For years, I tried copying other people’s skincare routines, hoping their products would work miracles on my skin. I followed every trend, every influencer tip, and still dealt with dryness, breakouts, or irritation. What I didn’t realize was that skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s personal.

This is the story of how I built a skincare routine that actually works — by learning to listen to my skin.

​

The Frustration of Trial and Error

​

In my early 20s, I had a shelf full of products that promised glowing skin. I had oily skin in some places, dry patches in others, and a T-zone that lived in chaos. I thought more products meant better results. But what I got instead were breakouts, redness, and confusion.

I kept thinking: maybe I just haven’t found the right brand yet. Spoiler: the brand wasn’t the problem — the routine was.

​

Learning My Skin Type

​

The turning point came when I learned about skin types — oily, dry, combination, sensitive, normal. I started paying attention to how my skin reacted throughout the day, what triggered breakouts, what caused flaking. It was like finally speaking the same language as my skin.

From there, everything changed.

​

What My Routine Looks Like Now

​

Cleansing with Intention: I use a gentle cleanser twice a day — no more harsh scrubbing.

​

Targeted Treatments: For my oily T-zone, I use a lightweight serum with niacinamide. For dry patches, a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid.

Moisturizing for Balance: I used to skip moisturizer, thinking it would make me oilier. Turns out, skipping it made things worse. Now I use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that keeps everything balanced.

​

Sunscreen Always: Every morning, rain or shine.

​

What I’ve Learned

​

There’s no “perfect” routine — only one that works for you. Skincare is about consistency, patience, and tuning in to your skin’s needs, not copying someone else's.

​

Final Thoughts

​

If you’re just starting your skincare journey or stuck in a product spiral, pause. Strip it back. Learn your skin. Your routine doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to be yours.