My Honest Skincare Routine (Down to the Last Drop)
The skincare I actually finish: the empties, the keepers, and the exact routine I travel with. Glow first, makeup second.
Words & photographs by Elya D'Angelo · June 16, 2026
I save my empties. There is no better proof of what actually works than the bottles you scrape down to the last drop. Here is the routine I come back to, the one I travel with, and the products that have earned a permanent spot.
Morning: keep it simple
A gentle cleanse, a vitamin C, a hydrating layer, and SPF without fail. In summer, SPF is the whole routine.
Evening: repair
At night I let the actives do the work. A double cleanse, a treatment a few nights a week, and a rich barrier cream. Once or twice a year I add a professional resurfacing treatment, which is where the real glow comes from.
The honest part
Glow comes from consistency, not from buying everything. Find four products you will actually finish, wear your SPF, and let the rest be optional.
- What order should I apply skincare?
- Thinnest to thickest. Morning: cleanse, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, then SPF. Night: cleanse, treatment or serum, then a richer cream.
- Do I really need a separate morning and night routine?
- Mornings protect (vitamin C, SPF), nights repair (actives, a richer cream). Both can stay simple. Four or five products you actually finish beats a crowded shelf.
- What is the one non-negotiable skincare step?
- SPF, every morning, all year. It does more for how your skin looks over time than any serum.
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