My 4-Minute [Nontoxic] Skincare Routine

The world of ~clean beauty~ feels unnecessarily CONFUSING. Here is my simple formula for glowing, healthy skin (*without* unnecessary toxins or chemicals)

Good morning, fellow skincare enthusiasts! 

Before we jump in, I have to be honest about something.

It feels hilarious to me that I, Kate Eskuri, have become somewhat of a clean skincare guru because, to be honest, I was that girl at the slumber party (you know the one…) who would wash her face with like a pump of fricken dawn dish soap by the sink or something.

So, it’s safe to say that for the bulk of my life, my skincare routine consisted of that one orange bottle of ~Clean AnD CleAr~ microbeads cleanser (again, you know the one…) and a “toner” that would positively make me feel like my face was burning off. ◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈

Ahhhhh, pre-pubescent bliss.

But, thankfully, with a few more years under my belt and the realization that skin is one of the only thing we wear foreverrrrr (and that my skincare routine didn’t have to physically HURT?!?!), I have learned to invest in quality, nourishing products.

And, the result? My skin has NEVER been better.

THIS has been my morning skincare routine for….. 4 (!) straight years

But, let’s first talk about how I got here— after years of “meh” skin, I decided to finally upgrade my routine.

It started with a simple (but impactful) lineup of nontoxic, quality skincare goodies that verrrry quickly took my “good enough” skin to GREAT.

And writing this post had me arrive at the mind-blowing realization that my morning skincare routine has remained virtually unchanged for….. over 4 years now?!  I recently peeked back at one of my first ever blog posts, and realized that my skincare routine is…… 85% the same. There’s been some minor updates in as specific serums/sprays have been updated— but in general, same type of products. same order of application. same brand.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: "How boring!" 

But hear me out, because there's a reason why I've stuck with the same simple routine for so long:

• 1) They’re all made with non-toxic & all-natural ingredients (This. Is. So. Important. If you want to learn more about the science behind why clean products matter for our health, click this evidence-backed summary I did here!), 

• 2) It’s simple & straight-forward (because WHO has time for 32389483-step routine?! Not me.), and 

• 3) Most importantly, it works! (At risk of sounding conceded, I do feel that my skin has a consistent glow thanks to *this* lineup. )

So sit back, relax, and let's dive into the world of skincare routines that stand the test of time.

(PSSST: Please note that this post is NOT sponsored whatsoever. I just genuinely use + love these products, and everything you read is my honest opinions paired with my affiliate codes ◡̈ And, FOR TODAY ONLY, every single thing on the list below is 25% off with my code KATE25 . Thank you for supporting my small business by shopping through these links!)

Without further ado, let’s jump in!

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My holistic, nontoxic, (and EFFECTIVE) morning skincare routine:

First rule: I always, always, ALWAYS to do my skincare while I am wearing a cute outfit, sitting in a well-lit room, and within 6 inches of a photogenic plant, OF COURSE.

STEP 1: 90 SECONDS OF FACIAL DRY BRUSHING:

Okay, I’ll be honest— this isn’t one I do EVERY day, but most days. Because, if you follow along on insta, you already know I’m obsessed with body dry brushing and that usually takes priority in my rushed morning routine, buuuuuuut facial dry brushing really is the move you guys.

Weird? A little.
AMAZING for you skin? You bet.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

• Facial dry brushing is a gaaame changer in achieving glowing skin & preventing wrinkles. How it works? This little tool helps exfoliate the skin, increases cell turnover, and brings a really nice blood flow & improved circulation to the face, naturally. And, it just feels good.

IT’S SUPER EASY:

• All you do is grab your facial dry brush, start at the center of your face and brush outwards and upwards (making sure to be gentle and sensitive around the eyes). Don’t be concerned about doing it “right”, just trust your instincts. Basically you’re not pressing too hard, you’re just using a light amount of friction to exfoliate, promote lymph movement, and get that youthful gloooooooow.

Bonus: this makes your skin SO soft because it’s a natural exfoliant. 10/10 recommend.

2.SPLASH FACE WITH WARM WATER:

Okay, so I personally don’t wash my skin in the morning. If you want to, go ahead! But for me, I have found that just a splash of water does the trick to wake up the skin. I simply wet my face with warm water and lightly pat dry with a towel, leaving it a bit damp (this is important for the final step!)

3.THIS ALL-NATURAL FACIAL MIST:

Next, I take this plumping facial mist (like a spa trip in a bottle, tbh), and do 3ish sprays to my face and neck.

