“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” -Psalm 118:8
In my journey of rehab from my social media addiction, I have deleted TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. I have kept Facebook, because it’s always convenient when I get a notification that it is someone’s birthday so I don’t forget to text. Naturally, I got hooked on Facebook reels. Embarrassing, I know, likely the hand-me-down videos from TikTok, to Instagram, then to Facebook.
Facebook at this point has not curated an algorithm for me, so videos ranged from anything and everything. For a while I loved seeing 40 something year old women from the South narrating themselves baking dessert. One day, though, I remember seeing a reel of a 9-year-old girl, a literal child, doing a 14 step skin-care routine. There were a lot of thoughts I had when I first saw that video.
“You’re 9 years old, go play outside!”
“I literally had no skincare routine at 9 years old.”
“Is a 9 year old’s skincare routine better than mine?”
“You’re 9 years old, go play outside!!!”
Another reason why I’m social media rehab is because the comparison culture is so toxic for my soul. Being worried if a 9-year-old girl has a better skincare routine than I do reminded me of this fact.
It’s all over social media- “Here’s my 5-9 before my 9-5,” or “Aesthetic morning routine,” where girls on social media will display a lineup of various products they use for skincare (and in those videos they clink their nails on each product at a rapid pace and then flick off the cap… you know what I’m talking about). Seeing so many videos like this made me question if I was doing enough. Do I need to make my skincare routine more aesthetic? Do I need 15 different products like these girls have? How much does this all cost?
Praise God I’ve never had any problems with my skin, besides the Sahara-desert-dry heathen hands I get in the winter, or the chin warts I just got frozen off. That being said, my skincare routine has never needed to be overly complicated. However, the devil loves to attack through social media and can make you question everything about yourself. He crafts self-conscious thoughts that we’re never doing enough or that we’ll never be good enough.
Jesus longs for us to find our identity in Him- to know we are His, and we are beloved. Not having a perfect skincare routine does not change any of these truths. It’s important to root ourselves in the Word every day to remind ourselves of this, especially if we are on social media every day. I think this verse from Psalm 118:8 is especially important to have in our hearts when scrolling on social media:
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
In the era where everyone is trying to be an “influencer,” we need to remember that our #1 influence should be Jesus. We need to put our trust in Him, who has given everything for us and knows our needs better than we do, rather than a 9-year-old sharing her 14 step skincare routine, or whatever it may be.
I grew up watching my mom use Olay moisturizer every day on her face, and I started to ask if I could have some and would put it on as we both got ready. Olay has worked fabulously on my skin, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Putting my refuge in God is trusting that because Olay has worked for me and is something I grew up using with my mom, it doesn’t need to get more complicated than that.
When it comes to skincare, I have found that less is more. I don’t think that the key to healthy and glowing skin is 17 products in the morning and 21 products at night. Personally, I think a practical skincare routine comes down to a cleanser, a moisturizer, and SPF. However, I am not a dermatologist, so I decided to do some more research to back up my hypothesis.
Dr. Ana Chacon, dermatologist, shared in a blog from Grove that, “Using fewer products ensures better absorption and effectiveness of the ingredients you’re putting on your skin.” People that overdo it on skincare products can experience dry skin patches, acne breakouts, flaking, or irritation. Specifically, Dr. Chacon explains over-exfoliating can lead to red, dry patches on the face, and countering this dryness with too much cream or serum can lead to congestion or acne breakouts. Sounds like a lose, lose to me!
Dr. Chacon also shares recommendations for different skin types. For dry skin, swap alcohol-based products or conventional cleansers to products with fewer ingredients. Specifically, micellar water is recommended as the go-to cleanser for those with dry skin. For oily skin, Dr. Chacon advises implementing a sunscreen that has a moisturizer as an all-in-one, and to skip the serums. Olay has a SuperCream, 5-in-1 product, linked here, that moisturizes, hydrates, and protects with SPF. Talk about one product that does it all!
