My Updated Ultra-Hydrating Skincare Routine
Up until the last several months I have used the same skincare products from Beautycounter, the Countertime Regimen Set, for years. I genuinely loved all of the products as a more gentle alternative to retinol and the night cream is still one of the best I have ever used! In fact, I still swear by the cleansing oil. But I felt like my skin was starting to feel a little dull and after using the same products year-after-year, I had the urge to switch things up. I decided to visit the AILLEA in Park Road shopping center for a consultation with their esthetician, Melissa, and find some new products to try. My goal: hydration, even skin-tone and brightening. I shared all about my experience in this blog post, but I wanted to provide an update on what I kept in my routine and what I’ve added since.
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I try to keep my routine streamlined in the mornings, then stack additional products in the evening when I have more time to myself. Here is a quick breakdown:
Morning Skincare Routine:
- CLEANSE: Ursa Major Making Moves Milky Cleanser (optional*)
- PREP: Maya Chia The Optimist
- TREAT: 2 drops of Kypris Antioxidant Dew
- PROTECT: CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture** + Indie Lee Restorative Eye Cream
Evening Skincare Routine:
- CLEANSE: Beautycounter Countertime Cleansing Oil
*If my skin needs extra love, I’ll double cleanse with the Ursa Major Making Moves Milk Cleanser (link above) - PREP: Maya Chia The Optimist
- TREAT: Alternate*** using the Biossance Vitamin C Rose Oil and Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel
- PROTECT: CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture + Indie Lee Restorative Eye Cream
- PAMPER: Facial massage with the Mount Lai Jade Roller
Of course I have a few notes for you:
*I don’t always cleanse my face in the mornings. *cue dramatic gasp* If I workout in the morning or just feel the need to, then I’ll use the Ursa Major Making Moves Milky Cleanser. I’ll occasionally leave it on an extra 30-60 seconds for some exfoliation while I wash my body or hair in the shower. BUT on days where I can skip the AM cleanse I do! I just don’t think it’s totally necessary in a morning skincare routine. In this case, I just spritz some of The Optimist on a cotton pad, gently swipe it over my skin, then follow the rest of my AM regimen.
**It’s easy to overdo it on the CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture when paired with the Kypris Antioxidant Dew for daytime. In the morning I recommend using just a pea-sized amount and pressing it onto your skin.
***I alternate my PM treatments so I can get the benefits of both. Since the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel is an exfoliant, I don’t use it in the same day I exfoliate with my Ursa Major cleanser and I try not to use it more than 3 times a week. The easiest way for me to do this is using the peel Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. All other days of the week I’m using the Biossance Vitamin C Rose Oil.
If I had to choose a holy grail product from my routine…I would have to choose two: the Biossance Vitamin C Rose Oil and the Kypris Antioxidant Dew.
The Biossance Vitamin C Rose Oil has consistently performed. It can be a little tricky to find the right balance of moisture in my skincare routine with my rosacea, especially when it comes to facial oils, and this one is like liquid gold. Every time I use it I notice my skin feels hydrated, looks brighter and the tone is more even. I use 4-5 drops at night and if I use it during my morning routine I use 3 drops. As you can imagine, the bottles last a long time! I’ve had my bottle for 6 months, used it regularly for 4 of them, and still have some product to use.
Finally, the Kypris Antioxidant Dew is a serum that provides deep hydration and nourishment with a formula that includes antioxidants, amino acids and soothing botanicals. It can be used both AM and PM, which I did initially when I was trying to repair dry skin. Now that my skin is more balanced I use it as part of my AM routine. You really only need 1 or 2 drops to cover your face and neck depending on how dry it is. You’ll know by how quickly it absorbs haha! Just apply creating a “3” motion moving from the middle of your forehead to your cheekbone and your jaw. Let set before applying facial oil or moisturizer.
If you’re interested in trying some of these products in person check for an AILLEA location near you! I also wanted to include a list of all of my favorite places to shop for clean beauty, both in-store and online:
Want to know more about the products mentioned in today’s post? Have a question about my skincare routine? Send me a DM on Instagram or leave a comment below so we can connect!
