What are your skincare secrets?

In Part 2 of our Self-Care and Skincare Conversations, Joan—my best friend—and I share our basic skincare secrets. We’re two best friends with two different skin types at different places in our skincare journey, so our basic skincare routines (and products) look different, too.

If you’re at the beginning of creating your basic skincare routine or if you already have your basics and need more, there’s something for you to try below!

Missed Part 1? Read our skincare and self-care rapid-fire Q&A here.

What does a basic skincare routine mean to you?

Joan: A basic routine is your meat and potatoes. When things go wrong, this is what you go back to.

Jel: Basic is what I currently do, haha. I’m still experimenting with my basic skincare routine and products.

Joan: But you have the steps down.

Jel: I have the steps down, it’s just about filling in what my go-to products are for each step when things go bad. It’s hard to work with hella combo skin…

What are your basic, no frills, quick and easy skincare steps, starting with your mornings?

Joan: Before going to bed, I leave a full glass of water on my desk right next to my bed. I cleanse, vitamin-c serum, sunscreen.

Jel: How do you cleanse your face? Do you do anything special?

Joan: I just focus on washing my face. I try not to think about anything else.

Jel: You don’t moisturize?

Joan: I’m trying to make sunscreen a daily habit and I’ve found a sunscreen that moisturizes well enough. I also have oily skin…so, it doesn’t take a lot to moisturize.

Jel: I start by drinking water, too. We (my boyfriend and I) usually keep a water bottle by the bed. I don’t typically drink a full glass of water—I’d like to, but I’m not there yet. On good days or when I’m in a rush, I just wash my face with water.

Joan: Wait, just water? It doesn’t dry out your skin?

Jel: Moisturizer.

If my skin or mental health needs more TLC, I’ll use my favorite cleanser.

Joan: Do you do anything special when you wash your face?

Jel: Yes! I do the same where I try not to think of anything else and I simply focus on the sensation of washing my face. My super…weapon, for lack of better words, is that I say affirmations to myself when I’m cleansing. Not out loud! I say them in my head.

Joan: What kind of affirmations?

Jel: Things like, “I am confident. I am resilient. I am soft and gentle and kind.”

Joan: 🥺🥺🥺

Jel: Then, I always use moisturizer. I try to end my routine by using sunscreen, especially if I’m going outside, but quarantine f—d that up.

UPDATE 4/12/2021: KraveBeauty’s Beet Shield has been discontinued indefinitely. For more information, please see KraveBeauty’s statement. Please also look out for an update on my Instagram regarding my personal thoughts and why I will continue to use my remaining KraveBeauty sunscreen.

What products do you use for your basic morning skincare steps?

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Joan: For cleanser, I’m currently using Cetaphil. I bought a pack from Costco. It’s not my favorite, but it doesn’t break me out. So, I’m going to use what I have. My favorite morning cleansers are CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser or Cosrx Good Morning Gel Cleanser.

Jel: Oh, I’m allergic to Cetaphil and CeraVe.

Joan: Damn, that sucks for you. A lot of people recommend those two brands for sensitive skin.

Jel: Yeah, I’ve heard, but when I was a baby those products didn’t work for me. Aveeno Baby all the way. I also like their eczema therapy, but I don’t use Aveeno for my face.

Joan: That’s hilarious because I’m allergic to Aveeno.

Jel: How are we friends? 😂😂

Joan: I’m also trying the Derma-E’s Vitamin C Serum. I’m still playing around with different serums, but so far I’m liking it.

For sunscreen, I use Innisfree or the Sunprise sunscreen. I think Korean sunscreen offers a better user experience. It doesn’t feel icky or gross. I’m so glad they’re becoming more available.

Jel: For cleanser, I love using KraveBeauty’s Matcha Hemp Cleanser. David (my boyfriend) uses it, too.

Moisturizer, I usually go with First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. I’m still experimenting with moisturizers because I realized that the FAB is a bit too thick in the summer, but it’s currently my go-to moisturizer for when things go bad. I’ve tried their face-specific moisturizer and it’s aight.

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For sunscreen, I love the KraveBeauty Beet Shield.

