My Current Favourite Skin Care Products Step by Step

Hi guys,

So I did this skin care series on my Instagram, and if you follow me on Instagram you would know I am obsessed with skin care. I thought of sharing the same here on my blog as well.

I absolutely love skin care and I feel good skin is the base for any makeup look, you don’t need super heavy coverage foundations and concealers if you have good skin, the layers will only end up making your base look heavy and cakey. A major % of how your skin behaves depends on genetics and diet. You can only control the diet part of course and regular skin care with good diet can solve a lot of your skin concerns.

I have been super regular with my skin care since more than a year now and have noticed a huge difference in my pores, lines, texture, pigmentation around the mouth, etc. I do have a detailed skin care routine video on my channel, but the products keep on changing as I experiment and review new brands and as per how my skin is feeling, the order is the same though (Watch HERE)

Step 1: Double Cleanse

Starting with Step 1 which is Double Cleanse, as the name suggests it means cleansing twice. First cleanse with an oil/balm especially if you are wearing makeup/sunscreen. Oil or balm will melt all the makeup/dirt/grime from the pores. You need to massage the oil or balm well for 30-40 seconds and then emulsify it with water for 10-15 seconds. Then follow with the second cleanse, which will be a gentle foaming cleanser. It will wash off all the excess oil/dirt left, if any. You can also use a reusable cloth wipe to remove the makeup after first cleanse, only water also works for me.

I haven’t bought makeup wipes in years and would not recommend them at all, they are very harsh on the skin + not bio degradable. I do have a few bio degradable ones which I use, only when I am travelling.

Coming to micellar water, you can use it as a first cleanse but you absolutely need to do the second cleanse with it unlike the ‘no rinse’ marketing claim. Micellar water is made of small micelles which leave a surface residue on the skin. I am not a fan of micellar waters because oils/balms do the best job in removing makeup for me, plus some micellar waters sting my sensitive eyes.

Products shown:

1. Isadora Cleansing Oil
2. Pixi Beauty Hydrating Makeup Remover with coconut & probiotics
3. Heimish All Clean Balm
4. Pixi Double Cleanse Balm
5. Clinique Take The Day Off
6. Pond’s Cleansing Balm
7. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
8. Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash (soap free)
9. Suganda Centella Green Tea Face Wash
10. Forest Essentials Kashmiri Saffron & Neem Delicate Facial Cleanser
11. Kama Ayurveda Sensitive Skin Cleansing Foam with Sandalwood & Aloe Vera

Step 2 is Tone/Treat, it’s CTTM now in place of CTM. Treat is a very essential step in skincare and all your actives, serums, essence are a part of Treat.

Toners and Serums can be exfoliating or hydrating. If you use an exfoliating toner, go for a hydrating/calming serum and vice versa. You can also use both hydrating (if you have exfoliation in your cleanser/moisturizer) but don’t use both exfoliating because we don’t want to sensitize our skin. I like actives (Vit C, Chemical Exfoliants, etc.) in the form of toners and serums. Things you should add in your skincare routine, if you haven’t already:

Vitamin C
AHA/BHA
Niacinamide (optional)

Vit C (Ascorbic Acid) increases production of collagen, reduces hyper pigmentation and evens out skin tone, brightens skin and protects against pollution and sun damage.
Best used in serum form (10-20%) Start with 10%, when used in the mornings before sunscreen, boosts the protection from sun damage.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids i.e. Glycolic, Lactic, Mandelic, etc are water soluble and work on surface layer of skin, works better for dry/dull skin.
Beta Hydroxy Acids i.e. Salicylic Acid is oil soluble and goes deep into the pores to unclog the pores and hence works well for oily, acne prone skin.

Both AHA/BHA unglue the bond holding dead skin on the surface and exfoliate the skin. Also help improve the texture, bumps, minimize the appearance of pores and uneven skin tone, etc. But you need to be regular to see results.

If you are a beginner at chemical exfoliation, start with Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic which has 5% Glycolic Acid and is gentle enough for everyday use as well.
Suganda AHA/BHA serums are also very gentle for beginners as they are balanced with Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) and Green Tea.
Paula’s Choice 8% AHA gel works well for dry skin and 2% BHA liquid exfoliant for oily/acne prone skin or those with enlarged pores.
Dr.Sheths Gulab Glycolic Toner is also very, very gentle for daily use. (You can use my coupon code ‘BHUMIKA’ to get 20% off on Dr.Sheths products)

Niacinamide (Vit B3) helps in reducing inflammation, redness, regulates oil production & minimizes the appearance of pores. Works best with Zinc, in serum form. (5-20%, can start with 5-10%) You can add it at a later stage.

Step 3 is Repair/ Hydrate which will again have serums and essences, now if you have used an active serum/toner, you can use an hydrating essence to balance and calm. This will include mostly calming, repairing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cica, honey, propolis, ceramides, etc. Some repairing serums/essences may have little actives, so on some days you can skip actives all together and just use this.

The Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid and the Olay Retinol24 Serum fall under actives but I use them on non active days or just with Niacinamide (not with AHA or BHA) and they have a cream gel and a serum like consistency + some hydrating ingredients.

