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2019 was the first time I did a post called “Holy grail skincare – the products I would immediately repurchase if all my skincare disappeared over night” (read here). It is supposed to be a routine made up of only favorites, the basics I wouldn’t want to be without, and each year I come back to it and see if anything has changed through all the new things I tested.

 

 

I also add up the prices, to see how much I would have to spend if I purchased everything new. In 2023 that was 564,16 € (including hair care), but when I look back at it, I realize I included products I didn’t end up actually purchasing again. So for 2024 I decided to be extra ruthless and only include the ones in my stash or on rotation.

Here comes the usual disclaimer: Not everything in here is high performance skincare, some things are just little treats to myself and picked because I love texture or scent, and of course you don’t need all these things to build a good routine. It is just what me and my skin enjoy most.

 

 

 

My favorite cleansers of 2024

I usually have two types of cleansers in my routine. One to take off my makeup and one to cleanse the skin. For makeup removal I tend to switch between balms in winter and oils in summer, and my two pick here are old favorites: The Geek and Gorgeous Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm (98 ml for 12,85 €, full review here) that gets rid off everything on my face and rinses clean, which makes it great for traveling, and the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil (200 ml for 18,99 €, full review here) that is lightweight enough to not suffocate me during summer, yet manages to make my face feel clean despite several layers of sebum and sunscreen mixed.

For a second or morning cleanse I actually don’t have a favorite at the moment, meaning I will simply mention what I have been using most over the last few years: The Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker Low pH Cleanser (150 ml for 9,50 €, full review here). It is gentle, effective, but somehow doesn’t spark joy, which is why I wouldn’t call it a favorite – but as I can get it at my local drugstore and it is ver affordable, it is most likely what I would pick up.

 

 

My favorite toners of 2024

Finally a new addition: I discovered The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner (100 ml for 16,80 €, full review here) this year and while people online don’t seem to be able to agree if it actually does something or is simply an overpriced hydrating toner, I have grown to love it. My skin looks well hydrated, calm and happy when I use it and that is what counts.

The second toner is repeated from the years before and a non-negotiable for me: The Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118 ml for 39 €, full review here). It keeps my pores from getting congested and is easy to tolerate alongside my Tretinoin – absolute perfection.

 

 

My favorite serums of 2024

If you have been around here for a while, you will expect the Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow Serum (30 ml for 12,50 €, full review here) to be mentioned here, and you are absolutely right. No matter how many other Vitamin C Serums I have tried, it is the one I keep coming back to. A new addition to the category is the Skintegra Lunar Concentrate (15 ml for 13,60 €, full review here) that belong in the category “hydrating serums with a plus” and with that fits in the same slot as the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (30 ml for 96 €, full review here). So far I haven’t been able to make up my mind which one will come out victorious, so I will keep both.

And the last in the serum category is again repeated from the years before: NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 (30 ml for 87 €, full review here), hands down the Copper Peptide Serum with the best texture I have tried.

And yes, I am well aware how expensive my taste in serums is…

Because I will most likely get questions regarding retinoids: I am on prescription Tretinoin, so I don’t personally use them. Having my husband being my guinea pig in testing over the counter options for me, here is what he would suggest: If money isn’t an issue, Medik8 Crystal Retinal (30 ml for 125 € if you opt for 0,2% Retinal) has the best texture. If the budget is tight (or you want to spend on other things, not on skincare), the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20 (30 ml for 22,80 €) is the one he’d go for. Both will have a dedicated review up here soon, it is basically a hot of the press recommendation.

 

 

My favorite eye creams of 2024

The most boring category of all I guess, unchanged ever since I started. featuring The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream (15 ml for 11 €, full review here) for morning use and the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum (15 ml for 96 €, full review here) for the night. I have used other lovely ones, but these are the two I keep coming back to.

 

 

My favorite moisturizers of 2024

The only one that really belongs here in terms of I would repurchase it immediately is La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 (100 ml for 19,50 €, full review here). It isn’t something I use every day, but in the cold of winter or when my skin gets irritated it is exactly what I need. The other two are like the gel cleansers products I currently use or have used repeatedly in the past, but am not in love with: The Inkey List Omega Water Cream (50 ml for 12,50 €, full review here) for the summer and the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Enrich Cream (50 ml for 18,90 €, full review here) now that it is cold.

 

 

My favorite sunscreens of 2024

Again a category with a lot of repetition and only one new addition: The sunscreens I keep repurchasing are the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water Fit Sun SPF 50 (50 ml for 14,90 €, full review here) for autumn and spring, the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50 (50 ml for 14,95 €, full review here) for the colder months and for summer either the La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF 50 + (50 ml for 18,99 €, full review here) for days I am outdoors or, the new addition, the Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ (50 ml for 11,95 €, full review here) for touch-ups or indoor days.

I could probably do with either the Beauty of Joseon or the SKIN1004 one, but I like to have options.

 

No face masks as I don’t really use them in my routine and if you want an update on my favorite devices, I do a post on that topic every summer that I will link here.

 

 

My favorite hair care of 2024

If it wasn’t for the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask (50 ml for 59 €, full review here) that I discovered in 2024, you’d see the same lineup here you saw last year: No specific shampoo, just a random one from the drugstore, the L’Oréal Bond Repair Conditioner (150 ml for 6,95 €) and two hair oils, the Garnier Multi Use Wonder Oil (150 ml for 5,95 €) for every day before I brush my hair and the Olaplex No 7 Bonding Oil (30 ml for 29,95 €, full review here) to use after washing and before heat styling my hair.

And in addition to the K18 mask still the Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector (100 ml for 29,95 €, full review here). Yes, I use both, but on alternating washes. Olaplex has more of an immediate effect while K18 seems to have really improved the health of my lengths.

 

Total cost of my ideal skincare routine

Everything paired together now comes to 626,78 €, 524,93 € if you don’t count the hair care. Comparing it to last year, that is an increase of 63 € mainly through individual product increasing in price.

Have you ever counted how much your routine would be? I would love to know!

 

 

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