If you’re a busy person who needs a quick skincare routine or someone who loves getting as much sleep as possible before work, we have some quick options for skincare. Even if you’re just someone who prefers things to be simple and sweet, we’ve created a 3 step skincare routine just for you!
#1 The first thing is cleansing.
Granted though, if your skincare routine at night is full proof enough, you may not even have to wash your face with a cleanser in the morning. Like Cassandra, you may just be able to splash water and go. But for someone else who really needs or likes to cleanse in the morning, it’s important to have a cleanser that is not overly stripping. At the same time though, you also want to make sure your cleanser is thorough. If your skin has not been cleansed well, the other products won’t be able to penetrate deeply enough to do their job, especially if it’s a product with actives. So, if you’re looking for an effective cleanser, but also one that is simple and inexpensive, Cassandra would recommend one of these.
PURITO Foam Green Deep Foaming Cleanser - $15
This is the foam and green tea cleanser from Purito, and it’s great if you have oily skin. With a pH of 5.5, this cleanser is very gentle and has a slightly acidic pH just like the skin. It has simple ingredients, and it cleans off oil, grease, and any residue from your hair and pillowcase that may have built up overnight. For dry skin though, this cleanser may be a bit much. On the other hand, if you have combo skin or slightly oily skin, and you want to use something a bit gentle, this is fabulous.
Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser - $10.48
Additionally, this Fresh Start Gel Cleanser from Bubble is a great go-to. It’s primarily made for teenage skin, and this brand actually donates to mental health. Without stripping the skin, it bubbles nicely, and it is absolutely phenomenal.
Troiareuke Pit Cleansing Milk -$59.99
If your skin is very dry, or even if it's mature, Cassandra would recommend this one from TROIAREUKE. It is a cleansing milk that is super hydrating. During the summer, it didn’t quite cut it for Cassandra, but for someone with dry skin, this is amazing, and there’s actually quite a large amount of product within the bottle. It comes out as a milky texture, and it offers a lot of hydrating ingredients. All in all, it’s a quick and effective cleanser.
#2 Next, you want to reach for an antioxidant spray.
You may not have time to layer a vitamin C serum, a pycnogenol, or a green tea vitamin booster. If you’re running late or prefer a minimal and quick skincare routine, you may not care for a toner or essence either. In this case, Cassandra recommends a spray.
NIOD SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE SACCHARIDE MIST -$50
This is not a sunscreen, but there are some medical studies that demonstrate its ability to boost up sunscreen. Cassandra loves the way this spray feels on her skin. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, you can use this spray this before putting on your sunscreen, and it will work as a little antioxidant boost. Antioxidants fight pollutants and free radicals while sunscreen locks the spray in and protects your skin.
#3 Use a sunscreen moisturizer with SPF
Does finding an SPF and a moisturizer seem tedious and extra? Does applying both seem time-consuming? Either way, the truth is, you need SPF, and you need to moisturize. Fortunately, some moisturizers have SPF in them. Here, Cassandra suggests two that are tinted, and two that are not.
Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ -$48
For super oily skin, this one is from Murad, and it’s a non-tinted SPF15. So, you need to reapply more often. Make sure to put it in your bag. The oil control modifier SPF 15 PA+++ is also a very good product for your T-zone if it gets greasy throughout the day.
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel -$12.89
The Watery Sun Gel is one of Cassandra’s favorites. It has hyaluronic acid, it’s non-tinted, and it protects against UVA and UVB.
If you're someone who usually wears makeup or foundation, but has little time, Cassandra would actually recommend the following two.
Colorescience SPF 50 ALL CALM® CLINICAL REDNESS CORRECTOR SPF 50 -$79.98
Cassandra recommends this for slightly dry skin, mature skin, and people who struggle with redness as well as breakout breakouts. The SPF 50 from Colorescience works for covering blemishes, texture, rosacea, or redness. It applies well, covers well, and it’s slightly moisturizing. This product has a dry-touch finish, and it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy.
Given that, this SPF is perfect if you have spots, blemishes, or irregularities on the skin. As it has SPF 50, this color corrector will protect you too. Colorescience is truly made for people who have redness or rosacea. So, this is phenomenal if you want to skip the foundation routine, and Cassandra is always really impressed by its coverage.
Sun Better TONE SMART SPF 75 Sunscreen Lotion - $75
This one is slightly expensive, but Cassandra thinks it's worth the money. Once again, this is an SPF that works well If you do have more dry skin or mature skin. This lotion covers, but it doesn’t necessarily conceal texture. Unlike the Colorscience one, it has a bit more of a hydrating texture as opposed to a dry finish. The SunBetter advanced mineral protection has an SPF 75, and although water-resistant, you still have to reapply it. This is a hydrating product, and the texture is liquidy. Cassandra finds it to be one of the most beautiful sunscreens, moisturizers, and color correctors that she has used in quite a long time! When you blend it in, the lotion feels like a foundation, and it does help to cover any discoloration or spots. Moreover, it offers great sun protection, and yes, you can even use it under your eyes!
Likewise, you don’t need an “under eye cream.” You can use this lotion on your under-eye area because SPF is honestly going to do more for your under eyes than any under-eye cream. Without sunscreen, you're not even protecting this area against the collagen and elastin degradation caused by the sun. Trust us, no amount of $250 La Mer eye cream is going to help you rebuild skin that’s been damaged by the sun.
Bonus Step: Grab an Eyebrow pencil and a Tinted SPF Lip Balm
Kosas Clean Dual-Action Defining Eyebrow Pencil -$22
If you don’t have time to do blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick, just grab yourself an eyebrow pencil instead. Cassandra really loves this one, and it has a spoolie. Next, grab yourself a mascara that's easy to apply. The less liquidy the mascara, the less likely you are to accidentally poke your eyelid and create a big mess. If you need something for your lips, you can get a lip product with SPF too. These are some tinted ones that will protect your lips, make your lips look supple, and give you a little bit of a tint.
From there, you’re completely put together, and you’ve accomplished it all under 5 minutes!
Coverphoto cred: Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong