My Simple, Science-Backed Skincare Routine That Actually Healed My Skin
ALITURA — ROUTINE WALKTHROUGH
My Simple, Science-Backed Skincare Routine for Clearer, Healthier Skin
The exact routine I’ve used for years — cleansing, weekly dermarolling + clay mask, red light, and the Alitura products that helped my skin recover when it needed it most.
Author
Craig McCloskey
Board-Certified Nutritionist
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m not interested in complicated skincare routines, trendy 10-step regimens, or products that promise miracles but deliver irritation. Everything I use on my skin has earned its place - usually because it helped me through a time when my skin genuinely needed healing, not just “glow.”
I’m sharing this routine now because this exact approach is what helped repair my skin years ago after a pretty severe issue that conventional treatments only made worse.
This routine is built around supporting the skin’s natural healing processes, not forcing results. It focuses on barrier health, circulation, detoxification, and nourishment—principles that are well-supported in dermatology and skin physiology research.
Why I Care So Much About Gentle, Intentional Skincare
From around 2018 through 2020, I dealt with a stubborn skin issue on my face that progressively worsened. I was prescribed topical steroid creams, which temporarily reduced redness - but over time, they thinned my skin, disrupted my barrier, and actually made the inflammation more persistent.
This experience sent me down a deep research rabbit hole. I started learning about the skin barrier, microbiome disruption, chronic inflammation, and how over-medicating the skin can interfere with its ability to repair itself. That’s when I found Alitura Naturals, and it honestly changed everything for me.
I’ve been using their products consistently since 2020 - not because they started paying me or sent me free product, but because my skin responded better than it ever had before. I finally found the much-needed relief I was searching for, and it came from all-natural skincare without harmful ingredients.
“Most long-term skin issues don’t come from a lack of products, but from chronic irritation, over-treatment, and routines that disrupt how skin actually repairs itself.”
The Foundation: Daily Cleansing Without Stripping the Skin
Every routine starts with cleansing, but how you cleanse matters more than how often.
Morning and night, I use Alitura’s Pearl Cleanser, which cleans effectively without leaving my skin tight or dry. That’s critical because harsh surfactants can strip the skin’s lipid barrier, increasing transepidermal water loss and inflammation.
Gentle cleansing supports:
A healthier skin microbiome
Better moisture retention
Improved tolerance to treatments like microneedling
If your skin feels “squeaky clean,” that’s usually not a good thing.
Weekly Skin Reset: Dermarolling (Microneedling)
About once a week, I incorporate dermarolling after cleansing. This technique - also called microneedling - creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin that stimulate collagen production and increase cellular turnover.
Improve skin texture
Support collagen synthesis
Enhance absorption of topical products
The key is doing it on clean skin, with proper spacing between sessions. This isn’t about aggressiveness - it’s about signaling the skin to repair itself.
Weekly Clay Mask + Red Light Therapy
Once a week - usually Sundays - my wife and I do Alitura’s clay mask ritual. This is one of my favorite parts of the routine because it’s both effective and relaxing.
The mask is a powdered blend of multiple clays, plus colostrum, which is rich in growth factors and immune-supportive compounds. Clay masks work through adsorption, meaning they bind to impurities, oils, and debris on the skin’s surface.
I mix the powder with:
Filtered water
A splash of apple cider vinegar (to support skin-friendly pH)
A couple drops of essential oils like frankincense and lavender
The goal is a toothpaste-like consistency - not too thick, not too runny.
At this point in the routine, I also work the mask gently into my scalp to support hair health.
“Healthy skin isn’t built by harsh treatments — it’s built by supporting the skin barrier, circulation, and the body’s natural healing response.”
