Winter Skincare Routine for Glowing Skin
My favorite part of my nighttime routine is doing my skincare. It is an essential part of my self-care and I wake up with glowing skin! All these products are cruelty-free besides a couple that are owned by non-cruelty-free parent companies.
There are 10 steps in the Korean skincare routine. Don’t run away yet – a few of the steps are only meant to be done a few times a week, not everyday.
I know not everyone can do a 10-step skincare routine each day or week—I definitely don’t—so take what you want from this post and know you do not have to do it all!
Let’s go through each step so I can tell you what its purpose is and my favorite product(s) to use for it.
This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.
Step 1: Oil-Based Cleanser
To remove your make-up and the oils on your skin, an oil-based cleanser is essential. Using an oil cleanser will NOT make your skin more oily, it actually helps to remove oils (and makeup) that water-based cleanser cannot.
Trader Joe’s used to make my favorite one and unfortunately I haven’t found a cruelty-free brand that makes a good one yet.
Bare Minerals has a highly rated oil-based cleanser and they are cruelty-free, but the parent company is not.
Step 2: Water-based cleanser
After your oil cleanser, use a water based cleanser as usual. The best I have ever used is by The Creme Shop. As far as I can find, The Creme Shop is cruelty-free.
I love The Creme Shop 2-in-1 Cleanser.
Step 3: Exfoliator
Exfoliate 2-3x a week – not every day! It is important to use an exfoliator that is made with small, natural micro pieces. Do not buy products with microbeads, as these are terrible for the environment and do not work well as exfoliants.
I use Vasanti Exfoliator once or twice a week and it makes my skin feel so fresh and glowy! It is vegan, cruelty-free, and no plastic beads.
Step 4: Toner
According to Soko Glam’s 10-step guide, toner balances the skin’s pH levels to keep your face hydrated.
My absolute favorite toner is from Trader Joe’s. I know not everyone has access to TJ’s, but luckily you can get really similar products. It is Rose Water facial toner with Witch Hazel and a few other natural extracts.
Step 5: Essence
This is a step that I rarely see in skin care routines, but it is considered the “heart of Korean skincare.”
I used Lumene Glow Boost Essence for a couple years. It has a light, sweet orange scent and is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
Essence is hydrating, which is just what your skin needs during dry, cold winters.
Step 6: Serums/treatments
My favorite step of the skincare routine is serums! I love this step because you can use multiple serums to target specific skin concerns like dryness, aging, and hyper-pigmentation.
The best skincare brand (in my opinion) is The Ordinary. Their products are all 100% cruelty-free and most, if not all, of them are vegan! Plus, they range from about $5 - $8 on average so they’re very affordable for quality products.
Products I Use
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: Best for skin that needs some extra moisture. It holds 1000x it’s weight in water, so putting a good moisturizer on top of this will make sure your thirsty skin gets the hydration it needs.
Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA: Best for uneven skintone and dark spots. I have redness and some dark spots (wear sunscreen, kids) so I use this often! It has slightly reduced my uneven skintone. It also has HA, which is Hyaluronic Acid – mentioned above.
Buffet: Best for reducing and preventing signs of aging. Conflicts with pure Vitamin C and direct acids (like AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution).
Lactic Acid 10% + HA: Best for uneven, dull skintones and fine lines and wrinkles. This was the first product I ever tried from The Ordinary thanks to my sister who gifted it to me! It also has HA in it, which again, is Hyaluronic Acid.
Retinol 0.5% in Squalane: Retinol can cause skin irritation and The Ordinary recommends using other products that mimic the appearance Retinol gives skin. Read through this page on The Ordinary before purchasing Retinol products.
I have used Retinol products without any skin issues, so I like this one. It is recommended to start off with the Retinol 0.2% in Squalane so your skin builds a tolerance before moving up to 0.5%.
Retinol is an anti-aging product and should only be used at night. Your skin will be very sensitive to sun so it cannot be used during the day. Use this after water-based serums as it is an oil-based solution.
Step 7: Sheet Mask
Sheet masks feel luxurious and are a great self-care step. They go on after all your serums! It is suggested that you use them 1x a week, but I usually only use them once a month.
Step 8: Eye Cream
I use Pacifica Rose Jelly Under Eye Gel at night, although I’ve never found an eye serum that truly makes a noticeable difference in puffiness or dark circles. The only thing that makes a difference for me has been gua sha!
Step 9: Moisturizer
My absolute favorite moisturizer is Biossance Gel Moisturizer!
About 2-3x a week I use an Ulta Beauty Watermelon Sleeping Mask. Apply it after all other steps just like any other moisturizer, but then rinse it off in the morning! This is an actual mask that you only keep on while you sleep. I truly wake up with glowing skin after a night of using this!
Step 10: Sunscreen
The most important anti-aging product is sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun helps prevent wrinkles, dark spots, and all signs of aging!
My favorite face sunscreen I’ve used is Coola Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion. It is a bit pricier for a sunscreen, but it goes on like moisturizer and doesn’t have a white cast! It’s also the only sunscreen I’m not allergic to.
Coola is cruelty-free and based in San Diego area. Although SC Johnson, which is NOT cruelty-free, which owns majority stake in it.
