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1. First and foremost, it's time to give your medicine cabinet a thorough scouring — and by that we mean tossing any and all products that may have (*ahem* definitely have) expired. It's absolutely possible you're slathering your complexion with a vitamin C serum that should have met its maker last year.
2. Consider using a retinoid formula, a fancy ingredient that promotes cell turnover to reveal a new layer of skin and swoop deep into your pores. This Differin Adapalene Gel acne treatment is *the* strongest thing you can purchase without a prescription and helps penetrate that painful zit at its root!
3. Before shopping for any new products, take a quick skin-identity quiz to determine whether your skin is actually dry or just dehydrated (there's a difference). Questions regarding everything from stress levels to daily routine will allow you to more accurately pin down your skin type and, as a result, the most beneficial routine.
4. Sheet masks are an affordable luxury that your complexion deserves. There's only one problem = they never remain in place, which means your skin isn't properly reaping in alllll those hydrating benefits. Try a reusable silicone holder so that nothing slips off at the slightest hint of movement.
5. Small changes often have the *biggest* impact when it comes to managing breakouts. Acne-causing bacteria loves to rest on your pillowcase, cell phone, and towel — so while I know that laundry day is a dreaded occasion, prioritize cleaning and swapping surfaces that your face comes in contact with every day.
6. Enlist the help of benzoyl peroxide for giving acne the boot! Reviewers and TikTokers swear that this PanOxyl acne foaming wash, which contains a whopping 10% of said trusty ingredient, is truly worth the hype despite it's affordable price tag.
7. Learning when to apply what is the 🔑 to skincare success because it effects the performance of each product. For example, applying eye cream *after* your moisturizer will decrease the effectiveness of the eye cream. So in conclusion: Study the below order. Memorize the below order. Live by the below order.
8. Prevent picking and ~drain~ those zits at maximum speed by slapping on a Hero Cosmetics Hydrocolloid mighty patch. In addition to the fact that they just truly work, these transparent stickers also won't leave behind any residue on your pillow (unlike traditional goopy spot treatments).
9. Or! Use Hero Cosmetics might patch surface strips to treat cluster breakouts (cc: that special time of the month in which your jawline is shown no mercy) with the same medical-grade hydrocolloid formula featured above. All you'll have to do is peel and stick.
10. Exfoliate sensitive skin two to three times a week cc: gentle ingredients like papaya and pineapple enzymes, which can be found in this Bliss jelly peel exfoliator. This gently sloughs away dead skin cells to reveal a canvas smoother than any baby's bottom, so talk about leaving only the good stuff ~behind~, eh?
11. Use Vaseline if you're tired of waking up to yesterday's makeup smeared all over your pillowcase. This tub of tried-and-true petroleum jelly is here to get rid of all the mascara (even the waterproof kind) that your cleanser left behind.
12. Address chapped lips once and for all by slathering on an overnight mask pre-slumber. This I Dew Care balm is particularly lovely because it contains shea butter, cocoa butter, hibiscus flower extract, and vitamin C, that way you'll be hitting snoozed with a truly nourished pout. No flakes. Ever again.
13. Combat scarring and cystic acne indentations by incorporating a micro needle roller into the mix. This specific model is more affordable than other rollers on the market (we’re talking an $80 difference) but equally as effective. #bless
14. Add ~essence~ to your nighttime routine; it's a simple way to take dull, tired skin and lead it greener pastures (*insert idyllic farm image here*). Patting on this Cosrx Galactomyces 95 tone balancing essence pre-moisturizer gives your complexion a combo of hyaluronic acid and panthenol, both of which provide ultimate hydration but manage to absorbs quickly! No grease. No stick.
15. If you have a dry-to-normal complexion, opt for face washes that won't strip your skin of moisture. The La Roche-Posay Toleriane hydrating cleanser is a wonderful recco because it manages to pick up makeup and impurities while maintaining your natural pH balance, aka you won't be scooping out pounds of cream due to your complexion feeling parched.
16. Lull yourself to sleep with Diva Stuff anti-bacterial pillow mist — it's got a divine lavender scent and, get this, a few spritzes will obliterate the acne-causing bacteria that's built up on your bedding. Because while we know we should switch our pillow cases more often... come on, who has the time? Certainly not I.*
17. I know, I know, you've already heard it a million times: drink eight glasses of water a day. But let's make it a million and one: HYDRATE. Making sure you consume enough H20 will brighten up your complexion and increase your skin's elasticity.