Products shown:

Secret Key Multi Cell Night Repair
May Coop Raw Sauce
Guerlain Abeille Royale
Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Serum
Dr.Sheths Cica & Ceramide Repair Serum
Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum

Step 4 Moisturize

Now you generally wouldn’t go wrong with a Moisturizer, it’s a pretty basic skincare product and most brands make a good one. The only rule you need to remember is keep it simple, less ingredients, and no fragrance if possible.
Moisturizer should have occlusives, humectants and emollients.

Occlusives (petrolatum and other oily substances) hold the water in. Humectants (glycerine, honey, panthenol, etc.) pull water both from the air and from deeper layers of skin. Hence occlusives and humectants are used together, to trap the moisture in, and to not let it pull from the skin. Emollients like some fatty alcohols fill the dry, flaky skin with fatty substances, called lipids, which make your skin smoother and softer.

Other ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamins, etc. are added benefits.

Now you can use the same Moisturizer day and night if you like, but I would say use a night cream with a slightly heavy texture or a sleeping mask, which will help repair the skin. Also since most people now sleep in an air conditioned room, the added moisture and sealing helps.

Products shown:

1. Clinique Moisture Surge
2. Pixi Beauty Rose Ceramide Cream
3. Pixi Retinol Jasmine Lotion
4. Nellietier Face Cream
5. Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer
6. Etude India Soon Jung Hydro Barrier Cream
7. Etude Moistfull Collagen Cream

Night Creams:

1. Dr.Sheths Haldi Hyaluronic Sleeping mask
2. Iunik Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask
3. Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Overnight Rice Mask
4. Pixi Vit C Caviar Balm
5. Dr.Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Deep Cream

Apart from these, I also really love Suganda White Lotus Moisturizer in summers and the Rosehip Moisturizer in winters.

Step 5 for daytime and the most important is Sunscreen.

You may spend thousands on skin treatments and expensive skin care products, but even few minutes of direct sun exposure without sunscreen can negate all the effects.

UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer and lead to premature aging, wrinkles and sun spots.
UVA (Aging) rays can cause tanning and aging and UVB (Burning) rays can cause burning, your sunscreen should be broad spectrum meaning protect against both rays.

Chemical exfoliation and actives make your skin photosensitive, so you cannot skip your sunscreen at all.
Sunscreen can be physical (with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, etc.) Or chemical (with avobenzone, octisalate, oxybenzone, etc.) Earlier, physical sunscreens used to leave a strong, white cast but now you most physical sunscreens use nano technology and the nano particles blend in better. Physical ingredients block the UV rays and chemical absorb and scatter. I like a mix of both in my sunscreens, but if you are allergic to any chemical ingredient, make sure you check the ingredients before you buy.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) denotes the time your skin can be protected from UVB rays i.e.burning. If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes.

You can use SPF 30 or 50, but the key is reapplication every two hours!
PA denotes protection from UVA rays and PA+++ is the best and highest level (some countries have researched and included PA++++ in certain products)

So SPF 30 PA+++ should be good enough, but make sure you reapply. You can reapply in spray or powder form if you have makeup on through the day. Also you need one teaspoon qty for face and one shot glass qty for entire body in one application (especially the exposed skin)

Products shown:

1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ PA+++
2. Brinton UV Doux Silicone Sunscreen Gel SPF50 PA+++
3. Biotique Bio Aloe Vera SPF30 (good for indoors or entire body)
4. Skin & Lab FreC Sun Lotion SPF 50+ PA+++ (with Vit C)
5. Organic Harvest SPF 60 PA+++
6. Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF

Weekly Treatments

Apart from my daily skincare routine, I also use some masks and additional exfoliation products once a week or once in 10-11 days.

You can increase Retinol to once in 2-3 days once your skin is past the ‘Retinization’ phase, I am using it once a week currently. I use the @deciem Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2%. Granactive Retinoid has hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR), a retinoic acid ester with a similar action on the skin as Retin-A. It is not the same as Retinol, and hence 2% of that is actually equal to very less retinol comparatively but there is no exact proven measurement.

Also once your skin gets used to regular acids, you can try the 30% AHA, 2% BHA from Ordinary which is an amazing at home exfoliating peel. But do not try it if you have very sensitive skin or your skin barrier is compromised or you can’t tolerate acids. There are a lot of precautions you need to take like skin should be dry, not to keep longer than 10mins, follow with a rich Moisturizer and loads of sunscreen, etc.

For beginner level, I would recommend the Secret Key lemon sparkling peeling gel, Pixi Peel & Polish.

My favourite masks when my skin is feeling dry are Fresh Rose Mask, Biossance Squalane + Vit C Rose Mask and Glamglow Thirsty Mud. For breakouts, Glamglow Supermud, Raw Nature Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal, Pixi T zone Peel off mask.

Also apart from these, pretty much all of The Body Shop Masks. I am not a fan of sheet masks, I haven’t bought a sheet mask in years (also most are not bio degradable). But I do have a lot of them from PR which I am trying to finish.

Let me know your skincare routine and your current favourite skin care products in the comments below 🙂