My Skincare Routine: 2022 vs 2020

Sharing my current skincare approach and routine, and how it's changed since my last routine video in 2020.

0:00 Intro, General thoughts on sharing my skincare routine
3:03 Routine approach and skin concerns
6:53 Cleansing
11:12 Actives and skin cycling
13:06 Retinoids
16:39 Moisturisers
19:05 Exfoliants
20:55 Vitamin C, niacinamide etc.
23:44 Treatments and masks, lip balm
26:53 Changes, moving forward

🙋🏻 I'm Michelle, a chemistry PhD, cosmetic chemist and science educator, here to explain how beauty products work, debunk myths, and help you make smarter decisions about your skincare, hair and makeup!

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📺 RELATED POSTS AND VIDEOS

[Piqued]

I really hate the fast-fashionification of skincare because it means things that don't need to be reformulated gets changed so often for marketing or trend. It's frustrating to rely on a product to have it be unavailable next year.

[montananerd]

Love the responsible consumerism content!!! So happy you haven't moved to shill your own products; it's become extremely hard to get unbiased advice these days, esp with so many derms pushing their own products. I don't like to get products and product advice from the same source, seems like an obvious conflict, and I appreciate the few creators who understand and practice professional ethics.

[eloisehecker]

I put big scrunchies for wet hair around my wrists when cleansing my face over the sink. It's changed my life because no water runs down my arms and the sink is so much cleaner as they actually catch a lot of splashing water!

[Cal]

What irks me the most is influencers preaching sustainable/eco-friendly products but consumes and owns unrealistically many skincare. You can be sustainable using products from brands that are not marketed “sustainable” when you only buy as you finish them up, keeping only what is NEEDED in your inventory, simple and realistic. Same goes for makeup, and fashion of course.

[maenad]

I have no idea if you realized how insightful your analogy is. Skincare has become like trends and fast fashion - except in this situation the consumer is also at risk to some extent

[rrhx]

Hello from Germany. Two years ago I got carried away buying K beauty products, only to be constantly stressed out because some of these products were not always available. I decided to switch to french pharmacy products, a simple routine and I am doing fine :) it's like buying local vegetables.

[sbhutto]

I absolutely adore your discussions / rationale behind your personal use of skin care. As a primary care provider, I'm not only interested about skin care for my patients but I'm really into it myself. It's nice to be able to give advice to my clients for their skin care needs, and I usually point them to your channel among others (Dr. Dray). My regimen is probably way overboard, but I enjoy skin care a lot! I usually slim it down while I'm traveling. It's nice to hear a scientific, evidence-based opinion on skin care because it's a jungle out there!! TYSM

[SaplingTarot]

So grateful for you still talking about mask wearing, I’m in a similar boat with minimal sun exposure but still mask irritation, it’s turned my routine upside down! I really enjoyed this look back video, thank you!

[GG]

This may be totally misguided, but I’ve always connected with your “quirky” sense of humor and creativity in a way that could be explained partly by adhd. It’s refreshing to see a successful person who is able to find their own way of doing things. Thank you for sharing your work and personality with us!

[AuroraFires]

FYI, if anyone in US or CA is looking for Dermal Therapy Lip Balm, the brand is under a different name called Flexitol

[SannaJankarin]

Dr. Michelle, I rarely comment but I really want to thank you on so many levels. I come from a country in Eastern Europe who's really not aware of the effects of sunscreen and how important skincare is. I started with a basic question: what does contain a soup and how do I differentiate a good one from a bad one? At first, I stumbled upon the trends of clean beauty but because I am really meticulous and naturally curious I was not satisfied with their explanations, so I digged in for more. After searching, I discovered you approximately a year ago and it was magnificent. You and a few dermatologists from YT had taught me things so well that now I am a better educated consumer than most Biology-Chemistry students in my country. I've talked to several of them, who did a cosmetic course at college. Their professor was basically incompetent and they not even realise how bad it was. It is sad that education around here is like a glass of water with too many impurities that we drink, lying to ourselves that is itill good to drink and then wondering why we are sick. At the same time, there are still dermatologist in my country who think sun exposure with sunscreen on decreases vitamin D production, for the same old reason: incompetent professors, with dated research studies. It is sad that me, a girl in her first year of Biology, with not a lot of background in biology and chemistry and who's still learning, has saw a lot of dated research in my own courses from college.

I really really appreciate your content and I am forever grateful that you educated me. Thank you so much and I think I am not the only one. A lot of people have a similar background. Thank you once again. ❤️

[raquellak]

eternally grateful to you for suggesting the bioderma micellar water in a video some months ago, as that is also now my go-to nighttime cleanser (where before I would be more inclined to just skip pm skincare entirely from overwhelm). i’m glad to still hear you talk about uncomplicating your routine and choosing with what works for you and your brain as much as your skin!

[Bianca-nbby]

Hi Michelle, As someone with late diagnosed ADHD, it never occurred to me that it could be contributing to me struggling with keeping a consistent skincare routine and why I feel the need to jump around from product to product even when there’s nothing wrong with them. It makes so much sense now! Thank you so much for this video, I have a similar skin type to you so I will look into a few of the products you mentioned to help fill in the gaps in my routine. Also I’m kind of curious about the Augustinus Bader cream and if it’s worth the money? I’ve seen so many advertisements for the cream and the lash serum but the price has kept me from trying it! 😅 Cheers and Take Care!

[naxp]

You and James are my too fav skincare creators, I only watch you two now, I think it’s because you are both honest, self aware, and thoughtful.

[Knoxsinn]

Love the update to this series. I started doing a three night cycle based off of your original article when you first posted it- hasn't let me down yet! Also, I appreciate you being authentic with your explanations. Waiting to do my nighttime routine until the last minute and only putting on my morning products when I remember is something I'm glad I'm not alone in. 😂

[sushe]

So glad to hear the ADHD and parfum in products being a problem. Personally I struggle with sensitivity to scent so badly, that I have almost switched to only using unscented products .

[deeptiabey]

My new routine is 4 day cycle - SA > Tretinoin > Break > Tretinoin. Niacinamide is a staple on every night, as are Cosrx Snail Mucin and Purito Unscented Centella☺

[lisawyckoff]

1) I am sooo glad to know I'm not the only one who makes a mess washing my face!😂🤣 I thought I was doing it wrong🤣. Yes water everywhere, running down my arms getting my shirt wet.. horrible
2) I keep it simple anymore. A day moisturizer (lighter), a night moisturizer ( thicker) & will use these no matter time of day depending on what I feel I need, and tretonoin. No serum, no vitamin c (rosacea) can't handle it. Less choices= easier skin care

[mirandafelix]

I am so sensory defensive about my skincare and most of my personal care. I also struggle with all the same facets of ADHD regarding skincare. Seeing Michelle talk about this stuff makes me feel so validated. 😭

[drnik]

I've loved watching your channel grow, amongst all the BS out there it's great to have a fellow Aussie who talks science and sense, with a dollop of humour too! Keep up the good work, and I'll keep trying to find a face sunscreen that totally ❤works for me (NB: your recommendation Beauty of Joseon is the closest I've gotten!).