receive this question more than almost any other.
What do you use on your skin? What is your routine? How do you get it to look like that? And for a long time, I deflected — because the honest answer felt too simple, too personal, too much like admitting that the most effective thing I ever did for my skin had very little to do with products at all. It had to do with slowing down. With paying attention. With learning to care for my skin the way I was slowly learning to care for myself — consistently, gently, and without the expectation of perfection.
Glass skin is not a product. It is a practice.
My skin is oily. It has always been oily — and for years I treated that as a characteristic to manage rather than understand. I over-cleansed. I reached for formulas that were too aggressive. The more I pushed against my skin, the more it responded in kind. It was not until I stopped fighting it and started listening to it that everything changed.
So here it is. My full ritual — the products, the practices, the daily habits, and the quiet moments of care that have made the most difference. I am sharing both the products I personally use and the entry-level alternatives I recommend to clients who are just beginning, because glass skin should not require a luxury budget. It requires intention.
The Morning Ritual
Before I touch my skin, I tend to my body from the inside. Every morning begins with a glass of water — room temperature, not cold — followed by a shot of olive oil and fresh lemon juice. It sounds unusual. The results are not. Olive oil is deeply anti-inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, and has been used for centuries as a beauty ritual in cultures far wiser than our current one. Lemon supports digestion and brightens from within. Together, they are the first thing I give my body each morning.
Then: chlorophyll. A teaspoon in a tall glass of water, every single day. Liquid chlorophyll is one of the most underrated additions to a skincare routine — it supports detoxification, reduces inflammation, and over time, contributes to a clarity and luminosity in the skin that no serum alone can replicate. It is not glamorous. It is green. And it works.
What you consume shows up on your skin eventually. The question is whether it will arrive as radiance or as inflammation.
Hydration is non-negotiable. I aim for at least half my body weight in ounces of water daily — more on days when I am active or under stress. Oily skin is frequently dehydrated skin, and when the skin is dehydrated, it overproduces oil to compensate. The solution is not to strip the oil. The solution is to hydrate deeply and consistently until the skin no longer feels the need to protect itself.
I eat a balanced, largely anti-inflammatory diet — lean proteins, leafy greens, healthy fats, limited processed sugar. Sugar is one of the most significant contributors to skin inflammation, breakouts, and accelerated aging. I am not perfect. But I am intentional. And I have learned that what I eat on Monday often shows up on my face by Wednesday.
The Skincare Routine — Step by Step
For oily skin, the goal is never to eliminate oil. The goal is balance — a skin barrier that is strong, hydrated, and calm enough that it does not need to overproduce sebum to survive. Every product in my routine serves that purpose.
Step one: Cleanse. I use SkinCeuticals Simply Clean — a gel cleanser formulated for oily and combination skin that removes impurities without stripping the barrier. It is thorough without being aggressive. For a more accessible option, CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser delivers a similar result at a fraction of the price. Apply with damp fingertips in gentle circular motions for sixty seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water. Never hot — hot water disrupts the barrier and signals the skin to produce more oil.
Step two: Tone. I reach for SkinCeuticals LHA Toner — a gentle exfoliating toner that helps regulate oil production, refine pores, and prepare the skin to absorb what comes next. Entry-level alternative: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner. Apply with a cotton pad using light, upward strokes. Do not press or drag. The skin is not a surface to be scrubbed — it is a living organ that responds to how it is handled.
Your skin remembers how you treat it. Gentleness is not a luxury — it is a long-term investment.
Step three: Vitamin C. This is the step I will never skip. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the gold standard — a 15% L-ascorbic acid serum that brightens, protects against environmental damage, and over time, visibly evens skin tone and improves texture. It is an investment. If the price point is not accessible right now, TruSkin Vitamin C Serum is a well-formulated, affordable alternative that delivers real results. Apply three to four drops to clean skin, pressing gently into the face and neck. Allow it to absorb fully before the next step.
Step four: Moisturize. For oily skin, moisturizer is not optional — it is essential. I use SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, a lightweight hyaluronic acid formula that delivers deep hydration without heaviness or shine. Entry-level alternative: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. Apply a pea-sized amount to the face and neck using gentle pressing motions — not rubbing. Let it sink in.
