Ever since I was pregnant, I’ve become so much lazier in taking care of my skin. I just don’t have the enthusiasm to pamper myself and maintain a tedious routine in that matter. However, my skin’s condition just does not allow me to remain indolent about it.
Within the first few weeks of pregnancy I started getting tiny little breakouts in my chin area, which is known to be the “hormonal area” in an acne face map. So I had to do something to keep them ugly breakouts at bay, but I knew I had to keep my routine quick and simple, which is why you’ll see a majority of products that I use in the morning serve more than one purpose.
Using multifunctional products is key when you’re lazy, but need results!
First thing I do when I wake up is, of course, brush my teeth. Once that’s done I wash my hands clean and immediately wet my face to start cleansing it.
I used to use the
SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser but recently ran out. I purchased another cleanser to replace it, the
La Roche Posay Lipikar Syndet, but realized that that one is better off being my in-shower cleanser because it also works as a body wash. My in-shower cleanser used to be the Michael Todd Charcoal Detox cleanser but I had to put that aside as it was way too drying for my skin right now. (I don’t like having just one cleanser because taking it in to and out of the shower is such an inconvenience).
Fortunately I had a brand new and unused small Fresh Soy Face Cleanser standing idly by in my beauty backup stash, so I figured I’ll just use it for cleansing my face in the bathroom sink.
On days when my skin feels normal and problem-free I’d just apply the cleanser and massage it in with my fingers. But on days when it’s looking a bit dull, I like using my Habalan PoBling with it. I featured this device in my
SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser review.
This cleanser does not foam up too much, which is exactly what I need in a cleanser because if it does, it could end up stripping my skin off of its natural oils and it’ll end up feeling dry and looking flaky. It’s important to choose a cleanser that does not dry out your skin too much during the winter! (And for preggo mamas out there, the skin is so much more sensitive during pregnancy, so it’s important to have a gentle yet effective cleanser.)
Once that’s done, I pat my skin dry with my face towel.
And yes, I have a towel reserved solely for the purpose of drying my face. Hygiene plays a pretty crucial role in skincare! 🙂
When I have clear skin I would honestly skip this step and go straight to Step 3. After I dry my face, I immediately follow up with toner and I’m currently using the First Aid Beauty Blemish Patrol Pads, which is an acne treatment that contains Salicylic Acid.
I only use this in the morning because:
- it’s not as strong as my nighttime acne spot treatment, and
- it works as a toner and an acne treatment
Hitting two birds with one stone, right? Saves time in the morning!
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Now, I’ve heard and read conflicting arguments with regards to the topical use of acne-combatting ingredients, such as Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide, during pregnancy. I used to completely stop using any acne treatments because of random articles and comments on the Internet saying that these ingredients will cause abnormalities in the baby’s growth.
However, the best thing to do is to directly consult your concerns with your doctor. Both my GP (general practitioner doctor) and Obstetrician gave me the green light to keep using those acne treatments, and also, Dr. Neal Schultz from DermTV (video below) said that almost all skincare products are safe during pregnancy with the exception of Retinol.
So, as three professionals (doctor, obstetrician and dermatologist) have assured me that Salicylic Acid and even Benzoyl Peroxide is fine to use, I thought, why not?
However, I did notice that those ingredients are too harsh for use on my skin during pregnancy because of my heightened sensitivity. So I only use these whenever I have to a.k.a sparingly.
My moisturizer in step 5 provides adequate moisture and hydration for me on most days, but when my skin is particularly drier than usual, I like applying hydrating serums before using moisturizer and sunscreen.I’m pretty sure I will skip this step during the Summer, but it’s mid-Winter here in Australia so I definitely need additional moisture and hydration!
Current one I’m loving is the Chantecaille Vital Essence – but it’s so darn expensive! It’s about US$108 on Nordstrom and AU$139.50 (which I got for AU$107 after a 23% discount on StrawberryNet) for a 50 ml bottle that actually would only last me about 3 months if used day and night every day. I’m almost halfway through this bottle which I’ve only started using twice a day last month!
It has a gel texture and turns rather watery upon application, but somehow has a tacky/sticky finish. It’s not greasy at all, just sticky. The best way to avoid the tackiness is to apply this on damp skin. So what I like to do is to apply this immediately (as quickly as possible) after I’ve applied my FAB Blemish Patrol Pads. Or, if I’m not using a toner that day, I pat my wet face very lightly, leaving it slightly damp, and then apply this serum. It somehow gets absorbed into the skin so much faster this way, and dries out so much smoother.
So, I’m currently looking for a substitute ($107 for a product that lasts 3 months is insane) and have been experimenting with the Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum, which I’ve got in a tiny 5 ml bottle. I love the gel moisturizer so much as a Summer moisturizer, which is why I decided to give this a try.
It retails for US$97.50 in Nordstrom and AU$109.50 before discounts in StrawberryNet, but only AU$87 in Sasa! It’s only a $30 difference but since a tiny amount goes a long way with the Chanel serum, a 30 ml bottle could probably last me around 8-9 months.
So far it’s doing a really good job, I love the scent and love how moisturizing it feels. It actually really helps with flaky skin around my nose, chin and mouth area. Also, the finish isn’t tacky at all.
Sadly, it’s poorly rated on Paula’s Choice, but whatever, it is so highly praised on Makeup Alley with a 4.4/5 rating!
In the mornings, I love using tinted eye treatments because it does two things: treat and conceal, and this one is my favorite because the rollerball helps with blood circulation too. Perfect for my no-makeup days!
Sadly, I’ve ran out of my Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller and haven’t been able to find it anywhere!
Turns out it has been reformulated in Australia, it is now called the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Eye Roll-On, which I think would be a much thicker formula (ideal for winter?).Â
I will be purchasing this soon and hope it’ll be just as good, if not better, than the original.
For the time being I’ve just been using my nighttime eye cream (
Kate Somerville Cytocell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream), which isn’t that great – actually does
not work at all. LOL. But, oh well. I’m on a mission to finish it by the end of the month, and will repurchase my Garnier soon.
During the winter, I like using moisturizers that double up as sunscreen. This one is my favorite because it’s so lightweight, not greasy, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin. It has a pleasant smell too although it’s non-fragranced, usually non-fragranced products smell medicinal or pasty. This is also non-comedogenic, perfectly safe for sensitive and acne prone skin.
On days when I require much more sun protection, I would use my trusty Nivea Sun Super Water Gel SPF 50 PA+++ sunscreen, which is a water-gel (gel when pumped out, but turns to water when blended) texture sunscreen that goes on clear like water and it seriously feels just like having water on your skin. So refreshing and hydrating without any of the greasiness and discomfort.
So I hope you enjoyed this read and got some insights on how to keep up a low maintenance yet effective skincare routine!
Will post a nighttime routine soon! Stay tuned!
XO
