Lisa’s Summer Skincare Routine

April 30, 2021 (updated July 13, 2023) — Written by

Say hello to my current anti-aging skincare routine. I update this post quarterly so it continues to reflect what I am currently using and loving—be sure to check back! Here’s what’s giving my skin its glow this summer.

A woman with long wavy gray hair smiles.
My summer skin.

By: Lisa Fennessy

IN THIS POST:

This post is beneficial in a couple of ways. First, let’s be honest—I get to try A LOT of product. Some things I try once or twice and others take up residency in my skincare routine. Some products I enjoy, but I wouldn’t purchase again; others I rave about and would purchase a million times over.

To help paint a picture of what you are seeing here, let’s create a TNK skincare-usage taxonomy, or hierarchy, if you will.

RELATED: My guide to the best skincare routine for your skin type.


TNK hierarchy of skincare

1 | Rave-worthy, scream it from the rooftops, saw a difference in my skin, will repurchase again and again. (Think Maya Chia’s The Straight A, ILIA’s Fullest Volumizing Mascara or 100% Pure Eye Gels.)

2 | Loved it while it lasted and would repurchase. Gorgeous products that offer skincare benefits, work and have a beautiful sensory experience. This category is robust!

3 | Enjoyed it while it lasted but won’t repurchase. There is definitely a category of products that are “fine” but just don’t stand out in any special way for me. This category is also robust.

4 | Liked it, but probably wouldn’t recommend it. This category is reserved for items I enjoyed but I would not recommend because maybe the scent profile is too specific, the packaging is off in some way or it didn’t deliver consistent enough results.

5 | Didn’t like it, wouldn’t recommend it. This category is reserved for items I personally didn’t enjoy or that just didn’t work for me.

What you see in this post is what I would classify as a level 2 (unless otherwise noted). Loved it and would repurchase. It’s items that are currently taking up residency and most likely what I will use to the end. I hope that sharing my current skincare routine will help demystify what an effective skincare routine can look like and hopefully inspire yours.

RELATED: Your guide to a nontoxic personal care starter kit & the best skincare routine for acne.


What’s up with my skin right now

This summer I’ve been testing the entire One Love Organics line while peppering in a few outliers here and there. 

Using One Love Organics almost exclusively, my skin feels super hydrated, plump and supple. It’s an absolute true pleasure to use this line and you can check out my top picks here. 

That being said, between you and me, I’ve been under an EXTREME amount of stress recently. I won’t bore you with the details but there are several external situations that are out of my control that are just weighing me TF down and it’s been….a lot. And you can totally see this on my face—mostly via several blemishes in places I don’t normally get them.  

When my face starts to freak out like this I always go to The Problem Solver which does just what its name implies. You got a problem? TPS will solve it (i.e., it unclogs pores, exfoliates, treats breakouts, brightens, evens hyperpigmentation and balances skin). Plus I love that you get an enormous amount of product here and it comes dry so it lasts like forever (unless you use it all up). 

I’ve also been keeping Erin’s Faces Tamanu Oil and Tamanu Balm by my side to treat a condition I like to call dry-zinc-face. Maybe you are suffering from it too? No matter which way you slice it, zinc dries out skin and when you put it on your face on back to back to back days, at some point, your skin is going to wile out. Tamanu Oil to the rescue. Add a couple drops to your SPF or use it as a healing face oil at night. 

Speaking of SPF, I’ve been reaching for Le Prunier Plumscreen for everyday-wear and Kinfield Sport SPF 35 for active / beach SPF. Both are 👌. 

Lastly, I feel the need to say I’m 100% obsessed with Iris&Romeo’s The Rest as a makeup primer or hydration throughout the day. It’s a hybrid mist / serum and it’s phenomenal at creating a supple skin canvas pre-makeup. Great without makeup too. 

RELATED: Have sensitive skin? Check out Nicolle’s sensitive skincare routine.


A woman holds up a collection of products from One Love Organics.
Prepping for the day with One Love Organics.

Morning Routine 

  1. One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil | $42
  2. One Love Organics Botanical D Moisture Mist | $39
  3. One Love Organics Love + Rose Hydrating Serum | $78
  4. One Love Organics Botanical C Facial Serum | $75
  5. Le Prunier Plumscreen | $78

A woman with long hair sitting on her bed in pajamas smiling.
Hydrated skin = happy skin.

Evening Routine 

  1. One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil | $42
  2. One Love Organics Botanical D Moisture Mist | $39
  3. One Love Organics Love + Rose Hydrating Serum | $78
  4. Leahlani Aqua A Retinoid Renewing Serum | $74 (which is what we are testing currently for our big retinol post coming…someday lol)
  5. Erin’s Faces Tamanu Oil | $40

RELATED: Best tips from an esthetician to reduce wrinkles.


