My 190 step skincare routine

I do not have a 190 step skincare process. 

I don't even have a 19 step skincare process.

Yet, looking at social media and YouTube skin-fluencers, it feels like I should. 

A few months ago, I watched a YouTube video of a food vlogger who shared her mom's skincare routine after viewers commented that both she and her mom look so young. I found myself looking up the multiple products and preparing to buy them, but then stopped.

Did I really need or even want any of these items? 
Would I actually follow this routine?
Could I afford the time or money this routine would require?

No.
No.
And, no.

The fact is, I receive compliments on my skin numerous times per week when I'm doing a good job of following my very simple and much more affordable routine. Even when I'm not doing a great job with my skin, I still receive occasional compliments.

Some of my youthfulness is likely genetic and thus I can't share tips in that regard. 
Some of my youthfulness is also due to past choices with regard to my skincare. I can share some of those tips.

Some of my youthfulness is due to being forward thinking and putting care into my skin so that it will still be healthy into old age. 

SOME CONTEXT:

Like many, I went through a period of dealing with acne and various breakouts across my face, chest, and back during my teen years which were made worse by not taking great care of my skin and by using products that weren't right for my needs. 

In my mid-20s, I went through another bought of skincare issues during pregnancy but primarily across my upper back.

In my 30s and 40s, my skin became clearer and clearer. I'm 50 now, and other than some stress-related acne and a bit of friction related acne from wearing a mask for hours on end while working with oncology patients in my most recent job, my skin is clearer and healthier than ever. 

As I have gotten older, my skincare needs have changed. They also have changed based on the environments I have lived in over the years. 

GENETICS:
I was adopted, so I don't know much about my biological family, but I did a 23 and Me DNA test which revealed that I'm mostly Irish and British with some French and German, and a little bit Norwegian. All that adds up to fairly pale skin. 

PAST SKINCARE CHOICES:

My grandmother was very on top of her skincare routine and regularly told me to take better care of my skin, especially since my skin is on pale. 

My grandmother regularly admonished myself and one of my cousins for our skincare choices -- my cousin also has very pale skin. My cousin regularly would lay out in the sun to tan and went to tanning beds. I rarely spent time lounging in the sun but did go out a lot to bicycle and hike. I can't tell you about my cousin's skincare choices, but in my early teens, I began to wear sunscreen regularly and used common over the counter anti-acne products promoted to teenagers. I also used regular bar soap on my face. 

Somewhere along the way, my grandmother's advice started to click and by my mid-20s, I my skincare routine was changing. I was using a sunscreen appropriate for my needs (hypoallergenic, sensitive skin, and SPF 35 or above). I also was using moisturizer. 

Over the last two decades -- my 30s and 40s -- I began to refine my skincare routines even more.

CURRENT SKINCARE ROUTINES:

Currently, my day-to-day skincare routine looks like this, if my skin is in good condition and not breaking out and I'm not having eczema or psoriasis flares:

• Morning: Rinse with plain water as soon as I get up. Wash my face with First Aid Beauty face wash most days or scrub with St. Ives if my face feels particularly gross. Apply Aveeno moisturizer.
• Throughout the day: If my face starts to feel icky during the day, I usually just rinse with plain water. If my skin is feeling tight or itchy (and I know the itchiness isn't allergy related), I'll assess if I need to drink more water, and I might also apply more Aveeno lotion.
• Evening: Before bed, I usually just rinse with water unless I've been particularly active or spent a lot of time outdoors in which case I'll wash with face wash or a face scrub. Before bed, I apply Aveeno.

I also take care of my skin with particular needs or concerns in mind as follows:

Eczema and psoriasis

I have eczema and psoriasis that flare up when my stress levels are high and when I eat too much sugar (like soda and candy). I get eczema on my elbows and upper arms and have psoriasis patches in both armpits, a tiny patch on my right eyelid, and a little in my right ear. I do NOT put anything on the patch in my ear without my doctor's input, but on the other patches, I have found Earth Mama baby diaper balm to be more soothing than anything else on my psoriasis patches in particular. It's a bit greasy, so I don't use it on my elbows and upper arms -- for those, I use Aveeno moisturizing body lotion. And, when I notice my skin starting to flare up, I look at my diet and work hard to cut back on sugar in my diet and to increase my water intake. I also have scalp psoriasis, and when that is flaring up, I use Sun Bum scalp scrub. 

