The Best Skincare Routines Do Not Require Many Products
To start with, let’s cover two VERY important things that are often overlooked.
There is no miracle product that will instantly change your skin or get rid of acne, and
The LESS products you use the BETTER
These two points cannot be emphasized enough. Whether you have a 12 step skin care routine, or use the most expensive products on the market or if you get five facials per week. If you don’t change your diet, lifestyle or figure out what’s going on internally either with your hormones, digestion, allergies etc- your skin will not change and you will not see any results.
Your skin is directly affected by what you eat, your digestion, lifestyle and hormones. Therefore, the very best skincare routine anyone can have is a proper diet, high water intake, adequate and quality sleep plus a regular exercise routine.
By proper diet, I refer to a diet that includes healthy fats (avocado, salmon, olives and olive, avocado and/or coconut oil), fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin C (green & red peppers, papaya, tomatoes, kiwis and strawberries), beta-carotenes (carrots & dark leafy greens), zinc (meat, seafood, nuts and seeds), Polyphenols (oranges, apples and berries) and antioxidants (70% or higher dark chocolate, berries, grapes and sweet potatoes). These are all nutrients that are crucial in helping you achieve healthy, glowing, clear skin.
I used to be obsessed with skincare and would try new products all the time. I tried a variety of cleansers, serums, masks and oils, as well as experimented with DIY recipes. But after all my experimentation I came to the conclusion that nothing makes my skin look better than when I’m using as little products as possible, drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet with lots of healthy fats and cutting out sugar, dairy and refined carbohydrates.
Don’t fall for skin care routines that promote using 5-10+ products. Your skin is at its happiest when you do as little as you can to it. If you are eating the right way, being healthy and everything is working well internally, your skin won’t need a ton of products to make it look good. When you’re vacation and not wearing any makeup, you won’t even need to wash your face. You can wash it only with water and just use SPF and face oil (try our Gemelle facial massage oil). Other than that you leave it alone and your skin will never look better. That’s my secret.
You can cut out most of your products, All you really need is a good cleanser and moisturizer, the rest is optional. In my case I prefer a face oil for both morning and night. And since our oil is so packed with potent ingredients I don’t even opt for a serum. I consider this oil my all-in-one anti-agin product and swear bye it. Cutting down on the amount of products you use also makes it possible for you to have a great skin care routine without breaking the bank. Our oils are completely clean and therefore free from all chemicals and irritants like parabans, fragrance and oxybenzone can severely disrupt your skin. If you want to try other brands, make sure you search for ones that are also clean.
Some of my personal recommendations are:
Cleanser- We will release our own oil cleanser in the near future but in the meantime I will recommend Tulura’s oil cleanser which uses Salycic Acid and Tea Tree Oil. I used to think oil cleansers were useless and that they weren’t cleansing enough. But my skin has reacted super well to it. It also feels soothing when you put it on and I like to give myself a face massage each time I wash my face with it.
Toner- This is the one part of a skincare routine that you could skip unless you choose a product that really works. Use this alcohol-free one by Thayers if you want your skin to be extra clean. It uses witch hazel, aloe Vera and rose water. It cleans out your pores and tightens them while locking in moisture in.
Face Oil- I’m obsessed with face oil. Hence having created products of our own! I love my skin to feel dewy and glowy, but not in a greasy way. Try our facial massage oil, which is hydrating without being too heavy and has an insanely delicious aroma that’s not overpowering either. There are so many more benefits to using this oil, which go way beyond hydration. It is truly a youth- and nutrient bomb for your skin. It is also high in Vitamin C, therefore omitting the need for me to also use a serum.
SPF- I’m a huge fan of this Supergoop SPF Face Mist. I’ll reapply it throughout the day as the protection from SPF tends to fade within a few hours.
Eye Cream- I would recommend the eye cream by Living Libations which is a brand that uses 100% plant derived ingredients. It’s creamy and super hydrating. Please note, no eye cream is going to remove dark circles or puffiness even though they may promise to. Those things will depend on how much sleep you’re getting and your diet.
Spot treatment- Pure tea tree oil is still the best thing for treating spots or acne in my opinion. Whenever I feel a bump under my skin I put on tea tree oil diluted with some water and it completely goes away. Be sure to dilute though otherwise you will burn your skin.
Masks- One of my all-time favorite facial masks is the Aztec Clay Mask. It’s made of 100% Bentonite clay and thoroughly cleanses your skin. After using it your skin feels tight, smooth and extremely clean. You can mix it with Apple Cider Vinegar for extra effectiveness. It will also dry up all of your breakouts.
Supplements- I find that a few supplements contribute to the health of my skin. These include Zinc, Astaxanthin and the HUM Daily Cleanse vitamins which help your body detoxify itself.
An important part of my skincare routine is giving myself a 5-10 minute lymphatic face massage every morning and night using my hands and fingers (see our article on facial massage here). It’s an added bonus for your skin and if you have the time, do it as often as you can. Facial massage has been known to lift your skin and reduce fine lines with regular practice. I find that it gives my face a nice glow and plumps it up, it’s also very relaxing, which is a super tip for self-care moments. We all get massages for our bodies but forget that our face needs them too! Daniel Collins, a facial yoga expert, gives lots of tips and how-to’s on her Instagram profile, so be sure to check her out.
The products I recommended above have worked well for me, but depending on your skin type, your reaction might be different. Please remember, if you are struggling with skin issues, you might strongly consider changing your diet and lifestyle to help with finding the root of the problem. It may seem like a quick fix to use a bunch of products to solve your worries, but all you’ll be doing is wasting money and upsetting your skin even more. Get your hormones checked, increase your water intake, and switch to a “clean” eating plan— remove dairy, sugar and gluten. It takes your body a minimum of 21 days to reset and adjust to a new regiment, so you should try sticking to it for that amount of time or longer.