It’s been 3 months that we have been staying in the US. When I came here in March, it was pretty cold. The skincare products that I had brought here with me were not working on my too-dry skin. Thankfully most of the things I got were sample sizes, and those got over quickly. So here came a situation that was quite challenging for me. I decided on a budget and had to build up a skincare routine with the minimum possible products.
So my target was to build a routine with products costing less than $10. Given my skin condition at that time, it was quite a challenge. My skin was extremely dry, I had blackheads and open pores, and it looked dull. So I had to address hydration, brightening and tightening my skin, and improving my skin barrier. After much research, I focused on products that scream “hydration”. So I started this routine almost 2 and a half months back and continue it.
Here is the routine:
1. Micellar Water: This is something which I use at night when I apply makeup. This is to remove the makeup from my face and the first cleansing step. The one product that I am using is Bioderma Sensibio ($6)
2. Water-Based Cleanser: I do this twice daily, no matter what. Even on nights, I do not apply makeup, I use this cleanser 2 times for double cleansing. I was looking for a foaming cleaner, but I found a gentle cleanser, which was much better. I am using the Equate Beauty Gentle Skin Cleanser ($6.98)
3. Toner: Hydration, hydration and hydration. That is the key to getting great skin. I have already been following the Korean 7-skin method in India, and here I decided to provide the maximum hydration. And here comes a hydrating toner, and I chose the Loreal Hydrafresh toner ($5.37)
4. Serum: This was the most challenging decision as I had many issues to address. I had blemish marks, blackheads, open pores, dullness, dryness…OOOH! And I got a perfect serum to deal with it. This serum has 30% Vitamin C, 10% Vitamin E, 10% Hyaluronic acid and 5% Niacinamide. The serum is Sky Bliss 4 in-1 serum ($8.99)
5. Moisturizer: Since my skin barrier was compromised, I had to select something with calming and moisturizing properties. I opted for a cream moisturizer, the Laguna Moon Moisturizing Cream ($3.99). It has Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, Chamomile, Glycerin, and I was pretty bowled by the ingredient list.
6. Sunscreen: I got my sunscreen from India. It is the most hydrating sunscreen that I have ever used. It is the JM Solution Marine Luminous Pearl Sunstick ($ 11.99)
Current Skin Condition
With BB Cream
CWell, this is what my everyday skincare routine looks like. Since I follow the double cleansing method at night, my open pores and blackheads have been much-taken care of. The texture of my skin has improved so much, and I have also got back my glow. Please note that I follow a pampering night once a week when I use a sheet mask and a sleeping mask. (I got these from India)
