The Amsterdammer

Being in quarantine is by no means easy. Luckily, I have found comfort in creating and maintaining a consistent skin care routine to start and end my day on a good note.  I have, therefore, decided to share the products I swear by in helping me maintain my skin healthy despite the stress and uncertainty. 

Please note, It is important to highlight that even though this regime works well for me, it may not be suitable for your specific skin type. Either way, this routine can serve as an inspiration to create your very own skin care routine with products that work well for you!

I always start off by washing my face with a cleanser. Even if you have not worn makeup all day, cleansing your face is important to prevent dirt from getting into your pores. After having tried out and tested several cleansers throughout the years, I have finally managed to find the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Its gentle texture, consisting of a gel soy protein with rose water and cucumber extracts leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and silky. The smell of the product is an additional bonus to my morning and bedtime routine!

I then use a toning solution to prep my skin and pores. My go-to product for this step is the Glycolic Acid  7% Toning Solution from The Ordinary. The brand is great because it is especially student budget friendly. With that said, the best way to use it is to apply the product on a cotton pad and to tap it gently on the face focussing on any pimples and dark spots. 

The third step takes me to my moisturizer, which is from the same brand as the cleanser, Fresh. I go for the Lotus Youth Preserve Cream for the day and the Lotus Youth Preserve Night Recovery before bed. Both are made of concentrated Lotus juice, which have antioxidant properties that act as a luminosity booster and a moisturizer at the same time. In addition, the product is sourced in an environmentally friendly way: A mobile laboratory is used to extract the juice from the lotus flowers, so that the plants do not have to be cut down and can continue to grow. 

 Furthermore, a new step that I have added to my routine is the use of castor oil to encourage eyebrow and eyelash growth. This oil is advertised to be the perfect solution for short lashes and sparse brows, as it’s full of beauty-enhancing vitamins that stimulate growth. Keep in mind that you may be in it for the long haul, as it may take weeks to see results but now might just be the time to try it out!

Ultimately, my routine is not solely focused on topical treatments, but what you put into your body is equally important. Therefore, I personally make sure to drink enough water (approximately 1,5 L per day) and favour seasonal vegetables and fruits in my diet. Equally important is to stock up on vitamin C, which can be found in common produce, such as broccoli and oranges, which further promote radiant skin and support the immune system.

With that said, I can confidently say that maintaining an efficient and detailed skin care routine has not only improved my physical appearance, but it has further helped me to cope in these uncertain times. Therefore, knowing that I can rely on my consistent routine to start and end my day, truly feels like a breath of fresh air.