2026 Skincare Update

This is my 2026 skincare routine—relearning my skincare 🧖‍♀️. The reason I have to specifically say "relearning my skincare" is because I feel like I am not aging gracefully 😭💔. I am devastated and alarmed 🚨. I know I have to do something now. Now that I am in my late 30s, I can't delay this anymore! ⏳💥

You may look back at my previous post here 💆‍♀️. 🔗

 2025 Relearning My Skincare Routine in My Late 30’s

I want to age beautifully , but seeing my face look saggy, oily, and flaky all at the same time leaves me devastated 😩💔.

When I look at pictures of myself, my face looks extremely wide and my double chin is becoming prominent 📸🫣. My angles are so off, and I am starting not to love my face in photos especially 🙈.

So I need to address a few things for sure. Here is what I looked into as possible root causes:

1️⃣ Hydrogen Peroxide – on my hair and my face 🧴 I know something is off with my flaky skin. I even feel like I have dandruff on my eyebrows! 🪞 I am absolutely horrified 😱. Who gets dandruff on their eyebrows?! 🤷‍♀️

I treat my hair and face with hydrogen peroxide when I bathe. At first, I used it two days in a row to clear up any potential fungal issues on my skin, but I now only do it once a week 🗓️. Sometimes, I wipe my face with hydrogen peroxide and leave it on overnight without washing it off 😴.

⚠️ Note: Please do not take this as medical advice. Since this involves chemicals, use your own judgment and consult a doctor to avoid any potential allergic reactions or skin damage. 👩‍⚕️🩺

2️⃣ I stopped using sunblock/tint all over my face ☀️❌ I noticed that my pictures showed a severe white cast if I used it everywhere 👻. So now, I just use it under my eyes—like an inverted triangle under each eye—so it acts as my highlighter ✨👁️.

I was horrified when I saw a picture of myself where my face looked like a ghost! OMG 😳🫣

This tint/sunblock is good, but you have to be aware of what it does to your face and be strategic with it 💡🎨.

3️⃣ Dr. Gil soap 🧼

I feel like normal soaps like Safeguard, Irish Spring, Bioderm, and Johnson’s Baby Soap don't do a thorough job 🚿. I still feel sticky after using them. So I tried this soap—it smells floral, and I actually feel clean after using it 🌸✨. Definitely worth mentioning in my opinion!

Along with aiming for beautiful skin 🪞, I also took a picture of the other products and makeup I use, to look put together, especially when I go out 📸💄.

• Hada Labo Moisturizer 🧴: This is the moisturizer I still use. I still have a big bottle and it is good for now. It might not be the absolute best, but I don't have any negative reactions to it, so it’s relatively okay for me to use! 👍

• BYS Lip Liner (Red Wine) 💄: This is a long-lasting lip liner that makes me feel put together. Paired with lip tint and blotting the excess product with tissue, it keeps my lips colorful so I don't look pale 👄.

• Careline Lip Tint 💋: This feels light on the lips, so I really need to pair it with the BYS lip liner (which I think is long-wear or kiss-proof). These two together make a great pair! It helps the color stay longer on my lips, so I stay looking presentable throughout the day 🌸.

• Estée Lauder Foundation 🎨: This doesn't quite match my skin tone—it’s a bit too dark. So instead, I just use it to cover the discoloration on my upper cheekbones or use it as a subtle contour. A little goes a very long way! 🤏

• HairFIX Leave-On (Keratin Straight) 💇‍♀️: I also added this hair product to my routine. Although the scent is a bit too strong, it makes my hair super smooth and shiny ✨. If I blow-dry my hair, the strong smell wears off a bit, and I just spray a little perfume to help mask it even more 🌸💨.

4️⃣ My Diet 🍔❌ I noticed that eating Jollibee at night makes my skin break out more 🍗🌋. So I try to avoid fast food and processed food whenever I can!

Still, homemade food is always best 🥘. Now that I understand my body more, I know I don't do well with MSG. I feel much better when I eat more beef and sardines 🥩🐟. I can tolerate chicken, but not every single day 🐔.

Minimizing the bumps on my face has already been life-changing! No amount of makeup or products can replace smooth skin 🪞✨.

5️⃣ Adding Exercises to My Routine (Jumping with Weights!) 🏋️‍♀️ I just tried this 2 weeks ago, and I feel like my neck is starting to become visible again! 🦒 Having a visible neck completely changes your face—it frames it so much better 🤳.

Every time I get off my chair, I hold a 10 lb dumbbell in one hand and do 10 jumping jacks to a count of 10 💥. I have a very sedentary lifestyle working from home—which I am super grateful for! 🙏—but a sedentary lifestyle is so bad. So, so bad for health and appearance 🪑❌.

I actually compared this to walking. From mid-June to mid-July, I was walking every other day with 1 day off per week, but it didn't change my body in the slightest 🚶‍♀️. I still looked bloated and uncomfortable 🙈.

So I tried doing 10 jumping jacks holding my dumbbell every time I stand up, and I feel like spread-out movement throughout the day is so much more responsive for my body ⚡. I haven't lost weight yet, but I feel like the bloating in my face goes away when I do this 👏.

I am actually excited to stick with this until December and see the results! 🗓️🎯 One experiment I will add is dividing my meals into 6 smaller portions 🍽️. I'm trying out the advice of a 40+ YouTuber 🎥. I feel like moving more throughout the day keeps my face from bloating, so let's see what 6 divided meals will do! I still have a tummy, so I know I need to keep working on my exercise and diet 🏃‍♀️🥗.

So wish me luck! 🤞🍀

Basically, the takeaway is, I am taking a much more holistic approach now with my skin and health! 🌿💖

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way.