of my skin care routine:

Cleansers - toners - face masks* - facial oils* - actives* - essence - serum - moisturizer - sunscreen - sleeping pack/mask* - trouble care*

* = I do not use these products every day. Read above for more detailed information. 

Do you need to follow these 10+ steps too? Absolutely not. Every person has a different need and skin condition. Build your routine slowly but surely. I still believe less is more for skin care. That's why I also skip some steps on certain days. Adjust the products to your situation, and always read people's reviews before you try out a new product. Buying samples is also wise to see if your skin reacts well to it before committing to the full-size product. More importantly, eat well for your skin to treat you well! 

How do you treat your skin daily? Share your routine with me on the comment box below! 

Until next time! ;)