What better way to start a skincare website than to start off by sharing my current NIGHT routine! ☽
Before I go any further, I just want to introduce myself.
I’m Kathlyn Sanga and I’ve been into skincare since high school. For me, getting to know your own skin and how to treat your skin condition is an empowering, uplifting experience. It makes you feel that somehow, you’re in control. Growing up, I am blessed to say that I didn’t have any major struggles with my skin except for one or two hormonal acnes that appear during the time of the month but sadly, they never leave unnoticed even if I just let it pop naturally. So for a long time, I’ve been dealing with acne scars but they’d always fade through time and they’re expedited through the products I’ve discovered. I go for products that fit my oily-combination skin. I’m mostly oily on my t-zone area and normal on the rest.
This is a thorough explanation of my CURRENT night routine products so hopefully, you don’t get overwhelmed with the information. I have a more detailed night routine because it’s when we sleep that we let the products completely absorb. Like our brain, it’s when we sleep that our skin regenerates and repairs any damage. Basically, it’s the skincare version of cake-ing foundation. Don’t worry, my day routine is significantly shorter. 🙂
1st step: Make-Up Removers & Cleansers
Lush’s 9 to 5 cleanser ($10.95)
Why I love it: I use it as my make-up remover when I don’t put mascara on. It’s very lightweight yet adds hydration to the skin. It’s great with my combination skin and I like that it has a hint of almond scent into it. It’s not good with taking mascara off, so you might want to try a different kind of make-up remover for that.
How I use it: I use this cleanser as a make-up remover so it’s my FIRST step in double cleansing. I massage into my skin until all the make-up’s dissolved (sometimes during watching shows in Netflix) then I wipe the mixture off with a clean cloth/ tissue and then immediately apply my second step cleanser.
Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser ($18.00)
Why I love it: I’m a Glossier fan. I really am! Ever since I read their mission statement, I was completely hooked with the brand. Of course I don’t let my love for the brand blur my judgment if it’s a good product or not but I have to say The Milky Jelly Cleanser works well for my skin. It’s so effective in keeping my skin clean and refreshed. It has a gooey texture upon application but it works in thoroughly cleansing my face. As a make-up remover, it’s not as strong as its claim to remove make-up but it does the job in cleaning your face post make-up removal. It gives me that after cleanse blush and I love that it does that effect on my combination skin.
How I use it: I use it as a second step cleanser when I double cleanse at night. I press the pump once and apply it to my foreo luna mini and just let the foreo do its job for a minute! Then I rinse it off water. My face looks plump and hydrated after!
Skin Laundry’s Salicylic Facial Wash ($25.00)
Why I love it: It’s a foam cleanser that doesn’t leave my face too dry after rinsing considering the fact that its main ingredient is salicylic acid. I use this face wash with the whole duration of my PMS (lol). I love it because it does not contain the scary ingredients most acne washes have (cue in sodium laurel sulfate, mineral oils, parabens, and alcohol). Ingredients are minimal and effective. I haven’t had any breaks since so that’s a good sign. It’s a great facial wash (At least for me!). P.S. Skin Laundry is actually a laser clinic! Check out their website.
How I use it: It’s a foaming face wash (FYI). I press the pump once and apply it to my foreo luna mini and just let the foreo do its job for a minute! Then I rinse it off water. My face tends to look mattified after and so I immediately apply my toner.
2nd Step: Toners
L’occitane’s Shea Butter Gentle Toner ($24.00)
Why I love it: This product is a diamond in the rough. I’ve been using this product since last year. I found out about this toner by accident when I was strolling around YVR (Canada) airport on my way back to San Diego and it’s the best purchase I’ve made. I’ve tried a couple of different toners after consuming my first bottle (Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner, Pixi Glow Tonic) but I found myself repurchasing and going back to this holy grail because it just gives your skin a different glow right after using it! It’s the only toner I’ve tried that not only cleanses the excess dirt off but also keeps the moisture and balance of my skin without stripping the excess oil. It’s perfect for my combination skin. Also, I noticed that it works harmoniously with all the other products I apply. If there’s one STAPLE product in my top shelf, this will have to be it.
How I use it: I put two pumps on a cotton pad and wipe the cotton pad on my face with upward motion.
3rd Step: Exfoliators
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid exfoliant ($29.00)
Why I love it: This product is the real MVP when it comes to keeping my skin toned & free from blemishes. It’s a gentle exfoliant (yes, so gentle that you can use it everyday) that claims to improves skin’s texture for radiant, even-toned skin. This exfoliant is best suited for people with oily, acne-prone skin and for treating blackheads and whiteheads (a skin condition I currently have as of the moment).
