Recently, I was chatting with a fellow 30-year-old male friend about the importance of investing in a skincare routine. Since most men tend to be lazy, I told him to just stick to the absolute basics: facial wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen. He requested for me to give him high-end and affordable versions for each category, and I was more than happy to recommend products I’ve tried and tested myself!
This led to me posting a question on Instagram, and asking anyone interested to drop their skin type, concern, and budget (a lot of people requested for a skincare routine for 30-year-olds with oily skin!). From there, I suggested a product or routine that might work for them.(To see more of the products I recommended, you can visit my Instagram and look for the IG highlight: Skincare.)
Emphasis on might, because I always tell people that what works for me might not always work on others (and vice-versa). But these are products I’ve tried myself and can vouch for (because they didn’t have a negative reaction on my skin). I also want to note that I’m no expert when it comes to skincare. Like when someone from Instagram asked me to recommend products for her acne-prone and sensitive skin, I admitted that I get scared to suggest products for that skin type because sensitive skin can be so tricky! I’m a big believer in visiting a dermatologist regularly, because they’ll know what’s best. In fact, all the things I know now about different ingredients and products are because of my dermatologist, plus doing my own research, and consulting with other skincare-obsessed friends.
With all that said, let me share my current skincare routine for oily skin. Some of these products have been a staple in my routine for years and years (like Avene and Biore), while others were added in the last couple of years because they were game-changers (COSRX, Kiehl’s, and Missha). I’m prone to getting acne once in a while (especially when it’s that time of the month), and when this happens, I just pull out my Epiduo Gel, which I apply in the evening. So far, the products listed below have been working for me in terms of managing oil, acne, whiteheads, and blackheads. They’re listed in the order that I apply them as well! And in case you’re interested to shop these products, I’ve linked them to an online store where you can easily get them.
EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE
- Facial Wash – Avene Cleansing Gel + FOREO Luna 3 for a deeper cleanse (Read my review on FOREO’s Luna 3 here.)
- Toner and Essence – Missha Time Revolution (Got this during my bachelorette weekend in Seoul last year, and I’m so happy I took the risk and started using it a month before my wedding. My skin had a different kind of glow!)
- Additional Essence for Hydration – COSRX Hyaluronic Hydra Power Essence (You can also read my review of this here!) + FOREO Luna 3 to massage it in
- Serum – Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair + SNAILWHITE Glow Roller to massage it in
- Eye Cream – Kiehl’s Youth Dose Eye Treatment
- Moisturizer – Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
- Lashes – Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For Turbo Nighttime Eyelash Treatment
- Body Lotion – Too Cool for School Coconut Milky Oil Lotion (Bought this during my bachelorette weekend in Seoul as well, and I can’t seem to find it here in the Philippines! Huhu. I’m so in love with the scent of this.)
DAYTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE
- Facial Wash – Avene Cleansing Gel
- Toner – Avene Cleanance MAT Toner
- Serum – Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum
- Eye Cream – Kiehl’s Youth Dose Eye Treatment
- Moisturizer – Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
- Sunscreen – Biore UV Perfect Face Milk
- Deodorant – Dove Dry Serum Intensive Renew
And then throughout the day, I regularly apply lip balm using Vaseline’s Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter. I also like to refresh myself with facial mists and sprays, like Avene’s Thermal Spring Water and Mario Badescu. The Aloe, Chamomile, and Lavender variant is a staple on my work station in the condo, because I tend to use it to wake myself up.
MASKS
I have a separate compartment in our kitchen refrigerator for my masks from Peter Thomas Roth, GLAMGLOW, Leaders, Garnier, and Beauty Box Corp, plus Avene’s Thermal Spring Water and SNAILWHITE’s Glow Roller. When we move into our forever house, I plan to invest in a skincare refrigerator that I can put in our bathroom!
So that’s my current skincare routine, which might help if you’re in your 30s with oily skin. If you have any questions about the products, or if you’d like me to suggest alternatives, feel free to comment down below! As fun as it is to play around with makeup, I’d rather invest in skincare first. Hope you guys learned a thing or two from my beauty regimen!