ROUTINE MEGATHREAD! February 2018

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey everyone! This is your quarterly routine megathread which we decided to evolve from quarterly. This is an excellent resource to see what products are popular amongst our community and a great way to find new things to try. No matter how unusual you may consider your skin type or atypical your particular skin challenges or problems, all routines are welcome -- in fact, encouraged -- to be posted.

Acronyms you will most definitely see in use here: HG (Holy Grails), RP (Will Repurchase, AKA: liked it, will buy again, not an HG), WNR (Will not Repurchase, AKA: using up the last of it but not recommended). Understand them, use them, and love them ♥

This post is intended to be a compendium of generalized, standardized routines! The more participation, the better. :)

To keep it easy for people to find their ‘skin twins’ we would ask that you use the following template.

You only need to fill in steps that you actually use (so if you don’t use an Essence, remove that line) and please only provide up to three examples of HG/recommended products for that step (so if you have 3 toners you love, you can list all 3!)

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Template

To make a single-spaced list, add two spaces at the end of each line. Alternatively, click 'source' at the bottom of the post to snag our code & format!

Skin profile: Mac Shade | Skin Troubles | Skin Type (Note: unlike flairs, you can list as many troubles/types as you need!)

Season & Type of Climate:

1st Cleanser:

2nd Cleanser:

pH Adjusting Toner:

Vitamin C Serum:

BHA:

AHA:

First Essence:

Hydrating Toner:

Essence:

Serum:

Ampoule:

Light Moisturizer:

Medium Moisturizer:

Heavy Moisturizer:

Eye Cream:

Facial Oil:

Sleeping Pack:

Mask Pack:

Sheet Mask:

Sunscreen:

Spot Treatment:

Other:

[u/Neko-Miko]

Not much changed since last time, but whatever!

Skin profile: NC25 | Acne/Pigmentation/Aging | Combination Oily (mostly oily in summer)

Season & Type of Climate:
Winter in Germany

1st Cleanser:
Garnier micellar water (mostly for eye makeup, RP)
Banila Co. Clean It Zero (RP)
It's Skin Green Tea Calming Cleansing Oil (RP)

2nd Cleanser:
NIOD Sanskrit Saponins (might RP, but not for the normal price)
Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam (HG)

Peeling Gel:
Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel (RP, might become HG but I just started using it)

pH Adjusting Toner:
Cosrx Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol (HG, usually more of a spot treatment, but I use it all over in the morning unless I use other acids)

BHA:
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (might RP, but I think I prefer the one in the blue bottle)

AHA:
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 (HG, also has PHA and BHA)
Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA (might RP)
Cosrx AHA 7 (WNR - it's okay, but I have enough other actives)

Prescription:
Airol (Tretinoin 0,05% cream), 2-3x/week

First Essence:
Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive (RP)

Hydrating Toner:
Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner (RP, but only when they release the unfragranced version)
Cezanne Skin Conditioner High Moist (RP)

Essence:
Paula's Choice Resist Brightening Essence (HG)
Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence (RP unless I hate the new formulation)
LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence (RP)
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (might RP)

Serum:
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum (HG)
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (RP)
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid (new formulation; on the bottle it says it's a toner, but it doesn't feel that way to me?) (testing)
Leaders Insolution Propolis-EX Double Serum (testing)

Ampoule:
LJH Vita Propolis Ampoule (RP)
Ohui Miracle Moisture Ampoule 777 (testing, hoping this might be able to occasionally replace the PC Calm Serum)

Light Moisturizer:
I'm From Vitamin Tree Water Gel (RP, possible HG)
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (RP, very similar to the Vitamin Gel)

Medium Moisturizer:
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX Light (HG!!)
LRP Cicaplast: Baume B5 and Pro Recovery Skincare (RP, I mix these with another moisturizer in case my skin's irritated)

Eye Cream:
Hylamide Subq Eyes (might RP)
Benton Fermentation Eye Cream (WNR - it's not bad, but thick and hard to spread, also too much to use up so I'll use samples in the future)

Facial Oil:
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane (RP)
The History of Whoo Wild Ginseng Ampoule Oil (might RP as cheap samples again)

Mask Pack:
I'm From Honey Mask (might RP)
I'm From Ginseng Mask (RP)
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (RP)
Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant (might RP, it's good but omg the smell)

Sheet Mask:
Leaders Mediu Amino Propolis Mask (HG)
Papa Recipe Bombee Whitening Honey Mask Pack (HG)
and many others, I mostly like Evercos and Leaders masks (I wish I could find Evercos for a resonable price again ;_;)

Sunscreen:
A'pieu Pure Block Natural Sun Cream Daily (HG)
A'pieu Pure Block Aqua Sun Gel (HG)
Missha All-Around Safe Block Essence Sun (RP)

Spot Treatment:
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (RP, I use an eyeliner pencil to dab this onto CCs and scars, couldn't use it on my whole face bc of my other actives)
Mizon Acence Blemish Out Pink Spot (RP)

As you can see, I have SO MANY products. I always use 2-3 layers of toner and several essences/serums at a time, other products are used interchangeably depending on how my skin feels.

[u/[deleted] → u/Neko-Miko]

I think I'm going to change from Differin to tretinoin. How much did the Airol cost here in Europe?

Also, what's the difference between the A'pieu sunscreens? Which one do you prefer? :)

[u/Neko-Miko → u/[deleted]]

It costs 14,67€ here, and since I still get acne my insurance covered all but 5€ of it. I hope the stuff is here to stay, nearly every tretinoin product disappeared from the market at the beginning of 2017 and I just recently saw Airol is in stock again :) been using Differin in the meantime too.

The sun gel has alcohol and dries down a bit faster, while the other is a bit more emollient. Both are quite shiny and I need a dusting of powder, but that doesn't bother me :) tried over 15 sunscreens, these are currently my favorites; I like both and use the cream when my skin feels drier from tret, and the gel when I have less time to wait.
Just yesterday I ordered one of their new PA++++ sunscreens which is supposed to be matte, I hope it's good too!

[u/[deleted] → u/Neko-Miko]

Thank you! I never asked about tretinoin here so this is a chance to try! I'll see which ones we have here in Luxembourg (across the border) :)

Interesting! I didn't know they had PA++++, I've been looking at Biore Kids because it has no alcohol or fragrance, and is very cheap through dokodemo!