My approach to skincare is always changing and for a long time I could never really settle into a routine, largely due to my skin type and needs. Throughout high school I had acne-prone skin, and in university my breakouts reduced but my skin became dull. Once I joined the workforce, I started giving my skin the attention it needed and saw the payoff. These days, pimples rarely make appearances and my skin feels more hydrated and even than ever before. I sometimes like to experiment with new products that pique my interest, but there are also a few products I’ve deemed personal favourites and circle back to. I can’t say that my skincare routine or rotation of products are perfect, but each time someone’s surprised to learn how old I actually am, it just feels like validation that I’m doing a few things right!

Here’s what my skincare routine is looking like these days, and the products I’m using that I’d highly recommend!…

Step 1: Cleanser

Farmacy Clean Bee Ultra Gentle Facial Cleanser, $37

Image from Sephora — *Image from* *Sephora*

My facial cleansers are one of the products I’ve experimented with over the years, but I think I’ve found my new favourite in this cleanser by Farmacy. I find that a bottle lasts quite a while, which helps justify the price tag. I clean my face with this each morning and night, massaging my face in circular motions. Like the name suggests, it feels gentle on the skin and yet it’s able to lift away excess oil and makeup. I really like the smell of it too—honey is a key ingredient, yet it has more of a ginger scent to it, in my opinion.

Step 2: Toner

Kopari Coconut Rose Toner, $33

I started using this spray-on toner last winter and it was a huge help in keeping my skin hydrated. During the colder months I would tend to get dry, flaky skin around my forehead and cheeks, but once I started spritzing this across my face after cleansing, my face remained smooth all season long. I was so impressed with this toner’s hydrating abilities that I continued to repurchase it whenever I was running low.

Step 3: Moisturizer

Tatcha The Water Cream, $89

This is my all-time favourite moisturizer. I’ll admit, it’s very expensive, and because it’s a splurge I tend to experiment with cheaper alternatives at least once or twice a year. But I always return to this moisturizer for many reasons. It has a light, silky feel to it, provides a great base for makeup, and it’s a great choice for acne-prone skin (although acne isn’t really an issue for me anymore, I like to credit products like this for helping keep pimples at bay). This comes with a small gold spoon to scoop up the cream, but I prefer to dip my fingers in, dab a tiny amount on each section of my face (forehead, nose, upper lip, chin and cheeks), then blend them into my skin.

Step 4: Sunscreen

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, $45

I’ll admit, I had usually skipped sunscreen in my skincare routine up until a couple of years ago. I was always very proactive in applying sunscreen on my body, but on my face? Not so much. For a while I thought it was an unnecessary step, but then I came to learn about how important it was in order to not only protect the skin from UV damage, but also help prevent premature wrinkles and sun spots. I picked up my first Supergoop! sunscreen during a trip to New York City last year and loved it (it’s now available at Canadian Sephora stores)! It’s invisible, lightweight, oil-free and it’s also an amazing primer for makeup. Once my moisturizer’s been absorbed into my skin, I apply it the same way I applied the moisturizer.

Step 5: Lip Scrub

Herbivore Coco Rose Coconut Oil Lip Polish, $24

The next and final two steps are only done once a week, and at nighttime. First up is the lip scrub. I hate the look and feel of cracking lips, which is always a bigger problem during the cold fall and winter seasons. To help keep my lips as smooth as possible, I’ll exfoliate them with this lip polish. I love that it’s clean and sugar-based, and it’s also accompanied by a sweet rose scent. I simply use my fingertip to massage a tiny amount (you only need a little!) in small, circular motions on both lips, then rinse off the polish with water.

Step 6: Lip Mask

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (Berry), $26

This lip mask by Laneige is one of my favourite beauty products! It’s soothing and smells incredible (I’ve only ever tried their original berry flavour but it’s so good I’ve never wanted to test out the others!). After exfoliating my lips and then gently patting them dry, I apply a thick layer of this lip mask using the included applicator. I leave it on overnight then wipe it off in the morning using a soft, damp towel. I pat my lips dry again, and then apply lip balm to lock in that moisture.