Minimalist Skincare for 2024

Happy New Year! It's been a while since I last posted on here. Where does the time go? I've been wanting to start writing again for a while now, so today I'll start off the new year with a post about ✨skincare✨.

If you've read my older post Skincare is a Lie (already over 5 years ago!), not much has changed. I still hold true to the belief that skincare is a business but also skincare is personal and should be catered individually to each person. Over the years, I have tried a few different products here and there, but this consistent routine has helped me maintain my skin condition through many life changes. Again, take this information how you want, or not at all, as this is personally what has helped me and may or may not work for you. I just think it'd be worth it to share in case someone out there is looking for ideas in curating a skincare routine.

Note: this post is not sponsored. 😊

Skincare consists of not only products but also lifestyle. So here's a bit of background about me...

I travel regularly throughout the year between a moderately humid climate (Tampa, Florida) and a dry climate (Los Angeles, California). Generally, I would consider myself to have dry-combination skin but I personally focus on hydration regardless of my location as I'm in my late twenties (ahhh) and I want to preserve moisture as much as possible. This goes without saying, and you're probably sick of people saying this, but I try to hydrate inside-out by drinking at least 1 Liter of water a day.

The tap water quality here in the United States is also not the best (IYKYK). I notice a significant improvement in my hair and skin when I'm in Japan, even when I'm there in the winter when the air is very cold and dry. For the 5+ years that I've stuck to this routine, my skin has generally stayed the same in whatever country I'm in, and I haven't had any major breakouts for a while now.

Here's a simple breakdown of my nightly routine:

Oil-based Cleanser to remove any makeup.

Water-based Cleanser to remove any leftover residue for a deeper clean.

Serum for added moisture and as a supplement to my skin barrier.

Moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Honestly, sometimes my desire to be a minimalist is rooted in my laziness, so I often omit a couple steps and stick to only Cleanser and Moisturizer.

The products I've been using have also remained consistent over the years. They're my tried and true products that I've emptied out and repurchased a countless number of times. Personally, I get a little nervous when I'm running out of something and I have no backup 😂.

Banila Co. Clean It Zero - There are several versions of this but I stick to the original pink tub. I've tried other cleansing balms that were popular on the market but I find myself going back to this one again and again.

Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser - There's not too much to say about this cleanser except that it's simple and good. Once in a while, I try out another cleanser when I run out of this one, but since I have repurchased this product multiple times, I might as well include it in this post.

Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief Serum - I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this one so if you've never used it before, I would try with caution. This is my personal holy grail, and if I had to choose only one skincare product to use for the rest of my life, I would likely choose this one. Before this product was even sold, I followed Liah Yoo's advice and used pure Tamanu oil for fading my acne scars. The oil alone worked so well for me that I had to purchase this once it was launched, and I haven't turned back since. 👀

Occasionally, I use Aquaphor Healing Ointment for my lips and whenever I notice dry patchy spots on my cheeks... this was super helpful for me last winter in Japan when the cold wind would dry out my skin.

Once every couple weeks, I also like to use an AHA/BHA mask for chemical exfoliation at night after cleansing. Currently I'm using The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution as a much more affordable alternative to the expensive Drunk Elephant Tsukari Babyfacial I used to buy. I think The Ordinary will last me a while but I will definitely end up repurchasing it from now on instead of DE.

As for my morning skincare, I tend to keep it simple by splashing my face with water and applying sun cream. Since my skin is double cleansed the night before, I don't feel a need to over do it in the morning as cleansing it again might dry out my skin more. 

I am currently loving the Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief cream - it keeps my skin hydrated and has SPF 50.

Finally, my not-so-secret skincare routine along with my holy-grail products for 2024 has been published. Actually, I'm still on the search for a solid moisturizer. While I tried a few popular ones on the market last year, I can't seem to find one that I love (enough to justify the price) and will repurchase that's worth it to mention here. Any recommendations?

What's in your skincare routine? I would love to know~

❤️