The Sephora Spring Beauty Insider Sale is almost here, and it’s time for me to stock up on my favorite skincare again! If you don’t know anything about the Sephora sale, you can read about it here. Just FYI, I am Asian and have combination skin that’s acne-prone. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m also diving deep into anti-aging skincare. Unfortunately, some of the holy grail skincare ingredients for anti-aging, like retinol, are NOT recommended while pregnant or nursing. So, I’ve adjusted my skincare routine to be nursing safe (I think). Here is my 6-step skincare routine for pregnant/nursing moms!

Step 1: Nursing-friendly Gentle Cleanser for Acne Prone Skin

I always use a ph-balanced facial cleanser so I don’t strip my face of its natural oils. In my effort to be more eco-friendly, I’ve also been trying to use more bar cleansers than ones that come in plastic tubes. I really like this Drunk Elephant Pekee Cleansing Bar. It’s expensive, but even the little travel size one lasts FOREVER.

Step 2: Hydrating Toner for Anti-Aging

I feel like a hydrating toner really helps the rest of my skincare sink in. Plus, I love how it kind of plumps up my skin. For a budget option, I really love Inkey List’s Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum. For a great Korean beauty hydrating toner, I love Innisfree Green Tea Seed Intensive Hydrating Toner. And for a huge splurge, I like the SK-ii Facial Treatment Essence, which contains galactomyces ferment filtrate.

Step 3: Pregnant and Nursing-safe Exfoliator

When I was pregnant, I had HORRIBLE hormonal acne! Unfortunately, one of the most recommended treatments for treating acne in oily skin is salicylic acid, which is not safe during pregnancy. However, the idea behind salicylic acid is that it’s a chemical exfoliant, which helps shed dead skin cells to keep your pores clear. A dermatologist told me that lactic acid or glycolic acid, although not the same kind of exfoliant as salicylic, is still safe to use. I have used the Ordinary’s glycolic acid, but my skin just seems to react better to Inkey List’s lactic acid. They’re both super affordable! There are definitely more expensive ones out there at Sephora, but I don’t even bother.

Another option besides using an acid to exfoliate is, of course, to use a physical exfoliant. I’ve used Tatcha’s the Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder before. I loved how gentle it was.

A third option to chemical exfoliants is something new I’ve just tried: the Aquareveal Soft Water Peel for Face! It doesn’t use any acids, scrubs, or enzymes! I don’t understand how the technology works, but it’s great. You can’t find it at Sephora, but keep an eye out on their website for restocks.

Hormonal Acne While Pregnant

This is kind of a tangent, but I wanted to talk more about my pregnancy-induced acne. When I first got pregnant with Jemma, I got horrible cystic acne on my cheeks. I went to the dermatologist, who commiserated and told me most things for acne are just not safe. She prescribed azelaic acid for me and told me it was okay to keep using AHAs (e.g. glycolic and lactic acid). And then whenever I had a large pimple, I would go back in for a cortisone shot. You can get azelaic acid without a prescription in products like the Ordinary azelaic acid suspension.

The second time I got pregnant, the combination of azelaic acid, lactic acid, and eating healthy seemed to work better for me. Or maybe my hormones were just different. Who knows!

Step 4: Vitamin C and Niacinamide Serums for Brightening Asian Sun Spots

My Asian skin is genetically prone to getting sun spots. I know that there’s no miracle product for making them go away, but I feel like brightening products can go a long way in prevention. I use a Vitamin C serum in the morning and a niacinamide serum at night. For Vitamin C, I’m currently using Inkey List, but I’ve also liked Kiehl’s and Sunday Riley. For niacinamide, I am using Good Molecules (not sold at Sephora), but I’ve also liked The Ordinary or Inkey List.

Step 5: Peptide Moisturizer (Drunk Elephant dupe?)

This is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOISTURIZER EVER. I’m on my third tub. This Inkey List peptide moisturizer is a dupe for the Drunk Elephant one, which I’ve used and loved but found too expensive. It’s super moisturizing with a gel-like consistency. If you need super hydration, you can finish with a heavier cream or oil on top. If you’ve got oily skin or need something lighter in the summer, this is perfect.

Step 6: Non-greasy Sunscreen for Combination Skin

I’ve been told that sun protection is the best thing you can do for anti-aging, so I use sunblock every day. I love Asian sunscreens like the Innisfree Daily UV Defense or the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector. They are non-greasy and sink in to the skin like a high-end moisturizer. However, I find that I go through these SO FAST. Last year I bought the 18 oz value size Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50, and I’ve been using it every day on my face. It’s a little creamier than the Asian ones, but I still like it. I love that it has a pump too, so it’s easy for everyone in the family to use. It’s also non-greasy and easily absorbs in the skin. However, I find that it leaves a dewy finish on my skin. If you’ve got oily skin that is prone to shine, I recommend trying the matte sunscreens instead.

Step 7 (optional): Lightweight Facial Oil for Nighttime

At night, I love to lock in my moisture with a facial oil. Squalane oil is my favorite because it’s super lightweight and never greasy. It sinks into my skin so fast, but still feels like it’s sealing in my hydration. Inkey List has a budget friendly squalane oil, but I’m currently using Biossance, which is a bit of a splurge.

Bonus: Best Lip Balm for Chapped Lips

I cannot rave about the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask enough. I get super chapped lips, but with one swipe of this stuff, all the dry, flaky skin is soothed. Seriously, it just takes one application and I’m good. It says it’s a sleeping mask for nighttime, but I use it during the day too.

And those are my skincare picks! I’ll be back again with my makeup picks as well. Any other nursing moms out there have skincare tips for me? Let me know in the comments, or come find me on Instagram!