May 2022 Skincare Routine Update

 Hey Beauty Lovers!

Today I am going to share all the skincare products that I used last month.

As a blogger, I am sent a ton of skincare products to review. That means I get to have a 6-10 step skincare routine. 

Please don’t feel like you have to use as many products as I do, just use my skincare routines as inspiration for creating your own routine.

If you are confused about putting together a skincare routine, you can always leave me a comment at the end of this post. I am always happy to help!

In this post, I will:

• Break down both AM and PM skincare routines
• Show you the correct order of applying skincare
• Explain why I use each product
• Tell you how to use the products

This is a pretty long post, so let’s get right to it…

Other posts you may like:

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AM Skincare Routine

My AM skin goal last month was to hydrate and brighten, so I chose products with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, antioxidants, and honey.

If you have issues with dehydrated skin and/or you want your skin to have a beautiful natural glow, I highly recommend using some of the products from the AM Skincare Routine.

Remember, you do not need to use all of these products. Read the descriptions of each product carefully, and only choose the products that will benefit your specific skin type and concerns.

If you need help building your skincare routine, feel free to ask me in the comments section at the end of this post. I am always happy to help!

Cleanser

The Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser is one of the most hydrating cleansers I have ever tried. It has a creamy texture that feels so nourishing. 

Formulated with Goat Milk, Jojoba and Avocado Oils, and Manuka Honey, the Goat Milk Cleanser is perfect for any hydrating skincare routine. 

I have used this cleanser for many years now, it is my go-to whenever my skin starts feeling dehydrated. If you have dry and/or dehydrated skin, I highly recommend trying this cleanser out for yourself, you will be amazed by how soft and comfortable your skin will feel with just one use.

To use, simply massage the cleanser onto wet skin for 60 seconds. Rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat it dry with a clean face cloth.

After cleansing my skin, I always follow up with a toner and/or essence. 

Yes, you can use both in the same routine!

Toner/Essence

Last month, I was using the elmt Skin Illuminating Solution. This unique toner/essence/serum hybrid boosts hydration and gives your skin a beautiful glow.

Formulated with Niacinamide, Grape Extract, and Pomegranate Extract, the Skin Illuminating Solution will help improve skin texture, clear up acne, provide a boost of anti-oxidants, and brighten up the whole complexion.

This is one of my favorite skin brightening products. I have been using it on and off for a few months now, and I can really see a difference in my skin whenever I add this toner back into my skincare routine.

To use, press the solution into your skin after cleansing. I recommend using your hands, but you can use a cotton round instead.

Let the Skin Illuminating Solution sink into the skin for a few minutes before applying your serum.

Serum

The Farmacy Filling Good Serum is an amazing option for adding a huge boost of hydration and nourishment to the skin. 

Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen Peptides, Amino Acids, and a Honey Blend, the Filling Good Serum is a great addition to both hydrating and anti-aging skincare routines.

Although this is marketed as a hyaluronic acid serum, I actually like it for the honey blend. Honey is a lot more nourishing and deeply hydrating. Hyaluronic acid is completely overhyped in my opinion. This dupe from the K-Beauty brand I’m From is even better for dry skin and it is even a little cheaper than the Farmacy version.

Whenever I have the Filling Good Serum or its dupe in my routine, my skin has a beautiful healthy glow. I cannot believe these two aren’t talked about more often, they are seriously amazing!

To use this serum, apply 1-2 pumps of product to your skin after toning. Make sure to apply the serum evenly, and don’t forget your neck!

After serum, you have the option of adding an eye cream or going straight to a moisturizer.

There is a bit of controversy surrounding eye creams. Some “experts” say they are useless and some say they are essential.

I think it is more of a personal decision.

Some people will need an eye cream and some won’t. Every skin is different and we all have different needs. 

I personally feel that I need an eye cream…

Eye Cream

The Sunday Riley 5 Star Retinol + Niacinamide Eye Serum is a great treatment for brightening the whole eye area and providing the anti-aging benefits of retinol without any irritation.

Formulated with Retinoid Ester, Liposome-Encapsulated Retinol, Niacinamide, Ceramides, and Olive Oil, this Sunday Riley eye treatment is the obvious choice for anyone experiencing the first signs of aging.

