Drop the compact, pick up the cleanser…

---

For years, makeup was my go-to quick fix for any skin issue. If a new blemish appeared overnight, I covered it. Dark circles? Suddenly concealed. Redness or discoloration: hello color corrector.

You’d rarely catch me leaving the house without wearing some kind of makeup. More often than not, it was a FULL face: foundation, concealer, powder… the whole nine yards. I always loved makeup — trying new eyeshadow, blush, lipstick was fun for me – but I realized I started using it as a security blanket to cover perceived flaws.

I became an expert at faking perfect skin. And to be honest, I didn’t try very hard to get to the root of the problem. Because I knew I could always hide it. I took care of my skin to an extent – always washing my face at the end of the day, never going to bed with makeup on… you know, the basics. I cleansed and moisturized, but my morning routine always included a makeup cover-up so I didn’t go above and beyond.

It wasn’t until I started working from home that I reconsidered my skincare routine. Now that I didn’t have anywhere to be, did I still feel like wearing makeup? I thought the time was ripe to reassess and learn how to take better care of my skin. Like, I realized I had a lot of clogged pores, so when my pimples weren’t concealed, a little TLC was sorely needed.

In the past, I spent hours researching makeup products, watching YouTube videos about makeup, trying new makeup techniques— so I decided to follow the same format but, this time, for all things skincare, mixing and matching until I finally found the perfect step-by-step skincare routine. And truth be told, this routine has given me my best complexion in years.

Step 1: CLEANSER
I start and end each day with a gentle cleanser that washes away all the dirt, grime, makeup, etc. and leaves nothing but fresh, clean skin.

Step 2: TONER
I can’t believe I neglected toner in the past, because this has been a big game-changer for me. After cleansing, it removes any leftover dirt and has made my congested pores so much clearer.

Step 3: PRIMING SERUM
I’ve learned to love serums for their supercharged skincare benefits. This one is awesome for several reasons: it doubles as a makeup primer, making it the perfect antioxidant-infused base layer for the rest of my routine. Plus, Summary’s blend of plant and marine actives provide antipollution and antioxidant action keeping skin calm, comfortable and less-stressed.

Step 4: EYE CREAM
Once upon a time, I’d fix dry, tired under eyes with a creamy and brightening concealer. But with a hydrating and firming eye cream, there’s nothing left for me to mask.

Step 5: MOISTURIZER
Of all the steps in my routine, moisturizer is the one that I never skip. And as someone with dry skin, I always need hydration. PRO TIP: It’s important to do a little reading/experimenting here, as there are many moisturizers which offer many different benefits.

Step 6: OIL
On those days when I’m feeling particularly dry or my complexion is looking a little lackluster, I’ll top things off with an oil to lock in hydration, revitalize, and really make my skin glow.

Step 7: SPF
I thought it was silly to wear SPF on days where I wasn’t going into the sun, but I promise it is every beauty expert’s number one tip. This one protects against UV damage plus blue light (hello, staring at a computer all day) and it has a barely-there cooling feel.

I’m so happy with how makeup now sits on my nurtured skin that I don’t go nearly as full-coverage as I once did. Which is really saying something – I actually feel confident enough to skip the makeup altogether.