Skin care is something I’ve become very interested in ever since going away to college. The transition from my later teens to early twenties was something I struggled with the most when it came to how to take care of my skin. Unlike many others, my skin got worse as I reached my young adult years and it was so frustrating! I made sure to do everything right: follow a routine twice a day, use exfoliants, use face masks, etc. etc. I literally tried everything in the book and nothing seemed to get rid of my hyper-pigmentation around my chin area (what I struggled with the most). While this area is predominately the result of hormonal acne, I knew I didn’t feel confident enough to step outside the house with dark red spots covering my face. I finally made the decision to visit the dermatologist before I could potentially make my skin even worse. While my skin still isn’t perfect, it has made a tremendous improvement (considering the college student diet, lack of sleep, stress, etc.). Here is my routine to keep my face looking clean, fresh, and resilient as much as a college student can!
FACE WASH
This is a gentle face wash that removes my makeup as well. I decided to start using Fresh products because of the great reviews I read online as well as the clean ingredients they use to formulate the product. While this is a little bit pricier than drug store face washes, I know I’m putting a quality product on my face, which is something I can personally justify! It also doesn’t make my skin feel dry or burn, which is something I struggled with from other cleansers.
ACNE TREATMENT
Epiduo Forte is a topical treatment for acne and must be prescribed my a doctor. It consists of benzoyl peroxide, which is an intense medication that decreases the amount of acne-causing bacteria. To use this product, consult your doctor to see if it’s actually necessary to resolve your skin problems. It was the best option for me, but the results did not turn up for about 6 weeks. Patience is key when dealing with acne! Overall this product did burn at first, which was to be expected, but after a few weeks, I was able to apply all over my face daily.
MOISTURIZER
I decided to use one brand for my whole skin care routine to maintain consistency throughout the ingredients – which is why I chose this moisturizer. First off, moisturizer can be freaking expensive! With that being said, they are critical for your skin care routine. For all you with greasy skin, do not skip this step!! Your body actually produces more oils when it knows it’s not receiving the proper moisturizer. My goals for a moisturizer were to keep my skin refreshed, bright, glowing, and hydrated. As many college students can agree, the lack of sleep and water consumed can really show when people constantly remind you how tired you look. This stuff contains vitamin c which is a great way to make your skin glow with natural ingredients.
EYE CREAM
Okay, so is this product absolutely necessary? No, not exactly. This is me looking out for my 40-year-old self to prolong the appearance of wrinkles. Also, I like to treat myself when it comes to skin care, so I personally love using this product in my routine. After using lotion-based eye creams in the past, I have become fond of this gel-based because it absorbs in my skin better and is a great base for under-eye makeup. It also just smells good, like really good. You can easily switch this product out with a drug store eye cream as well!
SUNSCREEN
Do not forget your sunscreen!!! This step is essential, because without sunscreen, all the other steps above were just a complete waste of time and money! Whether the sun is shining or peeking through the clouds, the rays can do more harm than good to your skin. Save yourself the wrinkles and damage and simply add this to your routine. I personally use a tinted moisturizer from NARS which has SPF in it already, but when not wearing makeup, I use this one from Lancaster. It doesn’t have a weird smell and doesn’t remind me of the days my mom would smother me in Banana Boat when I really just wanted to jump in the pool. I highly, highly recommend investing in SPF for your skin care routine!
Like I said before, I’ve tried a six-step skin care routine and I’ve tried one simple cleanse-and-go routine, and this one has been my favorite from the past 3 years. Skin care is all trial and error until you find something right for you. In the end, we want to feel confident and resilient in our own skin, so don’t feel guilty about going the extra mile to make you feel the best you possibly can! If you have any recommendations, please let me know!
xx,
Evana
