Hello Reader,

I have an Oliveda sale to share today, but instead of just sending you a giant SHOP NOW email, I thought this was a good excuse to talk about something I get asked all the time: what do you actually need in a skincare routine?

Because a site-wide sale is only a deal if you buy things you’ll actually use!

The basic skincare formula

You really do not need 12 products. A good routine has a few simple categories:

1. Cleanse. Start with a cleanser that removes makeup, sunscreen and the day without leaving your skin feeling stripped.

2. Hydrate + treat. This is where serums come in. Choose your serum based on what you want to work on — hydration, brightness, fine lines, uneven tone, etc. You do not necessarily need several at once.

3. Moisturize. A moisturizer helps support your skin barrier and seal everything in.

4. Protect in the daytime. SPF is the final step in my morning routine, especially this time of year.

And THEN, once you have those basics covered, you can add the fun extras — masks, eye products, exfoliation and targeted treatments.

If I were building an Oliveda routine from scratch

These are the products I’d prioritize for normal-to-mature skin, based on what I personally use and recommend:

CLEANSER: F78 Arbequina Cleansing Oil if you like an oil cleanser or wear makeup. This is my go-to at the sink at night. If you prefer a gel cleanser (especially in the shower or morning), I love the F38 Purifying Cleansing Gel.

ALL-PURPOSE SERUM: F59 Corrective Face Serum. This is the Oliveda serum I’d choose if you only want ONE. It’s the powerhouse in my routine for smoothing and mature skin.

IF DARK SPOTS / BRIGHTNESS ARE A PRIORITY: F83 HT + Vitamin C Serum. I like this one in the morning and layer it under F59.

MOISTURIZER: F74 Regeneration Intense Face Cream. This is a rich, hydrating cream and one of my favorites, especially at night.

OPTIONAL ANTI-AGING BOOSTER: F87 Corrective Kahai Elixir. I think of this as an add-on rather than a basic. It’s a nice option if you want more help with luminosity, hydration, elasticity and firmness.

So if you are new to Oliveda, I would not buy everything! Start with cleanser + F59 + moisturizer, then add Vitamin C or Kahai depending on your goals.

Having trouble picking? Check out my "This Or That" blog post!​

Why Oliveda is different

One of the things that originally intrigued me about Oliveda is its waterless approach to skincare. Rather than making water the primary base of the formulas, the products are built around olive tree ingredients. I wrote a whole post explaining waterless skincare here if you want the deeper dive.

You can also read my full Oliveda skincare review here with notes on all the products I’ve tried.

The sale!

End of Summer Celebration: spend $159 USD or more and receive 35% off sitewide.

That makes this a particularly good time to bundle a few routine staples together, restock favorites, or try something you’ve had sitting in your cart.

Happy almost-end-of-summer!

xo

Kath