Ugh...I forgot how boring and draining jury duty can be, but anywho...today's post is going to be about the tips and tricks that I introduced and incorporated into my skincare routine to help my skin recover from it's recent freakout in early January.
Some things to know about me before jumping in...
1. I HATE heavy, greasy, emollient, suffocating feeling products.
2. I, for whatever reason, have an immense love affair with toners, essences, and hybrid toner/essences. It's my most favorite step in my skincare routine. I buy more toners and essences than I do ampoules, serums, or creams. If I didn't consciously limit myself from buying ALL the toners and essences that I wanted I would be drowning in them.
3. If you've been reading my blog the last several months then you know that I've been dealing with some skin issues...I've been "breaking out" all over my face, neck and chest since fall/winter 2016. I put "breaking out" in quotes because what I consider a breakout might not be as much of a big deal to someone else, but for me and what my normal is I was "breaking out" badly. It had been coming and going for the past few months, the root and cause of which are still unknown, but it seems to have FINALLY subsided for good.
Some things to know about me before jumping in...
1. I HATE heavy, greasy, emollient, suffocating feeling products.
2. I, for whatever reason, have an immense love affair with toners, essences, and hybrid toner/essences. It's my most favorite step in my skincare routine. I buy more toners and essences than I do ampoules, serums, or creams. If I didn't consciously limit myself from buying ALL the toners and essences that I wanted I would be drowning in them.
3. If you've been reading my blog the last several months then you know that I've been dealing with some skin issues...I've been "breaking out" all over my face, neck and chest since fall/winter 2016. I put "breaking out" in quotes because what I consider a breakout might not be as much of a big deal to someone else, but for me and what my normal is I was "breaking out" badly. It had been coming and going for the past few months, the root and cause of which are still unknown, but it seems to have FINALLY subsided for good.
Now that we've got that out of the way, there are 3 major tips that I wanted to highlight and share that I feel really helped me and my skin to not only recover and get back to my "normal"...minus the left over acne scars, which will fade with time and the help of an awesome new essence that I've been trying, but actually get my skin into the best shape it's ever been in.
1. The Non-Cleanse Cleanse
I heard through the grapevine about how its unnecessary and a bit overkill to cleanse your face with a cleanser in the morning and after much thought I'm inclined to agree. The whole not cleansing in the morning thing...the more I thought about it the more it made sense to me.
Honestly, I don't know about you, but when I'm done with my day and have finished my evening skincare there's not much else that I do other than relax with some TV shows, read, surf the internet, or update the blog before I go to bed. I'm not out in the elements, I'm not sweating up a storm, nor do I have any makeup or sunscreen on my face, it's clean and pretty much stays that way, aside from my evening skincare, so I've started to skip using a cleanser in the morning because for me personally I feel it's unnecessary.
Instead I just rinse my face with water and then go in with my Son & Park Beauty Water on a textured cotton pad to freshen up in the morning, and I feel like that's enough. Cleansers are meant to remove, and if you ain't got nothing to remove (i.e. makeup, sunscreen, dirt and grime, etc.) then I agree that it makes sense to skip it. Of course this is just my opinion and speculation though. I am not a dermatologist or skin expert, but that is the conclusion that I have come to based on the things that I have been told and heard.
Always keep in mind though that everyone's skin is different, so what works for me may not work for you. For example, maybe if you're someone with very oily skin then you may want to stick to cleansing in the morning to get rid of the oil and sebum that may have built up overnight, or you like to go for a morning run before you do your morning skincare routine, etc. but for me this is something that seems to be working and I have noticed a difference in my face because of it.
2. The Towel Ban
We all know how bad towels are for our skin and our hair...especially when you use a towel to rub your face or your hair dry. To minimize that, most people probably use their towels to pat their face dry instead. I, however, have decided to skip the towel completely.
Instead, I simply use my hands to pat the leftover water into my face and let my skin absorb the moisture as if the leftover water were a toner or essence. It obviously takes a bit longer to dry, but I feel like it makes a HUGE difference and is so worth it. My face doesn't feel stripped or dry in the slightest afterwards, in fact it actually feels nicely hydrated...my face just drinks up the water and is left hydrated, soft and smooth even though I haven't put anything on my face yet.
