2020 Clean Skincare Routine
Clean skincare lovers rejoice! I have the goods for the best moisturizing and plumping skin care regime you’re going to l o v e! All products and brands listed are ones I’ve personally used for approximately 6 months to 2 years! But before we dive into my picks, let’s first dissect: what it means when products claim to be *clean beauty.*
What is clean beauty?
So there is a ton of misinformation floating around online when it comes to how cosmetics are formulated. Ingredients on boxes can be a flat out lie, claiming “organic,” “natural,” or “green,” which is nice in theory, but don’t always equate to the products being non-toxic. In fact, even some fragrance in cosmetics is a loophole to hide toxic ingredients! Since the FDA does not regulate or define claims often used in greenwashed products, it leaves consumers with trust issues. True clean beauty means a product label is transparent; labeling ingredients that are safe and non-toxic.
But don’t fret, switching to clean beauty products is easier than you think. It doesn’t have to be an overnight transition, and you might make some mistakes along the way. I definitely did. You can’t let perfection be the end all be all of progress. For me, I focused on products I used most regularly, like skin and haircare, because I don’t want icky toxic chemicals seeping into my pores.
Start by doing your research. By combing through trusted websites like EWG, The Good Face Project, Credo Beauty, etc.. you can find a lot of effective and clean beauty brands!
Now the *pièce de résistance*, my personal daily and nightly skincare regime.
Daily
Some days I simply splash my face with water, pat dry, and add sunblock. That’s it. Sorry to be so plain but it’s quite revolutionary IMO.
However, if I am feeling fancy, in between rinsing my face and patting dry, I like to mist + gently pat-in this amazing rose toner by cocokind and then rotate a serum of the day (like cocokind’s watermelon hemp oil or Farmacy’s very cherry bright vitamin c serum) to hydrate or brighten before finishing again, with sunblock. Right now I am using one by Naturally Serious and loving it!
Nightly
Ok this one is longer-- and for good reason! Nightly regime means cleaning out pores from a day of activity, tackling problem skin issues, and lastly, meant to be used as an overnight treatment as you sleep, in order to restore, preserve balance and improve your skin!
I typically go in with a gentle, oil-based pre-cleanser, then follow up with a water based cleanser in order to remove both makeup and dirt. Double cleansing is super effective in order to bring out 1. oil-based impurities such as sebum, makeup, and the day’s sunscreen and 2. water-based impurities such as dirt and sweat. I like both Farmacy’s melting balm -- which starts off as a solid balm but turns into an oil consistency, as well as local business, Anita B Spa’s fresh start cleanser -- which is packed with natural essential oils that starts off as a gel and end up a silky oil emulsion, helping tackle and remove product debris. After choosing my pre-cleanser, I end my double cleanse with either Peet Rivko's very gentle plant-based cleanser or Drunk Elephant’s jelly cleanser.
Next, an exfoliator is a great option when you want to brighten the appearance of dull skin. I like Naturally Serious for their “Get Even Cold-Pressed Peel Pads,” which no pun intended, naturally exfoliate the skin. Another great exfoliator, that’s a serum too(!), that also greatly improves my skin’s texture is Farmacy’s Honeymoon Glow -- packed with AHA resurfacing night serum with “hydrating honey and gentle flower acids.” Massaging these bad boys in help to ensure baby soft skin and glow!
Toner is not only important in the day, but at night too. So my cocokind Rose Toner gets a lot of love. Toner helps to balance skin’s pH levels thus restoring skin’s defense, as well as helps to lift any leftover cleanser on the skin.
Essence is next and is the love child between a toner and a serum. Essence is not always a necessary step, but if you’re like me and need a more even skin tone, considering essence is a good call. It’s lightweight, full of a shit ton of active ingredients to help fight aging, hydration, and again, helps to balance out that pH. I use cocokind’s Glow Essence with Sea Grape Caviar!
Then naturally, serum. The most hydrating one I’ve used is the honey grail serum by Farmacy.
This is another bonus but any specialized product treatments can be added here. I do not do this every day, only on days where my skin needs a little more love, so I go ham and go for it. Examples include ultra hydrating serums (for me) or treat other skin conditions like acne, dark marks, or hyperpigmentation.
Two other steps I consider optional unless you’re older or want to prep your skin while you’re young is the regular use of sheet masks and nightly eye cream. I am using innisfree sheet masks a friend gifted me for my birthday and liking them so far! If you don’t like sheet masks, try cream masks, like Summer Friday’s Jetlag Mask. I’m also loving cocokind’s new revitalizing eye cream with a dope applicator that leaves a cooling sensation under the eyes.
Lastly, moisturize. If you have normal to oily skin, use Peet Rivko’s moisturizer; it’s thin and easy to absorb. For normal to dry skin types (like me), I use Farmacy’s Better Daze Ahead CBD Moisturizer. “A silky-soft and restorative moisturizer infused with non-psychoactive, hemp-derived CBD oil + adaptogens to help balance dry, distressed skin.” This guy needs to be purchased off a secondary Farmacy site because of the nature of the ingredients, i.e. cbd. Let me know if you want a wellness review on my favorite cbd products, too.
Note: I have been using all these products consistently for months to a year and believe in every single one! Some I’ve purchased, some are gifted, and only with Cocokind do I make a small commission on if you use the link below.* Happy Shopping!
Anita B Spa, Cocokind*, Drunk Elephant, Farmacy, Innisfree, Naturally Serious, Peet Rivko and Summer Friday’s.
I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a message at msnerriss@gmail.com to let me know what you think about clean beauty or to ask any questions.