How many skincare products do you use? What is your routine & products?

hey everyone
I got interested in skin care after watching YouTube videos of people’s 10 step Korean skincare routine. I didn’t do all 10 steps but close to it. But now I’m wondering how much is really necessary? I got some new products today which add even more to my list, actually making 10 steps. What do you think I can use up and then not need to buy again? What benefits your skin and what are just marketing tools?
all of my skincare is natural, almost all products I use are sukin.. really love sukin
my routine (and when I use them/plan to use them):
1. Sukin oil balancing charcoal gel cleanser (night)
2. Swisse almond cream cleanser (morning and night)
3. Homemade exfoliator [olive oil/coconut oil and brown sugar] OR organik botanik sea salt and coconut oil scrub (once a week)
4. Sukin oil balancing charcoal masque and sukin hydrating masque [charcoal on nose and chin, hydrating everywhere else] (once a week)
5. Sukin rose hydrating mist (morning and night)
6. Sukin supergreens facial recovery serum (morning and night)
7. Sukin antioxidant eye serum (morning and night)
8. Sukin organic rosehip oil (morning? and night)
9. Sukin oil balancing facial moisturiser (if my face needs more moisture, mostly in winter)
10. Sunscreen [no specific one yet.. need to find a good natural one] (use when I’ll be in the sun)
Which do you honestly think I can do without?
I love the way the two cleansers really clean my skin, I would like to keep both of those. The exfoliator and masks I will keep. I think the toner I could probably do without but lots of people say how important a toner is, but I think with the other stuff it’s not really needed. I love the supergreens serum, it is so nice and refreshing and nice and light in summer so that I can skip moisturiser... but maybe it still isn’t needed? I use the eye cream for fine lines under my eyes and on my forehead, but I can maybe give it up because I think the rosehip oil will do that job. The rosehip oil I’ll be keeping because it has so many benefits. I only got it today but so many people swear by it and my mum has gotten good results with it too. The moisturiser I could keep if I need extra hydration especially in winter but do you think I could just use my sukin body lotion instead? It has all natural ingredients so I don’t see why you would be able to use it on body but not face. If I can then the moisturiser can probably go too. Sunscreen I would keep.
Do you agree/disagree? Is there anything else you would get rid of/Keep honestly. I know this is kinda weird to ask since it’s my skin but I don’t want to be wasting money if I don’t need to be.
My main issue with my skin is probably oily nose, large pores, some red/brown spots from stupidly picking my face over the years and fine lines under eyes and on forehead. Also sometimes small little bumps like I don’t know if it’s sweat bumps or congested pores or same thing?
And what about you? What are your skincare products? Routine? How often you use them?
thanks in advance
I got interested in skin care after watching YouTube videos of people’s 10 step Korean skincare routine. I didn’t do all 10 steps but close to it. But now I’m wondering how much is really necessary? I got some new products today which add even more to my list, actually making 10 steps. What do you think I can use up and then not need to buy again? What benefits your skin and what are just marketing tools?
all of my skincare is natural, almost all products I use are sukin.. really love sukin
my routine (and when I use them/plan to use them):
1. Sukin oil balancing charcoal gel cleanser (night)
2. Swisse almond cream cleanser (morning and night)
3. Homemade exfoliator [olive oil/coconut oil and brown sugar] OR organik botanik sea salt and coconut oil scrub (once a week)
4. Sukin oil balancing charcoal masque and sukin hydrating masque [charcoal on nose and chin, hydrating everywhere else] (once a week)
5. Sukin rose hydrating mist (morning and night)
6. Sukin supergreens facial recovery serum (morning and night)
7. Sukin antioxidant eye serum (morning and night)
8. Sukin organic rosehip oil (morning? and night)
9. Sukin oil balancing facial moisturiser (if my face needs more moisture, mostly in winter)
10. Sunscreen [no specific one yet.. need to find a good natural one] (use when I’ll be in the sun)
Which do you honestly think I can do without?