I highly recommend giving this method a try. Out of all three tips that I'm sharing, if I had to pick my go to #1 recommendation, I would suggest this one. I will never go back to using a towel on my face again.
3. Layering
So I first started layering toners onto my face last year. If you read my review of Missha's Time Revolution Clear Toner: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/05/missha.html, then you know I've been layering toners for awhile now.
Since then I've gradually added more toners and essences to my routine because as I mentioned above, for whatever reason, I have an intense love affair with toners and essences and I'm constantly buying more to try and I'm too impatient to wait and finish a bottle before cracking open a new one...but at the same time I don't want to be wasteful and just let a product sit while I crack open a new product to try, so I've just been gradually adding to and layering a bunch of toners and essences on my face.
Then I heard about the latest skincare trend coming out of Korea called the "7 Skin Method" where you put 7 layers of toner on your face. After hearing about that I didn't feel so crazy and insane about layering so many toners and essences on my face because it's an actual thing apparently...although that method is a bit different from what I'm doing. The actual "7 Skin Method" is where you use one product, one toner that you really like and works for your skin and layering that one toner on 7 times. I, on the other hand, am using 8-9 different toners and essences to layer one of each onto my face not just the same one 7 times, so my method is slightly different...and slightly more than just the 7 layers.
Regardless of whether you go the traditional "7 Skin Method" route or deviate from it slightly like me and use several different products to layer on 7 times I think this is an awesome method to incorporate into your skincare routine. My skin ends up looking so plump and hydrated with the most beautiful healthy radiant lit from within glow and has definitely made a huge difference in the texture, brightness and moisture level of my skin.
To me, thinking about it logically, I would compare it to dressing for the cold/snow. I know I mentioned I'm from Hawaii, SoCal, and Vegas so you're probably thinking what the heck do I know about dressing for the cold? But I did spend 4 winters in Boston for college, so I have experienced the cold and snow, which I kind of miss sometimes, but back to the topic at hand, I akin this layering method to layering your clothes in the cold. It's better to put on multiple light layers of clothing vs. just putting one thick piece of clothing on. Several light layers will keep you warmer than one thick piece.
Same concept with the "7 Skin Method". It's an awesome lightweight way to really infuse your skin with moisture without the heaviness (which we all know I HATE) and I feel like it really does make a big difference. If you're someone with very dry skin you can just go in with a nice moisturizer or sleeping pack afterwards, or if you have oily skin I feel like this is sufficient enough and you can get away with just the 7 layers of toners/essences and not have to put on anything more...but again everyone's skin is different and what works for one person may not work for another, so keep that in mind and tailor your skincare to what works for you, but I have been loving the results of this layering method.
I love each product mentioned below and they are all great on their own, but layered together...these are even better and work as a powerhouse combo to really whip my face into shape. My skin has honestly never felt better or looked more healthy radiant and glow-y.
The toners and essences that are in my current lineup, that have been absolutely wonderful, are...
Enprani Dear By Moistfull Booskin
PURPOSE: Love this. I use this first to provide that first layer of moisture and really soften and prep my skin for the onslaught of skincare to follow. I feel like the unique texture really does a great job of prepping my skin to better absorb the products that will be layered on top of it.
