Today I want to share with you my five favorite items that I use for routine skin care. If you saw my post about not wearing make up, you may have read the reference to Korean beauty routines.
While I no longer use that multi step method, I have retained a few favorite products and simply want to share what works for me now that my skin is clear, and no longer irritated daily by make up. 
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Here are all of the products I use in sequence about 3-4 days a week. On days that I don’t anticipate going outside I simply wipe my face with a Neutrogena cleansing wipe then moisturize.
Be advised that my skin NOW is definitely more clear than it has ever been.
Years ago I jumped into the K Beauty multi-step method (oil-based cleanser, water-based cleanser, liquid exfoliant, toner, essence, serum, sheet mask, eye cream, moisturizer, then night cream or sunscreen). This routine got my skin significantly more clear after six months or so. I never got the “glass skin” that some people promote, but that’s okay – I like my melanin and freckles. After that I got pregnant and my skin was even more clear despite dropping most products for safety. And more recently, my skin has stayed clear as I raise a toddler. Honestly I’m surprised that my blemishes haven’t come back – but I’ll never assume that they’re gone for good…I’m ready to pounce!
If you’re reading this and currently struggling with blemishes, I totally understand. While it does suck (and your annoyance is valid!), I would like to share something that I realized and embraced when dealing with less-than-perfect skin: The downside of having blemishes can also be its strength; that is the variety of causes.
Q. How can a variety of causes be good?!
A. Because that means that you have a variety of things to improve.
Easy things to improve include your diet and daily facial products, while more difficult causes can include hormones, genetic propensity, even allergies. It’s not easy, and you won’t know what will work until you try it, so it will also take time. When I got my first wave of facial clarity I had just cut out vegetable oils and added sugars.
Today I still read labels, and still walk away from those two ingredients. Personally I suspect that a lot of people would benefit from avoiding vegetable oil & added sugars also, but that’s another post for another time.
I’ve settled (for now) on these five mostly-daily products that make my face feel amazing and look good enough for me to not want to cover. Breakouts have been minimal, and only one or two blemishes at a time – significantly more clear than my old normal.
1) Hada Labo Foaming Cleanser
This one smells a little medicinal, and only makes my face feel a tiny bit dry. Otherwise it is super gentle and I really enjoy it. When my bottle gets low I like to dilute it with some micellar water. It’s not as drying and foams up great. It lasts a long time because I don’t even use a full pump when I do use it. I’m a serial-product limiter.
2) Yes To Cucumbers Gentle Milk Cleanser
Mister Jupiter and I both love cucumbers, so this was an easy buy. It’s water-based, so I use it after any oil-based wash to make sure my face really is squeaky clean. As a result, by face does feel double clean, but not dry. Amazing!
3) BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
My first and favorite chemical exfoliant! It sounds serious, but it’s not. Chemical (non-mechanical) exfoliants are safe to use daily, but I only use mine about 3-4 times a week; whenever I wash my hair. It’s odorless, and slightly thicker than water. Use it ONLY on a clean dry face and ONLY before other products. It’s a light acid that nibbles at the uppermost layers and creates a smooth canvas for your daily serums.
4) Holika Holika Lazy & Easy Master Serum
Speaking of serums, this is an easy favorite. This product’s goal is to collapse three to four K beauty steps into one. Instead of serum and essence I use Lazy & Easy after my chemical exfoliant, and before my daily moisturizer. It smells like lavender and doesn’t bother my skin.
5) Pacifica moisturizer
I’ve written before about loving Pacifica, and I still do. The heavier night time coconut probiotic is my favorite before bed, but when the sun is up I use their day time moisturizer that touts anti-aging properties. If you’re a marketer looking for my dollars, all you need to say is that your product is anti-aging and I’ll probably buy it.
☞ Related: Picks of the Week, Week № 1
And that’s all for now! My facial routine favorites change periodically, but never on a specific schedule, so I’ll make a new post when enough of my daily products have changed.
In the meanwhile, hope you enjoyed this post and find the missing pieces you need to get your skin into happier place.
Lady Jupiter 