Simple Beauty: My Extra Easy Skincare Routine

Hi beauties! I’m here to do a rundown of my extra simple face skincare routine. It’s fuss-free, affordable & for me, super effective. Before I get into it though, I should start by giving a rundown of my skincare history as it’s been a point of frustration for a lot of my life.

Since I was in middle school, or around that time, I had major acne problems. This prob was so bad, in fact, that my dermatologist recommended Accutane, a prescription pill meant to treat severe acne. Accutane is widely-known for its nasty side effects including the potential of birth defects for pregnant women. I actually took Accutane at two different periods of my life.

Unfortunately, despite how strong this drug is, my acne came back in college. So I needed something else. Among other things, I tried Proactive, which didn’t work for me at all. Maybe it didn’t work because I couldn’t seem to keep up with the intense 3-step system twice a day everyday. And on top of Proactive being very finicky, drying my cleansed face after using the Proactive products actually bleached my bath towels. They didn’t say that in the info-mercial (just sayin’). I’ve also been known to take hormonal birth control for it’s skin-clearing properties, which, depending on the brand/type, worked at certain points in my life. Moral of the story, my skin has not always been clear and I’ve tried a lot of things to get it under control.

Fast-forward to today when someone would look at me and say that I have clear skin. Sure, blemishes happen every now & again, but overall, my skin is the least of my worries. It’s interesting because now that I’m off birth control, super charged acne medications & harsh “miracle” products (aka the products that were supposed to cure my skin issues), miraculously my skin is better than ever.

This could be due to a variety of reasons, but I personally believe that two of the main factors are 1) my skincare routine & 2) my diet choices. I noticed my face becoming very clear sometime after my switch to a real-food, plant-forward diet. Makes sense since an increase in whole grains, fresh produce & plant-foods, along with a decrease in sugar, processed foods & dairy, have been linked to a clear & fresh-faced complexion.

Another factor when it comes to my clear skin could be my non-toxic face-care routine, which is as minimal as it gets, without doing nothing at all. Choosing a select few non-toxic products keeps nasty ingredients away from my precious skin & endocrine system, which is important for my overall health. Furthermore, if those so-called nasties can negatively affect my endocrine system & contribute to illness, the logical conclusion is that they could also be messing with my pores & causing acne, when they’re supposed to be curing it.

After years and years of trying every new product under the sun, I’ve now committed to routine simplicity. I keep my routine simple for a few reasons. I truly believe that consistency equals success, so by keeping it simple I’m also able to keep it consistent. I also tend to gravitate to a less is more mentality and I try my best not to partake in the “consumer culture” as little as possible and that means choosing my purchases carefully & mindfully. Do I need more than my three facial care products that work for me? Not right now.

And with that, I present to you my face-care routine for dummies – fuss-free, mindful, affordable & effective.

1. Acure brand Brightening Cleansing Gel

This is my main product, my ride-or-die. It’s gentle, effective & I use it almost everyday. I say “almost everyday” because, confession, some days I don’t wash my face at all (like if I’m not showering and not wearing makeup or if I just don’t freakin’ feel like it).

2. Acure brand Brightening Facial Scrub

I use this non-toxic, cruelty-free scrub 2-3 times per week. It instantly transforms my complexion, smoothes skin & removes dead skin cells. I legit love this stuff.

3. CocoKind brand Chia Facial Oil

This product has just two ingredients, organic chia oil & organic chamomile. The omega-3’s in the chia oil are meant to create a youthful glow while providing serious hydration & an antioxidant boost. This is a great moisturizer for day & night, and it absorbs very quickly. By the way, I spent most of my life thinking that I couldn’t put even a drop of oil anywhere near my face, based solely on a commonly held myth & hear-say. Trust me when i say that this CocoKind facial oil is a skincare hero, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

4. BONUS – a real-food & plant-focused diet

I’m not telling you to go vegan, or even vegetarian, but the idea of food & diet affecting skin quality is not just my personal conclusion. An increase in nutrient-rich foods (like produce, nuts, seeds & organic soy) and a decrease in sugar, dairy & processed foods, have been shown to have a significant impact on your skin. Want more info? Check out the kick-ass women behind The Clear Skin Diet. And be sure to try out my plant-packed farro salad (shown below)!