I love the way the two cleansers really clean my skin, I would like to keep both of those. The exfoliator and masks I will keep. I think the toner I could probably do without but lots of people say how important a toner is, but I think with the other stuff it’s not really needed. I love the supergreens serum, it is so nice and refreshing and nice and light in summer so that I can skip moisturiser... but maybe it still isn’t needed? I use the eye cream for fine lines under my eyes and on my forehead, but I can maybe give it up because I think the rosehip oil will do that job. The rosehip oil I’ll be keeping because it has so many benefits. I only got it today but so many people swear by it and my mum has gotten good results with it too. The moisturiser I could keep if I need extra hydration especially in winter but do you think I could just use my sukin body lotion instead? It has all natural ingredients so I don’t see why you would be able to use it on body but not face. If I can then the moisturiser can probably go too. Sunscreen I would keep.
Do you agree/disagree? Is there anything else you would get rid of/Keep honestly. I know this is kinda weird to ask since it’s my skin but I don’t want to be wasting money if I don’t need to be.
My main issue with my skin is probably oily nose, large pores, some red/brown spots from stupidly picking my face over the years and fine lines under eyes and on forehead. Also sometimes small little bumps like I don’t know if it’s sweat bumps or congested pores or same thing?
And what about you? What are your skincare products? Routine? How often you use them?
thanks in advance

0
Answers
Also I have dark under eye circles which bother me probably the most. I’m not sure but they could be medical related, but does anyone know any natural products or even homemade things that actually work that can help?
--My CG and grey hair progress -
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/going-gray/179328-jeepys-grey-hair-progress.html
--My article at NaturallyCurly about going grey -
https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/color/how-i-went-completely-gray-and-loved-it
2B/2C, fine hair, low density, mixed porosity, protein loving hair
Current products:
I worked for Clinique as a teenager and in my early 20s which gave me an opportunity to learn about skin care (I can geek out on the science of skin care for hours) and experiment with all the different types of skincare lines. I'm in my early 30s now and the only thing that has changed about my skin care routine is I now use anti aging moisturizers and eye cream and no longer use a pore serum. I can honestly say I've been so happy with skin for over a decade I've never seeked out change to my routine.
Morning:
1. Daily Exfoliate: Clinique's 7 Day Scrub
2. Cleanse: Shisedo's White Lucent Cleansing Foam
3. Toner: Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 3
4. Face moisturizer: Fresh's Black Tea Firming Corset Cream
5. SPF: Clinqiue's Super City Block (If I plan on being outside more than walking to and from the train)
6. Eye cream: Fresh's Black Tea Eye Cream
Night:
1. Makeup Removal: Clinque's Take the Day off Balm (I've recently been using almond oil and that seems to be working just as well!)
2. Cleanse
3. Tone
4. Night moisturizer: Fresh's Black Tea Over Night Mask
5. Eye Cream
I use a charcoal mask (BOSCIA's Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask) and a more abrasive exfoliate (Origins' Modern Friction) once a week. When I have episodes of bad breakouts I switch completely to Clinque's Acne Line, which usually clears me up within a month.
Low-Poo: Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream
Sulfate Wash: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Rinse Out Conditioner: DevalCurl One Condition
Leave-In Conditioner: Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion
Deep Conditioner: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair
Curl Enhancer: Curl Junkie Spiral Lotion
Gel: Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel
The skin on your body is very different than the skin on your face. Products made for your body tend to be too heavy for the face. Since you have issues with pores and red bumps, I would strongly advice against using something made for your body on your face.
Since you are only in your 20s, the fine lines under your eyes and face are probably due to dehydration. # 1 tip -- drink enough water! Water makes a HUGE difference. This also means you want to look for more hydrating creams opposed to more moisturizing creams.
