One Step.

If you're anything like me and tend to get lazy once in a while (at the least) when it comes to washing your face at night, you need something simple. Besides micellar water or face wipes, these 4 facial cleansers shown below tend to work great as a one step process. If I don't feel like going in with my regimen, I'll literally just use one of these cleansers to remove my makeup and generally cleanse and tone my oily/combo skin.

From left to right:
CocoKind Organic Facial Cleansing Oil
• This feels a little heavier on my face, which I don't mind in the winter. After I use this to cleanse my face, my skin feels thoroughly moisturized and almost like I applied a face oil/serum to my skin, so I end up skipping my moisturizer. You can probably skip a moisturizer if you have combo/dry skin as well when using this. I also like that it's all natural. 

Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser
• The foamy texture of this cleanser feels really refreshing and it smells really good. It has a sweet orange/candyish scent, which I really enjoy. My skin feels very smooth after I use this. In the summer, I can actually skip my moisturizer, but in the winter it's moisturizing enough for me to use just a lightweight one.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
• This is actually one of my all-year round favorites. I can literally use it any time of year and it will still keep my skin super clean yet super moisturized. It melts my makeup right off and gently cleanses my skin. I can usually skip a moisturizer if I'm too lazy and my skin is just fine. 
Also, get 20% off + free shipping on this product by clicking here or the link above.

Belif Creamy Cleansing Foam Moist
• A little goes a long way with this cleanser. All I need is a pea size amount and it foams up perfectly. It's very moisturizing and I've only used it in the winter so far and can admit that it's sufficient to skip a moisturizer if you have oily/combo skin. Also, it's Korea's #1 skincare brand and I totally have to agree--it's definitely one of the better Korean skincare brands I've tried. 

There you have it--one step cleansers for when you're too tired. 

Getting Even

Over the last year, I’ve been actively trying to find different skin care products that will help even my skin tone and lighten my acne scars. I’ve gone through dozens of serums (in addition to all the cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and masks) and these are the ones that are currently working for me. I use 2 in the morning and 2 at night before I apply my moisturizer. Check ‘em out...

These are my winners. 

This one from Klurskin (Ultra Bright Hyaluronic + Vitamin C Serum) is actually one of my first serums ever. It's perfect for everyday--I use this one in the morning after/on top of my Glossier one, but before my moisturizer. This really lightened my dark marks on my forehead and cheeks.

This Glossier Super Glow serum is super lightweight--has the same texture as water. I use this one in the morning after I cleanse, but before my Klurskin serum. Sometimes I use this at night as well. I noticed it dramatically lightened slight dark circles under my eyes. 

I bought this 111 SKIN Celestial Black Diamond contour gel/serum from Space NK and I initially got it because the salesperson said I had frown lines and that this would help, but it also helps even skin tone because of the retinol and other things in it and depuffs my eyes. I keep the applicator in the fridge, so that I can apply it to depuff my eyes. It was super expensive, but it honestly makes my face look and feel like a dream. I use it at night before I put on the Darphin face oil. 

This is more of a face oil, but I still consider it a serum. This Darphin Niaouli Aromatic Care oil is sooooo soothing. I put it on at night after the 111 SKIN serum. It feels and smells really good. I noticed it actually cleared up my skin while keeping it moisturized. It has a slight tingling/menthol-ish feeling too, which I love. 

Even though black don't crack, I still feel like I needed something more to keep my skin as vibrant as it was in my early 20s (as I approach my 30s). I think my regimen is working. My skin is getting clearer and more even-toned as I age and I think it's with great help of the wonderful skincare products I keep stumbling upon. I encourage everyone to really get in the habit of good skincare--you'll thank yourself 10 years from now.

Face time

Soooo I've had quite a few people ask me about my skincare regimen lately and first of all, thank you--I'm flattered, but also, I spend a good amount of time trying to keep my skin healthy, so if it still looked shitty, I'd be really concerned. One of the main things I'm still struggling with when it comes to my face are the dark spots from former pimples--I have exactly 2.5 on my forehead, one above my lip, and one on each cheek and one dot on my nose...all of which are fading--thank God!

The first step in taking care of your skin is to make sure you're hydrated inside and out along with using decent products. I'm not blessed with perfect genes to have perfect skin, so if you're anything like me, you'll have to work a little harder just as I do to keep things smooth and even toned. For starters, DRINK WATER--a glass of hot water with lemon is good when you first wake up and a glass of room temp water before bed is great. 

Next, make sure you are removing your makeup before you go to bed (or once you get home) and if you don't wear makeup, make sure you're washing your face and moisturizing before bed--keep your face clean. When I run out of Simple's Micellar Water Wipes, I use Origins Clean Energy cleansing oil to remove makeup--sometimes I use it in the morning too as my face cleanser. Then I use Glossier's Mega Greens Galaxy Pack  face mask (about 2-3 times a week). Other times, I'll use those Tony Moly sheet masks--I've tried them all, but I particularly like the tea tree and the rice ones. After that, I'll apply the Darphin Aromatic Purifying Balm (every other night--not everyday) and gently pat on the Amaki Jasmine & Rose Nourishing Oil. If I have a pimple, I'll put Uncle Harry's Hemp Blemish Salve on it. That's it for nighttime. Also, once I save up my coins, I'll buy the Folie's Prickly Pear Face Serum because that thing works wonders--I've tried the sample and I'm obsessed. My other next purchase is going to be the Klurskin Hyaluronic + Vitamin C Serum because I know that thing also works wonders.

In the morning, I wash my face with Skinfood by AB's Charcoal Cleansing Bar and then I'll apply the Amaki oil (very lightly) along with Klurkin's Rosemary & Willow Oil Control Serum and Glossier's Balm Dotcom and then I'll wait a few minutes and begin applying makeup. That's it for morning/daytime. My next purchase will be Little Barn Apothecary's Rosewater Face Toning Mist.