OOLU Jasmine Moisture Liquid
PURPOSE: So amazing. As the name states, this is a very moisturizing liquid, and as the description states, I feel like it really does "condition skin so it reaches the optimum level of moisture and oil balance"...among the other things that it does.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2017/03/oolu-skincare.html
Deoproce Green Tea Total Solution Toner
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2017/03/oolu-skincare.html
Deoproce Green Tea Total Solution Toner
PURPOSE: Wasn't expecting much from this, but was pleasantly surprised. This does a great job of keeping my skin calm and soothed and keeping my redness at bay.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2017/01/deoproce-skincare.html
Huxley Extract It Toner
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2017/01/deoproce-skincare.html
Huxley Extract It Toner
Extract It Toner: https://amzn.to/2XA6cWd
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
PURPOSE: Another really great toner. This is also a very hydrating toner that adds another layer of moisture to my face and also helps to balance it.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/12/huxley-skincare.html
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/12/huxley-skincare.html
***If you want to go the traditional "7 Skin Method" of using one product and layering it 7 times, and just mainly want to focus on hydration, then I think this would be a great one to use***
Blithe Vital Treatment Essence - 9 Essential Seeds
PURPOSE: Awesome product that actually works and does what it's meant to do. I use this to brighten my face (aka even out my skin tone) and lighten the acne scars, and I feel like its been doing an excellent job of helping my scars to fade quicker than normal and even out my complexion to make it more noticeably bright and radiant.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2017/04/blithe-skincare.html
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2017/04/blithe-skincare.html
Manyo Factory Galactomyces Niacin Special Treatment Essence
https://amzn.to/2Y0NKkG
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
PURPOSE: If you've been reading my blog for awhile now then you know how much I love this stuff. It's a skin savior. I rarely repurchase skincare, but I have repurchased this, already have a backup of this, and plan to continue repurchasing this in the future.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/09/manyo-factory.html
***Another great product to use if you want to go the traditional "7 Skin Method" of using one product and layering it 7 times***
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/09/manyo-factory.html
***Another great product to use if you want to go the traditional "7 Skin Method" of using one product and layering it 7 times***
Manyo Factory Bifida Ferment Complex
https://amzn.to/2JV3TTM
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
PURPOSE: This is another AMAZING essence from Manyo Factory, which I use for skin regeneration and improved skin immunity. If it was still available I would definitely already have a back up and continue to repurchase this to continue to use alongside the above Galactomyces Essence as the two are a powerhouse combo, but sadly it is no longer on Memebox. While I did manage to find it on Amazon the price was ridiculous. It was like more than 2x the price I had paid for the bottle I have now. Next time I see it for a reasonable non-inflated price I will definitely be stocking up on a ton of these.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/09/manyo-factory.html
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/09/manyo-factory.html
Nooni's Deep Water Therapy Dual Moisturizing Toner
https://amzn.to/2XTk353
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.***
PURPOSE: Love this even more than the other two Nooni toners that I liked. Great way for me to incorporate an "oil" into my routine without feeling greasy. This immediately sinks into the skin and does a great job of providing another layer of moisture to my skin and helping to keep it balanced.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/04/nooni.html
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/04/nooni.html
PURPOSE: Another awesome product. I only use this in the evenings though to provide that final layer of moisture and really lock all the previous layers in. It's an awesome multi-tasking product to cap off the multiple layers of toners and essences that I've put on.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/10/goodal-skincare.html.
I know...that's a lot of product and a lot of layers. You obviously don't have to go as crazy as I did, but this is what's been really working for me. What's sad though is that I still have so many more toners and essences on standby waiting to be tried and tested...but I feel like the 8-9 layers that I have going on right now is more than enough, so I just stare at them longingly. I told you...I have a weird immense love affair with toners/essences and while I absolutely love my current lineup as it's doing such amazing wonderful things for my skin...a part of me can't wait to finish off these bottles so I can crack into some new ones.
Anywho, that's it for now. I hope I didn't come off as too much of a crazy person and that you found this post helpful. Until next time...bye!
FTC disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links.
Full review can be found here: https://ahnspired.blogspot.com/2016/10/goodal-skincare.html.
I know...that's a lot of product and a lot of layers. You obviously don't have to go as crazy as I did, but this is what's been really working for me. What's sad though is that I still have so many more toners and essences on standby waiting to be tried and tested...but I feel like the 8-9 layers that I have going on right now is more than enough, so I just stare at them longingly. I told you...I have a weird immense love affair with toners/essences and while I absolutely love my current lineup as it's doing such amazing wonderful things for my skin...a part of me can't wait to finish off these bottles so I can crack into some new ones.
Anywho, that's it for now. I hope I didn't come off as too much of a crazy person and that you found this post helpful. Until next time...bye!
FTC disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links.
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