Lunya - Making the Most Of Your Evenings with Skincare

By Michelle Duque

My mom was blessed with naturally beautiful skin, and she instilled in me from an early age the appreciation for a minimalistic approach to skincare—after all, her go-to routine was Pond’s cold cream and a cleanser. When I came into my own routine, I realized quickly that less is more when it comes to beauty.

Skincare can be simple, fast, and cost-effective. Taking time to make my skincare routine a priority every day helps me to unwind in the evening and has become a sort of therapy for me. It gives me the chance to slow down; I’ve created a space where I’m able to clearly think and connect with myself. I’ve also noticed confidence develop that wasn’t there before.

I know the frustration of trying what “on paper” should be the perfect routine for your skin. There’s an undeniable excitement to try a popular product for the first time—but then to find out it serves no purpose or the discouragement that comes when there is ultimately no improvement in your skin. For a while, I was trying all the samples, buying all the products, watching all the YouTube videos, and definitely using too many anti-aging products.

But then it hit me: There is no one-size-fits-all routine. Each person’s routine is individual to them. Once you find the right combination of products for you, it’s a totally different experience because you’ll be able to see real results. Finding products or specific ingredients that work for you is the key to developing your personal skincare routine.

The biggest skincare misconception is that expensive equals results. But this isn’t always the case! I’ve ditched my high-ticket moisturizer for one I found that truly works for me—and of all the moisturizers I’ve tried (it’s a lot), it’s helped combat my combination skin the most. My go-to products are CeraVe moisturizer, Goop SPF sunscreen, Ole Henriksen Truth Serum, Consonant foaming face wash, Thayers toner, The Ordinary products, and a lip moisturizer (Glossier or Laneige’s lip sleeping mask are my go-to’s).

One thing I’ve learned in the process of creating my skincare routine is that it’s okay to mix-and-match products! We live in a time where information is so accessible, there’s no reason not to utilize it. Reviews are a great way to determine whether something is worth buying and it’s essential to do the research into what ingredients are being used in a product.

I understand it can be challenging to carve out the time to do something every single day. Some days I just slap on my moisturize and crawl into bed—which is also okay. It’s important to listen to what your body needs.

Ultimately, the way you spend your evenings is personal and unique to you. I enjoy my skincare routine because it’s dedicated time I spend on my own mental health and well-being. I look at my skincare routine as a way to invest in myself. This will likely look different for you—and that’s fine. The main goal is to find things and routines that make you feel good.

 

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