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10/11/2026

episode 12: putting it all together

now we're getting to the real actionable stuff! 🥳

you know the pillars, the order, how morning and evening differ, and how to read a label for actives. now let's put it all together.

in this episode, I discuss 5 different characters, all with different lifestyles.

and even though they selected different products, their routine had the same four jobs: cleanse, hydrate, repair, protect.

this is why skincare is not one size fits all. choose what works for your skin, your lifestyle and your goals.

(all products featured can be found on ivyandfields.com, your favorite one-stop non toxic shop!)

are the skincare essentials starting to make sense now? 👀

10/08/2026

episode 11: 🧐ask one question before you buy a skincare product: what ingredients in this formula are doing the job the product promises?

those are the actives, the ingredients that do something beyond making a formula feel nice or safe.

a few things that help you read a label:

🔎 percentage is not everything. brands usually aren't required to disclose it, but some, like vitamin C, do. higher doesn't automatically mean better. what matters is whether the amount is one that works for that specific ingredient. some need 10%, others work at 0.1%.

📋 read the ingredient list top to bottom. ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration, so the first few make up most of the formula. anything at 1% or below can be listed in any order, so it's a clue, not an exact measurement.

✨ watch for ingredient dusting. this is when a brand adds a trendy ingredient at a tiny amount so it can go on the label and in the marketing.

💸 check what you're paying for. a face oil that is just jojoba, rosehip and sea buckthorn can be lovely, but without extracts or other actives, a premium price is hard to justify.

🧩 know your actives so you don't double up. you may have two products doing the same job while another essential function is missing. understanding your actives helps you cover the essential 4 (cleanse, hydrate, repair, protect) and your own skin goals.

what's the first thing you check on a label? tell me below 👇

10/07/2026

episode 10 asks: should your morning routine be different from your evening routine? spoiler alert: mostly, yes. ☀️🌙

think of it as two modes. in the morning your skin is in defense mode, getting ready for sun, pollution and makeup. at night it's in repair and recovery mode.

all i'm really saying is: your products should match the moment ✨ so how does this play out?

☀️ well in the morning, you want: products that layer well with sunscreen, play nice with makeup, protect from UV and pollution and make you look good.

🌛and in the evening, you want to take advantage of heavier products, add in extra steps like double cleansing and exfoliating, and use face tape or thick balms because now you DON'T care what you look like 🤭

you do not need two completely different collections. one moisturizer that sits well under makeup and still feels rich enough at night can do both jobs. but this is definitely something to consider while choosing which products to use WHEN.

do you use different products morning vs evening? tell me below 👇

10/06/2026

do you know the correct order for your skincare? 👀

🔢 you do not need to memorize a 20 step list, and you definitely do not need one of every product. what you need is the logic behind the order.

the core rule: water before oil, lightest to heaviest.

targeted treatments follow their texture. a water based eye cream goes with your water based steps. an oil based serum goes with your oils.

☀️ in the morning, sunscreen is the final skincare step, before primer and makeup.

pimple patches technically belong on clean, dry skin. i personally put mine on at the very end, on top of everything, and it works for me. soooo there is room for your own interpretation, but start with the logic.

is there a step you've been doing out of order? tell me below 👇

10/05/2026

glass skin starts with exfoliation, but more exfoliation does not mean glassier skin, so listen up! ✨

this is a special episode of the 4 pillars series. exfoliation lives under the cleanse pillar, but I left it out of that episode on purpose, because it's *not* a daily step.

your skin sheds dead cells constantly, and sometimes they hang around and make skin look dull or flaky. exfoliating removes that buildup and reveals smoother skin underneath.

there are 2 types:

🧪 chemical: ingredients do the work. AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic), BHAs, PHAs and enzymes
🧽 mechanical: friction does the work. fine powders, scrubs, konjac sponges and dermaplaning

(dermaplaning is one to leave to a trained esthetician with sterile tools, not a random blade from amazon.)

how often? most people tolerate 2 to 3 times a week. sensitive skin may want to start with once a week. and you may not need a dedicated step AT ALL if your skincare products have acids in it or you cleanse with a powder or konjac sponge. those count toward your total.

❌ tighter skin or redness means you should stop.

the best time to use a hydrating mask or skin flood (layering on more of your usual products) is right after exfoliating. i like to follow with a thick layer of Organic Ivy's Midnight Mantle and I wake up glowy.

keep exfoliating to your evening routine so your skin can recover overnight, exfoliating during the day makes your more sensitive to the sun and other environmental factors.

how often do you exfoliate? tell me below 👇

10/02/2026

episode 7: protect ☀️

let's talk about the pillar that always starts a fight 🤭: protect.

sunlight isn't the enemy. it supports your circadian rhythm, helps your body make vitamin d, and does a lot of good. but it also emits UV radiation that directly damages your skin's DNA. both things are true at once.

over time, that damage breaks down collagen, speeds up wrinkles, creates hyperpigmentation and sunspots, and leaves skin dehydrated and uneven. if you want healthy skin long term, sunscreen isn't optional.

