Updated Skincare Routine

I was prompted by a reader to write about my skincare routine a couple of months ago. You can read about it here. After getting another comment recently, I realized that I no longer follow that routine and wanted to update everyone. My skin has changed since then and I'm sure several of your faces have changed as well. We grow, gain weight, lose weight, stress out, and so many other things to affect our skin. So things need to evolve.

I don't think I mentioned this last time, but I went off birth control last year and come three months later, my face was a HOT MESS. That's when I started using the OXY Maximum Face Wash. After many many months of nothing happening, I decided to finally see a dermatologist.

She recommended switching to a very mild facial soap and prescribed an acne medicine called Ziana. After using it for a few months, there has been improvement, but it's not completely cleared up yet. If you've been prescribed a similar medication, you were probably told that it would get worse before it got better. And it's true. It sucks, but it's true.

This is now how I clean my face:

I first use a facial cleansing wipe (or two) to remove all of the makeup. Any hypocomedogenic brand will work but I use wipes by LA Fresh. It was free in my October Ipsy bag so why not, right?!

I then cleanse my face with Cetaphil oil-control foam wash. I first bought Cetaphil daily face cleanser but it was not foaming so I didn't feel like my face was getting clean. The foaming soap is nearing its end so I'm thinking about pouring the other in its' bottle. I've read on Pinterest that when you do that, the foaming action will still hold true.

Next I shake the bottle of makeup remover, pour a little on a cotton ball, and swipe off the remaining eye makeup from the surrounding areas. My favorite is the Wal-Mart brand that compares to the Neutrogena makeup remover.

I apply a pea-sized amount of Ziana to my entire face and wash my hands afterwards. I'm not really sure what happens if I leave it on my hands but they stress to always wash it off.

Finally, I apply moisturizer to my entire face and neck and call it a night. I didn't use to regularly wear it but I swear by it now especially in these colder months. My absolute favorite is Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer for combination skin.

And to add that extra special step, I like to either schedule a facial at my local spa once a month or apply my own mask. I'm still on the hunt for my favorite brand of at-home masks. So if you have a brand you can't live without, I'd definitely LOVE to hear about it in the comments below!

If you're curious about an acne medication, please visit your dermatologist and let the experts advise you. Ziana works for me but it might not for your skin.

I'm linking up with Random Wednesday, Whatever Whenever Wednesday, and So What Wednesday!