It’s now officially a month into my skin 2020 challenge and so far I have noticed HUGE improvements: my skin is almost texture free ( this is an ongoing issue but this is the longest I have been without any textural issues) and radiant, I still have hyperpigmentation( although the darkest spot is slightly lighter now)
One month in and I did do a skincare haul to get some more products in addition to my power serums. Check out what I got in my haul here and my star serums here.
Onto my morning routine
I like my morning routine to be fast and efficient so I like to concentrate on hydration and protection. It’s a relatively simple routine and quick too to get me out of the door!
Cleanse: I start with a cleanse in the shower to remove the dirt/excess oils and products from the night before. Some people prefer to wash with just water ( I don’t understand) but I use a face wash. I have just run out of the L’Oréal Fine Flowers Wash. My review is here. I am now using the Murad Essential C Cleanser.
Tone: shower done I move to my toner. I like to use hydrating toners in the morning and the one I’m currently using is the Garnier Rose Toner which is an exact dupe of Pixi Rose Tonic which I love! This toner is very easy to use, soothes and hydrates the skin and preps it for the next step.
Antioxidant Serum: next I like to use an antioxidant serum to help protect my skin from environmental aggressors and pollution and free radicals. I like to use a mixture of the Inkey List Vitamin C serum, the Ordinary Ferulic Acid 3% and Resveratrol 3% serum and Superdrug Hydrating Serum. Why? The vitamin C is in a water less silicone base which gives it a very gritty silicone texture and doesn’t feel great on the skin. By mixing the Ferulic & resveratrol serum which has an oil like texture, the overall texture is more pleasant to use PLUS Ferulic Acid & resveratrol are also antioxidants so I have getting a lot more protection( the more antioxidants you can use the better). The hydrating serum adds a touch of hydration to the mixture. The overall mixture feels like a lightweight lotion/serum and sinks into my skin well. It doesn’t PILL!
I’m actually taking a break from this mixture and using the Drunk Elephant C Firma day serum mixed with the B Hydra Hydration serum. I only have sample sizes of this, I got this as a late Christmas present so testing it out. DE is a brand that I have been interested in but their ridiculous prices and nasty attitude put me off them. So far I am not impressed by them but even if I was I won’t be purchasing( I have noticed some texture but whether it’s due to this or something else, time will tell. I usually get a spot or two after a facial and I just had one so it could be the facial, these serums or Mother Nature, time will tell).
Moisturiser/SPF– I usually prefer to use a moisturiser and a dedicated SPF product (because we don’t use enough SPF anyway so if have a SPF moisturiser you use less and may not be getting the full SPF stated on the product) but I had this SPF moisturiser I wanted to use and since it’s the winter period it was ok. The one I am currently using is the Kiehl’s SPF 30 moisturiser which I love. See the full review here and how it looks on dark skin. I SLAUGTHER this on and works well without any piling. Again I have finished this product, I have gone back to using Nivea SPF 50 spray layered on top of Beauty Pie Moisturiser (review here). Again no pilling
After this I wait around a bit to get ready before I move to makeup
Ignore the bags lol, this is my skin makeup free
Primer: I am currently mixing two primers only because I have had both of them of a while and I really need to get rid of them. Surprisingly they work extremely well together. I use the Emani Perfect 10 Primer Serum mixed with Makeup Forever Radiant Primer. These two deliver hydration, radiance (almost too radiant) and a little bit of colour correcting ( the MUFE primer is peach)
Foundation: my quick and easy go to for mornings is powder foundation. Literally I don’t have to spend minutes blending. I am currently using the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (and holding on to the last bits of it). This has a buildable coverage, covers my pigmentation and helps to even out the skin and doesn’t look dry or cakey.
Spray Setting: sometimes I set the powder and sometimes I don’t. I rotate these two setting sprays: Glamglow Glow setter (review here) and Obsession Dewy Fix- I have just run out of this in act this morning lol.
After this it’s a quick swipe of Carmex lip balm then I’m out of the door.
On the weekends or on days I have some time, I will throw in a mask, and it ranges from anything from a sheet mask to a cream mask: whatever my skin is feeling that day
The whole routine is probably 30 mins or less broken up into parts.
It’s so hard for me to write about my current skincare routine because I rotate my products frequently and I like to use the same routine for at least a month before I blog about it. I wrote this post a week and a half prior and in that time I have run out of stuff and switched things around lol.
I am working on my evening routine which will take a while so stay tuned. My evening routine is more time consuming (compared to the morning one but it’s no 20 step routine lol), that should come soon.
With spring around the corner, I will be testing out more sunscreens suitable for dark skin, in the meantime check out all the previous reviews I have done on my blog.
sarah fynn 