My Skincare Routine – An Ideal Life

Navigating the world of skincare can be tricky, especially for those struggling with chronic illness or neurodivergence. Over the past few years, I’ve created a routine that not only meets my skin’s needs but also honors my fluctuating energy levels and cognitive challenges. On days when my ideal routine feels overwhelming, I simplify it. Here’s a glimpse of my skincare routine, ideally, along with some of my favorite products.

monday skin care routine

• Pure
• Microdermabrasion
• Tone
• Moisturizer
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen

Tuesday’s Skin Care Routine

• Pure
• Tone
• Sheet Mask
• Moisturizer
• Gua Sha
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen

wednesday skin care routine

• Pure
• Dermaplane
• Tone
• Serum
• eye cream
• Moisturizer
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen
• Lip oil

Thursday’s skin care routine

• Pure
• Tone
• Moisturizer
• Jade Roller
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen

Friday Skin Care Routine

• Pure
• clay mask
• Tone
• Facial Oil
• Gua Sha
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen
• Lip Mask

saturday skin care routine

• Pure
• Tone
• Serum
• eye cream
• Moisturizer
• Jade Roller
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen
• Lip oil

Sunday skin care routine

• Pure
• Exfoliate
• lip scrub
• Tone
• Serum
• eye cream
• Moisturizer
• Gua Sha
• Microcurrent
• Sunscreen
• lip Butter

Rose water

I like to spritz my face with rose water throughout the week to keep it feeling refreshed and hydrated. It feels even better after a nap!

my nightly skin care routine

Before bed, I focus on a calming routine:

• Pure
• Lavender Facial Mist
• Lash/Brow Serum
• overnight face mask
• Lip Mask

Products included in my skin care routine

cleanser

Of course, I have a daily tried and true facial cleanser, and that’s AOA Skin’s Niacinamide + Ceramide + Green Tea Foam Cleanser. When I need to remove makeup or feel a deeper cleanse is necessary, I add the Green Tea + Vitamin E Cleansing Balm, also from AOA Skin. You’ll learn very quickly that Shop Miss A’s in-house brand makes many of my favorite skincare products!

clay mask

If you’ve spent any time online in the last decade, you’re probably familiar with these Aztec Secret Indian Healing Bentonite Clay MaskI finally tried it out myself in 2020 and found it to be as great as its ardent fans say!

Toner

No surprise there – I also use AOA Skin Toner! They have a few different varieties, but I’m currently using their AHA 7% Toning Solution.

Cleanser

My favorite exfoliant (once again) is from AOA Skin, but I’m waiting for it to be restocked. In the meantime, I’m using e.l.f.’s Gentle Peeling Exfoliant.

Sheet Mask

Would you like to guess where I get my sheet mask? Surprise, surprise, it’s Shop Miss A! My favorite is their Tea Tree mask (currently out of stock) but their Totally Green Water + Ceramide and Niacinamide + Cica 7 Sheet Mask are also great.

Facial Oil

Right now, I’m using a very simple facial oil – a standard, basic oil Vitamin E Oil,

Serum

AOA Skin’s Phyto Collagen and Totally Green Water Serum are both great. Few things feel as perfect for a skincare aesthetic as applying your favorite serum to your skin!

Moisturizer

My favorite eye cream and moisturizer is, once again, AOA Skin Finds! I prefer their Niacinamide moisturizer, so while I’m waiting for that to come back in stock, I’m using the Biossance Rose Oil which I had on hand while waiting for my turn.

Sunscreen

I can’t stress the importance of sunscreen enough! My favorite is Native’s facial sunscreen (which I mix with their standard SPF for the rest of my body). I only skip this step if I really can’t leave the house.

Lip Products

Not surprisingly, there are a few items from Shop Miss A here as well! Most notably, I love their Jellyjam Sleep Mask, which I usually use in the rose scent. I also got the Beauty Treats Lip Butter from Miss A, as well as the Coconut Lip Mask. My favorite lip oil is actually an Ulta Beauty find called Blueberry Bliss, but I haven’t been able to find it on the site in a while!

PM Skincare Essentials

At bedtime, I use my same favorite cleanser but change up the rest of my routine. My lavender face mist, lash/brow serum and face mask are from Elf Cosmetics, while the lip mask is the Jellyjam from Shop Miss A that I mentioned above.

skin care tools

Right now, my number one everyday skincare tool is a microcurrent device—I couldn’t find the exact device I use, but it’s it A similar option! My jade roller and gua sha are both Miss A’s finds, as is my dermaplane razor, while my microdermabrasion tool is made by Kitsch!

Main Ingredients

There are a few powerful ingredients in my skincare routine that I swear by!

niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a versatile ingredient that provides many benefits for the skin:

• Reduces inflammation: Helps soothe irritated skin and reduce redness
• Minimizes pores: Helps reduce the size of pores, making skin smoother
• Controls oil: Balances oil production, making it ideal for both dry and oily skin
• Improves skin complexion: Evens out skin tone and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation

I use niacinamide in my daily cleanser and moisturizer, as well as occasionally using it in sheet masks.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects and repairs the skin:

• Hydrate: Provides deep moisture, making it perfect for dry skin
• heal: Aids the skin’s healing process, reduces scars and improves skin texture
• Protects: Protects the skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals and UV rays

Vitamin E is a key ingredient in my weekly facial oil and occasional double cleansing!

bentonite clay

Bentonite clay is known for its purifying and detoxifying properties:

• Deep Cleaning: Draws out impurities and toxins from the skin
• Controls oil: Absorbs excess oil, making it ideal for acne-prone skin
• Provides peace: Soothes skin irritation and may help reduce the severity of acne

I incorporate bentonite clay into my Friday skincare routine to deep cleanse and purify my skin, which sets the stage for the rest of my routine.

tea tree

Tea tree is a natural antiseptic that has numerous benefits for the skin:

• Fights acne: Its antibacterial properties help fight acne-causing bacteria
• Reduces inflammation: Helps reduce inflammation and irritation associated with acne
• Cleanses the skin: Promotes clear, blemish-free skin by keeping pores unclogged

Tea tree is primarily found in my favorite sheet masks, but is also found in Miss A’s acne patches!

reality check

While this routine may seem like a long one, I don’t always complete every step. It’s important to change it up depending on how I’m feeling each day. Some days, just cleansing and applying moisturizer is enough. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself and prioritize self-care in whatever form you can. Remember, your routine should be flexible and based on your needs.