Step five: SPF. Every single morning, without exception. I use EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 — specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin, lightweight, and completely non-comedogenic. If you do nothing else on this list, wear sunscreen. It is the single most evidence-based anti-aging, anti-hyperpigmentation, anti-damage step in any routine. Entry-level alternative: Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 — a beautiful, no-white-cast formula created specifically for deeper skin tones.
Sunscreen is not optional. It is the most important product in your routine — and the one most people skip.
The Evening Ritual
The evening routine is where repair happens. The skin regenerates most actively while we sleep — and what we apply before bed determines how well it is able to do that work.
Double cleanse. At night, I begin with a gentle micellar water or cleansing balm to remove SPF and any residue from the day, followed by my regular gel cleanser. This ensures the skin is truly clean before treatment products are applied. Sleeping in sunscreen or makeup — even trace amounts — is one of the fastest ways to clog pores and dull the complexion.
Retinol or a treatment serum. Two to three nights per week, I apply SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 — a low-concentration retinol that encourages cell turnover, refines texture, and over time, visibly reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines. If you are new to retinol, begin with the lowest concentration available and apply only once per week until your skin adjusts. Entry-level alternative: Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% — a prescription-strength retinoid now available over the counter, and one of the most effective affordable options on the market.
Niacinamide. On non-retinol nights, I use a niacinamide serum — one of the most versatile and well-researched ingredients for oily skin. It regulates sebum production, minimizes the appearance of pores, fades hyperpigmentation, and strengthens the barrier. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is exceptional and costs less than ten dollars. Apply a few drops after cleansing and before moisturizer.
Night moisturizer. I seal everything with SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore — a rich but non-greasy formula that replenishes the skin's natural lipid barrier overnight. Entry-level alternative: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. Apply generously to the face and neck, always including the neck — it ages at the same rate as the face and is almost always forgotten.
The neck remembers everything. Care for it accordingly.
A Love Note from Dr. Ash
Before I close, I want to say something that has nothing to do with serums or SPF.
The most beautiful skin I have ever seen has belonged to women who were at peace with themselves. Not women with perfect routines or flawless complexions — but women who had stopped fighting their reflection. Who had learned, slowly and imperfectly, to look in the mirror with something closer to kindness than criticism. That shift — that quiet, internal shift — shows up on the face in ways no product can replicate.
You are allowed to rest without guilt. You do not have to earn softness. Your worth is not measured by exhaustion.
You are still deserving in the seasons where you are healing. You are allowed to take up space gently. There is beauty in slowing down. Your body deserves kindness, not punishment. You are becoming, not failing.
Your softness is not weakness — it is strength held with grace.
You are worthy of care even on the days you do not feel your best. Healing is still progress, even when it is quiet. You are allowed to begin again as many times as necessary. There is nothing selfish about choosing yourself too. You deserve peace that reaches your mind, your body, and your spirit.
You were never meant to survive life without tenderness. And perhaps the most important thing of all: you are already worthy, exactly as you are.
Affirmations for Your Week
This week, I will move with intention, not urgency. I will allow myself moments of rest without guilt. I will speak to myself with softness, patience, and grace. I will remember that I do not have to carry everything alone.
I will protect my peace, my energy, and my well-being. I will nourish my body with care instead of criticism. I will let go of perfection and choose presence instead. I will celebrate progress, even when it is quiet.
I will honor the version of me that is still healing. I will trust that slowing down does not mean falling behind.
I will create space for joy, beauty, and stillness in my life. I will allow myself to receive the same love and care I freely give to others. I will choose thoughts that nurture me instead of diminish me. I will remember that confidence grows where kindness lives.
I am worthy of peace. I am worthy of softness. I am worthy of becoming.
Carry these with you. Return to them when the week gets heavy. And remember — caring for your skin is one small, beautiful way of saying to yourself: I am worth tending to. I am worth showing up for. I am worth the ritual.
That is where glass skin begins. Not in a bottle. In a belief.