My Face Routine: What Actually Gave Me Great Skin After Skin Cancer

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Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice. I am not a dermatologist or medical professional. This is my face routine… personal skincare routine and experience only. Always consult a licensed dermatologist or skincare professional for advice specific to your skin.

People lately tell me I have great skin.

What most people don’t know is that my skincare routine didn’t start because I wanted better skin. It started in 2020, after I had basal cell carcinoma removed from my scalp/forehead.

I had a 2-inch incision, and that scar completely changed how I treat my skin. This routine is about protection, consistency, and skin health (not perfection.)

Skin with makeup before routine
Skin with no makeup after routine

Why This Routine Matters (My Skin Cancer Wake-Up Call)

After skin cancer, skincare stopped being cosmetic for me and became preventative and intentional.

That mindset shift is what built the routine I still use today.

Once I saw what my skin could go, I went down the skincare rabbit hole that led me to my routine that I have now. My skin texture and discoloration changed for the best and my pores got smaller. A dermatologist said if the small changes you make daily improve your skin by a little, you may not notice it today or tomorrow, but in a few years down the road you will notice.

Step 1: Daily SPF (Face, Neck, Chest, Hands)

If you take nothing else from this post, take this:

SPF every single day.
No exceptions.
I live with nerve pain from Basal Cell Carcinoma…everyday. A few years ago I wrote a post about that over on Pensacola Moms website.

I apply sunscreen to:

  • Face
  • Neck
  • Chest
  • Hands

My go to is tinted moisturizers with SPF because they’re realistic and wearable. I found as I age… less IS MORE.

My Favorite Tinted SPF Products


Light makeup photo showing skin with tinted SPF.

Light makeup. Look at that glow!

Step 2: Tretinoin (Retin-A)

Once SPF was locked in, my dermatologist recommended tretinoin. Start SLOW. This is a prescription so you will need to go see your doctor. There are online providers if you don’t want to go into a doctor.

A tube typically costs $50–$75, but one tube can last close to a year, making it one of the most cost-effective skincare investments I’ve made.

How I Introduced Tretinoin

  • Weeks 1–2: 2x per week
  • Weeks 3–4: 3x per week
  • Weeks 5–6: 4x per week
  • Slowly increased as my skin tolerated it

Slow and steady matters here. Follow your dermatologist suggestion.

Step 3: Learning How to Cleanse Properly

This is where I fell down the skincare rabbit hole (in a good way.)

Night Routine: Double Cleanse

At night, I always double cleanse:

  1. Oil cleanser
  2. Gentle face wash

Double cleansing is a two-step face wash that helps get a much deeper clean, especially if you wear makeup or sunscreen daily. Which you do now…Remember step 1?

Morning Routine: No Cleanser

I do not cleanse my face in the morning.
My skin is very dry, and skipping AM cleansing made a huge difference.

Step 4: Gentle Exfoliation (Once a Week)

I learned exfoliation is important. A lot of time our makeup and skincare can’t absorb because there’s a layer of dead skin preventing it. So this fixes that issue. But once again start slow. AND DO NOT USE ON THE SAME NIGHT AS YOUR RETINOL.

Use a gentle exfoliating toner once a week. Some say it even helps brighten your face.

My Weekly Schedule

Pro Tip:
Use glycolic acid on your feet, then follow with moisturizer. It gives pedicure-level soft feet. Saw that tip on TikTok…and it’s legit.

Step 5: Focusing on Moisture (Game Changer)

After consistency with tretinoin and exfoliation, I realized dryness was my biggest issue.

That’s when I learned about toners
not the harsh kind we grew up with.

Toners became a non-negotiable for hydration and barrier support.

My Current Night Skincare Routine

This is my exact routine right now:

  1. Double cleanse
  2. Toner(s)
  3. Tretinoin
  4. Moisturizer
  5. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast on nights my skin needs extra healing

My Morning Skincare + Makeup Routine

I keep mornings light and glowy:

If my skin is extra dry, I add squalane oil after vitamin C.

Optional Step: Squalane Oil (Face + Body Hack)

Squalane oil is a non-pore-clogging hydrator that mimics your natural oils. Gives you a soft healthy glow without the greasy feel. A little goes a long way!

  • On my face when dry
  • Mixed with my body retin-A moisturizer after showering at night. It’s supposed to help with crepe skin.

Two Rules I Always Follow for my face routine

1. Change or ADD One Product at a Time

If your skin reacts, you need to know why.

2. Professionals Matter

I highly recommend:

  • Seeing a dermatologist regularly or
  • Working with a skilled med-spa facial professional

If you’re local, I personally recommend Kate at 82 Magnolia. She did my face analysis and it really helped me to understand what was working and what I needed to do to improve. One Extra Tool I Added: Red Light Therapy

About two years ago, I added a red light mask at night.

This wasn’t an instant fix…but with consistency, it helped with healing and overall skin health.

Final Thoughts

This routine didn’t happen overnight.

It came from:

And yes…it all started with a scar.

P.S. I may not update the products all the time. But I will add them to my favorites over on Amazon. You can check that out for updated products that I love.

Thanks for reading along for my face routine.

Kirsten

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