Last fall, I came to the conclusion that I am too old to not have a consistent skincare routine. Truthfully, I have never had good skincare habits. Makeup wipes were as good as it got for a long time.

It took me a while to find products that work for my skin. I have both dry and sensitive skin. When I first started a regular routine, my clear complexion quickly disappeared. Most soaps and even some moisturizers were too harsh. Even products labeled “gentle” caused awful, dry patches on my face.

After trying several products and product combinations, this is what seems to be working best for me right now.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

I have mentioned this makeup remover a few times, but it has quickly become a favorite of mine! I still use micellar water to touch up my makeup as I am applying it, but this removes all of my makeup and is not harsh on my skin.

Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Once I remove my makeup, I use this cleanser. This step was what was causing my face to have dry patches, until I tried this particular cleanser. I realized that I do not just need something for dry skin, but also for sensitive skin.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost- Extra Dry Skin

Originally, I was using the cleanser from this line, but it was causing my skin to burn. I tried a couple other cleansers and the burning eased up, but continued. This led me to believe that the moisturizer was not working. But, when I tried the Cetaphil gentle cleanser, the burning stopped. Since then, this moisturizer has been like gold. I am already on my second jar since December.

I have made many changes to my skincare routine in the last few months and I am sure I will make some more changes, but this seems to be working really well for me. For now, I am trying to just keep it simple.