Morning and Evening Routines for Sensitive Skin

And then I realized that I’m a maniac 🙂
I’ve been planning to post about my morning and evening routines for a long time.
I hope that my attempt to systematize all of my korean tricks will be successful and I’ll piece this puzzle together 🙂

I have combination, sensitive skin which surprises me with small breakouts if it doesn’t like something. Prone to pigmentation. My neck area is dry. In six months I’ll be 40 years old.
I’ve been using exclusively Korean cosmetics for over a year. I typically don’t buy entire lines by the same brand but choose instead treatments from different companies based on reviews. Occasionally I try something completely new and change up the entire routine every 3-4 months depending on the weather, humidity and the condition of the skin. In this review, I included only the treatments that I use daily or at least once a week.

The core morning routine:

I like products with light textures which don’t cause oiliness and aren’t heavy on the skin. That’s why I don’t use creams and emulsions in the morning. The hydration from essences and serums is enough for me.

1. Purito foaming gel.
Balancing cleansing gel for sensitive skin. Very gentle, doesn’t dry out or irritate the skin.

2. Toner-essence Missha.
The base of this essence is a fermented yeast filtrate. Softens, soothes and hydrates the skin.

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3. Innisfree Essence.
Gentle care for sensitive skin of any type prone to inflammation. Has an anti inflammatory effect, helps prevent new irritations and lessens redness.

4. Elizavecca Lifting Ampoule.
Contains 97% bird’s nest extract. I have noticed an improved skin tone and condition after about two weeks. The ampoule made the upper layer of skin significantly firmer and more elastic. Due to the firming effect on the skin, the ampoule also lifts and improves the facial contouring. I really like the effect.

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5. IOPE eye cream.
A cream for the gentle eye area with double function – actively combats wrinkles and changes such as dull and grey skin color. A delicate, pleasant cream, absorbs and hydrates well.

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6. It’s Skin cream-essence for the neck.
Thick, hydrates and nourishes well. You don’t have to get a separate neck cream, but it needs to be more nourishing than face cream.

7. Missha sun protection.
I have combination skin prone to pigmentation, so I choose sunscreens with the maximum protection SPF50 and with light gel texture. My Missha sunscreen is light, doesn’t dry out the skin and comes in a large 200 ml size. By the way, this is the most important stage of my morning routine. I could skip several products, but I never skip this one.

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8. Finishing Laneige pore tightener.
This is the last stage of my routine. The tightener is easily applied over all of the prior layers, hides pores, makes the face glow while preventing an oily shine. The effect is mostly visual. But the manufacturer promises lasting results with regular use.

The core evening routine:

I have more potent, nourishing treatments in my evening care.

1. B-LAB cleansing oil.
Light and gentle water based cleansing oil. If your skin is prone to clogged pore or if you use waterproof makeup, bb, cc creams or sunscreens, then you should use a cleansing oil every night. It will dissolve all makeup and cleanse the pores.

2. Purito cleansing gel.
The remaining cleansing oil should washed off with a mild foam or gel.

3. Toner-essence Missha.
The same one as in the morning.

4. Ampoule.
Missha night ampoule and a whitening IOPE one. I use these products in turns, one for a week, then the next for a week. I have ordered the anti-aging Missha ampoule twice already and will order again.

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5. Elizavecca Lifting Ampoule.
The same one as in the morning.

6. For the neck.
A nourishing line with sea weeds IOPE Plant Stem Cell for dry skin.
I order samples of luxe brands for the neck.
I’ve tried HERA, Sulwhasoo… This line by IOPE is my favorite. It nourishes, softens, smoothes and strengthens the thin skin on the neck.

7. IOPE eye cream.
The same one as in the morning.

8. Purito Sea Buckthorn Vital Cream.
The cream contains 70% sea buckthorn extract, 4% vitamin C and niacinamide. Whitening, capillary strengthening and hydrating cream with an amazing scent.

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Extra cleansing:

If you have oily, combination or problem skin prone to clogged pores, then you can add extra cleansing products.

1. A’PIEU vitamin peeling discs.
2-3 times a week. These discs have a peeling, hydrating, anti inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Besides the peeling effect, they also lighten the skin. Contain AHA and BHA acids and 5 vitamins.

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2. Universal Tony Moly gel with green tea extract.
I’m adding this under cleansing because I use this gel for cold hydrogenation of the skin before using peeling treatments. I apply a thick layer of the gel on the face for 10 minutes then wash off. The point of hydrogenation is to soften the upper layers of the skin and open up the pores. Peeling treatments work better after a mask like that. Any universal gel will work, for example aloe ones.

