I got into Japanese skin care about 6 months ago, so a lot of my products are Asian/Korean/Japanese as are my methods of using them. I have combination skin with a mild oily chin & sides of my nose, normal cheeks, and then a mildly dry forehead. Some days I will not do anything, or I will just wash my face, these are usually days when I am sick in bed with a migraine (which for me is often enough to mention it).
MORNING ROUTINE
I wash my face with
Naive Cleansing Foam in pomegranate scent. I have tried another scent and they both worked about the same for me. I also use a bubble net to make a lather and I actually wash my face with the lather. To me this is much gentler on my face than lathering it on my face.
Then I apply the Asian form of a toner which they often call lotion (not the same as our lotion). They still prepare the skin for the other products, but they are also moisturizing.
On a normal day, I apply a toner by Naris Up that I got at an Asian supermarket. I do not have a link for it as I think it has been discontinued. I think it is similar to
this Hada Labo one. It is definitely moisturizing. Then most days I use a eye cream or gel. Lately I have been using the
Memotia Refresh Eye Gel which gives a mild refreshing feeling. Other times I will use
The Body Shop's Vitamin E eye cream. Mainly I use this as extra moisture, not for any under eye circles or bags as I do not have those. Then I apply
Desert Essence Organics Pomegranate Face Serum very lightly to cheeks and forehead. If I want to go light I skip the serum. And finally, I apply either
The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream or my
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream (which moisturizes as well, but I mainly use it for the SPF). I have tried the moisturizer under the BB cream, but it just feels too heavy for me.
If I am wearing make-up I add that.
On lazy days, if I am not going out I will use a different toner and moisturizer combination, still an Asian brand, but the moisturizer is a lot more moisturizing and leaves my face pretty shiny for an hour or so.
NIGHT ROUTINE
If I wore make-up that day, I will use
Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil to remove the make-up. One pump that rub into my eye make-up, and then one or two on my face. Then I use a damp wash cloth to wipe it off. I follow that with the same cleasner I mentioned before. This two part cleansing is part of the Japanese routine and it works super well. That cleansing oil removes everything and I do not have to scrub. On rare, rare occasion I might have to massage an extra bit into my lashes for some stubborn eye liner.
Then apply the toner followed by a
Vitamin E stick under my eyes and often on my lips. And then a heavier
moisturizer with Q10 by Sana from their Isoflavone line.
OTHER
I exfoliate in two ways:
Hada Jelly, which is a peeling jelly similar to the stuff you use to soften and remove cuticles, and a little loofah round from EcoTools (very gently).
I do also have
Say Yes to Cucumbers wipes as well that I use occasionally.