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1. First things first, you have to start properly washing your face every day. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser *oh so gently* removes all of the dirt and makeup off your face in one go. It actually swaps 1/4 of its H20 content for rosewater, which is super soothing (and smells amazing!) for your skin. Along with Poloxamer (which is an effective yet mild cleansing agent also used in contact lens solution), this stuff leaves your skin clean and soft as heck.
2. Don't pick at your pimples! Slap on a Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch to eliminate any outside infection and bacteria (which is the reason they form in the first place!), absorb gunk from blackheads and whiteheads, and help flatten/heal your zits faster. No dryness afterwards either. Just make sure you're applying them on *cleaned* blemishes!
3. Wear sunscreen — and I cannot stress this enough — every day, no matter the weather, time of year, or if you're indoors all day! The sun will find you and damage your skin! Flesh Beauty Sheer Flesh Hydrating SPF Serum is *so* lightweight, fast-absorbing, and easy to put on that you won't be able to understand why your friends ever complained about their sunscreen woes — this one doesn't leave behind a single bit of white cast or residue. You've got 99 problems, but SPF isn't one of them!
4. Or if you prefer a multitasking product, CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30 is a staple for so many people, including my coworker! It's oil-free, non-comedogenic (so it won't clog pores), fragrance-free, absorbs quickly, and contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides to boot — I'm not sure how more dependable it gets!
5. If your skin is sensitive and prone to redness, centella asiatica (also known as cica) will be your best friend! Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Gel Cream is unbelievably lightweight and smooths away any lingering redness you have on your face (due to diet, lack of sleep, stress, etc.), so it appears visibly soothed, hydrated, and ready to tackle the day.
6. And for more coverage, Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment instantly calms down rogue redness with color-changing capsules that blend into your skin tone, protect against UV light (SPF 30) and environmental aggressors, and boost fatigued-looking skin. Consider this your one-and-done product!
7. Let's talk exfoliation. It's super important (hello, sweeping away dead skin cells!), but can seem a little intimidating. But not when it comes to First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, which tackle breakouts with just a few swipes of its resurfacing abilities, made up of gentle glycolic and lactic acids, brightening lemon peel, tone-evening Indian gooseberry, and antioxidant boosters. They're so easy and mess-free, so you can say "seeya" to acne and acne scars faster! 👋
8. Speaking of gentle exfoliation, Then I Met You Skin Birch Milk Refining Toner proves that acid-containing products can absolutely be hydrating and gentle. I'm all for exfoliating away the bad stuff, but only if it also *locks in the good stuff (think: high levels of hydrations and moisture retention) at the same time — and this toner does just that and restores my post-cleanser skin!
9. Hyaluronic acid is a must-know skincare ingredient, no if or buts. It's naturally found in our skin and retains water to keep skin plump — and it absorbs a thousand times its weight in water. Enter The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, which gives you no-nonsense (read: sensitive skin-friendly) hydration that leaves your skin looking visibly smoother and softer.
10. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is a fan favorite in terms of lightweight, everyday moisturizers. It drenches your skin in hydration (thanks to hyaluronic acid and olive extract) so your skin stays soft and taut — even underneath a big ol' glob of foundation — instead of dry and flaky. And since it's oil-free and non-comedogenic, it's especially perfect for combination skin!
11. Sheet masks are not only a great way to ~unwind~, but they deliver an intense burst of hydration for your skin that seeps well beyond the surface. Try out the e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Water Sheet doused in purified water, aloe, and hyaluronic acid for a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. After 10 to 15 minutes, you'll emerge relaxed and armed with silky-soft skin, ahhh.
12. If you've ever been curious about the "glass skin" concept*, Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum is what you need to try. It's basically a K-beauty "super juice" in a bottle — aka, its powerful formula of peach extract, niacinamide, Asian mountain yam extract, hyaluronic acid complex, and peptide complex leaves your skin looking like a plump, poreless dream — while penetrating skin cells deep within for the *long-term* health of your skin.
13. The skin around your eyes is the most delicate and thin area, so you gotta give it extra care and love. Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, with continued use, visibly brightens your under-eye areas, diminishes puffiness, and douses any dry patches with much-needed moisture, thanks to a formula of 72% snail secretion filtrate, five types of peptides, and niacinamide. It's the perfect wake-up call for your tired peepers.
