My Quarantine Skincare Routine

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links.

In the middle of a “shelter in place” order, it’s easy to let things slip. Just like you, all I really want to be doing right now is lying on the couch like a slug watching true crime docs and shoving Cheetos down my gullet — activities that require little to no primping. But, the way I see it, we’ve been presented with one of two options here: We can use this time to make the most of our situation with a little extra beauty TLC, or, we can all emerge from this whole charade with some of the most acneic, wrinkled, dry, sallow complexions the world has ever seen. Lest I allow myself to fall into that latter category, I’ve developed what I like to call a “quarantine skincare routine.”

Essentially, this is an extended version of the skincare routine I regularly follow for my oily-to-combination skin — aka the most pain in the ass type of skin to shop for. What works for my super dry cheeks, chin, and nose tends to be the exact opposite of what I need for my oily forehead and under-eye area. Add too much moisture, and I break out like crazy. Add too little, and I look like a lizard queen.

Luckily, my profession as a commerce editor has allowed me the freedom to try tons of different beauty products to find what truly works for me. After testing countless serums, lotions, masks, cleansers, creams, and more, these are the essentials I’ve whittled down for a superstar roster that keeps my skin smooth, soft, and radiant.

1. M-61 Power Cleanse Pore-Purifying Glycolic Face Cleanser, $28.90

Discovering this cleanser has been both a blessing and a curse in my life. On the one hand, it keeps my skin clean and relatively clear thanks to its blend of exfoliating glycolic acid, hydrating vitamin B5, and, most importantly, tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has become a vital ingredient in keeping the natural oils my skin produces under control (I also use it in my shampoo to curb my extra-oily scalp).

On the other hand, my skin has become so reliant on this cleanser that if I go even a few days without using it, I breakout. In fact,  in addition to stocking up on food and all-mighty toilet paper ahead of our quarantine, I made sure to order an extra bottle of this, just in case. Priorities, people!

2 .Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum, $166

Once my face is nice and clean, I reach for what has become every beauty blogger’s go-to miracle serum: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic— aka the treatment that convinced me to hold off on Botox for another year or so. In addition to protecting my skin from “free radicals” — unstable atoms floating around out there that can damage cells and cause illness and aging — this serum is said to reverse some of the damage these atoms have already caused. The results can be seen in this insane video, which shows a drop or two of this potent mixture of pure vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid completely eradicating aging seen on an apple. If this stuff has that kind of power for my skin? I’ll use it every d*mn day, quarantine or otherwise!

3. Vichy Mineral 89 Eyes, $24

My eyes are my biggest area of concern, since this is where I’ve begun to notice fine lines aggregating at the ripe old age of 34. So far, I haven’t found anything that makes them disappear — at least not overnight. What I did find, however, is this under-eye gel cream from European brand Vichy, which pairs hydrating hyaluronic acid with pure caffeine to give this delicate area a quick pick-me-up on mornings I’m feeling less than bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It gives off a stimulating little tingle and makes me look far less tired than I otherwise would — a result also reported by 81 percent of women aged 31 to 65 who used it in a clinical study twice-daily for a month. It figures — coffee, aka my lifeblood, would be the thing to offer up real results in a hurry.

4. Finishing Touch Vibrating Rose Quartz Roller, $17.99

This handy little tool is just what the doctor ordered for a healthy dose of self-quarantine care. Not only can you use it for facial massage (which, according to beauty experts the globe over, relaxes your muscles, boosts your circulation, and tones your skin), it works to push your serums, creams, and what have you even deeper into your skin. And, as if that all of that wasn’t exciting enough, esthetician Stacy Cox explained to me earlier this year that its cooling, rose quartz stone has metaphysical properties, too. “Rose quartz connects with your fourth chakra point, Anahata,” she said. “It connects with the concept of self-care and self-love.”

I think we could all use a little self-love right about now, no?

5. Mario Badescu Buttermilk Lotion, $18

For me, finding a lotion that takes care of dryness without causing acne has had me walking a verrrrry fine line in the skincare department: Anything that’s ultra hydrating tends to wreak havoc on my T-zone. On the other hand, if I skimp on the lotion completely, I wind up with a very tight, dry complexion. After much trial and error, I finally found one that’s light enough to do its job without adding to my oil woes: Mario Badescu Buttermilk Lotion. Er, rather, Heidi Klum found it — she’s been using it for the last 20 years! “When I use very rich creams, I break out in pimples. I’ve been using it for years. It doesn’t clog my pores,” she told the TODAY show last year. (Same, girl. Same).

As it turns out, Klum was spot on. Despite its name, this stuff isn’t super milky or heavy, but rather the perfect lightweight consistency for someone like me, who needs just a thin layer of moisture. I’ve been able to use it daily without experiencing breakouts, though on days I’m *extra* oily, I don’t take any chances, switching to Dr. Jart+’s Teatreement ($32)  moisturizer to help dry things out (are you sensing a trend with the tea tree oil?).

6. Dr. Organic Snail Gel Healthy Aging Night Cream, $19.99

I have been hearing swirls about the benefits of snail gel for your face for some time now, but it wasn’t until I was presented with the opportunity to test it out for Woman’s World that I truly put any stock in it. The rumblings are TRUE, friends — the mucin, or slimy secretion, that these little guys give off will make your face as smooth as a baby’s behind! As such, I’m now a religious user of this night cream from Dr. Organic, which, despite its rich texture, soaks into my skin in seconds. That’s good news, since, as Chicago-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, told The Strategist in 2018, “Clinical studies have shown that skin-care products containing snail mucin gave statistical improvements in facial lines and wrinkles.”

While I can’t say for sure if it’s making me look any younger, I can confirm that my skin feels much healthier for it come the morning light. It also somehow manages to keep me breakout-free. Best of all, no snails are harmed in the making of this cruelty-free line, so I feel less Dark Crystal-ish about potentially stealing their life force.

7. Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, $60

This mask, which smells just like a homemade pumpkin pie, just might be my favorite thing on this list. A three-in-one powerhouse, it offers up an at-home chemical peel that you can really feel (a mild to strong stinging sensation is normal and makes me feel like it’s doing it’s really doing its job). In addition, it gives you a nice physical exfoliation in the form of its bead-like aluminum oxide crystals, which you scrub against your skin upon rinsing. The star of the show, however, are its collagen-boosting pumpkin enzymes, which are packed with skin-brightening antioxidants.

After using this goopy mixture, I sh*t you not when I tell you that my skin glows. It removes anything hiding in my pores (which, unfortunately, happen to be on the larger side), makes my cheeks feel smooth as butter, and boosts my radiance tenfold. While I typically only use it when I have extra time or need a self-care day, I’ll be upping the usage of this bad boy to the recommended three times a week for the duration of our little home vacay. Read my in-depth review here.

8. M-61 Hydroboost Body Butter, from $10

Unlike my face, the skin on my body tends to get insanely dry (thanks, eczema!). Since run-of-the-mill scented lotions tend to be inadequate (not to mention drive my cat wild) to tackle the problem, I’ve latched onto this unscented body butter from M-61. Sure, it stings a bit going on, but its blend of shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe is thick enough to keep my Sahara-like legs fully hydrated and flake-free without being greasy. It also has natural tamarind, which is supposed to help with elasticity of the skin (read: stretch marks and cellulite). Hey, if I can get a tighter tush while lotioning up, why the heck not?

What must-have products for combination skin am I missing? Lay ’em on me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole