Daytime Skincare Regime (Ver.2012)

I'm beginning a new skincare regime this year. I shall post the results of this regime after two month of use. I try to go for low to medium cost products, so no hundred dollar night cream for this broke college student. The only splurge item I own would have to be the Clarisonic, but I consider it an investment on my part since I expect it to last several years.

Before I describe my routine, a bit of background about my skin. I am in my early 20s, have oily/combination, acne-prone skin. I breakout easily from poor quality products that will irritate my skin so I'm constantly on the look for something cheap and effective!

For part 2 of my "Skincare Regime" series, which has my night routine, please see here.

***Morning Routine***

Step 1: WASH

I will be using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash from The Body Shop along with my pink Clarisonic Plus. It is suited for Blemished Skin and is designed to remove impurities. It does not foam, which makes it a good complement to my Clarisonic Plus. This cleanser got really good reviews online and I had used it before a couple of years ago, so I decided to give it a shot once again. Plus, it's pretty affordable-- $11 for a big 8.4 fl oz bottle.

Rating: TBA


I really love my Clarisonic Plus and do feel that it is worth the hefty price tag. It is very well made, comes with a standing charge cradle, and is waterproof. It really does leave your face squeaky clean. The only con to the brush would have to be the expensive brush replacements that are recommended every 3 months. (Tip: If you clean your brush daily after use, and weekly with a bit of Hydrogen Peroxide, you can make it last up to 4 months). For the Clarisonic, I use it with the Acne Cleansing Brush HeadThis is not available online via the Clarisonic store, but you can get it from spa stores, or from eBay for around $17 each. The brush itself comes in a set for $225, but I got it off eBay for around $160. So yep, shop around for the best deal!

Rating: 4/5

Step 2: TONE


I will be using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner from The Body Shop. This is part of the Tea Tree set I purchased, and is supposed to clear away any remaining cleanser residue and impurities from my skin. There is also ingredients in the toner to help with oil control. For toners in general, I just put a bit on a cotton pad and wipe away, focusing on areas that are most likely to have leftover residue (sides of nose, jawline, under the lips, etc.). It also got really good reviews online. A big 8.4 fl oz bottle goes for $11, and should last a long time.

Rating: TBA

Step 3: ENERGIZE

*This step is optional* After I tone, I use a light serum in the mornings to "recharge" my skin to keep it from looking dull and fortify it with a dose of vitamins. I really enjoy Vitamin C-based serums, so I recommend using one of those. The one I currently use is called Carrot + C Vitamin Serum from 40 carrots. This one contains Vitamin A and C, which are antioxidants and also have anti-aging properties. The only cons are the hard to control pump and the runny consistency of the product. This product is rather hard to find in physical stores, and even online, and goes for about $15. I am almost out of this, so I will be on the hunt for a new serum or re-purchase this.

Rating: 4.5/5

Step 4: Moisturize and Heal

This is the "treatment" part of the routine. I use the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion from the Body Shop, which provides light hydration, shine control, and has blemish healing properties. It also has very high reviews online and is available for $13 for 1.69 fl oz.

Rating: TBA



Step 5: PROTECT


Almost done! This is the second to last step. I use a SPF moisturizer to protect my face from the sun's UVA/UVB rays. This does not have to be too fancy of a product, I use a very basic moisturizer here: Olay Complete All day UV moisturizer with SPF 15 from Olay. Using an SPF before going out is super important because it is the best thing one can do to prevent wrinkles according to like, a hundred different articles. I like this one because it came in such a big bottle and lasts *forever*. You can find this in most drugstores for about $9. However, I accidentally bought the one for Normal skin when I should have gotten the Oily/Combination skin one. Oops. It left my skin very shiny after a while, hence the rating. I will be switching moisturizers when this one runs out...

Rating: 3/5

Step 6: MATTIFY

I tend to get oily throughout the day and whatnot, so as a finishing step I use some light mineral powder. I do not wear foundation most of the time, and when I do, it's usually just BB cream or a light tinted moisturizer, never full blown foundation since I dislike that stuff. But anyways, I use a bit of powder after my moisturizer and also midday for shine control. Right now I am using the new bareMinerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil in Translucent from Bare Essentuals. It's a bit pricier than an average powder but it is currently one of my favorite products. It has all the benefits of a Bare Minerals powder but in a compact that is way less messy. This does not irritate my skin, controls shine, and looks completely natural. The minor con would be the slight seaweed-ish smell, but it goes away quickly. You can get it for $22 at a Sephora or any store that sells Bare Minerals products.

Rating: 5/5