I’m going to be straight with you — I used to hate skincare. Not because I didn’t care about my skin, but because the whole thing felt... fake. Fancy packaging, complicated words, people acting like a pimple is a crime.

And honestly? I was tired of it. So one day, I threw away the 12 half-used products on my shelf and started from scratch. No noise. No hype.  I was just trying to tell me, a mirror, and my skin. If you ever feel overwhelmed or let the skincare go down by routine, welcome.

What Helped Me: A Routine That Doesn’t Stress Me Out

I stopped chasing “perfect” skin the day I realized that skin isn’t supposed to look like glass. It’s skin. It breathes, it breaks out, it changes when I eat chips at 2 a.m.

Here’s what I do now — and it actually works.

Mornings:

• Splash cold water on my face to wake it up (I don’t even use cleanser every day).
• Dab on a light moisturizer, nothing greasy. I found one with aloe and that’s been my go-to.
• Apply sunscreen. Even if I don’t leave the house. I hated this step, but it honestly made the biggest difference.

Nights:

• Wash off the day — not just makeup or dirt, but stress too. I use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t leave me dry.
• If I feel like it, I’ll use a little raw aloe vera or a homemade mask (more on that below).
• Then I moisturize again. Sometimes, I mix in a drop of coconut oil if my skin feels tight.

That’s it. No 7-step drama. Just enough to keep my skin clean, calm, and content.

Old Remedies That Still Work (Thanks, Mom)

When I moved back home during lockdown, I started digging through old kitchen remedies. I didn’t think they’d work, to be honest. But my mom’s been glowing for decades — and she’s never used anything from a mall.

What I Found:

• Besan + milk = glow mask.
  I mix it, apply it like a paste, and wash it off when it tightens. Smoothest skin ever.
• Honey and lemon (sparingly).
  Brightens dullness. I use it only on weekends — lemon can be strong.
• Cucumber slices on the eyes.
  Yes, it’s a cliché. Yes, it works.
• Raw aloe vera at night.
  Feels a little sticky but heals breakouts faster than anything I’ve bought.
• Multani mitti.
  Once a week, I mix it with rose water. Clears up my skin and kind of resets it.

None of these are expensive. None of them promise overnight miracles. But somehow, they’ve brought my skin back to life.

Tech That Keeps Me on Track (Because I’m Forgetful)

I forget things. A lot. So I found a couple of apps that make skincare a little easier.

• TroveSkin helps me track progress. I take a selfie once a week and it literally tells me what’s getting better.
• Skin Bliss is like a detective. I scan products before buying them and it tells me if there’s anything in there my skin might hate.
• Luvly teaches face yoga. In addition, it is fun. If you are not for someone who is not for someone who forgets to live on track, then they are not helpful. Some truth i want to know earlier

The Tiny Things That Changed Everything

You know what’s wild? The biggest difference didn’t come from products. It came from habits.

• I started changing my pillowcases every few days.
• I stopped touching my face while scrolling or working.
• I drink water. Not gallons — just enough.
• I let my skin breathe when it needs to. No makeup, no guilt.
• And most importantly, I stopped hating my skin on bad days.

Because that hate? It shows up on your face too.

Final Thoughts: Your Skin Is a Living Thing — Not a Filter

No part here says loudly: you are allowed to texture. You are allowed to give you scars, scars, freckles, or your skin naturally. If I can go back and talk about my little, then I say: "Stop trying to erase your face. Take care of it. Know it. Love it. But don't try to do it." And there may be any best skin care advice.