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3. Peeling gels.
1-2 times a week. Peeling gels gentry but effectively remove flakes and cleanse the skin. I have gentle peels for sensitive skin. Dr.G. with fermented plant extracts and Nature Republic with asian centella. They work and feel about the same.

4. A melting clay mask with volcanic ash by Innisfree.
This mask has a surprise. When applied to the skin, it warms up and practically melts on the skin. The pleasant warmth lasts about 5-10 minutes. It opens the pores well while the clay deeply cleanses them.

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5. Cleansing masks.
I use these rarely and haven’t had a WOW effect from any of them.

Extra care:

I really love various masks: sheet, night, eye patches. And I use them when I have free time.

1. Night masks.
Acid night masks, usually with AHA acids for a mild peeling effect. I apply to clean skin. 1-2 times a week.

I apply hydrating masks as the last step over the regular evening routine. These masks form a protecting barrier on the surface of the skin, making all previous steps work more effectively. For example, collagen masks or a holika holika wine mask. You can use them more often, 2-3 times a week.

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2. Spot treatment for wrinkles Lirikos.
Contains 3% botoxin, a synthetic peptide of marine snail venom which relaxes the surface micro muscles of the face.
I try to remember to use it, usually in the evening. I apply it between the eyebrows, on the crow’s feet and above the lip.

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3. Eye patches Koelf.
Patches with shea butter. I keep these in the fridge and use them in the morning when I don’t get enough sleep. They are great for swollen eyes. These can be used up to 7 times a week.

4. Laneige overnight mask and Labiotte balm for lips.
I use these almost daily unless I forget.

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5. Vitamin C and tangerine Innisfree mist.
I use it when the face needs extra hydration. The heating season is close, so soon I will need this more often.

6. Missha mango body cream-sorbet.
Pleasant, non-sticky and smells yummy. I use it every time after a shower.

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7. Favorite urea foot cream by The Face Shop.
A yummy smell of green apples, softens the heels well. I used it almost daily, unless I forget or get too lazy.

8. Tony Moly express tomato mask.
Everyone and their mom have reviewed this mask. A quick effect of smooth, glowing skin. I use it before going out or when I need to look especially good. A visual effect of lightened and refreshed skin, but sadly not long lasting.

9. Sheet masks.
Can be used up to 7 times a week depending on skin needs and wallet abilities 🙂 For me, a couple of times a week is enough, but right now I’m putting them away until summer. I get very cold sitting with a wet sheet on my face for 15 minutes 🙂

Links to all the treatments:

The core morning routine:

• 1. Purito Defence Barrier pH Cleanser eBay Amazon
• 2. Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence eBay Amazon
• 3. Innisfree Bija cica essence eBay Amazon
• 4. Elizavecca Gold CF-Nest 97% B-Jo Serum eBay Amazon
• 5. IOPE Essential Tone & Wrinkle Care Eye Cream eBay Amazon
• 6. It’s Skin Wrinkle Cut Neck Focus Essence нет в продаже
• 7. Missha All Around Safe Block Total Moisture Sun Gel eBay Amazon
• 8. Laneige Mini Pore Blurring Tightener eBay Amazon

The core evening routine:

• B-LAB I Am Sorry Just Cleansing Watery Oil eBay
• Ampoules
  Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule eBay Amazon
  IOPE Whitegen Ampoule Essence Bio Luminous eBay Amazon
• IOPE Plant Stem Cell eBay Amazon
• Purito Sea Buckthorn Vital 70 Cream eBay Amazon

Extra cleansing:

• 1. A’PIEU Vitamin AC Pad eBay
• 2. Tonymoly Green Tea Soothing Gel eBay Amazon
• 3. Peeling Gels
  Dr.G Gowoonsesang Brightening Peeling Gel Mild eBay Amazon
  Nature Republic Green Derma Mild Peeling Gel eBay Amazon
• 4. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Melting Clay Mask eBay Amazon

Extra care:

• 1. Etude House berry aha sleeping pack eBay Amazon
• 2. Lirikos Marine Wrinkle-toxin Ampoule eBay Amazon
• 3. Koelf Pearl & Shea Butter Eye Patch eBay Amazon
• 4. Lip Care
  Lip Sleeping Mask Laneige eBay Amazon
  Labiotte Chateau Wine Lip Balm eBay Amazon
• 5. Innisfree Tangerine Vita C Mist eBay Amazon 
• 6. Missha Cooling Body Sorbet eBay Amazon
• 7. The Face Shop Smile Foot Urea Plus Foot & Heel Cream eBay
• 8. Tomatox Magic Massage Pack Tony Moly eBay