Don't know what skin type you are?

(Normal/Oily/Dry/Sensitive/Combination)

Here are a couple of easy ways to find out:

🧻Blot Paper Test🧻
Needed: Blotting Papers (kleenex/TP/Starbucks napkins work) & Mirror
Steps:
-Wash face
-Pat dry
-Do not put any products on for at least 2 hours
-After 2 hrs, place your blotting papers on these following areas:
T-zone Undereyes Cheek Chin
-In the mirror, notice where the papers are soiled,
how soiled they are, and whether they fall off your face quickly or not.
Generally, the more soiled, the more oily.

🤏🏽Look n Pinch Test🤏🏽
Needed: Mirror
Steps:
-Look at your pores, if they are more dilated and visible,
then it is more likely that you have oily skin.
-Take some of your cheek skin and pinch it gently,
if the skin between your fingers feels plump,
then more than likely you have oily skin or combo skin.
If it feels like paper, cracked, or crunchy,
then you more than likely have dry skin.
Usually, the more resiliency your skin has, the more moisture it has.

Beauty Within have a great video covering the basic skin info:

Soko Glam has a good breakdown of
the different steps and how to perform them.

Soko Glam's Beauty Routine Breakdown

Also, here is a skincare routine video to give you an example:

Here are some of my product recommendations for an Oily/Dry Combination Skin Routine if you have no idea where to start. I have listed a couple of options for each step, trying to give you the most affordable options while not compromising on quality. Feel free to research prices, there are a lot of beauty/skincare sites that offer coupon codes/discounts/sales! These are items that I have personally bought and tested on my own O/D skin, however Y.M.M.V. (your mileage may vary), meaning that what works for me, may not work for you.

Always patch test when using new products.

Phase 1 (Cleanse)

1. Makeup Removal & Oil Cleanser

BANILA CO NEW Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original
I really like this for it's 🍃gentle cleanse🍃,
it doesn't dehydrate my skin after, leaves it silky soft.
Great with makeup removal as well.
My only qualm is that it comes in a jar,
which tends to be less hygenic than other dispenser options,
but c'ie le vie~
Just use 🥄the scoop! 🥄

COSRX First Cleansing Milk
This mild is great if your combo skin
is also a bit sensitive, the ⬇️low pH⬇️
means that it retains moisture and pH balance.
It's nice and non-abrasive but good enough to
remove everyday makeup as well.
Dat 🥭papaya extracts🥭and 🧹witch hazel🧹
extracts scrub n rub all the dirt away~

2. Water Cleanser

[Neogen] Real Fresh Foam Green Tea
This one is great for calming your sensitive
or red skin down while giving a gentle wash.
It smells lightly earthy like 🍵green tea🍵
and it's always fun to shake the bottle to get
the ☁️foam☁️ action going.

COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Mildly acidic but still ⬇️ low pH⬇️ ,
this cleanser is a great 🌅morning-after🌅 essential!
If I don't wear makeup or am ✈️traveling✈️,
then this works great as my singular
cleanser for the AM routine.
I prefer doing my daily light chemical
exfoliation with this one since it contains 🧪BHA🧪.

3. Exfoliator

SKIN FOOD Rice Daily Brightening Scrub Foam
You wouldn't think 🍚white rice🍚
packs a punch but this exfoliator
can do some 💪🏽heavy duty lifting💪🏽.
Good-bye dead skin~👋🏽
It also brightens up a dull face
and helps even up the texture.
{Also, using rice particles instead of micro-plastic
beads is better for the environment!}

[Neogen] Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea
This is the perfect lazy person's exfoliator.
Just gently wipe one side of the pad against your face,
then do the same with the other side. Easy peasy!
The 🍵green tea🍵 & 🥬aloe🥬 calms while the
🍓 antioxidants🍓 & 🍇resveratrol 🍇
nourishes as it removes dead skin cells~

Phase 2 (Prep)

4. Toner

COSRX Clarifying Treatment Toner
I like to lightly layer my chemical exfoliation
so I don't have to use harsh physical abrasives on my skin.
This toner is great on the hydration and purification!
Deriving its BHA from 🌳willow bark🌳,
it softens the skin without drying it out.
The 🍎apple water🍏 also lends
a nice, fruity quality to the mist.

Son & Park Beauty Water
{You can join using my referral code for $10 off your first order!}

This is definitely this priciest item on this list
but IT. 👏🏽 IS. 👏🏽WORTH. 👏🏽IT!👏🏽
I tend to use Soko Glam since they ship from the U.S.A
but there are probably cheaper deals on sites that ship from
South Korea (usually pairing with a promo code).
For me, this is my H.G.I. (Holy Grail Item).
It is supppppppper hydrating but also
brightens my tone and improves my texture.
Lavender & 🌹rose🌹 water give it a great smell as well.
I hate to do without it but luckily one bottle lasts me five months.
I tend to hoard these. ✨💰🐉

Phase 3 (Nourish)

5. Essence

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
This 🐌snail extract🐌 is AWESOME
at rehydrating & refreshing skin!
It's super lightweight and packs a
💥super moisturizing punch💥 to yer face!

