etc. | the list: Vol. III

current skincare routine + streaming recs for April

This month’s list is a bit different: I’m laying out my entire skincare routine (by not-so-popular demand). So, for all of my Beauty Banter followers, this one’s for you. If you’re new to my beauty breakdowns… welcome, and I hope you enjoy. Streaming recommendations are at the bottom (don’t worry, I’m not depriving you of my monthly watchlist).

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never not in my skincare era: hat, sunnies, spf—always

I think I like my skincare more than most of my friends. And I don’t mean that figuratively. My skincare never gives me unsolicited advice, never starts drama, never lets me down. My skin, on the other hand… a full-fledged frenemy. Cooperative and glowing one day, a total backstabber the next.

Like all my complicated relationships, I try to nurture my skin with patience, consistency, and only the best products.

Here’s my current lineup, safe for acne-prone skin that cares about aging (would love to know your hero products in the comments below):

I wash my face, morning and night, with this cleanser, a staple in my routine going on two years. It’s gentle enough to be used daily, but the glycolic acid gives it just the right bite to keep breakouts at bay. Hooray. If I wake up and my skin feels too dry, I’ll do my a.m. wash with this affordable, acne-safe barrier repair cream cleanser.

To remove makeup and sunscreen, I do a first cleanse with this EWG-verified oil cleanser—one of the very few that doesn’t cause breakouts. I love it. Sometimes I opt for micellar water as my first cleanse. This is the only one I use; it’s been a staple in my routine since before they sold it in the U.S. I used to stock up in Paris or have friends bring it back. It’s THAT good.

I love a toner. Always have. I’ve been using this Face Reality one for over a year and swear it’s improved my skin barrier. No actives, just hyaluronic acid and a few pH-balancing ingredients. I use it right after cleansing, morning and night, to prime for actives.

I use vitamin C day and night, something Jan Marini herself taught me. Before this one, my skin was reactive to vitamin C. I blamed a lot of my breakouts on it, but not this one. It’s thin, almost like water, gives a major glow, and doesn’t irritate. It’s an incredible primer for the rest of my products.

If someone made me choose one product for life—well, that would be torture, and that someone would not be a friend—but this Jan Marini serum would be high on the list. It’s made with three different acids and is very active—which is peak treatment for acne and aging. I’ve worked my way up to using it twice a day. And yes, people will say my routine has “too many actives,” but you do you. I’ve trained my skin for this, and what works for me is using a few actives, sandwiched between hydrating products.

Next, I layer this serum for hydration and nourishment—peptides, stem cells, growth factors, all the good stuff. It goes on after my active serum, but before my retinoid. Aloe vera is criminally underrated. This aloe and hyaluronic acid serum is soothing, hydrating, and pH-balancing. It’s also a great indicator of barrier health: if it stings, I know something’s off. I use it morning and night, before applying retinoid.

Jan Marini’s Age Duality is possibly the most important product for us acne-prone girlies concerned with aging. It combines benzoyl peroxide and retinol in custom formulas that don’t dry or irritate. One pump from each side, mixed together as my final active step at night.

I usually wait 15 to 20 minutes, then apply one of two moisturizers. This Skinbetter balancing everyday cream is what I use every morning and on nights when my skin feels balanced. The thicker, acne-safe Clearstem cream is the only rich moisturizer I’ve ever used that hydrates deeply without causing a single breakout. She’s an icon (and she’s affordable!).

Mornings, my final step is SPF. I rotate between the Colorscience tinted SPF, which gives gorgeous, even coverage and doubles as my foundation (even at night), and Jan Marini’s daily slightly tinted SPF, which doesn’t offer full-coverage but gives a beautiful glow.

When I’m using prescription retinoid at night, I keep it simple. Cleanse, this patented serum (it literally reverses aging), the aloe serum, and a pea-sized drop of retinol. I let it dry for 10 to 30 minutes, then follow up with the Clearstem cream.

I use my coveted U Beauty eye cream morning and night; it’s hydrating and smooths fine lines. This anti-aging eye gel is my go-to when I want something lighter, usually in the a.m. or during sweaty summer months.

Those are the basics. Other products rotate in and out, depending on my skin (and my mood). But this routine has held steady for over a year, and not only do I see visible results—tighter, more even, glowier, balanced, less noticeable pores and fine lines—I haven’t had a major adult acne breakout since committing. Yes, I still get the occasional pimple or clogged pore… I never said my skin is perfect, but this is HUGE for me so I’ll take it. As someone wise once said: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Watchlist:

• Your Friends and Neighbors on Apple - If you’re a paid subscriber, then you know I recommended this a couple of weeks ago. Still obsessed—even more now. The male version of Weeds with a stellar cast.

• The Glass Dome on Netflix - My friend Kim keeps telling me I need to watch, so I’m sharing it with you as well. It’s a crime/psychological thriller with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. Let’s watch together—she says it’s terrifying.

• The Studio on Apple - This is such a fun satire about the entertainment industry—not sure if people outside of L.A. will care about it, but the cast is pretty impressive and the episodes are short and easy to binge.

• Ransom Canyon on Netflix - The first episode took a minute to hook me—even with Josh Duhamel as a cowboy and Minka Kelly (a.k.a. Lyla Garrity) as the love interest. But once I got through the heartache of this man’s life, I ended up really enjoying this sappy drama. Definitely bingeable.

• The Life List on Netflix - Technically this film dropped end of March, but I didn’t watch it until April. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s certainly good enough. I happened to enjoy the bucket list storyline, and I’m pretty much a sap for any romantic flick.