People at Penn regularly ask me about my skincare routine.
The first time it happened, I thought it was one of the greatest mysteries I’d ever encountered, right up there with string theory and the disappearance of my favorite lip gloss circa 2010. In all seriousness though, I was insecure about my skin for a very long time.
Kiehl’s, commitment, and a clean diet. These three things probably saved my life. I know my fixes might not work for everyone, because not everyone out there is Asian with tantrum-throwing combination skin. I’m also conscious of the fact that my routine might be a bit too intense for most people to attempt in its entirety. So please, feel free to pick and choose the steps you find appealing!
Given these disclaimers, I do think that my skincare “imperatives” will have something for everyone. This is for the people downing lamp-sized bottles of water at Van Pelt in the middle of the night. I feel you, and your constant need to visit the bathroom. And if you find yourself hollering at online personalities to drop their skin secrets, sis, know that I’m writing
1. Kiehl’s Products
If I didn’t make it clear before, I regard Kiehl’s as God’s gift to the universe. Their stuff works wonders. Every. Single. Time.
For this part of my skincare routine, I take different steps depending on what day of the week it is.
Notes:
- When I rinse off a cleanser, I do so while transitioning from lukewarm to cold water. Then, I soak a cotton pad with cold water and gently massage it across my face.
- When I rinse off a cleanser, I do so while transitioning from lukewarm to cold water. Then, I soak a cotton pad with cold water and gently massage it across my face.
- When I rinse off a face mask, I do so while transitioning from hot to cold water.
- When I apply a toner or tonic, I do so very gently using a cotton pad.
- When I apply other cream products, I do so very gently using my fingers.
- Lastly, I air-dry my face.
The steps below are in sequential order.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Mornings
- I wash my face using Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser (gentle, morning use, all skin types, dry skin, sensitive skin).
- I apply Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner (alcohol-free, normal skin, oily skin, sensitive skin).
- I apply Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream (moisturizing, cooling, lightweight, oil-free, normal skin, oily skin).
- I apply Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Water-Light Lotion For Face & Body (water-like, cooling, lightweight, all skin types, sensitive skin). It’s important to make sunscreen a part of your anti-aging skincare routine.
Afternoons
- I wash off my makeup using Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser (milky, gentle, moisturizing, dry skin). Yes, I lied. This is the one non-Kiehl’s product I use, okay?
- Mondays and Wednesdays only: I apply Kiehl’s Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask (hydrating, revitalizing, moisturizing, cooling, all skin types).
Evenings
- I wash my face using Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash (refreshing, soothing, normal skin, oily skin).
- I apply the Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner on all areas of my face except the nose, and the Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic on the nose(pore-minimizing, balancing, mattifying, normal skin, oily skin).
- I apply Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate (anti-aging, pore-minimizing, all skin types, sensitive skin) on all areas of my face except the nose, and the Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Minimizing Lotion (refining, smoothing, mattifying, normal skin, oily skin) on the nose. I think it’s important to start anti-aging skincare now, while we’re still young.
- I apply the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream on all areas of my face except the nose.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Mornings
- I wash my face using the Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser.
- I apply the Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner, Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream, and the Activated Sun Protector Water-Light Lotion For Face & Body.
Afternoons
- I wash off my makeup using the Gentle Milk Cleanser.
- Tuesdays only: I apply Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque (brightening, exfoliating, all skin types).
- Thursdays only: I apply Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask (pore-minimizing, detoxifying, refining, smoothing, normal skin, oily skin).
Evenings
- I wash my face using Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser (detoxifying, exfoliating, gentle, softening, normal skin, oily skin).
- I apply the Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner on all areas of my face except the nose, and the Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic on the nose.
- I apply the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate on select areas of the face (i.e. around the mouth and eyes, on the forehead), and the Rare Earth Pore Minimizing Lotion on the nose.
- I apply the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream on all areas of my face except the nose.
Saturdays and Sundays
I take it relatively easy on the weekends. My skin is pretty oily, so it doesn’t get excessively dry if I skip some of the creams. This might not be the case for everyone!
Mornings
- I wash my face using the Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser.
- I apply the Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner, and I usually stop here because I don’t like wearing makeup on the weekends.
Afternoons
- Saturdays only: I apply the Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque.
Evenings
- I wash my face using the Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser.
- I apply the Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner.
2. Commitment
I don’t stray from my skincare regimen. Ever. It doesn’t matter how tired I am, or how much work I have. I’ve decided that this is going to be a non-negotiable element of my day.
The only exception is if I feel like I’m doing too much to my skin (as you might be thinking at the moment), but that rarely happens because I’m extremely gentle with it at all times. Also, this is just the kind of excessive routine that…happens to work perfectly for me. I don’t break out anymore.
3. Clean Diet
Water’s important, yeah, but people like you and I know it’s definitely not going to be the whole picture. Therefore, I rarely eat junk food. I eat as healthy and balanced a diet as I possibly can, with a few controlled cheat meals throughout the month. Lastly, I eat a pescatarian (but basically vegetarian) diet. I don’t know if that one helps, because I’ve been a pescatarian since elementary school. I know for a fact, though, that eating clean has dramatically improved the quality of my skin in the long term.
Product Summary (in order of first appearance):
- Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser ($24)
- Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner ($21)
- Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream ($29.50)
- Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Water-Light Lotion For Face & Body ($29)
- Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser ($20)
- Kiehl’s Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask ($45)
- Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash ($29)
- Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic ($21)
- Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate ($62)
- Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Minimizing Lotion ($29)
- Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque ($39)
- Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask ($33)
- Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser ($23)
I really hope this helps! Feel free to leave a reply if you have any questions.