Coupon codes

Check out our Coupon Codes page to save on these products and more!


Have you tried any of my current routine? What do you think?

xo, lisa in cursive

TNK Team Note: This article contains affiliate links. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.

By Lisa Fennessy

Lisa is the founder of The New Knew. Passionate about clean beauty, organic eats and nontoxic lifestyle, Lisa writes to create awareness. Conscious consumerism and informed decisions will impact the marketplace, our health and THE WORLD!

47 Comments

  1. Reply

    Natalie

    I’m one of those that keeps up with your routine and always end up trying something new. I’m finding what works for me as well and repurchasing what I like. (& splurging when I can)

    1. Reply

      Lisa Fennessy

      Hi Natalie! Awesome, what have you found that you’ve loved so far??? xo, Lisa

  2. Reply

    Lies

    Lisa, you and your skin look amazing! Just found your blog today. You radiate :)! I was wondering: do you have tips for forehead wrinkles? You don’t seem to have them :).

    1. Reply

      Lisa Fennessy

      Hi Lies! I think using oils and face massage have helped me the most over the years. But also everyones genetics and skin are different so what helps one person might not help another. We talked to Hayley (TNK’s resident holistic esthetician) about this and here are her tips! Hope this helps! xo, Lisa

  3. Reply

    pilar

    Just found your blog, and love it. I love your routines listed here. Do you use a moisturizer with your oils or serums in the morning?

    1. Reply

      Lisa Fennessy

      Hi Pilar! I typically don’t use a traditional moisturizer. I prefer serums layered under oils 😍 – Hope this helps! xo, Lisa

  4. Reply

    pilar

    do you have “level 1” products for morning and evening that you cold not do without? I just bought the Straight A!

    1. Reply

      Lisa Fennessy

      Hi Pilar! Have you incorporated Manuka honey into your routine yet?! It’s a GAME CHANGER! (Cleansing, masking, honey tapping..) xo, Lisa

  5. Reply

    Norma

    Wanted to compare to what I’m doing.

  6. Reply

    Tricia

    I love honey skincare products and I just purchased the oil cleanser and mask, thanks for posting!! I love they have travel sizes to try.

  7. Reply

    Kat

    Please Help! In desperate need of clean recommendation for dry skin products that will not dry out skin after dry down time, and a recommendations for SPF that won’t dry down afterwards and make the skin feel like the a dry desert?

  8. Reply

    Dawn Crawford

    I am going to try all of these great ONE Love products, thank you! I can’t believe how glowy and radiant your skin looks! I have actually been using Leahlani Aqua A for about 6 months now at least, maybe longer. I have gone through about 4 or5 bottles of it. I LOVE it and have personlly found that it is a lot more powerful at reversing wrinkles for me than Maya Chia The Straight A. I used the straight A for a year and a half at least, every day …then I tried Aqua A as soon as it came out and I was floored by the results. I couldn’t believe it reversed age more than TSA did for me, because TSA is great. Aqua A was better than any clean retinol product I’ve ever used, and I’ve used them all. In fact when I run out of Aqua A and go back to some bottles of TSA thatI keep in my fridge for freshness, I have wrinkles that start creeping back within a week or two because Aqua A is just stronger for me at reversing wrinkles. I have also tried and loved Josh Rosenbrooks Granactive retinol- Active infusion oil, and Mara Beauty’s Algae retinol face oil. I have used both of those for 6 month straight., and while they are both lovely and definitely work well, they don’t compare to what Aqua A does at renewing my skin and reversing wrinkles. In order my favorites are: Aqua A, TSA, Maras retinol oil, Josh rosenbrooks retinol..I am now comparing Lovinah’s retinol oil and it is actually really really good. It might be as good as Aqua A, but it’s too early to tell for me. It seems pretty close to Aqua A with great results, but I need to test it for longer to be sure. Aqua A sinks in much faster and is more lightweight than Lovinah which I like because it gets into the skin faster than all the other retinols I mentioned…but at the same time, I love how plump and hydrated my skin is with Lovinah’s. The texture of the Lovinah retinol oil is more like TSA, but I think it i actually more plumping and sinks in a faster, it’s more plumping and hydrating to my skin than TSA. Dont get me wrong, I adore TSA, I’m just being honest about my experience. I love all the retinols I mentioned, they are all great products, but since I am 44 now, I am testing and comparing all the retinols because it is one of the best wrinkle fighting weapons in my skincare arsenal 🙂 I am curious what you think of Aqua A 🙂 Your skin looks AMAZING!

    1. Reply

      Lisa Fennessy

      Hi Dawn! Wow thanks for all of this! I am currently doing a 30 day test of Aqua A so I can’t wait to compare! Really appreciate your testimonial. xo, Lisa

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