I Run Like A Girl

Over the last year, I became obsessed with learning about skincare. I’ve tried a LOT of products, and I wanted to share what I’ve learned on the blog today. 🙂 

First off, I have been blessed with oily, acne-prone, and very sensitive skin, so a big part of my journey was finding the right products for my crazy skin type. My #1 goal is treating & preventing acne, and my secondary goal is anti-aging.

Over the past year, I experimented with many products, and I found I couldn’t tolerate major ingredients well: retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, and even hyaluronic acid all made me break out like crazy! I also couldn’t layer multiple products…I envied people with 9-step routines as I couldn’t tolerate half of those steps. 

All this to say, another part of my journey was to stop comparing myself to others and to find what works for me (the skincare world instills FOMO if you don’t start retinol by age 30)!

My routine below is simple, gentle, and focuses on overall skin barrier health. No 9-step routines. No expensive serums. Just a simple routine that embraces less is more. 

AM Routine

Cleanser

The first step to my morning skincare is cleansing. Because I have oily skin, I need to do a full cleanse twice a day. I discovered this Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser by Krave and instantly loved it. I chose this brand because it was created by an O.G. YouTuber, Liah Yoo. I have the same skin type as her, and I’ve enjoyed this product. It’s super gentle and doesn’t make my skin feel stripped (even greasy gals don’t like our faces squeaky clean 😉 ). Also, it’s supposed to have antioxidant benefits from the matcha, although it can only do so much sitting on my face for 30 seconds. 

Moisturizer

Next, I go straight to moisturizing with Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Moisturizing Lotion. I’ve tried adding toners and serums in between, but I didn’t like the feeling of multiple products sitting on my face. This product is a no-frills, medium-thickness lotion that I’ve used for over a decade now. I tried many oil-free moisturizers and found they made my face even more oily, so I like having some oil in my moisturizer to help regulate sebum production. 

Sunscreen

I didn’t wear sunscreen for most of my life until I learned that SPF is the #1 aging-prevention measure. Since I can’t tolerate retinol, Vitamin C, or other anti-aging ingredients, sunscreen is my only anti-aging step.

Last year, I experimented with SO many sunscreens, and this one ended my search. If there’s one product I must recommend today, it’s Numbuzin No.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence. Numbuzin is a Korean skincare brand; discovering Asian sunscreens was a game changer as they truly are superior in their UV filter technology and formulations. This is such an outstanding product – it’s light and soothing, and it truly doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything at all! For the first time in my life, I look forward to the sunscreen step of my routine. I’m so glad I discovered this product and can’t recommend it enough. 

Lastly, make-up

• Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer: I’m pretty minimal with cover-up. I just use a little concealer on my chin to cover up acne, but otherwise, I like to leave my face bare and breathe.
• ColourPop Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Makeup Palette: I am OBSESSED with this brand. Their eyeshadows are so pretty, pigmented, and affordable. There truly isn’t anything better on the market, especially for the price. 
• Taboo World Onyx Black Taboo Liquid Eyeliner: This is by a lesser-known Indie brand, but it’s the only eyeliner I’ve found that doesn’t smudge and lasts all day on my oily skin. Shoutout to my sister for showing it to me. 🙂 
• Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: This cult favorite lives up to the hype. I rarely leave the house without it on. The glossy, plumping effect elevates every look. 

PM Routine 

1st Cleanse: Cleansing Balm

Last year, I learned about the “double cleansing” method used in Korean skincare. The “first cleanse” is with an oil-based cleanser to lift makeup and sunscreen. The second step is with a water-based cleanser to wash off the remaining debris. I was instantly intrigued and tried it out with Juno Clean 10 Cleansing Balm. 

OH, MY, GOD, you guys – this has been life-changing. Another tip I must recommend today is to start double cleansing! It’s the first time I can remove 100% of my makeup without those irritating cotton pads. I’ve tried a few cleansing balms, and they are all pretty similar, but I especially like this one by Juno because it only has 10 ingredients – great for my sensitive skin. It also smells amazing! I like to massage this on my face for a full minute, and I feel like I’m at a spa. 

2nd Cleanse: Krave Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser

Same as my morning one above. This step is crucial in a double cleanse as it gets off the oily balm and leaves my face feeling perfectly clean. 🙂

Acne treatment

While most of my routine is gentle, I am more aggressive when it comes to treating acne. All of these products can be bought over the counter. I’m not using prescription-strength products because I can’t tolerate retinol (which is the gentler version of creams prescribed for acne).

Side note: I’d love to hear if you’ve tried and failed with retinol like me. Retinol is marketed so hard in skincare, and you’re not alone if you can’t use it either!

• Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: I use a chemical exfoliant once a week. I chose BHA (aka salicylic acid) because it’s one of the most potent chemical exfoliants, popular for acne-prone skin. Surprisingly, I tolerate this well. I haven’t seen major improvements in my acne, but I do feel my skin is less dull and my nose pores are more clear.
• Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment: Then, I’ll go in with spot treatment. This is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream – I’ve tried 5% and 10% benzoyl peroxide and found it was too drying. I try to catch pimples right when they’re forming, and 1 in 5 times this actually reduces the pimple size in the morning. It’s a toss-up, but I’ll take it. 
• COSRX Pimple Patch: These have blown up in the skincare world, and I can totally see why. These patches are lined with hydrocolloid which helps drain pimples safely (you’re supposed to use them right when a pimple is about to pop). So once I know a pimple will have a life of its own, I’ll skip the benzoyl peroxide and put on a pimple patch. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the healing process – I’ve seen reduced scarring and hyperpigmentation compared to when a pimple pops naturally. These have been a holy grail product for me! 

Moisturizer: Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Moisturizing Lotion  

The last step of my nighttime routine is to seal everything with a moisturizer, same as above. 

Thanks for reading along. I hope you found this interesting & helpful!