My Skincare Routine

When my acne reached its lowest point about a year ago, I decided enough was enough and started following a basic skincare regimen. Up until that point, I didn't follow any kind of skincare regimen. I would wash my face once a day (during my morning shower) and I would go to bed without removing my makeup. Granted, I didn't wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis - only kajal, lipstick and some compact powder. But still, I was not taking care of my skin in any shape or form. Once the acne issue started, I figured the most basic skincare routine would be enough to get my perfect skin back - cleanse, tone and moisturize. I was wrong. It did nothing.

Since then, my routine has gone through quite a number of changes, but I won't bore you with all the tedious details of why and how my routine has changed over the past couple of months. Here's the daily routine that I am following currently. It seems to be working well enough for me so far.

Step 1 - Remove Makeup:

I put two drops of Bio Oil onto a small piece of cotton and wipe off the kajal from under my eye. I repeat this for my other eye. For my lips, I use one drop of oil instead of two. I suppose you can use any kind of oil to remove the makeup, but I like using Bio Oil because I find that it makes my lashes grow longer and stronger. A 60 ml bottle of Bio Oil is available on Nykaa for Rs. 316. I use the oil only on my eyes and lips, but if you're going to use it on your face, make sure the oil you're using is non-comedogenic. Bio Oil is supposedly non-comedogenic, but I had a breakout when I put it on my face, so please be careful with whatever oil you put on your face.

Step 2 - Cleanse:

I don't have a preference for any brand of cleanser. I just make sure that I am using something which is super gentle on my face since I have sensitive skin. Right now, I am using the Biotique Bio White Advance Fairness Face Wash. A 300 ml bottle of this gel-based face wash costs Rs. 180 on 

Nykaa which is really cheap. What I like about this face wash is that it is 100% soap-free and it has a lot of fruit extracts which are supposed to brighten your skin. It cleanses your face without stripping all the moisture from it. In the past, I have also used The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Acerola Cleansing Foam, a 170 ml tube 

of which retails at Rs. 270 on Nykaa, which is a good deal I think. This face wash is also super gentle on your face while doing a pretty good job at cleansing. If I have any active pimples on my face, I use the Aroma Magic Neem and Tea Tree Face Wash, a 100 ml tube of which is available on Nykaa for Rs. 144. 

Also, I use a silicon cleansing pad for washing my face. I was really skeptical when I bought it, but after just one use, I was sold. It cleans my face a lot more effectively than if I was using just my hands. I have very visible blackheads on my nose and after using the pad for the first time, I saw the blackheads reduce significantly in number - something that many nose strips have failed to do. So, I firmly believe in the power of the cleansing pad. It is pretty cheap. I bought mine on Amazon for Rs. 170 from a brand called Okayji, but there are numerous similar options on Amazon.

Step 3 - Tone:

I tone my face with my homemade toner - apple cider vinegar, rose water and distilled water mixed in the ratio 1:1:1. I usually mix a tablespoon each of the 3 ingredients to make about 50 ml of toner. This will easily last me a couple of weeks at least. I'm sure all of you know how to use a toner. I just wet a piece of cotton ball with the liquid and wipe my entire face with it, especially focusing on the acne prone areas.

Step 4 - First Anti-Acne Treatment:

This is when I put on my pimple cream - Biotique Bio Winter Green Spot Correcting Anti Acne Cream. I used to use a spot correcting face pack, but it lengthened my routine considerably since I had to wait for the pack to dry and then wash it off. So, I prefer this cream immensely. This cream gets absorbed into the skin very quickly and it is very lightweight. I saw a visible difference in my acne and acne scars after using this cream for only a few times. So, yeah, I would say this works for me really well. A 15 gm tub of this cream is available on Nykaa at Rs. 149.

Step 5 - Moisturizer for Face:

I use my DIY night cream containing shea butter, turmeric essential oil and lemon essential oil. You can find out how to make it here. I have only been using this for a few days, but this keeps my skin nicely moisturized and it also hasn't caused any breakouts, which is a win-win in my book.

Step 6 - Fine Lines and Hyperpigmentation treatment:

I originally bought the Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream to use as a moisturizer, but it broke me out after the first use. Still I didn't want the product to go to waste, so I have been using it as a sort of anti-aging and anti-pigmentation cream since it has skin regenerative properties. I use it on the fine lines around my eyes and the laugh lines around my mouth. I also use it generally all around my mouth, which is where I have hyperpigmentation. I bought a 45 ml tube of this product from a seller called Rasabeauty for Rs. 700.

Step 7 - Second Anti-Acne Treatment:

I take a drop of tea tree essential oil on my finger and gently apply it on my acne and acne scars. The oil I use is from Aroma Treasures and a 10 ml bottle costs Rs. 230 on Nykaa.

Step 8 - Moisturizer for Lips:

I use the Biotique Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm to moisturize my lips. I have pigmented lips and this has helped in lightening the skin on my lips a little bit. What it does best though is keep my lips soft and moisturized.

Apart from this, I also use a sheet mask and a face pack once a week.

And that's it guys! This routine has worked great for me so far. I will post an update if anything changes!