Everyone I know around me is raining money on skincare products RN. Face serums, facial oils, boujee face creams, toners, vitamin C serums, under-eye creams, chemical facial peels and what not!
Since I have very problematic skin, I decided to update my skincare routine and spent a considerable amount of my salary on skincare items. And I would say that the results were definitely not what I had expected.
My New *Expensive* Skincare Routine
After watching multiple reviews on YouTube, consulting a few friends, taking rais from dermatologists and even talking to the attendants at the store, this is what my new skincare routine looked like.
- Washing my face using The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser
- Misting the Mario Badescu facial spray all over my face (it’s the best!)
- Following a strict CTM routine with Clinique 3-Step Introduction Kit Skin Type 3
- Using Pixi Glow Tonic (which didn’t do anything for me initially but now it’s a must-have)
- Sheet mask, twice a week
Verdict
My skin felt ‘new’ but not in a good way.
I followed this skincare regimen for two weeks and saw that my skin felt really dry, unable to identify the culprit, I decided to use more K-beauty products to hydrate my skin, I swapped the Clinique kit with the Face Shop Yehwadam Revitalizing Travel kit. It was definitely an update. My skin felt just like the old times and hydrated too but was there a massive change? Nope.
After almost five weeks of using and experimenting with these new additions, I noticed that I was getting random tiny red bumps all over and I lost my mind and that was it. I decided to stop completely.
Ditching My Expensive Products
Since my face was covered in painful red bumps, I decided to ditch all my products. I began washing my face using Clean and Clear Foaming Face wash, using a facial moisturizer and that’s it. To calm the red spots, I used fresh aloe leaf on my face every night and Best. Decision. Ever.
Spots? Gone!
Tiny bumps? History!
Acne? Never heard about her!
Would you believe that I’m not wearing any base in the photo below? Just some highlighter and super bright lipstick, of course!
The Verdict
Currently, I have the best skin I’ve had in years and it barely costs anything!
Just washing my face with a face wash, followed by using facial moisturizer and using fresh aloe made my face feel oh-soooo-good! My spots started to disappear, the skin is so soft to touch and it is glowing. I even added a few items from my ‘expensive’ skincare routine that I sometimes use but just these three steps and the difference was zameen-aasmaan!
My current skincare regimen looks something like this:
- Washing my face using either the Clean and Clear Face Wash
- Using L’Oreal Paris Skin Perfect 20+ Anti-Imperfections + Whitening Cream (this cream is da bomb. Even outs the skin tone instantly, controls the formation of oil, acts as the perfect base for foundation)
- Spraying my face using the Mario Badescu Spray (rosewater and herbs) or Dabur rosewater
- Using Pixi’s Glow Tonic
- Using Biotique Myristica Spot Correcting Anti Acne Face Pack every night before bed was the best decision ever. It instantly subdues my acne and it’s gone in the morning
- Sheet masks twice a week
Here’s what I’ve learned:
– Expensive does not mean that they’re the best available products in the market.
– Even if your skin feels similar to someone, the way those products work for them might not work the same for you.
– Know what products are working the best for you and never let them go.
– Do not trust everything you read on the internet.
PS: Before I forget, yes, I ALWAYS use SPF in my skincare routine (but I thought that was a given?).