What makes it so great? The natural ingredients in this facial mist support cell renewal and stimulate hyaluronic acid production for wrinkle-prevention and glooooowy magic:

• ALOE VERA: A great source of antioxidants that stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid + collagen in the skin to rebuild hydration at a cellular level.

• PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL: Contains vitamins and minerals to naturally plump skin, promote circulation and reawaken dull complexions

• GLYCERIN: Sourced from organic seeds, this attracts moisture to maintain skin’s pH levels

• ROSE: Antibacterial properties, packed with antioxidants, and vitamins A + C, helps neutralize free radicals that would otherwise contribute to aging.

How to use it: So, yes, this is simple (but game changing!). I just do few spritzes of the plumping mist all over the face (smells so good. I LOVE this step. an instant mini mood boost! refreshing for both my skin and my mood )

4.THIS HOLISTIC PLUMPING SERUM:

Right after the facial mist, you’ll grab your plumping serum (AKA the holy grail). How it works? This serum reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and skin damage (like sun spots) by hydrating, stimulating collagen production, and reducing free radically damage. This serum gives results, naturally.

INGREDIENTS:

• POMEGRANATE SEED OIL: A potent antioxidant, this oil is phenomenal at fighting free radicals and reversing skin damage.

• GREEN COFFEE OIL: Packed with caffeine, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids this helps increase skin firmness by promoting collagen and elastin production.

• CASTOR OIL: Helps to plump skin by hydrating and promoting collagen with a hearty source of vitamin E and omegas 6 and 9.

• ASTAXANTHIN: Sourced from algae, this compound is an incredibly strong antioxidant and helps to restore skin elasticity, texture and tone.

HOW TO USE IT:

• After the facial mist, add 3-4 drops of the serum to your face— gently massage the serum into your skin

• Rub the serum in gently, not pressing or tugging too hard on your beautiful skin! Just gently pat into your skin with love, intention, and take a deeeep breath. ◡̈

• ENJOY IT! I used to rush through my skincare, but now I kind of make it a self-care ~event~ and really savor the ritual.  Mmmmmm, so good.

6. 2-MINUTES OF GUA SHA:

Okay, if ya know, YOU KNOW.

Gua sha is a stone tool that originated in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help promote lymphatic health, circulation, collagen production, annnnnd it has HANDS DOWN been one of the biggest game changers of my skin.

Honesty hour— I have always been very self-conscious about the bags & dark circles under my eyes. I remember first being aware of them when I was in 8th grade. I spent a good DECADE (or more) of my life self-conscious about my under-eyes.

BUT THEN I FOUND GUA SHA.

Sorry for the caps letters ^^right there, but it was necessary to shout about it from the rooftops because this little beauty stone has become my skincare MVP and is my secret for reducing a puffy morning face, brightening my eyes, and diminishing puffiness of the face (and eyes!).

• INTIMIDATED?

  • Don’t be! I know the technique can appear a bit complicated, but I promise it is so simple! To prove it, I created a video where I walk you through my specific 2-minute gua sha routine here!

^^^^Yup. A #nofilter before + after photo (less than 15 minutes apart!) doesn’t lie. It’s that good. For this photo I took about 3 minutes using the gua sha technique, sipped my coffee and journaled for about 10 minutes, annnnnd looked in the mirror and was shocked to see the “after.”

6. HONORABLE MENTION PRODUCTS:

While not technically my “facial” skincare, it goes without saying that I also dry brush my BODY (buh bye, bloat), slather on some natural deodorant (my fav is tea tree, charcoal, and whatever “seasonal” one they have!), and often put on THEE BEST lip balm of all time, and I’m on my way!

Annnnd the most exciting part?

If you’re wondering why this BONUS substack post was released today it’s because ALL of the items on this list are 25% of *for today only* with the code KATE25, and I think will be 20% off the rest of the weekend for Mother’s Day. Woohoo!

That’s a wrap!

There ya have it! My morning skincare routine is complete!

My motive here is to show you that you do not need to spend 982409382 minutes on your skin (or $49759283024, for that matter). This whole process start to finish takes me about 5 minutes and I truly think it has been a GAME CHANGER for my skin.

Again, I have truly learned that investing in your skincare with natural and holistic products NOW is 1) not only better for your HEALTH, but also 2) can save you so much time and money in the long run. I like to think that the 67-year-old version of me will be grateful I spent a little bit of time & money trying to nourish my skin and prevent wrinkles, hahahah.

Personally, I find it so fun to see other people’s routines, skincare, and daily habits— so I hope you enjoyed these hacks!

Now, go forth and enjoy your smooth, glowing, radiant skin!