Dark circles due to genetics are unfortunately incurable. Do others in your family have dark circles? That's a good indicator. If it is environmental causes then making sure you are getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating healthy is most important. If you are not doing those nothing else can help. That being said, I found caffeinated tea bags helped reduce my dark circles (I now use an eye cream with tea in it)
A couple questions for you:
1. Were you experiencing these small bumps before you switched to the above routine or after?
2. Are you oily anywhere else besides your nose?
3. Does your skin ever feel tight or itchy after washing? If so where?
Low-Poo: Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream
Sulfate Wash: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Rinse Out Conditioner: DevalCurl One Condition
Leave-In Conditioner: Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion
Deep Conditioner: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair
Curl Enhancer: Curl Junkie Spiral Lotion
Gel: Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel
My routine:
Morning
1. Cleanse: Naturopathica Sweet Lupine Cleansing Cream.
2. Treat: Image MD Vitamin ACE Serum.
3. Moisturize, layer 1: Mix a few drops of a homemade oil blend with several sprays of a homemade herbal water.
4. Moisturize, layer 2: Either Evan Healy Whipped Shea Butter with Olive Leaf or Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream.
5. Eye Cream: Dr. Hauschka Daily Hydrating Eye Balm.
6. Sunscreen: Either SkinCeuticals tinted SPF 50 (summer) or MyChelle SPF 28 (winter).
Evening
1. Makeup removal: Naturopathica Sweet Lupine or Caudalie Micellar Water (sometimes my eyes get sensitive to makeup remover, so I have to switch it up).
2. Cleanse: Either Naturopathica Sweet Lupine or Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream.
3. Tone: COSRX Power Blackhead Liquid (BHA).
4. Moisturize: A few drops of a homemade oil blend with several sprays of Caudalie Grape Water, mixed together and patted into my face.
5. Treat: Image MD Youth Repair Cream.
6. Eye Cream: Spray face with Caudalie Grape Water and then top with Evan Healy Eye Balm (trying to use this up).
My skin seems a little dry when I wake up, so I'm either going to cut out the BHA or else alternate it with the retinol cream.
I've tried using oil as a makeup remover, but it always gets in my eyes and causes problems. I've also read that oil, if it gets in your eyes, can clog your tear ducts. So I'm sticking to commercial makeup removers at least for the eye area.
Once a week, I steam my face and do a clay mask with some white clay. I exfoliate with a papaya enzyme mask beforehand.
Regarding your question about using cream meant for the body on the face, I agree with @tinksaysboo: that might not be such a good thing to do. Products meant for the body might clog the pores in the face. Definitely stick to products meant for the face.
RO: IN Harmonic
LI: CJ Beauticurls; Jessicurl (JC) Gelebration Spray
DC: JC Deep Conditioning Treatment; Weleda Rosemary Conditioning Oil
Stylers: JC Confident Coils; IN Volumizing Spray; IN Perfect Hold Hairspray; John Masters Sea Mist; Bumble Bb. Gel; Kenra Firm-Hold Gel; Sevi Blue Yarrow Sea Salt Spray
Low-porosity 2a/b baby-fine hair
For the record, I have very dry skin because of a product/skin care I use. I'll elaborate below.
Morning:
Cleanser: Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser (this is the best thing in the world; yes, you can find a forum where I said this was a weird texture and I didn't like it... that opinion has since changed drastically).
Run an icecube over my face to help with any pimples.
Vitamin C serum
Moisturizer: Right now I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin Firming Cream.
Eyes: Cerave Eye Repair Cream... not a favorite.
Makeup... occassionally I will use Nivea After Shave Balm as a primer to help further with moisture.
Night:
Oil Cleanser: Palmer's Oil Cleanser
In shower cleanser: Anything that foams really. Right now, it's Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash
Run Ice Cube Over Face
Every other day: Differin Gel (this cleared up my acne tremendously... I still get an occassional pimple but no more cystic... however it is a double edge sword as it dries out my skin like crazy. We are talking flaking skin). To mitigate dryness, I will use the Heritage Store Rosewater and Glycerin (great for skin and hair, highly recommend), then Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream (another highly recommend).