MISSHA Time Revolution The First Intensive Moist Treatment Essence
🌾Fermented yeast extract🌾 works as a
firming anti-aging boost while leaving it 💦supple💦
with some 🍆deep hydrating penetration🍆 into your dermis.

6. Treatments (serums, ampoules, boosters)

[KLAIRS] Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop 5%
Powered by 🍊Vitamin C🍊,
this serum is lightweight and
🔆brightens hyperpigmentation & acne scars🔆!
It only contains ✨5️% ascorbic acid✨ for some safe tingling.
Safe enough for sensitive skin but remember, always patch test new products!
{Also make sure to store it AWAY from direct/indirect sunlight.}

MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule
Regenerates your skin elasticity while
improve your 🌊moisture levels🌊 in your
skin with peptides & vitamins. Great for anti-aging
with a 🔗strong 80%🔗 concentration of
🐌premimum snail extract🐌.

7. Sheet Mask

Try to find masks without parabens and alcohol.

MEDIHEAL Best 5 Type Combo Mask Sheet Pack of 10
Tea Tree: Alleviates dry skin and controls
sebum with 🌲tea tree oil & pine needles🌲.

N.M.F. Aquaring: Uses hyaluronic acid and
ceramide to 🌧️nourish and moisturize🌧️
and 🏔️smooth fine lines🏔️.

Vita Lightbeam: 🌟💎Shine bright like a diamond💎🌟
with this boost of 🍊Vitamin C🍊!

Collagen Impact: 🎯Target those fine lines🎯
with collagen and 🌀seal the moisturize🌀
deeper in the dermis.

W.H.P. White Hydrating: Full of ❇️niacinamide❇️
& 🍇acai extract🍇 for lightening
brightening skin tone & texture.

A'PIEU Milk One Pack Sheet Mask Set 7 pcs
Creamy, nourishing masks that
deliver brightening hydration & moisturizing~

Flavors include 🍓Strawberry, 🍌Banana, ☕Coffee,
🥥Coconut, 🍫Chocolate, 🥛Milk, 🍵Green Tea.

8. Eye Cream

Benton Fermentation Eye Cream
Mollifies those ⚫dark undereye circles⚫
& 🌫️smooths fine lines🌫️
while administering intense moisture
with hyaluronic acid & ceramides.

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Water-Full Eye Treatment
Treats those crow lines with
☔potent hydration☔ for revitalization
of that delicate under eye skin with
🗿baobab seed & birch tree extracts🗿.

Phase 4 (Protect)

9. Moisturizer

[Klairs] Rich Moist Soothing Cream
Super moisturizing, super creamy
but dries 🧴lightweight & clear🧴!
Assuages sensitive skin while
replenishing critical moisture levels.
Stabilizes 🔴red & irritated🔴 skin to leave
you with soft silky skin for the rest of the day.

ETUDE HOUSE Moistfull Collagen Emulsion
Powerful collagen shot laced with 🌱baobab tree extracts🌱
to improve your moisture retention and dermal structure.
Lift your skin's layers with hydration for anti-aging effects.
This emulsion definitely ⛅pillow-fys⛅ my face,
like 👼🏽angel's skin👼🏽~

10. Sun Protection
I highly recommend using a sunscreen with at least 45+ SPF PA ++++,
~~Especially with global warming & the climate disaster happening right now.~~

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++
Gives a broad spectrum sun protection while
soothing any red & irritated skin with 🎍aloe🎍.
Gives a nice hydrating finish but not too oily
as a base makeup face. Does not dry white
and is lightweight~

Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+ / PA+++
This 🥛UV milk🥛 is a mineral based
sunscreen that gives persistent protection.
Leaves 🚫no white marks🚫 and dries clear & non-sticky.
Controls sebum for a matte finish without
any of the dehydrating results.

Extras:

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch 24 Count (5 Pack)
These are seriously lifesavers!!!!
Pop one on an 🌋active pimple🌋 and
watch it 🕳️disappear🕳️ overnight!!!
Lightly colored so that you can
wear under makeup as well!!
Comes in ⭕different patch sizes⭕
(S,M,L) for every occasion! 👌

[ETUDE HOUSE] My Beauty Tool Lovely Etti Hair Band
🐱Totally optional🐱 part of a K-Beauty routine
but in such a 🎀cute way🎀 to keep your hair outta yer face~

Great video from Liah Yoo on what ingredients you shouldn't mix:

Some products are not safe to use together, so be aware!

Modify your products for day/night use accordingly!
(i.e. you don’t need sunscreen at night, retinols and
other active acids only during night)

TL;DR:

Finding all this to be overwhelming?
Do you deal with depression or executive dysfunction?
Don't have time? "It's too girly"?

Well put your fears aside because I
have a modified, easy skincare routine for ya!

Steps:

1+2 (Cleanse, with one or both types)

3 (Exfoliate)

{Skip this if you're really low on 🔋!)

9 (Moisturize)

10 (Sun Protection)

These are the 🦴bare-bones essential steps🦴
to get you through those hard times and
gives you the a way to 🛀feel clean and refreshed🛀
without using too much ⚡energy⚡/🥄spoons🥄!

(Gif credit: Hive account@pacolimited)