▶ Watch the Full Routine Here
Read the full transcript
[0:00] I throw it in my hair, get it down deep on my scalp, throw a little bit of mud on your face, let it dry, sit in front of the red light and your skin is going to feel baby butt soft. [0:09] So as you guys know, I have a wedding coming up next month and I want my skin to look pretty good, so I’m going to walk you through my entire skincare routine. [0:18] I’m using a company called Alitura Naturals. I’ve been using them since 2020. They healed my skin when I was going through a pretty severe fungal infection on my face. It was pretty messed up. [0:30] The first thing I’m going to do is cleanse my face. I do this every morning and every night, and I’m using their Pearl Cleanser. I just take a nice squirt and rub it in. [0:40] After that, once to twice a week, I’ll take a dermaroller. This is basically microneedling. This creates little tiny pores, like little tears in your skin. [0:50] I go through my skin like this, and you want to do this when your skin is nice and cleansed. I’ll even go through my hair and scalp. [1:03] These micro tears damage the skin slightly, but when it heals, it creates a lot of collagen production. When you put the clay mask on after, it draws toxins to the surface and tightens the skin as it heals. [1:19] Just about every Sunday, we do the Alitura clay mask. It’s a powder consistency and a combination of four different types of clay. It also has colostrum, which is incredible for skin and hair growth. [1:38] I mix it with a little filtered water and apple cider vinegar, which helps with skin pH. I also mix in essential oils like frankincense and lavender. [1:53] You want a toothpaste-like consistency—not too watery, not too thick. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to fully harden. [2:11] While it’s drying, I sit in front of my red light. This helps detox the skin and remove dead skin cells. [2:20] The reason I started doing this was because between 2018 and 2020, I was using topical steroid creams that made my skin worse—really red and irritated. I needed a way for my skin to heal naturally. [2:41] This is the company I started using to help my skin heal, and I’ve been using them ever since. I also work the mask into my scalp to help stimulate hair growth. [3:01] After about 30 to 45 minutes, I wash it off. The clay hardens and pulls off dead skin, and your skin feels incredibly soft. [3:18] It’s been about 45 minutes to an hour. It’s hardened and starting to peel—this is my favorite part. I usually wash it off in the shower, but I’m doing it in the sink here. [3:38] After washing it off, my face is a little red. That’s from increased blood flow from dermarolling and the clay mask constricting and releasing blood vessels. [3:53] Everything feels smooth. No dead skin. It’s clear and clean. [4:00] Now I’m going to apply the Alitura Gold Serum. This is one of my favorite products. It has copper peptides, CoQ10, marine collagen, Hawaiian beeswax, and essential oils. [4:18] That’s pretty much my routine. I do the clay mask once a week. [4:22] At night, instead of the Gold Serum, I cleanse my face and apply the night cream. It has stem cells, royal jelly, manuka honey, colostrum, and olive oil. [4:39] I apply it before bed, and when I wake up, my skin feels amazing. If you haven’t heard of Alitura, definitely check them out and give their skincare routine a try.
What Happens After You Rinse the Mask
After rinsing everything off - usually in the shower - my skin is always a little red. That’s normal. Increased blood flow is part of the healing response from microneedling, clay tightening, and red light exposure.
But once that subsides, the difference is noticeable:
Smoother texture
No lingering dead skin
A clean, calm feeling without dryness
This is where nourishing the skin becomes essential.
Morning Moisture: Gold Serum
During the day, I use Alitura’s Gold Serum, which is packed with ingredients that support repair and antioxidant protection.
This serum seals in moisture without clogging pores and gives my skin a healthy, resilient feel throughout the day.
Nighttime Repair: Deep Nourishment While You Sleep
At night, instead of the serum, I use Alitura’s night cream. This is where deeper repair happens.
It includes:
Manuka honey
Royal jelly
Colostrum
Olive oil
Stem cell extracts
Sleep is when skin regeneration peaks, and providing lipid-rich, nutrient-dense support during that window can make a noticeable difference in skin texture and hydration by morning.
“The goal of a good skincare routine isn’t to force results — it’s to remove what’s holding the skin back and give it the conditions it needs to heal.”
Why I Trust Alitura (And the Conversation That Sealed It)
Beyond the products themselves, I respect the philosophy behind the brand. I’ve had the chance to interview Andy Hnilo, the founder of Alitura, and his approach to skin health mirrors how I think about nutrition and lifestyle: remove what’s harming the system, then support the body’s innate ability to heal.
That mindset - rather than chasing quick fixes - is exactly why this routine has stood the test of time for me.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Stay Consistent
You don’t need dozens of products to have healthy skin. You need:
Gentle cleansing
Strategic stimulation
Proper detoxification
Thoughtful nourishment
This routine has been part of my life for years, not weeks—and it’s why I still reach for these products today.
If you’re rebuilding your skin, dealing with sensitivity, or just want a routine that respects how skin actually works, this is a solid place to start.
