I haven’t done one of these posts in awhile (since 2018!) so I thought I would do a little round-up of all my favorite products for those of you interested. Now I’m no beauty guru and my skin is super finicky (I’ve talked about my acne and sensitivity issues in the past). And of course everyone’s skin is different so please take my opinions with a grain of salt!

Anyway my skincare and makeup routine has really simplified since the pandemic (which I’m grateful for) so there aren’t going to be a lot of products listed here. And for the most part my routine doesn’t change much between the seasons (though I might add a face oil this winter and see how it goes). But without further ado, here is my skincare and makeup routine:

Skincare

I’ve been doing this routine for quite awhile now with pretty good success. I’ve been using SkinSalvation products since 2016ish and I love supporting a local SF business (and a fellow Asian-American woman-hi Kim!). But best of all her products work! Her best product IMHO is their charcoal cleanser. It’s gentle yet can remove makeup, and it’s not drying at all. It also doesn’t irritate any existing blemishes. I haven’t strayed from this cleanser in over 5 years! I then follow it up with either the Mandelic toner from SkinSalvation (I loved their Sterilizing toner in the past but they unfortunately no longer sell it) in the morning or the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound at night. And then I finish with my tried and true, Augustinus Bader Rich cream. In the mornings, I follow-up with the Nuori Mineral Defense sunscreen (*gifted) and wow it’s been such a game changer. I haven’t been using SPF regularly (I know, so bad!) since the pandemic because every sunscreen I’ve tried gave me maskne. Well now I can say I’ve found the one that doesn’t clog my pores even with a mask, and I will definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out. Oh and I still try to do my LED face mask at least once a day for 20 minutes for increased collagen production for smoother skin.

Makeup

I rarely put on makeup these days (thanks to mostly wearing a mask that’s going to cover my face anyway. But on the occasions that I do, I use the Augustinus Bader x Victoria Beckham primer in original (I’ve tried the their golden one and it’s too dark for me). The AB primer really helps prep my skin for better foundation application, and on the occasion I forget to use it I find that the foundation sometimes looks splotchy and doesn’t last the whole day. Then I use a blender sponge to smooth on the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. I finish up with my favorite Shu Uemura brow pencil and Stila eyeliner. I love this eyeliner and have been using it for years but I’m looking to replace it with a more zero-waste friendly/plastic-free alternative (does anyone have any suggestions?).

Anyway so that’s it! I think as I get older I have less tolerance for a high-maintenance routine. But I’ve been using these products for awhile now (well except for the sunscreen), and can attest to how great they work for sensitive, acne-prone skin!

Also I just wanted to mention that I’m a big fan of donating unused or gently used items to Project Beauty Share. Yes, you do have to pay for the shipping to donate, but it prevents gently used items (or unopened samples) from being wasted. Plus you’re doing some good for those who may not be able to afford a bunch of skin care or makeup products!