For normal skin, Dr. Chacon keeps it simple: all you need is a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. For all skin types, though, sunscreen is non-negotiable. If there’s one thing you take away from this blog (besides that you are a beloved child of God), it’s that applying sunscreen everyday is vital for protecting and caring for our skin.
Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, a dermatologist for the Cleveland Clinic, shares what our morning and night routines should focus on. In the morning, our skincare routines should highlight protecting our skin, whereas evening routines are for repairing our skin.
Without further ado, I’m going to share my simple, affordable and effective skincare routine, one I feel glorifies God and that He has led me to without feeling the need to compare myself to others. I’m not trying to “influence” here, just share what works for me and gives me peace (I’ve included links for all products in their titles). So if none of this gives you peace or leads you closer to Jesus, throw it out! Except SPF. Don’t forget about SPF.
My skincare routine begins in the shower each morning. I wash my face with Olay Brightening Exfoliating Cleanser with Vitamin C. I love the way the exfoliating cleanser smells and feels on my skin. The exfoliators leave my skin feeling smooth, supple, and soft, and consistent use will aid in your skin’s natural surface regeneration.
I love this product because it is made without parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or mineral oils. Vitamin C is another bonus, which is known to fight free radicals on the skin’s surface, which protects your face from visible damage that you see as fine lines and uneven skin tone, and creates a glow as it fortifies the skin’s moisture barrier. Plus, this product is recommended for all skin types!
After my shower, I use my ice roller Ice Roller from The Skinny Confidential. This was actually a gift from my sister-in-laws, which I am forever grateful for. The cold therapy after a hot shower feels amazing, and works to tighten, contour, and de-puff my skin. I recommend the Skinny Confidential brand because their roller is made with solid aluminum, which keeps it colder for longer, and is larger than any ice roller on the market.
Ice rolling, while totally optional, reduces redness and puffiness instantly, boosts circulation, and helps shrink the size of pores which creates smoother-looking skin. Additionally, ice-rolling aids in lymphatic drainage through the combination of a facial massage and ice therapy. I ice roll in the morning while listening to Fr. Mark Mary’s “Rosary in a Year” podcast!
Lastly, I use Olay Vitamin C Lightweight Moisturizer (I love my Vitamin C!). This product is wonderful as it hydrates for brighter skin two times better than a basic moisturizer. It absorbs quickly without leaving greasy or sticky residue, feels lightweight and also smells like citrus. As someone who loves having some color on my face, especially in the pale winter months, this product delivers in brightening the skin and leaving a healthy glow.
While I am typing this out in the winter, where there is minimal sun and I blog in my apartment and only really leave to go grocery shopping, the gym, or Mass, I usually skimp on applying my SPF moisturizer. In the summertime, I use Olay Complete Lotion Moisturizer with SPF 15. I know I should probably use a higher SPF, but once again, I love being tan! Probably something I need to pray with, LOL.
To be totally honest, I don’t wear makeup all that often, especially since I don’t go into an office anymore. Maybe I should or maybe I shouldn’t, but if I don’t wear makeup, I don’t touch my face before bed. If I do wear makeup, I will cleanse with CeraVe (crazy it’s not Olay!) Hydrating Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin, then moisturize with the Olay Complete Moisturizer I just referenced above. That’s about it!
Jesus longs for our whole hearts, and desires to be with us in everything, even the little things like our skincare routines that might seem insignificant. I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again: skincare gives glory to God! But Jesus does not want you to self-consciously compare yourself to a 9 year-old vlogger, or what anybody else is doing, rather to trust in Him and care for your skin in a way that works for you, gives you peace, and is rooted in being His beloved. I’d love to hear how Jesus has blessed your skincare routine- not to compare, but to share and praise God!
PS, If anyone has any recommendations for how to cure aggressively dry hands in the winter, I’m all ears!!
Working hands is the only thing that has cured my dry hands ! It’s the best