A complete breakdown of what I use, when I use it, and why my skin loves it!
I get asked all the time what my skincare routine looks like—so I thought it was finally time to share it all in one place. This is a long post (because skincare is personal and deserves attention!), but I’ve laid it out step-by-step to help you build a routine that works for you, especially if you have normal to dry skin.
Let’s dive into the products that keep my skin clear, hydrated, and glowing every single day.
My Morning Skincare Routine
Start the day with intentional protection and prevention, for radiant skin.
Step 1: Renew Facial Toner
Instead of a traditional cleanser in the morning, I apply Renew Facial Toner with a cotton ball six days a week. It refreshes my skin without stripping its natural oils, which is especially important for normal to dry skin types. On the seventh day, I use the Nashville Skin Date Night Bright Pads. These gently exfoliate to promote smoother texture, even tone, and minimize the appearance of pores and redness.
Pro Tip: When my skin was more oily and acne-prone (hello, pre-perimenopause), I preferred cleansing daily with our Ritual Foaming Milk Cleanser in the morning.
Step 2: Hydrate Moisture Accelerator
This serum preps my skin and enhances absorption of every product that follows. It hydrates, plumps, and protects the skin barrier—truly a non-negotiable in my routine.
Step 3: Glow Vitamin C Serum
Antioxidant-rich and brightening, Glow protects my skin from environmental stressors and gives my sunscreen a serious boost in effectiveness.
Step 4: Refine Eye Serum
Just one pump is enough for both eyes, and any extra goes on my ‘11’s’ (the vertical lines between the brows). It hydrates and smooths without being too heavy for daytime.
Step 5: Colleen Rothschild Illuminating Tinted Eye Cream
This is my under-eye hero. It adds brightness and light coverage, setting the stage for concealer. I always layer it over Refine Eye Serum to avoid creasing and to ensure it sits beautifully on the skin.
Step 6: Revitalize Facial Oil
This antioxidant-rich facial oil gives me essential fatty acids and supports my skin’s natural oil balance. I press a few drops into my skin as my final skincare step before SPF.
Step 7: Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (with SPF 15)
Radiant combines makeup, skincare, and SPF into one step. This tinted moisturizer hydrates, protects, and improves the appearance of pores, blemishes, redness, and wrinkles with every wear.
Step 8: Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen
My final (and most important!) step. This mineral-based sunscreen has a light tint and doubles as my everyday “makeup.”
On makeup days, I follow with a spritz of our new Clarify Purifying Facial Mist to minimize the appearance of pores and lock everything in.
My Nighttime Skincare Routine
Evening is for healing, repairing, and restoring.
Step 1: Double Cleansing Face Set
I start by removing the day with our Fortiphy Facial Cleansing Balm, followed by the Ritual Foaming Milk Cleanser. This combo removes makeup, sweat, and sunscreen while keeping my skin’s moisture barrier intact.
Step 2: Tone
Just like in the morning, I tone with Renew Facial Toner nightly. Once a week, I swap it for the Nashville Skin Date Night Bright Pads to gently exfoliate and retexture my skin.
Step 3: Hydrate Moisture Accelerator
A repeat from my morning routine—but with even more impact at night. It helps draw in moisture and supports deeper penetration of my treatment products.
Bonus: If I’m breaking out or want to give my skin a break from oils, Hydrate can be my sole nighttime moisturizer.
Step 4: Serum Treatments
I apply Refine Eye Serum to the tops and bottoms of my eyes to help reduce dark circles and fine lines. Then I layer on the Prime Niacinamide Facial Serum —a calming, hydrating serum that also supports even tone and reduces redness.
Step 5: Retinol
I use Differin Acne Treatment Gel (a gentle, over-the-counter retinol) four nights per week to promote cell turnover and target fine lines. This gel contains adapalene which is an FDA-approved topical retinoid. I follow this with RoC Retinol Firming Serum Stick every night for an added retinol boost, and I make sure to use all products, including this stick on my entire neck and chest area . This formula is infused with Advanced Retinol + Antioxidants to reduce lines and boost elasticity in the skin.
Retinol isn’t for everyone, but if you’re in your late 20s or 30s, it can be a powerful addition to your anti-aging toolkit.
Step 6: Moisturize and Protect
To lock everything in, I apply our Repair Facial Oil, followed by a thin layer of our Healer All-Purpose Balm . This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss while I sleep.
Final Thoughts
Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does have to be consistent. These are the products that have helped me embrace glowing, healthy skin through hormonal changes, lifestyle shifts, and every season in between.
Whether you're just starting your skincare journey or looking to fine-tune your regimen, I hope this gives you some helpful direction—and maybe even a little inspiration to treat your skin with the love it deserves.
Got questions or want to build a routine of your own? Feel free to reach out or book a skin Consult through Emogene & Co.’s website. We’re always happy to help you feel confident in your skin.
