The Skincare Routine I Actually Recommend for Living in San Diego

I grew up thinking that good skin was mostly genetic. Then I went to Aveda in Portland — where skincare education is serious — and completely changed my understanding. Genetics matter, but your environment matters just as much. And if you live in San Diego, your environment is working against your skin in specific ways that most standard skincare advice doesn't account for.

Here's what I actually recommend.

The San Diego Skin Problem

We have incredible weather. We also have year-round UV exposure, low humidity in fall and winter when the Santa Ana winds come through, salt air near the coast, and a lifestyle that involves a lot of time outside. That combination — UV + dehydration + oxidative stress — accelerates skin aging and creates the dull, uneven, reactive skin I see most often in my Point Loma studio.

The fix isn't more products. It's the right products in the right order.

Morning: Protection is Everything

1. Gentle cleanser — removes overnight oil and anything on your pillowcase without stripping. A foaming cleanser that leaves your skin feeling tight is too harsh for most people.
2. Vitamin C serum — this is non-negotiable in San Diego. Vitamin C neutralizes free radical damage from UV exposure before it causes oxidative stress. Apply it before SPF, every morning.
3. Lightweight moisturizer — gel-based in summer, switch to a richer cream when the Santa Anas hit and humidity drops.
4. SPF 30–50 — also non-negotiable. I don't care if it's overcast, if you're only going from your car to an office, if you have dark skin. SPF every morning, no exceptions. Reapply every 2 hours if you're outside.

Evening: Repair Mode

1. Double cleanse if you wore SPF or makeup — oil cleanser first, then water-based cleanser. This actually removes everything instead of just moving it around.
2. Exfoliant (2–3 nights a week) — AHA or BHA. This clears the dead skin buildup that San Diego's dry conditions accelerate and makes every other product work better.
3. Treatment serum — choose based on your concern. Retinol for anti-aging and cell turnover. Niacinamide for pore size and brightness. Hyaluronic acid if dehydration is your main issue.
4. Rich moisturizer or facial oil — lock everything in. Especially important during dry months.

What I Actually Use at Full Circle Beauty

In my treatment room, I use Circadia and GlyMed+ — both professional lines that aren't available over the counter. Circadia's oxygen facial technology is particularly effective for San Diego skin because it addresses both UV damage and dehydration simultaneously. GlyMed+ has exceptional exfoliating treatments for the hyperpigmentation and uneven tone that chronic sun exposure creates.

You can't buy these at Sephora, and that's intentional. They require the knowledge of a licensed esthetician to use correctly. If you want to experience what they can do for your skin, come in for a customized facial and I'll show you.

The One Thing Most People Skip

Humidifier in your bedroom during Santa Ana season. I know that sounds basic. But sleeping in low-humidity air for 8 hours undoes a significant amount of the work your skincare products do. It's the single least expensive, highest-impact change most San Diego clients can make to their nighttime routine.