It all started the day i needed to change my suncreen. Well, I tried almost every sunscreen I could find. Big mistake. They all dried out my skin and caused irritation. I ended up switching sunscreens almost everyday for a week, hoping something would work.
It didn’t. It completely ruined my skin barrier.
Before i knew it, my skin which was already sensitive became extremely dry and irritated. New problems kept showing up, and eventually, the driest parts of my cheeks actually started cracking.
Nothing worked anymore. No mask, no magic product. I couldn’t control the sensitivity at all. Then one day, completely by accident, I walked into beauty salon. I explained everything that was going on my skin and that’s when i decided to change all of my products.
Here’s what I’m using now and my skin barrier is healed:
- Centella Ampoule ( Madagascar)
In all my years, nothing has calmed my skin like Centella.
It’s honestly my all time savior for sensitive skin. This ampoule is made with 100% Centella extract, and it works for dry, sensitive, and even acne prone skin.
I’ve actually been using this product for about 10 years back when it had a different green cap and clear packaging ( which i still think was better, by the way). Right now, I use it instead of toner because nothing else has been able to soothe my skin like this.
2. Peeling gel
If you want gentle exfoliation and moisture, I highly recommend this peeling gel.
It’s affordable, and I honestly don’t know how i lived without this product before. I tested it on my hand in the store, and the difference was immediate, the side i used it on looked brighter.
So I bought it right away. It doesn’t dry out my skin at all, and it exfoliates really well. I use it twice a week now and love it.
3. Vitamin C serum
I’ve been using this Serum for about two years. It helps even out my skin tone and fade blemishes really well. Since it contains Vitamin C, it also gives my skin a brighter, healthier look.
4. Moisturizer
If you have dry skin like me, you’ll understand that we cannot live without moisturizer.
In fact, my skin needs moisturizing cream more than serum. Over time, I realized that for sensitive, dry skin, Ceramides work much better than hyaluronuc acid.
This water based cream is amazing. You just apply it once, and your skin stays hydrated until the next worning.
As we age, the ceramides in our skin decrease, so using products with ceramides helps them absorb better.
My skin is extremely dry, so I apply two layers on the driest areas of my face, about 10 minutes apart.
Highly reccomend if you struggle with dry skin and the price is reasonable too.
5. Sunscreen
After everything I went through with suncreen. This one feels like a relief.
It’s water based, lightweight, and doesn’t irritate my skin. It protects against UV rays, dryness and even environmental factors like pollen. It leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated, not sticky or heavy.
It’s easy to wash off in the evening, doesn’t clump, and doesn’t leave any weird residue. I haven’t used it long enough to see long-term results yet, but so far, I really enjoy it.
6. Eyelid cream
This one product i’ve consistently used for a long time. It’s not dramatic, but it does help with dark circles and puffiness, especially since my eyelid skin is very thin.
I know there are stronger options out there, but i like this one because it’s easy to find at drugstore and works well enough for me.
And that’s it my current simple daily routine after completely starting over. Sometimes, your skin just needs you to stop experimenting and start listening. If you’ve gone through something similar or going through similar problem, i hope my journey might help you.
Also, I made a video about my Korean 10 step skincare routine. Feel free to check it out.
