My Summer AM and PM Skincare Regimens

While it’s been years since I’ve significantly altered my makeup or hair routines, my skincare regimen changes a few times a year.  New products are released.  Old products are discontintued.  I decide I don’t want to keep paying $110 for night cream.  In winter, I need more moisture.  In summer, I need less.  You get the picture.  Here are my AM and PM skincare regimens (and recommendations for drugstore dupes).

During the day, I like to keep everything light.  Anything heavy will just melt right off my face anyway, and take my makeup with it.  So my A.M. Regimen consists of five products designed to moisturize and brighten, while laying down a good base for my makeup.

Step One. Face Wash. I wash my face first thing every morning.  I have combination skin, so it’s important to get the oil off (especially in the summer). I love Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash ($24) because it’s oil free and lightly exfoliates while it cleanses.  Drugstore Dupe. Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser ($4).

Step Two. Vitamin-C Serum.  So funnily enough, two days after we shot these pictures, I switched day serums.  The one pictured is the quite excellent Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum ($80).  It’s light, powerful and brightens like a champ.

While I like this serum, I switched back to Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum ($48) for the price and the added collagen.  Because when you’re cresting 35, you need collagen.  Drugstore Dupe. The Ordinary Glucoside Solution ($12).

Step Three. Eye Serum. I struggle with under-eye dryness in the summer.  This Gatineau Aquamemory Eye Roller ($7) is an inexpensive way to get light moisture that won’t clog your pores.  If you need something to de-puff your under-eye or treat dark circles, I recommend First Aid Beauty’s Detox Eye Roller ($26) or Garnier’s Clearly Brighter Eye Roller ($10).

Step Four. Moisturizer. In the summer, I need light moisture; a gel moisturizer is perfect.  I use Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Gel ($52) because it’s really light and prevents fine lines and wrinkles.  But the best part is how concentrated the product is, just a dime size amount will cover my whole face.  Drugstore Dupe. Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel-Cream ($9).

Step Five. Lips. In the summer, I like a little bit of color in my lip balm.  While there are lots of great tinted balms on the market, this Vaseline Lip Therapy ($3) is my favorite.  It gives a light, rosy hue that looks natural with just a hint of gloss.  If you need a little SPF* in yours, I love Supergoop’s AcaiFusion Balm ($9).

*You may notice there is no sunscreen on this list.  Both my makeup primer and foundation have SPF 30, so I don’t wear extra SPF on a regular day.  If I plan to be outside for an extended period, I wear Sun-Defying Oil with Meadow Foam ($34).

During the summer, keeping the oil off of my face is a full-time job.  So the heavy products I would normally use in winter are relocated to the bottom drawer until October.  My goal is to give my skin just what it needs product-wise and not one drop more.

Step One. Remove Makeup.  I have tried every makeup remover on the planet from diaper wipes to expensive melting creams. These Simple Micellar Makeup Removing Wipes ($7) are some of the best.  They take off everything (except waterproof mascara), and don’t over-dry my skin.  If you need to remove waterproof eye makeup, skip the expensive products and just use olive oil or coconut oil.  They work better, anyway.

Step Two. Face Wash.  Same story as my A.M. routine, Bliss’s wash keeps the oil slick off of my face.  If, for some reason, my skin is a bit dry, I’ll switch to a gentle cleansing oil, like Boscia’s Makeup Breakup ($32) for nighttime.

Step Three. Retinol Serum. Ole Henriksen’s Invigorating Night Transformation Gel ($48) saved my skin.  It’s mix of lactic and glycol acid, plus algae for hydration and healing, is exactly what my skin needs.  However, during the week after my period, when acne becomes my only concern, I switch to the Cosrx Whitehead Power Liquid ($13), because the two products together would be AHA overkill.  Drugstore Dupe. I haven’t found a dupe for the Ole serum that’s good enough to switch for, but I’m told The Ordinary Buffet Serum ($17) provides many of the same benefits.

Step Four. Eye Cream. When I spotted Garnier’s Miracle Sleeping Eye Cream ($17), I had to try it.  It de-puffs, de-wrinkles, and minimizes under-eye darkness (a bit) all while you sleep.  A miracle?  Maybe not.  But I’ve spent a lot more to get a lot less.

Step Five. Night Cream. During summer, I usually skip my nighttime moisturizer.  I don’t really need it, and wearing it is a recipe for clogged pores.  If I feel a little dry, I’ll put on a bit of the Drunk Elephant moisturizer.  But usually, I just apply this TonyMoly Banana Sleeping Pack ($17) every third or fourth day for a boost of moisture.  It deeply hydrates, alleviates redness, and gives skin a nice glow, but it is too heavy to use every day.

So what skincare staples do you use in the summertime?  Leave your best recommendations in the comments.

{images by @jenniferdebarrosphotography}