Joan: I really want to try KraveBeauty! It’s on my skincare wish list.

Jel: Highly recommend KraveBeauty. Their Beet Shield was amazing when I was in the Philippines and it’s perfect for Bay Area or SoCal weather.

What does your basic nighttime skincare routine look like?

Joan: I start with cleansing. If I wore makeup or my skin is feeling extra sweaty or gross, I’ll start with a cleansing balm or cleansing oil. Then, I’ll go in with my cleanser. My nighttime cleanser is “heavier” than my daytime cleanser—just to get the day’s grime off my face. A few times a week or whenever I feel like I have leftover makeup residue, I’ll use my Foreo face cleanser for a deep clean.

My second step is a toner. I “play” with hydrating toner and cleansing/exfoliating toners.

Jel: How do you apply toner?

Joan: If the toner is viscous enough, I’ll apply with my hands and pat-in. If the toner is super liquid-y or if I just want a thin layer, I’ll use a cotton round.

My third step is “treatment.” I play with different serums or layer toners or use some sort of acne cream. It all depends.

Last step is moisturize!

Jel: My nighttime routine is pretty similar to my extra-TLC morning routine. I cleanse and moisturize. Once or twice a week, I might use a toner in between cleansing and moisturizing, especially if my pores feel clogged up. I use a cotton round with the toner because it’s consistency is like water.

What are your nighttime skincare products?

Joan: I feel like I have a long list of products. I’m just gonna mention my favorites. I’ve been testing some Peach & Lily stuff, specifically the cleanser and moisturizer. I’m liking it now that it’s not breaking me out.

Rapid-fire: Bliss Clear Genius Clarifying Toner is keeping the “maskne” at bay. You get the bang for your buck with The Ordinary’s Glycolic Solution. I instantly fell in love with Laniege’s Cream Skin Toner. Sunday Riley’s Good Genes is a tried and true favorite. It’s expensive, but I haven’t found a more affordable alternative. It’s a lot, I know. But I don’t use all of it at once.

Jel: Ummm, haha. I use the same products for night and day. KraveBeauty cleanser and FAB Ultra Repair Cream since it’s colder right now. Additionally, I use KraveBeauty’s Kale-Lalu-yAHA toner.

Tell us more about your favorite skincare step.

Joan: I love my “treatment” step. I’ve got my basics covered and I don’t mess with it that much. My treatment step is my skincare roulette. It’s the step where I’m trying out new products and changing it up. It’s the step where I experiment and ask myself, “What does my skin need right now?”

Jel: Face masks are my favorite. I don’t do it much, but when I do a face mask (or two!) I feel perfectly aligned with my skincare philosophy and approach. Face masks are an opportunity for me to slow down, give my face, mind and soul a little something extra, and it checks off multiple boxes.

Joan: What kind of face masks do you use?

Jel: I do love a good Peach Slices sheet mask, but I also have a sample set of clay masks. My favorite, not from the sample set, is the one Ann shared with me when I last visited you all!

Joan: The Aztec one?

Jel: Yes, the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. A little goes a long way and it’s pretty fast since I can only have it on for max five minutes.

Joan: I don’t like wash-off face masks because I’m lazy. I like overnight face masks—you can set it and forget it.

Jel: I haven’t experimented with overnight masks. I’m not there yet.

My favorite face mask though is a mix-it-yourself matcha honey face mask. I use the matcha powder and the local honey I use to make my own matcha lattes, so there’s no buying anything extra. David and I did one together recently and it was soooo good.

He had a pimple that hurt, so the matcha and honey helped with the inflammation. For me, it helped with my clogged up pores, but it was also an opportunity for me to 1) spend some QT with David, 2) meditate and stretch for 20-30 minutes while I let the mask sit, and 3) pamper myself by slowing down and practicing mindfulness. It was the perfect combination of luxe skincare and self-care that I needed.

Now that we’ve shared our skincare secrets and routines in-depth, that’s it for Part 2 of our Self-Care and Skincare Conversations! In Part 3, Joan and I will dive deep into self-care and self-love.

Bookmark this blog post for the rest of the series and share with a friend who might need some skincare and self-care tips. Better yet, have a skincare date together!