How I Use Azelaic Acid Without Irritation

Okay so tonight we're doing my night skincare routine. I just finished a 7pm show in Geneva, Switzerland and tomorrow we have a double. So it's really important that I take my makeup off properly and give my skin a bit of love before bed. Right now it's 11pm so my brain is a little tired so please bear with me. I actually have two different night routines. I call them A day and B day. A for azelaic, B for barrier. I have pretty sensitive skin and I'm still in the adjusting phase so I can't use active products every single night. I like to alternate between days where I gently treat my skin and days where I let it rest and recover because if I don't it will obviously let me know. So tonight is an azelaic night which means everything else I use has to be very mild and non-reactive. Think gentle, calming, nothing too ambitious. I have two cleansers and tonight I'm using Skin Laundry's Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. The other one is more of a pore cleanser and a bit stronger and I don't want to stress my skin out before using azelaic later. I like to take my time when I wash my face, really massaging it in and making sure all the makeup and oil are gone. It's not the most exciting step but it's probably the most important one. This cleanser doesn't foam much but my skin always feels clean and fresh afterward which I really like. I also don't really trust hotel towels on my face so I usually pat dry with Kleenex or sometimes I get distracted and just let my face air dry which honestly feels very on brand for me. Next is toner. I have two that I love. I usually save Caudalie's Beauty Elixir for mornings or barrier days because something about the name just feels very beautiful and tonight I'm using Caudalie's Vinyl Clean Toner. It's light, comfortable, and not sticky which is very important to me. I gently pat it in and let it settle before moving on. This is one of my favorite serums right now. I started this bottle at the beginning of tour and it's already almost empty which is slightly concerning but also very telling. It's hydrating without being heavy and my skin just feels happier when I use it. Before azelaic, I always do the sandwich method. So first, a very thin layer of lotion to help protect my skin. I rotate between a few moisturizers and tonight I'm using this one because it's meant for calming and relief which is exactly the vibe we're going for. I keep this layer light and then wait for it to absorb. This is usually the part where I wander off and forget what I was doing but while we're waiting, I'll casually mention something that's helped me. If you struggle with acne, one thing that's made a difference for me is taking spearmint tea. It's definitely not magic and everyone's skin is different but it's been a nice gentle addition to my routine. It does taste a little herbal but you get used to it. Now for azelaic acid. I use Paula's Choice 10%. It does say you can use it once or twice daily but my skin very quickly informed me that that was not a good idea. So now I just use a small amount, just enough to cover my face evenly and that's been much better. Once the azelaic has absorbed, I go back in with the same moisturizer to seal everything in. I'm generous but not too generous. I still want my face to feel comfortable when I go to sleep. Next is eye cream. I'm still fairly new to being consistent with eye cream so I keep it simple and gently tap it in. Then I do something extra, castor oil. It's known for helping condition and nourish hair so a lot of people use it to make their eyebrows look healthier and fuller and some people also use it on lashes but tonight I'm only applying it to my eyebrows. I use a q-tip so I don't overdo it. It's one of those steps that feel very grandma beauty secret but honestly I kind of love it. And finally, lip mask. This one works really well for me even though I sometimes wake up with a bit of lint stuck to my lips which I've decided is a small price to pay. And that's my night skincare routine. Two routines, sensitive skin, and a very tired version of me trying her best. Now I'm going to get into bed and hopefully get some good rest before tomorrow. Good night and don't forget to wash your face properly.