6 Step Skincare Summer Routine-  Morning Edition 2018

I know, I know, 6 steps for a morning skincare routine sounds awfully long and may be excess to some, but I know there's plenty of other skincare lovers that have longer routines! This routine is perfect for me as I feel that it covers my most basic concerns for the mornings of spring/summer. I'm in my early 30's and for the most part my overall skin is normal while my t-zone is on the oily side. The major goal of my skincare is too focus on preventative measures while also keeping my t-zone hydrated, but not oily. 

I've provided this helpful picture (listed below) that I found on Pinterest from Seventeen.com that informs you how much of each of your skin care products that should be used. This is pretty helpful and handy to ensure that you're not using too much or too little of a product.

Step 1- Cleanser

The  Skin Laundry Gentle Foaming Face Wash has been one of my favorite cleansers in my current face wash rotation. I've ben using it for the past 7 months. The cleanser is made with green tea, cucumber, and chamomile and is great for sensitive skin. Although I have Combination Skin (Normal-Oily), I love how gentle and soothing it is without being over drying. I use various serums that contains acids (aha, bha, lactic and etc.); therefore using the Skin Laundry Cleanser helps with not over drying my skin.

Ingredients: Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Cetyl Betaine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, PEG-50 Shea Butter, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

*Free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates

Price: $20

Step 2- Toner

I was advised to use a toner by an esthetician while getting a facial several months ago. A specific type of toner was not recommended. But I knew I wanted my first toner to be gentle enough to not interfere with the acid based serums (aha, bha, lactic and etc.) in my skincare routine. I can honestly tell you this toner lives up to its hype. The Son & Park Beauty Water does all that claims plus more! Since using it I've notice that my t-zone is not as oily and the overall condition of my face is a lot softer and smoother. I use it morning and night after cleansing with a cotton round.

Directions: It can be used with a cotton pad and sweep across the face or put into a spray bottle.

Ingredients: Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, PEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Water, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit/Seed Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua (Galbanum) Resin Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract , Mentha Piperita(Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Octanediol, Copaifera Officinalis (Balsam Copaiba) Resin, Protease, Alcohol Denat., Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol.

*Free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates

Price: $30

Step 3- Serum/Treatment

The Drunk Elephant C-Firma Serum is marketed for all skin types as a highly potent vitamin C serum great for uneven skin tone, loss of firmness and dullness/uneven texture. The C-Firma has a "reservoir effect", which means it stays active on skin for up to 72 hours and cannot be washed or rubbed off. In addition, it has a pH level of 3.3. 

Directions: Apply in the morning, neck, and chest.

Drunk Elephant's packaging is one of the best on the market as it doesn't allow sunlight in and is airtight. This helps to minimize contamination from your fingers and from oxidizing by sunlight. The pump also ensures that the perfect amount is dispensed for each use, which also helps to minimize dispensing too much of the product at one time. 

This is the serum that I use most mornings during both the summer and winter months. I like that it provides some moisture, but it doesn't make my skin feel oily or sticky. I really think this in addition to another serum that I'm using (post coming soon) has helped to diminish the appearance of any dark or discoloration on my face. I also think this helped to give my skin more of a natural glow.

Ingredients: Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycine, Sucrose, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60.

Price: $80.00

Step 4: Eye-cream

I'll be completely honest I really don't have a holy grail eye serum. I get tons of samples and deluxe size samples from my many Sephora Hauls. I received a deluxe size sample of the Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum and I've been using it for the past couple of months. The eye cream claims to tackle aging under and around the eyes -fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage. It's made with black tea ferment, copper peptides, and only clean ingredients.

I don't suffer from any extremes like puffy eyes or extremely dark circles. However, I do have a few lines under my eyes that have always been present. I use the Shaba eye serum as a preventative measure. I'm currently using this eye serum during my morning routine as its light, hasn't caused any irritation and it's a pretty good base to use prior to concealer. I can't say if I'll purchase this in the future as I'm always on the hunt for different eye serums.

Price: $60.00

Ingredients: Water, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Coconut Alkanes, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Niacinamide, Copper Tripeptide-1, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Panthenol, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ubiquinone, Citric Acid, Thioctic Acid, Tocopherol, Chrysin, Sclerotium Gum, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol / Ethylhexylglycerin

Step 5: Moisturizer

The Tatcha Water Cream is recommended for Oily, Normal to Oily, pores, and anti-aging skin. I started using this last summer and ever since its been my holy grail day time moisturizer for both summer and winter months. The formula is oil-free and has anti-aging properties. I love how this has helped to maintain my normal to combination skin. I'm extremely pleased by how hydrating this cream is without making my face look or feel oily. 

Honestly, the only thing I don't like about the Tatcha Water Cream is the price tag. $68.00 is a pretty hefty price tag, but being that it agrees with my skin so well and contains anti-aging properties I look at it as an investment. A little of this product goes a long way with my skin, therefore leading to cream lasting for a long length of time. The packing also comes with a gold spatula that it meant to scoop the product out the jar. The spatula helps to provide an easy guideline of how much product should be dispensed.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf/Cladosiphon Okamuranus/Rice Ferment Filtrate*, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Gold, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Pistacia Lentiscus (Mastic) Gum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Mica, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium Edta, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum/Fragrance, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol *Hadasei-3

Price: $68 (full size), $20 (mini size)

Step 6: Sunscreen

The Supergoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist sunscreen retails for $28.00 and is a makeup setting spray that helps to control oil and shine. The mist is described as an antioxidant broad spectrum sunscreen as it protects your skin from both types of UV rays.

The Supergoop sunscreen is probably one of the easiest sunscreen's on the market to use. It can be sprayed on to the face prior to your make up application or after. I spray this in the morning before leaving and I also keep the mini version of the spray in my handbag for midday touch ups! The fact that it's so easy to use and the price point is not too bad, I'll continue to purchase it. Sunscreen is extremely important step in my skincare routine as many of the products that I use contain acids (aha, bha, lactic and etc.), which makes my face sensitive to the sun and can be very drying.

Ingredients:- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 4.0%, Octinoxate 6.0%, Octisalate 3.0% Inactive Ingredients:
Alcohol Denat., Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Isododecane, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Stem/Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, PVP, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Silica Silylate, Water

Price: $28 (full price), $12 (travel size)

Last but not least.......

Establishing a good skincare routine takes time. Please keep in mind just because something works for someone does not mean it will work for you. Along with my skincare regimen listed above, I do take the time to do various different face masks, serums, exoliating along with getting professional facials every couple of months. 

If you're interested in seeing some of my favorite face masks, serums and etc, please leave me a comment below. I would love to know if you use any of the products that I've mentioned. If you're using different skincare products within your routine, please comment below. I would love to hear about them! Please comment below xoxo!