My struggle with my skin lasted me until I was about 19. I took matters into my own hands and started doing my own research. During my time researching, I spent so much money on skin care. Honestly, more than I would like to admit. Although my bank account was screaming at me to stop spending, I knew this is what I needed to do to better myself. Because of my neurotic tendencies, I never gave up until I found just the right products. I ended up curating a personalized skincare routine that has worked successfully for me with lasting effects. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a dermatologist or a licensed esthetician, but I was able to transform my skin for the better. These are some of the products that I consider to be my Holy Grail, and I hope that I can give some insight on how to better everyone’s skin. They are listed below in the order I use them every day. 

This powerful, yet gentle daily face wash is formulated with cold-pressed antioxidants such as kale, spinach, and green tea. It gives my skin such a strong cleanse without a tight or draggy feeling after washing my face. It works effectively to prevent buildup in your pores while cleaning out the excess dirt buried under there. It also helps balance the pH in your skin without drying or stripping.  Another plus about this product is that the bottle is HUGE. It has lasted me an average of 2 months, and I wash my face twice a day. This product can be purchased directly from youthtothepeople.com or at Sephora. 

This is the perfect toner to brighten, tone and hydrate your skin after a fresh cleansing. This toner is infused with Lactic Acid, which improves skin texture and hydration level and encourages cell turnover. On top of that, the witch hazel fights breakouts, while the aloe moisturizes and soothes irritated skin. Mixed together, these ingredients strengthen your skin and regulates the pH balance. It dissolves the bonds binding dead skin cells to skin’s surface. This way, it will bring the new skin cells to the surface of your skin, leaving you with a healthy complexion. Because of this product, my skin tone has never looked so even. This product is not sold in stores, but you can order it directly from their website. 

If you have acne prone skin like mine, this product is a must-have. This oil works to prevent breakouts from surfacing to your skin. It is concentrated with 1.5% salicylic acid which penetrates pores to eliminate spot-causing dirt and bacteria. The tea tree oil and black cumin seed oil support clear skin, while hexylresorcinol and licorice naturally brighten the appearance of old acne discolorations for a more even-toned complexion. I know these are big words, but look them up. These ingredients all work together as a unit to rid your skin of acne. This product can be purchased directly from sundayriley.com or at Sephora.

Moisturizer is the most important step in your skin care routine. This moisturizer is jam packed with ceramides to help strengthen your skin's natural barrier. It also provides a moisture boost to help reduce skin redness and sensitivity. The main thing I noticed about this product is that it helps improves the appearance of fine lines, flakiness, and red patches. It leaves my skin looking and feeling healthier and smoother. This product can be purchased directly from drjart.com or at Sephora.

After finding a cohesive skincare routine best fitted for me, one step I find the most prominent is exfoliating. In my opinion, this is a step in every skincare routine that should not be overlooked. Your skin cells are constantly renewing themselves, leaving a layer of dead skin on the surface that needs to be scrubbed off. Exfoliating leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated, allowing you to have a more even skin tone. Since certain exfoliators can be harsh, it is important to be wary of which products you are using during this step of your skincare routine. 

This is important to look out for due to the fact that some can create tears in your skin. The way to determine whether or not your face scrub is harmful is to check out the granules or exfoliants in the product. They should be small and the texture of the scrub should not be harsh. If you’re in the market for a new exfoliator, consider giving the following products that I have found worked for me a go. 

 

As of right now, this has to be my favorite exfoliant I have ever tried. This light-weight, gentle exfoliant leaves my skin feeling soft and radiant. Since I have sensitive skin, this product is perfect because it is liquid-based. While the product contains a handful of different ingredients, the main one is its two percent BHA. Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is another form of salicylic acid. The amount of BHA in this product is powerful enough to exfoliate away the layer of dead skin cells, while still being gentle enough to have on your skin at all times of the day. Not to mention that this exfoliant has visibly reduced the size of my pores and fine lines on my face. I use this product twice a day after cleansing and toning. This product can be purchased directly from paulaschoice.com, Sephora, or Nordstrom. 

This was my first ever Drunk Elephant purchase and I was very pleased with it. Since I started using this at night, and even during the day, my acne has cleared, my skin is tighter, and my face looked healthier. It is an excellent exfoliator for all skin types. It has a gel texture that works well year-round without drying out your skin. It also includes several calming ingredients to balance out the blend of exfoliating acids. The Framboos in this exfoliant boasts a collaborative blend of glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and salicylic acids. After using this product consistently, I found it to be extremely effective. This exfoliant will remove dead skin cells to keep your skin blemish-free, even out your skin tone, minimize the size of your pores, and prevent signs of aging like dark spots and wrinkles. This product can be purchased directly from drunkelephant.com, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty. 

This gentle scrub is great for exfoliating that removes dirt, oil, and impurities.  The micro-fine granules in this product buff away dry, dead skin to support natural surface cell turnover. It is with skin conditioners and a vitamin complex, leaving my skin feeling soft, smooth, and radiant. This is a great daily cleanser and exfoliator. Gentle enough to use every day, even twice a day. Since this product is also hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, it won't irritate skin or clog pores. I can confirm this because I have very sensitive skin and using this exfoliant twice daily didn’t leave my skin feeling irritated. The scrubbers are great for sloughing off dead skin buildup and leaving a fresh palette for your skincare routine or makeup application. On top of that, it is super cheap! Cetaphil is a brand that is sold at any drug store such as CVS, Target, Duane Reade, Walgreens. You can also purchase this product directly from cetaphil.com