Hello everyone! If you’ve been keeping up with me on Instagram, you’ll know I’m in New York for the holiday break. I was really excited for this getaway because the past year has been tough personally. I planned to dive into the city as soon as I arrived a week ago, but jet lag hit me hard—I have no clue how the week vanished! I was surviving on just one or two hours of sleep, despite tossing and turning all night. I truly don’t understand how frequent travelers manage it! My brother flew in from Dallas a couple of days ago, so now we’re exploring together. There’s so much to see! The weather has been freezing (it was –2°C yesterday!) and it’s forecast to get even colder this week (not looking forward to that at all!).
Due to the drastic shift in climate, my skin reacted badly the moment I arrived. I had never encountered such dryness—not only on my face but also on my body! One of my first errands was to visit a drugstore and load up on oils, moisturizers, and body lotion. I’ve now settled into an effective skincare routine, and touchwood, my skin feels amazing! Just as you need layers of clothing to fight the cold, winter skincare requires layering to keep your skin hydrated, fresh, and glowing. I brought along some Innisfree minis from the pomegranate line (which performed really well—essence, lotion, cream, and eye serum), but they only lasted about three to four days. That was actually my intention, since I planned to shop for beauty products here.
Step 1: Kicking off with a duo of gentle cleansers.
Since I apply makeup daily, thorough cleansing is crucial, so I typically follow a two-step process. I bought Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil from Rite-Aid. It’s a medium-weight oil—not as thin as dry oils but not extremely thick either. To be honest, it doesn’t emulsify much, yet it cleanses well and provides much-needed slip to my skin. I then follow up with L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Cleanser, which contains gentle exfoliating particles, glycolic acid, and produces a light lather—it removes leftover oil and makeup without causing dryness.
Step 2: Ensuring cleansers leave skin comfortable, then misting with hydration.
Next, I spritz on a face mist—I brought the Innisfee Aloe Soothing Mist from India, which works decently as a simple hydrating mist.
Step 3: Applying Innisfree Pomegranate Eye Serum generously around eyes—lightweight and non-greasy, but running low.
Next, I use the Innisfree Pomegranate Eye Serum, applying a generous amount around my eyes. It’s light enough that it leaves no greasy residue. I estimate it will only last another two to three days, so I’ll need to pick up a replacement from a drugstore or Sephora soon.
Step 4: Using CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum for rich moisture, plus Sunday Riley Good Genes on alternate nights.
On my face, I apply CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum, a thick emollient serum that leaves a silky, hydrated feel. I believe it’s one of the key products keeping my skin in good condition. It contains a small amount of retinol and a ceramide complex. Retinol can be drying, but since I use plenty of oil, I haven’t experienced any flaking. I consider this an excellent anti-aging serum from the drugstore at a reasonable price. Every other day, I’ve also started using Sunday Riley Good Genes, a lactic acid exfoliating overnight treatment. I’m already loving it! Sunday Riley was a brand I was eager to try. I definitely plan to look for more of their products at Sephora and post detailed reviews.
Step 5: Mixing moisturizers—Innisfree lotion and Själ sample that impressed me.
I’m still creating moisturizer blends because I have a small amount of Innisfree Pomegranate lotion left, plus I received a sample of Själ Cela Intuitif Light Cellular Renewal Crème, which honestly amazed me! SO MUCH MOISTURE! I had never heard of Själ before, but I was looking for Sunday Riley LUNA at SpaceNK and they were out of stock. The sales assistant recommended the Saphir Concentrate by Själ, and the ingredients looked good, so I ended up buying it. The cellular renewal cream was a free sample. I’d love to buy the full size, but the brand is incredibly expensive :'(
Step 6: Finishing with a light veil of Själ facial oil—nourished and radiant, but missing SPF.
At this stage, my skin feels quite nice and hydrated, but nothing beats a light veil of oil to finish. I apply a few drops of Själ Saphir Concentrate Anti-Ageing Facial Oil, gently pressing it into my skin rather than massaging. It has a pleasant scent and leaves my skin feeling nourished and glowing. I’m ready for either bedtime or makeup now. The one gap in my routine is SPF—I’m only relying on my makeup for sun protection, which isn’t ideal. I need to buy a sunscreen, but since it’s deep winter here, it doesn’t feel urgent!
That’s my current skincare routine while in New York! Let me know if you’d like a similar post covering makeup and body care.
