Organic Skincare "Routine"

Notice the "routine?" Because it's really not a routine, haha. Routines are hard to keep up with. I try most days. And I miss some. And that's human. I am not gonna pretend like some makeup gurus on YT. Because they have summer, winter, fall - routines. And I am sorry, but I have a life that I like to keep SIMPLE.

Moving on. As I've mentioned before, I made the switch from expensive skincare to oils in 2014. As long as your oils are sourced correctly, and are 100% organic and cold-pressed, you are good to go.

Important: you have to treat oils like new skin care. You have to understand that not all oils may work for your skin type. I am only going to talk about what has worked for me (dry skin). That may not be suitable for you. However, without trial and error, you can't find out what will work for you.

I have been using Avocado Oil (on and off) for 2 years. If anyone is looking to try the oil cleanse method, I would highly recommend avocado oil. It is less tricky to use than coconut oil when it comes to facial moisturizers. It does not clog my pores.  In a nutshell, avocado oil has a substance called sterolin, which has shown to reduce the visibility of age spots. This product has singlehandedly helped heal my acne scars. It is rich in antioxidants and vitamins and also contains proteins and fats.

Caution: When testing a new oil, always use a small amount on a section of your face or neck. Monitor your skin for a day or so. If you develop any negative reactions, discontinue use. However, I don't think it will be the case for this oil for MOST people. In fact, I think most people will ENJOY the results from using this oil consistently at bed time. Use on freshly cleansed skin and do not apply anything else on top of the oil when testing.

The next best thing is Rosehip Seed Oil. I recently starting using 'The Ordinary' rosehip seed oil and it has tremendously changed the look of my dull skin. First of all, kudos to DECIEM for creating an amazing brand which I love and support so much. If you guys haven't heard of 'The Ordinary' - Abnormal Beauty Company, you need to check them out. They believe in catering high quality products at an affordable price. These are things we get ripped off at Sephora - for 3x the price.

The oil is available for $9.90 on the website for those who want to try. I use this oil as a serum. This is such a great product due to its high levels of linoleic acids and vitamin A. I actually like the smell and find it very soothing and rich. It absorbs quite quickly into the skin and my face feels much softer and silkier upon application. This oil is a little too heavy to apply under the eyes. Sometimes, I mix this in with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (the only moisturizer I am willing to spend money on!) and apply it as my bedtime skincare.

Last, but definitely not the least, I want to mention Grapeseed Oil. I started using it for my hair. For those who don't know, grapeseed oil is extracted from the seeds of wine grapes (typically). Just to mention, this oil is mostly extracted chemically. Therefore, the chemical extraction does have an impact on the flavor of the oil. A lot of cosmetic companies use grapeseed oil in their cosmetics whether it is lip calms, creams, sunblocks or hair serums. Mostly, every hair serum I have ever used contains grapeseed oil. In fact, I currently use the Redken Diamond Oil which primarily contains grapeseed oil. Due to its antioxidant properties, it can delay skin aging by minimizing the damage caused by free radicals. It's used in sunblocks because it can provide protection against sun damage. Like avocado oil, this also contains linoleic acid which can be beneficial for acne, dermatitis and eczema. I have dermatitis in my scalp, which is why I started using this oil. And I can feel that it is slowly decreasing. I have also used this oil as a massaging oil for my husband and he really liked it. It's absorbed by the body quite nicely and can be used on stretch marks and sun burns.

So, that is everything about oils for those who are just starting out. Moving onto my skincare now. I will post my AM and PM skincare below.

For those who don't know what the OIL CLEANSING METHOD is, please research and see whether it is for you. I abide by this method. I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Castor Oil for this method. These oils are NOT used in equal quantities. I would have to do an entire new post to explain the purpose of mixing 2 oils while also explaining their quantities. Let's skip it for this post.

AM Skincare	PM Skincare
Wash face a gentle cleanser – Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser	Wash face with either Oil Cleansing Method OR La Roche Posay (dermatologist recommended) Foaming Cleanser.
Day time moisturizers – I switch between 2. 1.       Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream OR 2.       Ren Global Protection Day Cream 3.       Sunblock – La Roche Posay SPF 30*	I use lukewarm water and a cotton hand-towel to remove everything off my face. While my face hasn’t completely dried, I heat up some avocado oil between the palms of my hands and pat it into the skin.
I also really like Eucerin. My doctor recommended it when I had adult acne. I still love it. It’s cheap and best. You can find it at Wal-Mart & Shoppers for $10-12.	On alternative days, when I want to switch things up (because, your skin gets used to products) – I will use Rosehip Seed Oil as a serum and then apply Lala Retro – Drunk Elephant Whipped Cream as a moisturizer ($75 at Sephora) Because this jar is so expensive, I use it only once or twice a week.
Note: I do NOT use eye creams. I use my moisturizer all over my face, which covers my eyes too.	Tip: try to slowly massage oils into your face massaging your cheekbones + jaw in an upwards direction.

Sorry if this was complicated. It's really not once it becomes a habit. I am so used to it and it takes me 5 minutes in the morning and perhaps, 10 minutes at night. A total of 15 minutes of your day is not a lot to protect and care for your skin. We actually tend to take lot longer to apply makeup than to keep our skin clean. That's why, I made it into a habit to go to bed with a clean face, no matter how tired I am.

For review, let's keep it simple. Daytime - wash your face with a mild cleanser + apply cream + SPF.
And at night, wash all your makeup off nicely + cleanse + apply oils/cream.
That's it. For those who already have a set nighttime routine can just add one of these oils to their current skincare to experiment. I promise, you will not regret it. And I would love to clarify things further if anyone has any questions! :)