my skincare stack (2025)

AM:

1. Cleanse: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
2. Vitamin C: Vanicream Vitamin C Serum
3. Moisturize: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
4. Sunscreen: innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen

PM:

1. Oil based cleanse: Neutrogena Ultra-Light Cleansing Oil
2. Water based cleanse: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
3. Either exfoliate OR retinol (alternate days):
   Exfoliate: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
   Retinol: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
4. Moisturize: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

I'd love feedback on these routines from the other skincare addicts on my mailing list :)

Notes:

• Imma be real with y'all, I'm human and I been skipping the PM routine a lot 😓 but I'm working on changing that.
  • Protip, I have my AM routine on my desk and that has made applying it feel more natural.
  • Oh wait, maybe I can try putting my PM routine on my nightstand...
• The theory behind this stack is here.
• Sunscreen is the most crucial piece of all this! And PSA: We generally don't apply enough sunscreen. We need a teaspoon for our face, and then a teaspoon for our neck and ears. I measured it out once. It's a LOT of sunscreen. So I moved away from a combined moisturizer + SPF. It's unlikely I was getting enough sunscreen on with that.
• Honestly what is this obsession even. Why am I this far down this rabbit hole
• I want to try a hydrating toner, as well as a hydrating serum, down the line. I wonder if they'd have an effect on my face.