My five-product, five-minute skincare routine

Here's how I maintain glowing skin with minimal effort

If you know me at all, you know that I take my skincare pretty seriously. I am a purist when it comes to the basic rules of skincare: don’t forget your neck and never leave your house without SPF. The thing about skincare is that it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. And because of the abundance of products on the market, it’s easy to get intimidated by it.

If you’re a low-effort gal like me who likes to keep things simple, I’m here to offer you my 5-product, 5-minute skincare routine that has helped me keep my skin glowing and soft.

Warnings: Before you try any new products, test a little spot on your skin first to ensure you do not have any negative reactions to the ingredients, especially if you are known to have sensitive skin. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, always check with your doctor first before using skincare products.

Step #1: Cleansers

After trying countless cleansers, these two have become my mainstays. Because I have naturally dry, red skin, my top priority is hydration. It’s so easy to find cleansers that will completely dry out your skin, but these cleansers keep your skin hydrated and happy.

How to use:

In the mornings, I usually just use micellar water to cleanse my face. To start, pour a little of the water on a cotton round and gently wipe around your face and neck. The micelles in the micellar water actually act like a magnet, pulling all impurities and oils from the night before. You’ll be able to see it on your cotton round!

At night, start your cleansing routine with micellar water; it serves as a gentle makeup remover and cleanser. (Ditch the makeup wipes!) Then, wet your face with warm water and apply the CeraVe hydrating cleanser to your face and neck, gently rubbing it in circles around your skin. Rinse the product off and lightly dab your face with a clean towel.

A little bit about my skincare history:

I used to think (before I got into skincare) that choosing harsh, drying face washes was the only way to get rid of acne and blemishes. (Anyone else go through the Biore charcoal phase in high school? Yikes!) Turns out I only had acne because I was purging my skin of all its natural oils and never hydrating. Learn from my mistakes. Your skin needs hydration and will look and feel better because of it.

Step #2: Rosewater Toner

Rosewater toner is a little luxury that everyone should have in their skincare cabinet. Toner removes impurities and dirt, balances your skin’s pH levels, minimizes pores, hydrates, strengthens your skin’s natural barrier, and helps your other skincare products work better. I also use it to calm my redness, as rosewater toner also has anti-inflammatory properties! So basically, it’s a miracle in a bottle.

Rosewater toner should be used after cleansing your face and before applying additional products. But I also like to have a little in a spray bottle for a quick refresh throughout the day!

How to use:

Rosewater toner can come in a spray or pourable bottle. If you have a spray bottle, simply spray your entire face and neck with the product. If you have a pourable bottle, pour the toner on a cotton pad and gently wipe your face and neck.

Do not let the toner completely dry before continuing to the next step! The toner actually helps your skin absorb more of the products.

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Last week on Leisurely, I shared five ways to make your home feel cozier. Be sure to check it out if you missed it!

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Step #3: Moisturizers

Moisturizing is my favorite step and the CeraVe AM and PM combo makes it really simple to take good care of my skin.

For the morning:

To make life as simple as possible, invest in a good morning moisturizer that already has SPF in it, like this CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.

For the evening:

The CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is lightweight and gives your skin a deep moisture surge before bed.

Why I love these products:

When looking for a moisturizer, I always look to see if hyaluronic acid is on the ingredient list. Hyaluronic acid is a gift for your skin: The ingredient actually attracts moisture to your face and retains that moisture throughout the day. It’s a powerful hydrator that also has the power to minimize your pores and increase the elasticity in your skin over time. Ceramides and niacinamide also do wonders for your skin. (Let me know if you’d like a skincare glossary newsletter in the future and I will go on haha.)

How to use these products:

Always wash your hands before using your fingers to apply products to your skin. Then, apply a pump of the moisturizer to your finger and dab a little all over your face and neck. Gently rub the product into your skin.

Moisturizer will always be the last step in your routine, so if you do have any other serums or creams, be sure to apply them before this step.

Do you have any skincare recommendations? I’d love to hear them!

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