Now that I'm finally being more proactive in my blogging, it's time to share my skin care routine with you guys. I've always gotten a ton of questions about my makeup and skin care, but recently got a couple emails asking for a more detailed look into my daily skin regime.
For those of you that know me, taking care of my skin is extremely important to me, and I don't just mean my face! After having some pretty scary skin cancerous moles (23 mole removals and 6 minor surgeries) I pride myself in taking care of my skin. After all, our skin is 16% of our body and a barrier to protect our bodies!
When I was younger, I never took care of my skin, and that's because I didn't have to. I could sleep in my makeup, workout, tan in a tanning bed, and my skin seemed completely un-phased. Literally, bad acne for me was one pimple in a month. But boy, am I paying for all that damage I did now! Tanning has done it's own set of problems on my face - sunspots, moles, and WRINKLES. I'm constantly looking for new ways to combat and reverse the damage I did on my face by baking in a tanning bed. Age has done it's thing too, so with some of these products I'm able to fight the clock a little longer.
My skin is in-between dry and normal skin. My chin, forehead, and around my eyes tend to be more dry, to the point that my skin is peeling. This is a huge problem for me so I am constantly moisturizing. My second skin issue is redness in my T-Zone. My grandmother has rosacea and it seems that as I get older I could be developing it. If you don't know what rosacea is, it is a condition that causes redness in the skin that can come and go on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. My third skin issue is breakouts on my chin. For some reason the right side of my chin is super prone to breakouts. But luckily I have a great recommendation if you're looking for a spot treatment.
Recently, I did a post about Tula products, which I still am obsessed with. But I'm out of the toner and moisturizer so I wanted to talk about the other products I'm fond of.
Now that you know a little bit about my skin type and history, let's dive into my daily routine.
All the items I'm about to talk about are linked at the bottom of this post under "Shop the Post"
Every day I do the same three things, twice a day. Let this be your new mantra - cleanse, tone, moisturize. That's right ladies, EVERYDAY, TWICE A DAY! And those are just the basics. There are other steps we need to talk about, as well.
First, use a good makeup remover. I forgot to take a picture of my makeup remover, mainly because I only wear makeup about twice a week. But I use Tatcha Pure - One Step camellia cleansing oil. This product cleanses the skin without stripping natural moisture, leaving it balanced and nourished and super soft. It does not contain mineral oil, so the liquid emulsifies completely and leaves no residue. I personally like this best because it's oil based (feels amazing on my dry skin) and it does wonders on mascara..especially waterproof mascara. Although this is a "2 in 1" cleanser and makeup remover, I still like to use my preferred cleanser to get that super clean feel.
Now it's time to cleanse! My two all time favorite face washes are GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse and Tula Purifying Face Cleanser. Both leave my skin feeling fresh and clean. GlamGlow is great because my skin feels more hydrated and radiant. Tula leaves my red skin feeling calm and I love the probiotic technology the company uses. Now, these are what work best for my skin, leaving it more normal versus dry. When your skin is overly dry or oily there is a chance your skins pH levels are off. Our skin is naturally more acidic to protect against germs that would otherwise get through to our bodies. So be sure to buy the cleanser that best matches your skin type and keeps your skin balanced.
When you use a cleanser, you remove all the unwanted oil, substances and particles that have built up on your skin throughout the day. As the first step of the routine, it prepares your skin for the toner and moisturizer. If your pores are still clogged when you apply those products, it prevents them from being properly absorbed.
The toner I use, now that I'm out of Tula, is Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Facial Water. This is ideal for my dry skin and is also great for sensitive skin types. This mist helps solve skin issues such as dryness and dull, uneven skin textures. It also helps calm my redness which is always a plus in my books. I just spray it on a cotton ball and swipe it over my face. Not only do I use this to calm my skin, but to minimize my pores and remove any unwanted substance that may have been left behind.
After I have cleansed and used my toner, I use my Le Jour De Chanel, if I have a breakout. I use it as a spot treatment, because the salicylic acid dries my skin out too much. If your face is oily you can use this every day, before your normal moisturizer. Chanel's concentrate boosts skin's vitality to reactivate the complexion. The salicylic acid exfoliates, while grasse jasmine extract soothes the skin. Pores appear tightened and your complexion is visibly evened. This product is pricy, but definitely worth it!
Every 2-3 days I use my Skin Ceuticals Night Cream. This stuff is no joke. Because my wrinkles are so bad I use the Retinol 1.0, but it's also available in 0.5. This product is designed to help diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discoloration and was recommend to me by my dermatologist. I only use it every few days because my skin always peels when I try to be brave and use it 2 days in a row. So be aware that this is something that takes time for your skin to get used to.
Now it's finally time to moisturize! Again, I raved about Tula's Day and Night Cream and it's still a favorite, but a girl can have multiple products she loves. Currently I alternate my moisturizers. I use Soak It Up by Pur in the morning before I put my makeup on and then switch between Organic Coconut Oil and IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Cream at night.
I love Soak It Up because it is an intense moisturizer that is oil free. It's amazing for all skin types, especially sensitive skin and can honestly be used as often as needed during the day. It's designed to lock in hydration and combat moisture loss.
IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Cream is ideal for anyone trying to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It is a quick-absorbing super cream that transforms your skin for a healthier, younger-looking appearance. According to their website, "The proprietary Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate combines collagen and hyaluronic acid to plump fine lines and wrinkles, while niacin, peptides, a super ceramide complex and other high-performance ingredients are activated upon contact to immerse your skin in moisture, smooth texture, enhance firmness, and reduce the look of pores and discoloration." I've definitely noticed a difference and highly recommend.
Now Coconut Oil! Coconut oil is seriously good for everything. It's used in most beauty products, so why not use the product itself. Coconut oil works as an antibacterial shield, reduces wrinkles and prevents premature aging - all while functioning as a great moisturizer.
And that is my skin care routine! Remember every day, twice a day, cleanse, tone, and moisturize!
Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me through this lengthy post. I wanted to give as much detail as possible, because skin care is extremely important! If you have any questions or want to share your skin problems, history or routine please comment below!