It’s a non-abrasive exfoliant that optimizes skin renewal with every wipe and it has salicylic acid in it, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), that seeps in deeper into your skin. This BHA exfoliant is not to be confused with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). {Don’t worry, I’ll have a separate article defining and comparing the two}. I always have the best glowing skin every night and when I wake up whenever I use this product!
How I use it: I alternate my exfoliants every night since I use both AHA and BHA. Using both is NOT necessary, it’s more of a preference, and I’ll explain in my next articles. I use this exfoliant 3x a week (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) and only during the night. I use it after my cleanser and toner, and before applying serum, eye serum and moisturizer (aka all that good stuff)
The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% ($6.79)
Why I love it: Ever since discovering The Ordinary products from Gothamista, my favorite youtuber and skin care expert, I got drawn into trying my first AHA product with them. This product is a pure lactic acid mixed with hyaluronic acid so it exfoliates and hydrates the skin at the same time. AHA is actually intended for people with dry skin since it only targets the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). Ever since using it, I see a nice glow to my face every morning. It does cause a slight peel to my face but it’s barely noticeable.
How I use it: I alternate my exfoliants every night since I use both AHA and BHA. Using both is NOT necessary, it’s more of a preference, and I’ll explain in my next articles. I use this exfoliant 2x a week (Tuesdays & Thursdays) and only during the night. I use it after my cleanser and toner, and before applying serum, eye serum and moisturizer (aka all that good stuff)
4th Step: Serums
The Ordinary’s Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
Why I love it: I’m not sure if you guys remember me posting on my IG stories looking for healthier/safer alternatives to hydroquinone (a chemical known to fade acne scars effectively but it has toxic components in it) and I’m so happy to say that I’ve found the perfect alternative! This serum helped so much in fading my acne scars. Alpha Arbutin mixed with hyaluronic acid heals your skin without making it lose its moisture so it’s a win-win situation.
How I use it: I use this serum as a spot treatment. It’s in a dropper type of bottle so I just squeeze a small amount on the areas of discoloration.
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Why I love it: I wanted to try this since it’s a cheaper alternative to Glossier’s Super Pure serum (The Supers were my first ever serum set). There have been comparisons between these two products so I wanted to try it myself to see which is more effective. Both have the same ingredients however, I noticed that The Ordinary’s niacinamide was more effective in preventing breakouts in my skin while The Super Pure was better in calming redness. I remember still having breakouts even if I was using The Super Pure constantly but it did a great job in calming my skin down. I guess it goes down with the formulation of the active ingredients in the product. The Ordinary’s N + Z actually has more antimicrobial ingredients in it (making it a good choice for preventing breakouts) while The Super pure has more skin conditioning ingredients in it (making it a good choice for post breakout remedy). So It’s all based on preference! As for me, I love this since it’s great in preventing breakouts. Once I apply this on my skin when I notice an onset of acne, the next day, the redness disappears. Definitely like magic.
How I use it: I use this serum every night, after applying alpha arbutin onto my acne scars. I put two drops in my palm and rub it then pat my palms into the skin so the serum can seep into my skin.
5th Step: Moisturizer
The Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
Why I love it: I’ve been using this product for 3 years now since I discovered the great benefits of this antioxidant oil. This product contains 100% Argan oil, nothing else. I use it as my main moisturizer at night during the summer but during winter, I use it to seal Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer into my skin. To be honest, I was hesitant in adding pure oil into my skin since I was afraid it’ll make my face greasy and look more oily but ever since having this, I proved myself wrong. It absorbs quickly into the skin and does not leave an oily residue. True and pure argan oils do that, so beware of dupes! One more thing I love about this product is that it’s proven to reduce sebum levels in people with oily skin! Additionally, it has 0 as its comedogenic rating so this product is a proven non-comodegenic, non-irritating and non-greasy product. The fact that it has a high vitamin E and fatty acid content makes it a perfect skin booster and all around product. It’s actually not just for the face, it’s for your hair and body too! So If you’re thinking into switching oil as a moisturizer, this is the perfect product to choose. It’s quite pricey but I think it is worth the price.
How I use it: I apply a drop (you only need a maximum of two drops) into my palms and rub it to warm. I then press my palms firmly onto my face. Note that I don’t rub them instead I tap my palms onto my cheeks, forehead then neck so my face absorbs the oil and it can go deeper into the skin.
So there you have it. I want to congratulate you for reaching this paragraph because I think I’ve said so much (lol). For those who have the same skin type, you might want to consider looking into these products for yourself! Then again, every skin type is different so what works for me might not necessarily work for you. Just get to know your own skin and you’ll eventually find the perfect routine for yourself.
If you do have any questions, feel free to comment down below! I’ll be more than willing to help. Stay tuned for my next posts and welcome to my blog!
♡,
Kath