I want to be honest with you, this year has been hard.
From bad news like social issues, the lockdown due to COVID and the passing of my Dad, to good news like becoming the first-ever Resident Beauty Advisor for Toronto Life and launching a new product… life has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
And yeah, it’s been very overwhelming. So much so, that I haven't been as on top of my skincare routine as I would like.
It may seem like I’m overreacting, as we’ve all skipped a skincare day or two. But personally, this is a big deal for me. As the owner and the face of a skincare brand, I always feel the need to uphold myself to a certain standard. By not doing my skincare routine, I feel like I’ve somehow failed myself.
And the truth is, sometimes even the things we love can become a bit daunting.
And when that happens, we just have to learn to fall in love with those things again. It might be hard, but it’s doable. Start small. Little by little. Step by step. It’ll take time, but I believe that in the end, we’ll get there.
And that’s exactly how I rediscovered my passion for taking care of my skin.
I stripped my routine down to just the essentials by using the least number of products possible. During times like these, my routine is all about keeping my face clean and protected.
In fact, my typical morning routine during difficult times only consists of 3 products. Here’s how it looks...
Step 1: Cleanse
Having clean skin is the foundation of a good skincare routine. So, obviously, I put a lot of effort into this step.
I use our Aloe Milk Cleanser paired with a Bamboo Charcoal Sponge. Now, the great thing about this cleanser is that it’s formulated with super-soothing and hydrating ingredients, like aloe vera, black tea, vitamin B3, and apricot kernel oil. So it cleanses the skin of dirt, excess sebum and grime without stripping it.
In fact, it’s so hydrating and moisturizing that I sometimes don’t even feel the need to use a moisturizer afterwards. How cool is that!?
Coupling our cleanser with a konjac sponge will provide a gentle exfoliation and leave the skin feeling smooth, supple and glowing.
Voila - with this routine, my skin feels clean and I'm ready to tackle my day with confidence!
Step 2: Protect
This is the second and final step of my morning skincare routine. For this step, I was looking for a multipurpose product that can do, well, a lot of things. I wanted something that can hide the little dark spots on my skin. I also wanted something that doesn't make it look like I'm wearing caky makeup. And I definitely wanted some extra hydration, too. You can never go wrong with more hydration.
I know. It’s a lot to ask for. But the good thing is, I had just the perfect product for that.
Tah-dahhh ~~ Introducing Face Glow. It is definitely my holy grail product. It’s a lightweight tinted primer that gives your skin a perfectly healthy and dewy look. Plus, it’s jam-packed with hydrating ingredients, including aloe vera and sea buckthorn seed oil. It’s a true multitasker that also suits many skin tones!
And there you have it!
By taking things slowly, I was able to integrate my skincare ritual back into my life on a regular basis. And let me tell you, it helped me a lot with my mental state. Slowly but surely, this simple ritual helped to bring peace back into my life. It helped me tune out of the world and into myself, making me feel balanced again.
If you’re someone who’s struggling, perhaps this might be of help?