quick ingredient breakdown:
🧴 mineral filters: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
🧪 chemical filters: avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, homosalate

there's also a sneaky one: butyloctyl salicylate. it's not a regulated UV filter, but it's often added to mineral formulas to boost SPF. if you're buying "mineral" and the SPF is high, check the ingredient list. it might not be as mineral as the label implies.

the real reason a lot of the clean living community avoids sunscreen altogether: some chemical filters have been linked to endocrine disruption and environmental harm, including coral bleaching. that concern is valid and it is a concern I personally share.

but the answer isn't to skip sunscreen. a non-nano zinc oxide formula is one of the least controversial options out there.

prevention will always be easier than correction. if you're investing in good skincare and skipping SPF, you're working against yourself. 💸🚽

and if you've ever wondered about that famously good K-beauty skin, it's not a secret ingredient. it's sun protection, umbrellas, and daily SPF use.

do you wear sunscreen daily?

10/01/2026

episode 6: repair

we've arrived at my favorite pillar: repair. 🌿

repair is where face oils come in. water based products give you humectants/hydration (pillar 2). oils give you emollients, ingredients that soften skin, smooth texture and support your barrier's lipid layer.

many moisturizers are emulsions, meaning they combine water and oil in one product. that can be enough for your skin, until it isn't.

as we age, our skin naturally produces less sebum, the lipids that keep skin soft and resilient. this is often why people notice their skincare "stops working" in their 30s and 40s. it's not that the products changed, it's that your skin's own oil production did.

even a moisturizer with an oil phase is still mostly water. so if you're past your 20s, a dedicated face oil is doing a job your moisturizer alone can't finish.

what a quality face oil does:
⭐ softens and supports your barrier
⭐ slows water loss so hydration sticks around longer
⭐ helps the rest of your routine work harder

most routines talk about the big 3: cleanser, moisturizer, SPF. i'd argue repair deserves to be the 4th, especially once you're past your 20s.

have you added a dedicated face oil to your routine yet? if you haven't allow me to make my own shameless plug for Organic Ivy's YOUTH NECTAR. it's our flagship product and it was formulated specifically to mimic your skin's fatty acid profile.

09/30/2026

episode 5: hydrate

did you drink water today? 💧 did your skin?

hydrate is the second of the 4 essential categories, and yes, a complete routine needs water. a waterless routine is missing a whole job.

your hydration step could be a toner, essence, serum, lotion or cream. ignore the name on the bottle and read the ingredient list. some "serums" are just face oils.

but water based does not automatically mean hydrating. look for humectants.

humectants attract water and hold it in the outer layers of your skin, which is where that plump, comfortable look comes from.

oils can soften skin and slow water loss, but they do not add water. so they can't replace each other. you need at least one genuinely good water based product.

water based formulas also carry a whole group of actives that oil can't, including the humectants above.

09/29/2026

episode 4: girl, wash your face. 🧼

cleansing is the first of the 4 essential categories, and the goal is simple: remove makeup, sunscreen, excess oil and pollution without stripping your barrier.

1️⃣ at minimum, you need a gentle water based cleanser.

2️⃣ if you wear makeup or sunscreen (you should be wearing sunscreen), consider double cleansing: start with an oil or balm cleanser to dissolve oil soluble buildup. follow with a water based cleanser to rinse everything away.

bonus: oil cleansing can make sebaceous filaments look less noticeable. they are not blackheads, and oil cleansing is not a blackhead treatment, but you may notice fewer of them. sensitive skin? starting with oil can make the water based step feel less harsh.

3️⃣ prefer to skip the second cleanser? follow your oil cleanser with a damp cloth. keep the water lukewarm, especially if you have rosacea or melasma, since both can react to heat.

however you cleanse, the goal is the same: a clean canvas for the rest of your routine ✨

do you double cleanse, or is a single cleanser enough for you? tell me below 👇

09/28/2026

episode 3: introducing the 4 skincare pillars

you do not need a 10 step routine. BUT you do need 4 categories covered.

most skincare routines are built around steps. i like to think in categories instead, because it leaves room for you to build a routine that fits your skin.

the 4 things every routine needs to address:

🧼 cleanse: remove makeup, sunscreen, excess oil and pollution without stripping your barrier
💧 hydrate: water and humectants so your skin looks plump and comfortable
🌿 repair: lipids that soften, support your barrier and slow water loss
☀️ protect: sunscreen, to guard against UV damage, hyperpigmentation and premature aging

⚠️ these are not 4 different products. one product can cover two categories, like a moisturizer that hydrates and repairs. or you might use two products in one category, like an oil cleanser followed by a water based cleanser. the categories are the job. the products are up to you.

once all 4 are covered, add targeted treatments for your specific concerns.

over the next few episodes i'll break down each category, because the details are where the right product choices get made.

tell me: do you feel like your current routine is addressing all 4? 👇

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