Skin routine - is this too much?!

[lostinloz]

Decided recently to tackle my skin as it was getting spotty and washed out. Have always used moisturizer and eye cream but after advice on here I went on to Caroline Hirons' blog and then went and spent a lot of money on stuff!

I am now following the this routine:
Am:
Cleanse
Tone
Acid tone (Mild)
Eye cream
Drop of facial oil
Serum
Moisturizer
CC cream
Make up - blusher and mascara

PM:
Cleanse
Tone
Acid tone (mild)
Eye cream
Night oil
Serum
Moisturizer

Try to use very little of each product and vary the products but it seems a lot! Skin does seem nice and bright but don't want to overdo it. I'm 33.

Thoughts? Thanks!

My first thought-where is your sun protectant?

It's in the cc cream

I'd say too much acid toning going on. I use mine 2 or 3 times per week, at night time only.

I'm as big a fan of acid toning as anybody, but TWO toners at night? Also, why face oil AND moisturiser?

Personally I use a separate sunscreen to ensure I am applying the full recommended amount. (Sunscreen is the best anti wrinkle cream). You cannot rely on the protection in make up.

Why do you tone twice? The acid tone should be enough. An acid tone is usually not at the right pH to actually exfoliate anyway. It's usually just a skin pH adjuster.

Looks good though. There is no such thing as too much when you approach 30! If it's not breaking you out or making you look oily full steam ahead I say!

I'd say too much acid toning going on.
I notice you use 2 toners am and pm I'd use only the non acid toner in the morning and only the acid toner at night and slso have a couple of days with no acid toner.
I'd drop the am oil too, doubt it's needed as well as serum, moisturiser and cc cream

Face oil is not an occlusive so you are right to add moisturiser which will seal all your goodness in.

Do you double cleanse in pm? You should do if you are wearing make up/ SS.

What acid toner are you using?

Yes, it's too much. And you don't get enough SPF in makeup. No-one applies SPF in the quantity to actually get the number advertised on the product.

Don't see what toner and acid toner is for. Don't see what separate eye cream is for. Is your night oil really different to they day oil?

You do know Caroline Hirons exists to sell you product, don't you?

No it's not too much! If you are seeing improvement in your skin, it's working for you. If you want to cut down on products try removing the serum or facial oil and see if that makes a difference. Personally I would stick with it though sounds like you have a good routine.

Also, a lot of people on here follow the Asian beauty routine which can be anything from 4 - 12 steps!

I would do hydrating toner after exfoliating toner and oil after serum.
I wouldn't use oil in the morning.
I don't use sunscreen in winter as it's dark when I leave for and return from work.
If it's working for you then stick with it.

Less acid, more sunscreen.

I alternate each night between facial oil and serum, never the two together.

Christ where do you find the time? I rarely even bother moisturising...

I do similar

Am - cleanse, hydrating toner, serum, moisturise, primer, makeup
PM - eye makeup remove, cleanse (hot cloth), acid tone, retinol, serum, moisturise, sleep mask

The PM routine takes me less than 6 minutes, I timed it

Ok thanks for the tips. Was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the info found online.
I read two toners were necessary. The acid one is really mild but will perhaps use it in the evening only. Doesn't take long btw.

As for sunscreen as a moisturizer - really? I find it really greasy. And I'm hardly ever I the sun.

Oh and the oils were free samples and some other products were presents so I didn't actually buy all this stuff outright!

Is the first toner a pH adjuster for the acid tone? Which ones are you using?

You can get non greasy sunscreens, biore watery essence is spf50 and feels like nothing on the skin. It's an Asian sunscreen so needs to be ordered from eBay or Amazon but it's worth it as Ime I never skip sunscreen now as its so nice to use

There most certainly is such as thing as too much - my skin would turn to molten lava if I used a fraction of that. It wasn't always sensitive by the way but something triggered when I tried out too many random products at the same time.

Even if you don't get a reaction, how can you possibly tell what's working or not working when you try so many new products at once? At the very least, I would introduce them one at a time and wait a few weeks before bringing in the next one.

Unlike Caroline Hirons, I haven't been paid to say that.

I'm using a Clarins toner (iris) and then a Kheils one with salicyclic acid but it's really mild. Will alternate those - already started this morning with just the Clarins one.

Yes Floisme maybe I seem like a gullible fool but so many people recommended her blog to me that I was quite taken in. May have gone overboard though! Will reign it in a bit perhaps.

Oh I've been a gullible fool too, many times over I've also paid a price in that I now have very sensitive skin. Watch out.

I do pretty much the same. Serum definitely before oil though.

Yikes, sorry op I meant I've been a gullible fool, not that you've been one too.

Oh, and acid tone before hydrating tone.

No that's pretty similar to mine, except I only acid tone twice a week - but I have sensitive skin so whatever works for your skin type.

People recommend her blog because it's worked for them. It worked for me, and lots of other people, but of course it doesn't work for everyone. Everyone's skin is different. There aren't really any definitives (apart from SPF), and you just need to work out what works for you. She's not by any means the only person on the internet who champions that sort of routine, and as PP said, the Asians have been doing it for years.

If what you're doing is working, crack on without shame! If your face is falling off, stop. This type of thread will always have people who use less and people who use more, and I'm surprised the "I use spit and Nivea blue pot and am OFTEN mistaken for a toddler" brigade haven't turned up yet.