18. ...and here are four delicious fruit-infused water recipes if guzzling down H20 feels like an annoying chore. I'm pretty sure that adding grapefruit and mint to a mason jar has a 100% chance of making you feel like the fanciest person in the entire Milky Way.
19. If you've read up on the benefits of ACV but detest the taste, I get it. Add a bottle of The Inkey List apple cider vinegar peel to your skincare routine instead: it's got10% glycolic acid and fruit enzymes, which gently reduce redness and dark spots to reveal a glowing complexion.
20. Vacuum up stubborn gunk that has so rudely decided to take residence on your nose with Lift Off pore strips. These remove built-up dirt and oil with one satisfying pull, plus a soothing aloe vera extract means it's *especially* gentle on your skin and not nearly as abrasive as [insert competitor strips here].
21. Provide your peepers with peptides and hyaluronic acid, two ingredients that banish dark circles and fine lines to the pits of heck. Luxe eye creams usually cost around a trillion dollars, but this e.l.f. Cosmetics hydrating eye cream is considered a holy grail and will run you ~$10. Yes, you have just struck gold.
22. That delightfully fruity body lotion smells divine, but the harsh ingredients *may* be contributing to the pesky devil known as bacne. Try out the hyped CeraVe moisturizing lotion instead — it's free of irritating fragrances and oils *and* suitable for face and body, so you can feel confident knowing your skin won't react with every slather. More than 20,000 (!!!!) reviewers swear by this formula for moisturizing their sensitive skin...no redness, no breakouts.
23. If you want subtle coverage but don't want to aggravate breakouts with heavy foundation, apply a pea-sized amount of Glossier Skin Tint. This bb effectively blurs pores and covers redness yet remains ultra breathable — and yet it's super lightweight, giving your pores a chance to breathe and recover.
24. Do a little digging (or simply reference the below chart) to figure out which oil is best suited for your skincare concerns: For example, chamomile oil reduces puffiness, tea tree oil curbs acne, and marula oil is a great moisturizing agent. Knowledge = power.
25. On an extra tight budget? Make like a high school sleepover and DIY your own face mask using stuff that's already in your kitchen. Be sure to focus on formulas that tackle your specific skin concerns: For example, canned pumpkin + brown sugar + vitamin E oil = great for soothing red, blotchy skin.
26. Warding off body breakouts can be difficult, especially when said areas are hard to reach (cc: that patch of skin in the middle of my back). This Paula's Choice CLEAR acne spray contains an innovative formula that enlists 2% salicylic acid to tackle the pimples that have so rudely taken residence on your back, chest, and butt — plus the spray applicator means you don't have to be a contortionist to use it.
27. Combine 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of walnut oil, 5 drops of vanilla essential oil, and one-half cup of dried rose petals. Mix it all up! Store it in a jar with a seal-tight lid! And voila! You've got yourself a fancy body scrub. *contemplates opening an Etsy shop*
28. If you're looking to add gently exfoliation to your daily, add this cleanser via a Grace & Stella spin brush to cart. This waterproof, rechargeable brush ~spins~ away dead skin cells and removes all the built-up gunk trapped in your pores — the kind you wouldn't be able to get rid of with just your hands.
29. Combat dryness, redness, and irritation with Thayer's alcohol-free witch hazel toner, a cult-favorite that I *personally* swear by. This post-cleanser option is particularly fantastic because it won't strip your complexion of moisture.
30. Retinol is a whiz at softening fine lines but can sometimes be too irritating for sensitive complexions. Luckily, Press Restart gentle retinol serum tackles dullness and fine lines with a vengeance, but ingredients like bakuchiol and chlorophyll make it gentle enough as to not leave behind redness or irritation.
31. Let me present you with some simple math: Working out in the morning —> not showering right away —> trapped sweat —> clogged pores —> pimples. Use these lavender-scented hypoallergenic wipes (made with tea tree oil, peppermint, aloe, and ginseng) to quickly cleanse your skin post-run and prevent any body acne apocalypses from occurring.
32. If you're prone to body breakouts, add Vanicream body wash to your shower caddy! It's a gentle wash loved by customers with sensitive complexions — because the heavily perfumed suds you've been using are irritating and drying, ergo, the time has come to *finally* swap in this dye-, fragrance-, and sulfate-free bottle (it's super moisturizing, to boot).
33. Moisturized hands = less hangnails, better cuticles, and a better at-home manicure. Give your hands some TLC with these moisturizing gloves, which are infused with collagen and shea butter and are a cheaper alternative to the bougie manicure you almost splurged on.
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