Even though I have oily skin, as soon as I put away my Thanksgiving and fall decor, the crisp air bites at my face–leaving me with dry spots and itchy skin.

Combining the weather’s sharp and cold bite on my face with working a full-time job and being a content creator brings me to my need for a quick and easy routine. In my mind, it’s the only way to achieve balance. Additionally, between spending more time inside and being in online meetings, I noticed my skin looked tired and uneven in texture and color. That’s when I decided to research and invest in skincare to clean and nourish my skin and makeup that hydrates and even out my blotchy, dry skin.

I value self-care, and it wasn’t until I reached adulthood that I began investing in products that made my skin look refreshed, even, and not overly washed. I naturally have oily skin, so I try to eliminate the layer that clogs my mores and may cause breakouts, but not strip it away of the natural oils that will help me maintain a youthful look for as long as possible.

Over the time I’ve been taking care of my acne-prone, oily skin, I’ve learned to break down my skincare regimen into three steps: soothe and depuff, clean and moisturize, and hydrate and protect.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission when you click a link and make a purchase. But this does not mean this post is sponsored. These views are my own and are based on products I’ve purchased and used.

Soothe and De-puff

Most recently, with all the holiday gatherings, shopping, planning, and preparation that goes along with the holidays, I’ve noticed that my skin looks more tired, irritated, red, and uneven, and my eyes have looked puffier. So, as I do, I began to research products that will help me reduce the puffiness in my eyes but require minimal extra work in my nighttime routine and are budget-friendly.

Shop Skin Hydrators + Eye Puff Reducers

At the end of a long day, all I want to do is lay down with a hot cup of tea, apply a face mask, and let my skincare products do their work, and the products I found have helped me achieve that. That’s when I discovered the Wildling Beauty gua sha facial massager and face oils.

For my first gua sha tool, I purchased the Wildling Beauty Empress stone. I chose this stone because I wanted one that would aid in toning, sculpting, and depuffing the jawlines around my cheeks and eyes.

The practice of gua sha was new to me. I had seen other bloggers and content creators use the tool in videos, but I didn’t know the benefits, its purpose, or how it would feel for me. However, I consider myself curious, so when it comes to discovering something that can help me make an impact in my care–I am not one to hold back when putting that curiosity to the test.

I also bought Wildling’s, Empress Oil when I purchased my stone. As I mentioned, I have oily skin, so I hesitated to buy anything that could clog my pores or mess with my complexion, but after using the Empress oil with the stone, I felt so relaxed. It’s a relaxing nighttime ritual that has helped me decompress at the end of a long day and has been a great addition to my skincare routine.

From my search, I also discovered two items from a few vegan, cruelty-free, and even gluten-free skincare and beauty brands. Some of which are small and female-founded, both characteristics I love in a brand. I enjoy using the Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream for my puffy eyes, and then I apply the Pacifica Reusable Eye Mask. To add to the reduction of puffiness, I put both items in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. This way, the cream and the eye masks are cold and cool to the puffiest part of my eyes.

Cleanse and Moisturize

Investing in products with quality ingredients and innovative brands has always been a goal and priority of mine. Not only with my skincare, but in all areas of my life, from wardrobe to beauty.

I am not only proud to share the products from brands such as Indie Lee, Original Sprout, Osea, and Odacité for their excellent price point, impeccable products, and ability to introduce the most beautiful skincare in the beauty space but also for being smaller brands, with a significant impact on my skin’s health and appearance.

In my skincare routine, I’ve learned that double cleansing is something my skin needs to remove all of my makeup. That’s where I use a water-based cleanser, followed by an oil cleanser. Every other day I will use the Osea Ocean Cleansing Mud and then apply the Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Universal Face Oil to add moisture to my skin.

On days I don’t use the Osea cleansing mud, I use the Odacite Blue Aura Cleansing Water, and for moisture and additional cleansing, I will use the Bybi Swipe Clean Oil Cleanser and Makeup Remover. I use these two together mainly after an event and want to ensure I get all my makeup off, but I don’t want to be too harsh on my skin. For example, after a night of dancing and mingling, I want to feel hydrated and well-rested and want my skin to do the same.

Shop Cleansers + Moisturizers

These brands are vegan and cruelty-free. That means they are not testing on animals and are protecting our environment. No animal testing on products means I can achieve my goals for my body while contributing positively to the missions of brands doing good work for our earth.

Hydrate and Protect

Another thing I love most about these skincare products is how well they work for my skin as part of a morning or evening beauty routine, but they are equally as fantastic on their own. I’ve had an affinity for beauty since I was a little girl sitting in the bathroom, watching and admiring my mom as she put makeup on before work.

For instance, take the Indie Lee Daily Skin Nutrition cream and apply it in the morning under the Original Sprout Worry-Free Sunscreen and have soft and hydrated skin. I usually wear both on a Saturday or Sunday before heading out for a walk with my morning coffee. Or, wear the Original Sprout Sunscreen on its own. Then, add a small layer of concealer under your eyes and around your eyebrows for a natural—quick, and easy glow. The Original Sprout Sunscreen is my favorite sunscreen to apply to my skin before my makeup. I’ve worn many different sunscreens, and this one is the least oily, goes on smoothly and evenly, and feels so light on my skin.

More Ways to Cleanse and Protect

There are also those products that I love that I use more sporadically. As a lifestyle blogger, trying out new beauty products is something that I love doing; however, I, unfortunately, don’t have the skin or the time to use them all in my skincare and beauty routine.

Occasionally, when I travel, I forget my cleanser or spot a pimple the night before an important event, so I’ll run to the beauty store. That’s where I will pick up something new to try. Those products work well for me, and from brands I trust. Some I still use and have incorporated into my routine, and others are excellent products, but I have decided to keep to the items I used before.

More Skincare from My Favorite Brands

Because they are excellent products with quality ingredients, I’ve included them for you to check out here.

Let me know if you’ve used any of these and if you’ve incorporated them into your beauty or skincare routines.