My skincare routine

I have not shared my face on Instagram nor the blog but I’ve been so happy with my skincare routine lately that I decided it needed a shout out.

A few words to my type of skin before I proceed, so you can know where to fit this. I have a mix between dry and sensitive and also a bit oily in the T zone. I don’t have acne problems in general just the usual monthly pimples here and there, and due to the sensitivity, I also tend to get dry skin patches every now and then. Oh, and the loyal clogged pores/blackheads around my nose area – those friends never let you down.

With the routine I have been using lately I managed to minimize the problems mentioned above: I barely get the monthly pimples and if I do, it’s very manageable. I honestly did not have a dry patch on the skin in forever, and while I did not find a “terminator” solution for blackheads – and to be honest I don’t really think such thing exists – I do think I keep them under control with a few of the products mentioned below, as well as an at-home, monthly steaming and extraction procedure.

I mainly use two brands at this point – not on purpose – with a few other guest appearances to complete the routine. Scroll down to see all details of my morning routine, my night time routine as well as some complementary products such as sunscreen, masks & co.

Morning routine

• Kiehl’s Ultra Facial cleanser – I switched to this cleanser abut a year ago and I’ve never looked back. It’s gentle and does not strip the skin leaving it feeling tight or dry – something I so battled in the past – while cleansing very well, including removing my mascara – which I always hate to remove – and without itching eyes. Can’t recommend enough.
• COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid – this is an exfoliating toner that helps minimize blackheads and control excess sebum. It’s not too strong so it does not dry the skin. It broke my skin for about 2-3 weeks, but just a little, and this is expected with this type of products as the BHA cleans the skin on a deeper level. I am at my second bottle and I don’t think I will ever stop buying it.
• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 2% – I truly think this is one of the best products The Ordinary has. I used it the first time a couple of years ago but somehow got off track with it and I am so happy to have reintroduced it in May. It helps keep the skin clear and regulates sebum. I only get the occasional, small, monthly pimple now and in a very manageable way. If you take away one single recommendation from me today, let it be this product.
• Kiehl’s Ultra Facial moisturizer – Another favourite product of mine that I have been using for over a year now. This moisturizer is equally light and dense in texture so I can use it both in summer and winter. It does not clog the pores and moisturizes the skin just perfectly. If it’s winter I usually lock it in with some oil on top, especially when I go out into the dry, cold Berlin winter.

Evening routine

• Kiehl’s Ultra Facial cleanser – I cleanse my skin both morning and evening with the same product. Nothing really breakthrough here.
• COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid – My skin is used to it so I tend to use it both morning and evening as well. If you are just starting with it, you might want to use it a few times a week at first and until your skin gets used to it and only then witch to daily or twice a day.
• The Ordinary Retinol 0,2% in Squalane – I am sure you’ve heard how retinol is the only product that actually helps with reducing fine lines. I for one definitely did and thought it was about time to introduce a light retinol version in my routine. I chose this one because it’s 1) light and perfect for starting with retinol and 2) it’s in squalane oil which is my favourite oil for the face as it does not clog pores and it moisturizes very nicely. Good to keep in mind when starting with retinol, that they can make your skin break at the start as there is a bit of a “purging” effect.
• The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspensions 23% + HA Spheres 2% – On the nights when I do not use retinol, I use vitamin C. Note that I never use the retinol and the vitamin C in the same routine. I usually alternate them, one night retinol, and the other night vitamin C. This one helps with overall brightening of the skin and evening the skin tone as well as protecting the skin from the sun damage.

Other guest appearances

• Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque – I use this one every couple of weeks or so to help with clogged pores and overall cleaning the skin. I am a bit lazy when it comes to masking, to be honest, however, I enjoy playing with this one and the other mini-sized masks I got from Kiehl’s.
• Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery concentrate – this used to be night time oil until introducing retinol. However, since I started alternating between The Ordinary retinol and vitamin C, I rarely have the time to use it nowadays. Nonetheless, it’s a great oil, it smells a bit herbal and I absolutely love it. Once winter comes I will probably use it again during the day to lock in the moisturizer.
• Avene tinted cream with SPF 50 – I use this one for a daily outing when in addition to needing sun protection, I also want a bit of colour. It is a bit on the sticky side but also does the job quite well.
• Clinique mineral sunscreen fluid for face with SPF 50 – I bought this one this summer and I really like it. It works perfectly with my light complexion, it absorbs well and does the job without leaving much of a sticky feeling.

Thank you for reading and I hope you found this post useful. Let me know if you have any questions and also what products you swear by for your skin type. Always curious to hear of new products, so let me know in the comments below!