I have been using this treatment consistently for a few months. I experienced no irritation from the retinol, my eye area looks brighter, and my fine lines are less visible. This is hands-down one of the best anti-aging eye products that I have used in the 7+ years as a beauty blogger.

Need some proof that I love the 5 Star Eye Serum? Check out the photo above. I have used it for so long that the entire label rubbed off!

To use this eye cream, squeeze out a very small amount of product and apply it all around your eyes. Use a gentle patting motion and apply with your ring finger, you don’t want to damage the delicate skin by your eyes.

After treating my eyes, I like to follow up with a moisturizer that will seal in all the amazing ingredients I just applied to my face.

Moisturizer

I have been using the Dr. Zenovia Peptide + Ceramide Repairing Moisturizer for almost a year now. I don’t use it very consistently, but I always come back to it whenever my skin needs some extra TLC.

This silky-smooth moisturizer is formulated with a Peptide Complex, Bio-Equivalent Ceramides, and the Dr. Zenovia REG-ulate 360 Complex. The latter complex includes resveratrol, vitamin E, green tea, bakuchiol, and genistein (a patented phytoestrogen).

I have already emptied at least three jars of the Peptide + Ceramide Repairing Moisturizer, it is that amazing.

You can read a little more about my experience with this moisturizer here.

To use this moisturizer, apply a generous amount of product to your face and neck after serum. Let the moisturizer sink in before moving on to your next step.

After moisturizer, it is essential that you apply sunscreen in the AM…

Sunscreen

The Australian Gold Tinted Botanical Sunscreen has been my go-to sunscreen for 10+ years. My entire family uses it too, my kids too!

My face is very sensitive to chemical sunscreens, but physical sunscreens have always made me look like a ghost. 

Remember that photo of Mark Zuckerberg surfing?

That is exactly how I used to look before finding this tinted version from Australian Gold.

The tint masks the white color so well, that it looks undetectable on my skin!

Not only does it hide the white color, it actually feels more like a BB cream than a sunscreen.

Think hydrating, silky formula that will blur imperfections.

To use, apply at least three fingers worth of sunscreen to your face and neck. Three fingers worth means drawing a line with the sunscreen on your three middle fingers. Any less than that, and you won’t be applying enough!

I’m pretty sure that some influencers found this gem because it is almost always sold out on Amazon these days!

Whenever I see it in stock, I buy at least 10 to keep as backups. You never know when it will be out of stock again and I will never use a white physical sunscreen again…

Ok, that AM Skincare Routine breakdown ended up being a lot longer than I thought.

Let’s move on to my PM Skincare Routine…

PM Skincare Routine

My PM skincare goals were hydration and anti-aging. I chose products that would help keep my skin hydrated throughout the night as well as help reverse the early signs of aging that I have been experiencing since I hit 30.

Again, if you need help choosing products for your PM skincare routine, let me know in the comments at the end of this post.

Oil Cleanser

I always start my PM skincare routine with a double cleanse, using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and then a regular cleanser to remove the oil.

The Skinn Divine Elixir Luminous Facial Cleansing Oil has been my go-to oil cleanser for the past year. It is extremely nourishing and it takes off every trace of makeup, even waterproof eyeliner.

Formulated with Manuka Honey and Vitamins C and E, this first cleanser will remove any impurities while leaving the skin feeling hydrated and protected. The Luminous Facial Cleansing Oil is perfect for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.

This is already my second bottle of the Skinn Divine Elixir Luminous Facial Cleansing Oil. I am always reaching for this cleanser when my skin needs a boost of hydration and radiance.

To use the Luminous Facial Cleansing Oil, massage two pumps of the oil onto dry skin (do not wet your face before applying). Once you feel that your makeup has dissolved, add a little water to your face and massage it into the oil. The cleanser will turn into a milky consistency. Rinse your skin thoroughly with warm water and follow up with your second cleanser.

For my second cleanse, I have been loving the electrolyte infused cleanser that I will be talking about next.

Cleanser

The FaceGym Electro-Lite Enzyme Brightening Gel Cleanser is an exfoliating cleanser packed with electrolytes to help replenish the skin. It has a very interesting texture. It starts out as a gel, but ends up foaming as you massage it into the skin.

