NYC Skincare Routine

One thing I was not expecting when I moved to New York (so young, so naive) was how the city air would ruin my once porcelain skin. After only a month I noticed my pores seemed larger, I was breaking out more, and my skin just looked dull. Seeing as how I'm 26, the thought of what this constant pollution can do to my skin freaked me the eff out and now I'm considering myself skincare-obsessed. I did my research, gave myself my own degree in esthiology, and prepared a skincare routine that will not only make my skin happy, but me happy!
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Morning Routine

When I wake up, the first thing I do to my face is rinse it with cold water. It not only wakes me up but then I get rid of any oil that has built up on my face while I've slept.

Next is moisturizer. Even when I sweat a lot in the summer, I always make sure to use a gel moisturizer in the morning to make sure that my skin is happy with me. Garnier has a really nice, light gel moisturizer that I believe is perfect for daytime.

Lastly before I apply my makeup is a sunscreen! There is a skin cancer history in my family so I always make sure to wear sunscreen every day (and have annual check-ins with my dermatologist). But I also did my research and learned that mineral sunscreens, such as this one from Supergoop, are really good for city dwellers like myself. Mineral sunscreen also protects your pores from air pollutants and other toxins you are bound to come across on your morning subway commute. Yay for skin protection!

Night Routine

After I wash my face in the shower (current favorite face wash is by Charlotte Tilbury because it smells like a garden) I do my nightly skincare right away because I read somewhere that the products seep into your skin faster when damp. If I see that my eye makeup is being stubborn and I still have black around my eyes, I go in with this Lancome eye makeup remover that I have 400 bottles of because my mother always gets it as a free gift with purchase. I really like this formula and I feel like the oil best gets rid of any lingering mascara.

Next is toner! I rub a non-harsh toner across my whole face with a cotton pad. I notice toner removes any gunk I may have missed when I washed my face without irritating my skin. I use a sensitive skin toner from Up and Up because I've noticed the higher alcohol-content ones really dry out my skin.  There is also a toner by Mario Badescu that I like, too, for times I like to switch things up.

Now is serum time. I usually use a Vitamin C Serum and an Anti-Aging Serum because yes, I'm 26 years old and convinced if I don't follow an insane skincare routine I will look super old by the time I'm 30!!! Then I use moisturizer, this time a "night time" one because apparently there's a big difference?? As a marketer myself I am so influenced by advertising/promotions it's pathetic. I like Sephora's brand of moisturizers because they are now a "clean" brand so you know you're not putting anything harsh on your skin. And the price is just right, too! Once my face is moisturized, I give my eyes a little more juj (is that how you spell that?? someone help) with an eye cream, again using Sephora's brand because it's priced reasonably and works wonders! Then I swipe my lips with some chapstick and I'm off to bed!

Weekly Funsies

What kind of heading is that!? Anyway, there are other steps to my skincare routine but I only do them once or twice a week so I wanted to keep them separate from my daily routine.

Facial Scrubs. I use a scrub twice a week, usually when I'm washing my hair so that if any of the scrub finds its way into my hair it doesn't matter. I love love the Pore-Balance™ Facial Sauna Scrub by Olehenriksen. It heats up while you scrub it into your skin and that's so cool?? Drugstore-wise I love the Green Tea Scrub by St. Ives. No offense, but if you still use that apricot scrub everyone who read Seventeen magazine used to use you need to step up your game. We're not here to make tiny tears in our skin babyyyyy!

Face masks. Once a week, usually on Sunday when I'm dreading going back to work, I do a face mask or two. I prefer clay masks, and my number one will always be the Glamglow SUPERMUD® Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask. I love seeing my pores stand out because I'm a sick freak. After I wash that off I'll sometimes do a sheet mask. I got this pack of Korean sheet masks from Amazon and I actually really like them! I leave one on for ten minutes, then rub any of the excess into my skin and neck.


I've been sticking to this routine for awhile now and if I do say so myself my skin has been looking fresh. And always remember to drink lots of water throughout the day! Keeping your skin hydrated is most important. I also try and get a facial every 6 months or so because I read about that in a magazine once and of course it's stuck with me. Find what works for you -- I know that when I lived in Colorado my skincare routine was so different because my skin was constantly dry as hell! If you're skin is happy than you are happy and the world is happy because you're not being a raging bitch for once...oh wait that's just me. 😈





What's your skincare routine? Any products you recommend? Let me know in the comments!