14. If you're ready to hop on the double-cleansing train (as we all should!) and make sure you get **everything** off each night, start off with Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm and let it melt your sunscreen (yes, that needs to be washed off) and makeup (even stubborn waterproof mascara!) away with a gentle, ultra-soothing blend of sunflower and ginger root oils, turmeric and moringa extracts, and papaya enzymes (for natural pore exfoliation). And applying the balm-to-silky-oil formula feels like a mini massage. ✨
15. Or, if you'd prefer a straight-up oil formula (which, despite popular belief, works very well with oily skin types), Hanskin PHA Pore Cleansing Oil is such a gentle option and also melts away every bit of makeup and dirt that your skin has accumulated throughout the day, and it also does double duty as a gentle exfoliator that nips blackheads and rough texture in the bud.
16. And you're not done yet! Double cleansing means following up your oil-based cleanser with a water-based cleanser like the oh-so-gentle Belif Aqua Bomb Cleanser to seal the deal. Because you need a clean slate in order for the rest of your skincare products to do their jobs.
17. A lil' dollop of Bliss Jelly Glow Peel physically exfoliates and lifts away dead (and dry/peeling!) skin cells, so your skin feels so freakin' soft and smooth (I'm not exaggerating) and your skincare products — including that expensive serum — absorb more deeply and work more effectively. And it's not abrasive at all, because it goes right on top of ~damp~ skin, so you can apply and wash off right in the shower!
18. Missha Time Revolution Essence contains an unlikely hero ingredient: 90% fermented yeast extract. Yep, this magical stuff harvested from Himalayan purple barley plumps skin, refines texture, and reduces pigmentation. It might seem like a hefty investment, but you only need a few drops for your whole face, and it's the perfect and necessary primer step before your serums and moisturizers.
19. Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist can be used in place of a heavier essence, as a midday TLC pickup (because our skin needs constant hydration!), and as a makeup setting spray — basically, you'll need one stationed at your desk *and* in your purse for mist o' clock anytime.
20. Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream does exactly what its name implies — gives your skin that coveted dewy glow. Japanese purple rice, an algae blend, and hyaluronic acid plumps up your skin to its fullest potential. Slather your dry skin in this now!
21. Glossier Solution is truly the ~solution~ (you knew it was coming) to your endless battles with acne- and dark spot–causing pores — we could wax poetic about the whole formula, but glycolic acid is the hero brightening and tone-improving AHA that breaks apart water bonds that attach dead cells to your skin. Your face = ✨✨✨.
22. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream sinks into your skin and lasts all day without needing reapplication — it truly keeps your parched skin hydrated with glacial glycoprotein and olive-derived squalane. Plus, the formula is now totally paraben-free!
23. Acure Brightening Facial Scrub draws out impurities, removes dead skin cells, treats breakouts, and leaves skin feeling smooth, supple, and bright (as its name implies). It's straightforward and a great bang for your buck. Glow, bb, glow!
24. Cosrx Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask serves as an overnight mask, wash-off mask, or daily moisturizer, depending on what skin type you have! It's made up of 87.26% propolis extract and natural beeswax, which is a natural and highly effective ingredient for soothing irritated skin and reducing redness.
25. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant helps shed built-up layers of dead skin without any mess (you don't rinse it!) without feeling overly abrasive (it has a pH range of 3.5–3.9) and promotes firmer, clearer, and glowing skin (hello, chamomile and green tea!).
26. Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream is like adding a protein shot to your skincare smoothie concoction — it seriously works when it comes to improving the tone, texture, and firmness of your skin so it always stays lookin' fresh (and less like it's taken a detour into high stress and little sleep territory).
27. If you're curious about retinol and diminishing fine lines (or like me, simple trying to delay the inevitable) but are freaked out about irritating your skin, start off with The Inkey List Retinol Serum manages to pack powerful retinol (specifically RetiStar stabilised Retinol 1% and Granactive Retinoid 0.5%) that's released slowly over time, so you experience less irritation (s/o to hydrating squalane for the helping hand), but a more radiant, smoother complexion over time. And all of this for $10 a pop — sign me up!
28. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is an OG product that deserves a spot in your skincare shelf — it provides lightweight, all-day hydration for all skin types (there are various versions!) and is comprised of all vegan ingredients, so you know you're treating your skin to the best of the best! So good that you'll trust it for decades.
You with all of this skincare knowledge, right here and now:
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