From Noxzema to G.M. Collin: How I Built a Skincare Routine that works

Last night, as I moved through my spa evening skincare routine, I looked at my carefully lined-up lotions and potions and thought: I’ve come a long way.

Back in my twenties, I took my skincare for granted. Occasionally, a pimple or two would pop up around my chin, and I would completely lose it. My go-to back then was Clearasil and Noxzema. I was probably burning the hell out of my face, but it felt like it worked.

My toner was usually Clearasil too, though sometimes I’d get fancy and use witch hazel. My moisturizer was practically nonexistent. And when I did use one, it was usually body lotion.

Yes. Body lotion.

I got away with that horrible routine because I was young and blessed with fast-healing, blemish-prone skin.

The First Upgrade

By my late twenties and early thirties, my skin apparently decided I needed to relive puberty-level acne all over again. It erupted along the sides and bottom half of my face, my upper back, and the tops of my arms.

I finally admitted my previous routine wasn’t going to cut it and got professional help.

My dermatologist prescribed topicals that cleared my skin and forced me to take skincare seriously for the first time. For the first time, I had both disposable income and access to better options. There was money and so many products to try.

My first real foray into the world of skincare was through Whole Foods. I discovered so many lines I loved, especially MyChelle Dermaceuticals. Everything about it felt elevated. The smell was divine and my skin was thriving.

The Recession

Then 2008 hit. My pockets. Hard.

By 2009 I was back in graduate school, a starving student again, and MyChelle was no longer in the budget. So I pivoted to natural DIY skincare: charcoal soap, a tea tree and witch hazel toner blend, and coconut oil as my moisturizer.

When my sister-in-law saw my routine, I honestly couldn’t tell if her expression was judgment, pity, or both.

But she sat me down and properly introduced me to the world of real skincare.

Inside that woman’s bathroom was a whole Sephora. Bottles of lotions, potions, serums, and things I didn’t even have names for. I’m fairly certain I heard music and spotted a tiny sales elf restocking the back of her closet as she pulled out item after item.

I credit her entirely for helping me develop a thoughtful skincare routine. She lectured me on the importance of real moisturizer, walked me through products I could actually understand and maintain, and never once let me return to coconut oil without a fight.

The Education

For many years, she was my guru.

Together we visited Sephoras on different continents. Paris was when I officially became a full recruit in her skincare cult. We hit four different pharmacies in one hour, searching for nothing in particular while I took notes and explored every product line that felt impossibly luxurious back home.

Eventually, I branched out on my own through facials, dermatologist YouTube videos, subscription boxes, and plenty of trial and error. So many brands. So many products. I accumulated so much skincare that my mother would essentially shop my product stash every time she visited.

The Current Chapter

My aesthetician switched to G.M. Collin, and initially I resisted. The previous line was fruit-based, beautifully fragrant, and felt indulgent. G.M. Collin felt clinical by comparison.

But she walked me through the new routine, and two products immediately stopped me in my tracks.

The first was the Hydramucine Moisturizing Cleanser. I use it every morning and again each evening after cleansing with my salicylic acid soap. It’s gentle, thorough, and never strips my skin.

The second was the Native Collagen Gel moisturizer. This one is worth every penny. My skin texture has genuinely improved since I started using it, and the dry, itchy winters I used to dread are gone. Both products are formulated for aging skin and provide hydration that feels sustainable rather than temporary.

Where I am Now

Today, I am a seasoned skincare addict with a far simpler routine than my overflowing product closet might suggest.

Nearly a decade in, I am far more intentional about using what I have before buying something new. And when I truly love a product, I keep backups in my closet in case it gets discontinued. My routine is now uncomplicated, guided by my aesthetician, my dermatologist, and my age. The goal is simple: bright, hydrated, healthy skin.

It’s decades of paying attention, making mistakes, learning from better-skinned women, and finally landing somewhere that feels intentional.

My skin is not perfect. But it is cared for. And at this stage of life, that’s exactly the point.