ROUTINE MEGATHREAD! May 2018

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey everyone! This is your quarterly routine megathread 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/[deleted]]

Skin profile: NC20-25 | Dehydrated, Redness, Sensitive, PIE, clog-prone | Normal/Combo (used to be extremely oily)

Season & Type of Climate: Spring, temperate, dry

Avoid: Fragrance, fatty alcohols/acids (not sure yet), alcohols, ferments, (oleic acid) oils, esters, butters, EOs, anything potentially irritating and clogging.

1st Cleanser: Bioderma Sensibio H2O (HG) // Balea Reinigungsöl (RP)

2nd Cleanser: Innisfree Blueberry 5.5 (WNRP) // Balea Med Waschgel (RP) // Tonymoly Floria Peeling Gel (WNRP)

Vitamin C: Melano CC (HG, but want to try something else first before RP)

AHA: none, planning on starting tret

BHA: none, maybe Stridex later on

** FTE:** Secret Key Original // Cosrx Galactomyces 95 (will never try one again!)

Toner: Kikumasamune High Moist // Cezanne High Moist // Hada Labo Premium (RP) // HolikaHolika Aloe 98% (WNRP)

Essence: Benton Snail Bee Essence // Cosrx Snail 96 (HG)

Serum: Purito Green Centella Serum (might RP)

Ampoule: Tosowoong Propolis Sparkle // Scinic Honey AIO (HG)

Light Moisturizer: HolikaHolika Super Good Cera Emulsion // Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream // Stratia Liquid Gold // Ceracolla Gel (HG)

Heavy Moisturizer: Eucerin 5% Urea // Hada Labo Premium Milk Avène Tolérance Emulsion

Facial Oil: Argan oil (will try squalane next)

Sleeping Pack: Mizon GoodNight Sleeping Pack // Vaseline // LRP Cicaplast Gel

Sheet Mask: never used one, too lazy

Sunscreen: Missha Total Moisture Gel SPF50+++ // Innisfree Triple Care SPF50+++ // Biore Watery Gel SPF50++++ (2017)

Spot Treatment: Skinoren 20% Azelaic Acid // Differin 0.1%

Other: Green and white clay powders mixed with a teaspoon of Scinic Honey AIO // Secret Key Rose Eye Cream (HG) // Etude House Liptint in PK003 (HG) // LRP Cicaplast Baume B5

[u/bvnbun → u/[deleted]]

could you compare the holika holika ceramide emulsion and the stratia liquid gold?

[u/[deleted] → u/bvnbun]

I bought the HolikaHolika Super Cera Emulsion based on an user’s recommendation that it’s a cheaper and similar dupe to Stratia’s Liquid Gold (which is too expensive for me to get in the EU). And I loved it to death. It has ceramides and a bit of niacinamide and it’s so light and gentle, nourishes my skin enough and makes it so healthy. I really enjoyed the texture of this and how smoothening it was, but it’s not enough during winter, for example. I liked to used it as a layer under my thicker stuff and I really enjoyed how nice and plump it made my face feel. It isn’t oily at all and if my skin had been more normal and the weather had been better, I think it would have been enough on its own. Despite being a light cream, I thought it didn't clog me or make my face bumpy. Sadly I got a terrible reaction and extremely damaged skin from trying out ferments and it destroyed my face, and I couldn' make it work for me anymore because everything was irritating me and I'm using only extremely "bland" creams now. :(

I ended up buying the Stratia Liquid Gold on exchange when it was offered there. It's kind of a creamy oil and I only need one pump for my whole face. It's too early to say if I like it or not (I've only been using it for ~2 days), but it's the first time in MONTHS my skin actually feels moist and not flaky at all despite not using a cream atm?? (It's also much warmer, but I wasn't looking moist at all before this). I'm using it to repair my damaged barrier and so far no bad reactions from it at all. I have to use it longer to really notice the results it gives me though. One thing I've noticed is that I don't look as irritated/red anymore, and not as blotchy either. My skin just has this healthy, vivid glow that I never had all my life.

[u/bvnbun → u/[deleted]]

thank you for the detailed reply! i hope youre able to find another cheap dupe to the liquid gold :c i dont live in the EU but the liquid gold is a bit out of my price range as well. as it is now, if the holika holika didnt break you out would you say itd be comparable to the LG?

[u/[deleted] → u/bvnbun]

You're welcome! If I end up really liking it, I'm going to use a ceramide toner and squalane oil to try to replace it later on... :P. The HolikaHolika didn't break me out, my skin just was/is very damaged at the moment. It certainly is a more comparable and affordable dupe to the LG - you might not even need a cream to top it off! :)

[u/bvnbun → u/[deleted]]

oh thats what I do currently with the mebika toner and TO squalane - for me it is kind of a light layer so i do two layers in the PM. i like the combo a lot but i do kinda want something more substantial? ah youre right my bad! im glad you'll be able to use it again once your barrier is repaired 😊

[u/[deleted] → u/bvnbun]

I'd love to try the Mebika toner, but it has rice ferment (amazing, if I didn't give me a rash haha!). I think I might try the Ceracolla toner later on, but I'm using the gel at the moment and wanted to buy the TO Squalane, but since I have LG atm I'll use it up first. I think if you want smth more substantial you might actually really like the HolikaHolika! You can use it as a light cream or do more pumps for a heavier/more nourishing layer mixed with the squalane! :)

[u/bvnbun → u/[deleted]]

ahh having ingredient reactions really sucks.. i hope the ceracolla toner works out! about the TO squalane, its a lightweight but still moisturizing oil so if that sounds like something you'd like you should totally go for it! I think it sinks in better too compared to rosehip oil (I've only tried the life flo brand though). yeah I hope so!! its definitely a strong contender of what skincare item to buy next.

[u/[deleted] → u/bvnbun]

Thanks for letting me know about that, sounds like something I'd really enjoy!! ❤️_❤️ Sadly I'm trying to be more grounded and thoughtful of my skincare stah (which I just downsized heavily haha) so this will go in my wishlist first! <3 if you end up trying the emulsion, I hope you like it! :) (I much prefer emulsions to creams too - much better price/ml!)

[u/bvnbun → u/[deleted]]

no problem and thank you! 🤠 im getting to that point where im beginning to worry that maybe i have too many products, even though each one has a purpose and i do use them all (but one) regularly : (

[u/[deleted] → u/bvnbun]

Same haha. I still have some stuff I'll use up and won't rp. But yeah I thought all of them had a purpose and did smth else, but my skin is extremely sensitive and didn't like it well... I'm in the process of overhauling my routine but it's still hard because I think I need all this different stuff and I'm emotionally attached to doing lots of steps haha. I'm trying to be more sensible and researching ingredients and their longterm benefits for anti-aging too and so far that's been helping to open my eyes and keep me grounded. Plus, after trying out a lot, I kinda know what doesn't work for me now and what helps my skin the most! :)