Just four little steps to healthy, balanced skin...
The Twinkle Apothecary approach to skincare is actually pretty simple. When you use high quality, nutrient dense plant-based ingredients, there's no need to get too fancy! These products work because they allow your skin to do what it's meant to do - balance and heal itself.
As much as I LOVE making and sharing products that help heal your skin, I've struggled to write and share about skincare lately - probably because after nine years in the game (and being perfectly happy with my own very routine routine all the while,) I feel like I've already said everything I have to say on the subject. So, I've linked to other blogs I've already written about skincare at the end of this post. Be sure to read them and/or save this post for later if you'd like more information about how these minimally processed products work.
Today, I'd like to share a nice, basic, all-natural skincare routine - which is based on my personal routine - but with a lot of options to make it your own, because only you know what your skin needs on any given day.
I recommend the starter skincare set ($55) to get your natural skincare journey going. These four products are all you need to get a good idea of how your skin will respond. Follow the steps below and stick with it for at least a couple of weeks to see full results!
Now, the following may seem like a lot of information, but I'm sharing it because I want you to feel empowered to do your own thing. Don't get overwhelmed! Try it out, take what you need and leave what you don't - I promise you cannot mess this up!
Morning Skincare
Eye serum is the very first thing I do, every single morning. I tried skipping it for a few weeks a couple of years ago to see if I could minimize my routine further, but I found that it really does make a difference in de-puffing and waking up my eyes in the mornings. If you don't want any extra bells and whistles feel free to leave it out, or, to use it at the middle or end of your routine instead. Test it out and see what works best for you!
If you've gone to bed with clean skin, your face doesn't need much the next morning. Oil cleansing is a gentle and moisturizing way to remove any dirt or oil that could have become trapped in your pores overnight. I mostly use it as an excuse to gua sha, which seriously perks up my face. Sometimes instead of wiping the oil off with a wash cloth I just rinse it off in the shower, or, wipe it off with a cloth dampened with toner. I usually use my rejuvenating blend oil, but you may prefer a carrier oil like grapeseed, jojoba, or argan, or, a mix of both/everything. Of course you're welcome to powder cleanse instead. Try both and see what you prefer!
This step may sound like the one you can easily pass on, but don't! Acne prone skin will see serious improvements from the witch hazel based toner, while dry skin will drink up the rose or lavender hydrosol. Either way, leave your skin damp while moving onto the next step to lock in the hydration...
Yes, everyone - no matter their skin type - can and should moisturize with oil. If you are new to facial oil, it may feel like too much at first. Give it a couple of weeks, and your skin will be drinking it up! You can stop with oil, you can follow the oil with butter or filter balm, or you can mix any of this into your foundation. You will see softer, more evenly-toned skin, and amazingly - for my fellow oily skin types - your skin will become more balanced as it will no longer need to overproduce its own oil.
Honorable mention step #5: acne spot treatment. Roll this on at the end of your routine and let it dry before applying your makeup!
Ditto that for nighttime too...
Nighttime Skincare
Again, oil cleansing is a great first step at nighttime for removing makeup. Whether you wear eye tint or a conventional mascara, this is 100% the most gentle way to take it off! If you didn't wear makeup you can skip this step. Or, you can choose to skip the following step two and only oil cleanse. But don't underestimate the power of an occasional "double cleanse," especially if you're someone with easily clogged pores.
This is the step that truly elevates your nighttime routine - the powder cleanse/face mask treatment portion of the evening! Powder cleansers may seem complicated and messy at first, but this blend of oats, clay, and aloe effectively cleanses while protecting your skin barrier, unlike most foaming liquid/cream cleansers and soaps.
Here's what I keep at home: a big bottle of the cleanser base, with small bottles of the pore-refining and exfoliating boosts to mix in at the sink, depending on what I think my skin needs that day. Most nights, I just use the base on its own. I probably use the pore-refining boost once or twice a week, and the exfoliating boost about once a month or so? That said, most of my customers buy the cleanser pre-mixed with the boost of their choice. Either way works. I'm happy to offer options for everyone!
For the billionth time I say - do not skip toner. I sometimes like to think of toner as a second (or third, if you're double cleansing) cleansing step. The idea is to go to bed with your skin sparkling clean, and toner helps remove any extra debris lurking in your pores. It brings your skin back to its preferred acidic state after cleansing. It adds a boost of hydration if you're dry. It really does make a difference.
Now that your skin is sparkling clean, it's time to add back some repairing moisture. A few drops of oil, followed by butter to seal it all in overnight. Of course, you're welcome to stop with oil. You're welcome to use butter instead of oil. You're welcome to use filter balm at night instead of butter! The point is to moisturize. I always like to follow with a facial rolling session, which I find helps everything soak in nicely. And of course, acne spot treatment if necessary.
And that's the official-yet-customizable and completely natural Twinkle Apothecary skincare routine!
To learn more about why this works so well, check out the following posts:
What is Microbiome Friendly Skincare?
Simple Skin Care Routines for Morning and Night