This cleanser does a great job at keeping my skin feeling clean but not stripped. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and energized, probably from all the electrolytes.

It doesn’t do a very good job at removing makeup and sunscreen, so I highly recommend using this as a second cleanser. Trust me, your skin will feel so much better after a double cleanse.

Use the Electro-Lite Enzyme Brightening Gel Cleanser after an oil-based cleanser. Simply massage a small amount of gel into your skin for 60 seconds. Rinse your skin thoroughly with warm water and pat your face dry with a clean towel. Follow up with your favorite toner.

Since I use a hyaluronic acid toner next, I like to leave my face a little wet after my second cleanse. This really helps with keeping the skin hydrated.

Toner

The Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner is one of my favorite hydrating toners. I even included it in my Amazing Hydrating Toners For Every Skin Type post. This is actually the original Hyaluronic Acid Toner from Isntree, they also have an updated Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus that I haven’t tried yet.

This toner is formulated with 5 types of Hyaluronic Acid with three molecular sizes to help it penetrate deeply. While I think Hyaluronic Acid in serums is over-rated, I absolutely love the ingredient in toners. 

I always recommend applying this toner to wet skin to help the Hyaluronic Acid draw in moisture. This will activate the toner and you will see better results. Also, apply the Hyaluronic Acid toner with your hands, not a cotton round, and follow up with serums or treatments.

This is my 11th bottle of this toner, I love it that much!

Instead of a serum, I like to use a retinol-based treatment after toning in the PM.

Treatment

The Dr. Zenovia Inflam-Aging Night Repair Treatment is an anti-aging must have! I wrote about this product in my Anti-Aging Routine post, you have to read it if you are looking to soften fine lines and wrinkles.

Formulated with Highly concentrated Green Tea Polyphenols, medical-grade Resveratrol, Caffeine, a maximized concentration of their amazing REG-ulate360 Complex, Aloe Vera, and Bakuchiol, this is a highly effective anti-aging treatment.

I have been using the Inflam-Aging Night Repair Treatment for almost a year now, and my fine lines are almost non-existent! I’m legit serious, this treatment is hands down the best one on the market in my experience.

To use the Inflam-Aging Night Repair Treatment, apply 2 pumps of product after toner. Make sure to apply the treatment evenly, and don’t forget your neck! Follow up with an eye cream (optional) and moisturizer.

Again, I need an eye cream, you may not…

Eye Cream

I have been using the Dr. Zenovia Retinol Recovery Eye Cream consistently for at least 6 months, and I highly recommend it if you have crows feet. 

Formulated with a their special Retinol Technology, Antioxidant Blend, REG-ulate360 Complex, Aloe Vera, and Bakuchiol, this eye cream will help with puffiness, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles.

This is my second tube of the Retinol Recovery Eye Cream, and I already have two more as backups!

You can read more about my thoughts on this eye cream here.

To use, apply one pump of cream all around your eyes with your ring finger. Make sure to use patting motions, never drag the delicate skin or you may end up with more lines! Follow up with a moisturizer and/or sleep mask.

Lately, I have been skipping my moisturizer and applying a sleep mask instead.

Sleep Mask

Sleep masks are not the same as wash-off masks. These products can be used in place of a moisturizer or on top of a moisturizer, and they are meant to be left on overnight.

The Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask has been giving me the firmest skin of my life. I apply it every night and I wake up to a youthful glow! I love it so much that I featured it in my Firm Sagging Skin Quickly post.

Formulated with a Black Tea Ferment Conplex, Belle De Nuit Extrac, and Peptides, this sleeping mask is packed with anti-aging ingredients. I highly recommend getting the Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask if you are anywhere over 30.

To use this mask, simply apply a generous amount of product to your skin and neck as your last step in your PM skincare routine. It’s that simple!

And that brings us to the end of my Skincare Routines…

Final Thoughts

Again, I like to use quite a few products in my skincare routines. This may not be necessary for you or your skin type, so use whatever works best for your needs.

Do you already have a skincare routine? Let me know what products you use on a daily basis in the comments section down below.

If you liked this skincare routine post, you may also like my Skincare Routines Series.

Read This Next: Get Glowing Skin with the I’m From Honey Line (K-Beauty)

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