OR
Neutrogena Ageless Intensives (retinol night moisturizer)
Follow up with Rosehip Oil (that does contain Almond Oil as second ingredient because I didn't read the ingredients when I bought it).
I'm having success with this routine. My all time holy grails are Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Differin Gel, Heritage Store Rosewater and Glycerin Spray, and Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream.
My eye area is really sensitive (I can't use wipes or the like). If you are ever in the market for something new to remove make-up I suggest Clinique's take the day off balm. I've been using it since it came out and always end up going back to it! It does emulsify in an oil though so I wonder if there is the same issue.
Low-Poo: Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream
Sulfate Wash: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Rinse Out Conditioner: DevalCurl One Condition
Leave-In Conditioner: Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion
Deep Conditioner: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair
Curl Enhancer: Curl Junkie Spiral Lotion
Gel: Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel
I've tried the Clinique Take the Day Off at my local Ulta. I always use it to take off any testers that I put on. I don't get the same problems as with straight oil, I think because the Clinique product is more watery in consistency. Maybe if I used a lighter oil, like argan oil, on my eyes it wouldn't be as much of a problem. Have to think about that! I do like the Clinique product, though. It does work really well and is gentle.
RO: IN Harmonic
LI: CJ Beauticurls; Jessicurl (JC) Gelebration Spray
DC: JC Deep Conditioning Treatment; Weleda Rosemary Conditioning Oil
Stylers: JC Confident Coils; IN Volumizing Spray; IN Perfect Hold Hairspray; John Masters Sea Mist; Bumble Bb. Gel; Kenra Firm-Hold Gel; Sevi Blue Yarrow Sea Salt Spray
Low-porosity 2a/b baby-fine hair
RO: IN Harmonic
LI: CJ Beauticurls; Jessicurl (JC) Gelebration Spray
DC: JC Deep Conditioning Treatment; Weleda Rosemary Conditioning Oil
Stylers: JC Confident Coils; IN Volumizing Spray; IN Perfect Hold Hairspray; John Masters Sea Mist; Bumble Bb. Gel; Kenra Firm-Hold Gel; Sevi Blue Yarrow Sea Salt Spray
Low-porosity 2a/b baby-fine hair
Do you have any other favorite gentle make-up removers? The balm got discontinued shortly a couple years ago (the balm scares people for some reason) , so I am always on a look out for a back up!
Low-Poo: Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream
Sulfate Wash: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Rinse Out Conditioner: DevalCurl One Condition
Leave-In Conditioner: Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion
Deep Conditioner: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair
Curl Enhancer: Curl Junkie Spiral Lotion
Gel: Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel
RO: IN Harmonic
LI: CJ Beauticurls; Jessicurl (JC) Gelebration Spray
DC: JC Deep Conditioning Treatment; Weleda Rosemary Conditioning Oil
Stylers: JC Confident Coils; IN Volumizing Spray; IN Perfect Hold Hairspray; John Masters Sea Mist; Bumble Bb. Gel; Kenra Firm-Hold Gel; Sevi Blue Yarrow Sea Salt Spray
Low-porosity 2a/b baby-fine hair
I haven't worn makeup in 3+ years thus I don't wear moisturizer anymore. Aside from the occasional breakout once a month, my skin stays clear so my routine works.
3b/c ~ fine ~ high porosity ~ low density
No-Poo: SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Shampoo
RO: Tresemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner
Stylers: Tresemme Flawless Curls Mousse & Extra Hold Hairspray
Wash routine! 1-2 times a week: CO wash with Suave Coconut, leaving some in, plop, air-dry
Great for me! Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, coconut oil, olive oil
Bad for me! Phenoxyethanol irritates scalp, Distearyldimonium Chloride & Quaternium-87 straighten hair