Sunscreen

I don't use sunscreen every time I go out, but if the sun is really bright -- no matter if the weather is hot or cold -- and I'll be out for more than ten to twenty minutes, I'll use sunscreen on my exposed skin. I pay particular attention to the backs of my hands, my face, my ears, my neck, and my upper chest. I typically use an SPF of 35 to 50. My favorites are Neutrogena, Badger, Trader Joe's, and The Body Shop -- unfortunately, The Body Shop is no longer available in the USA and I'm nearly out of the my last bottle. 

Water

Most of us are dehydrated. I am no exception. When I'm drinking enough water, my skin not only looks better, but it also feels better. My skin is plumper, smoother, and clearer. I generally fill a large water bottle in the morning and try to drink it all and refill it three times per day. 

Soda and candy

I have to admit that I am not immune to soda and candy. I love Coca-Cola and gummy candies, but my skin does not respond well to them. When I eat candy or drink soda, my I get deep, painful cystic acne to my face, eczema flares around my elbows and upper arms, and psoriasis flares in my armpits, right ear, right eyelid, and across the top of my scalp. Usually these start about two days after having a soda or candy (or both) and they just worsen as time goes on if I don't break the habit of consuming these things. Because I've been stressed out, I've been drinking a lot more soda and eating a lot more candy than usual and my skin is paying the price. It doesn't matter how well I cleanse or moisturize if I'm consuming these -- it will show in my skin. Sugar of any kind after 4pm also prevents me from sleeping deeply and restfully which also shows in my skin. Poor sleep quality translates to sallow looking skin and dark, puffy skin under my eyes.

Moisturizer

My favorite moisturizer is no longer available and I've used up my last pot of it -- a specific vitamin E lotion from The Body Shop. This particular moisturizer was so smooth and soothing! I loved it and am so sad that I can't find it anymore. I tried to order some on Amazon and was sent a similar product, but it just wasn't the same and wasn't what I'd even ordered. Until I find a new moisturizer, I'm using Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion which is terrific on my arms (especially my elbows), legs, and feet, but it's not my preference for my face and the backs of my hands. It works adequately, but not quite as well as the other lotion. 

Face cleansers

I used to just use regular body wash or bar soap on my face until I was about 35. Often it meant my face was overly dry and I had to rely on moisturizer more than was ideal. I tried several facial cleansers and settled on two: First Aid Beauty Sensitive Skin Cleanser and St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub. I've been using the St. Ives since my teenage years -- it's the one product that has served me well for decades, even though I've heard some dermatologists recommend against it as it can be harsh on the skin. I typically use the First Aid Beauty cleanser four to six days per week and the St. Ives only two or three times per week, typically when my face feels particularly dirty or icky. 

Makeup

I wear next to no makeup. On very rare occasion, I might use some lipstick or tinted lip balm. Other than that, I just never got into the habit of using makeup. I don't like the way most feel on my skin, don't have the patience for the time they take to apply, and my skin just ends up feeling unclean when wearing makeup. 

FUTURE PLANNING FOR MY SKIN:

I turned 50 this year and plan to continue with my current skincare routine until it stops working, but I'm also considering adding a wide-brimmed summer hat for days when the sun is particularly strong. I'm also looking for a new face moisturizer, but so far have not found one I truly like. I'm also working on cutting out soda and candy for the millionth time in my life. As I get older, I know my skincare needs will likely continue to change, and I'll meet those challenges as they come up. 

What are your favorite skincare products or treatments? What do you swear by for healthy, youthful skin?

Some of my favorite products mentioned in this post (these links may be affiliate links in nature, but I swear by these products for my particular needs -- they may or may not work for you):

• First Aid Beauty Sensitive Skin Cleanser
• St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub
• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 45 sunscreen
• Badger Baby SPF 40 sunscreen (my skin is super sensitive and the baby formulation works great for me!)
• Earth Mama Diaper Balm
• My favorite Thermo Flask 24oz water bottle
• Sun Bum Revitalizing Detox Scalp Scrub