My Current Skincare Routine
Taking care of your skin is something that is underrated I feel. For your make up to be amazing, it needs to first start with your skin. I feel that women who feel confident and feeling their best with makeup, should feel the same when they are not wearing any. Sometimes the best way to rock the no makeup makeup look is by wearing no makeup and let your true beauty shine through. Makeup should only enhance how beautiful you really are – and it starts again with your skin. To achieve great results, it is super important to have a skincare routine for both WOMEN and MEN. Skin is something we all have, and should be taken care of. Remember our insides will reflect as well on our outside.
I used to be that person who broke every single skincare rule and just did not understand the importance of toning and serums. I always thought that just made you break out more and that was a scheme for companies to make more money. However, my eyes were opened once I tried “the rules” and saw real results. Of course with everything, it does not happen over night, so consistency is key. I will admit that sometimes I might get caught up with life and start to slack off. However, that’s usually when my skin looks dried out and tired, my skin no longer has a natural glow, and I even start breaking out. But what can I say, I’m only human right?
I am someone with combined skin type – oily and dry. I do have some adult acne and blackheads, but I am grateful to say it is not a severe case. As stated before, I am someone who suffers from severe eczema where it does target my skin on my face, even my eyes and lips. I did look for products from both higher end and drug store brands. I personally say, just stick with what works best for you and your budget.
The first thing that is super important to do is take off your make up every single night. I try not to go to bed with it on because it does clog your pores and cause acne. I personally use the Up& Up Target generic make up wipes for sensitive skin. I personally use this over the Neutrogena and it works just as amazing.
From there it’s time to cleanse your skin. I first wash my hands before doing this. I do however, tend to cleanse my face when I’m in the shower, but many do it over their bathroom sink. My all-time must have cleanser is the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser. They have amazing products that are all natural. The instructions read to shake the bottle and then pump product into your hands or cleansing brush. From there I lather and massage around my face and neck. I take the opportunity to turn this into a mini facial session. When cleansing the neck, I work my way upward. Once I reach my face, I do mini circular motions around my cheeks going towards my forehead. Think of it as if you are giving yourself a nice massage on your face. Once I reach my temples, with my pointer and middle fingers I go over my eyebrows, towards the bridge of my nose, to then under my eyes going then again towards my cheekbones and temples. I do this a few times – first going clock-wise to then counter-clock wise around my eyes – NOT on the actual eye. I do avoid my eyes in this process, as I do not want product to enter my eyes at any point. Once I feel my face feels fully cleansed, I rinse it off with warm water.
Next it is time to scrub and exfoliate. This is something I do not recommend to do every day. I would recommend about 2-3 times a week, with some rest period in-between the days. My all-time favorite product to use is the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator. What is so amazing about this product is that you feel the dead access skin come off. The first time I used the product, it did sting a little bit, but after the first time – I did not feel that anymore. It never made my skin irritated. Ironically, my sister and husband also felt that first time sting but after that, they did not feel it anymore either. I genuinely think this is the best exfoliate everywhere I actually saw results just from the first use. Anytime I start to break out, I use it and by a day or two, I notice that my skin starts to clear up and improve. When using this product, I do the same steps as I do when cleansing my face, and then rinse off with warm water during my shower. After, pat dry with a towel.
Once I’m out of the shower, I use the Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic. For this, you will need a cotton ball. I spray the cotton ball with about one to two times. I clean around my face until I no longer see any residue on the cotton ball. I do use a few cotton balls on this process and do spray each time I tone a different section of my face and neck. If you see brown, this means make up. If you see grey, this is dead skin cells that was left on your face. This step is super important, as it really is doing an extra round of cleaning your skin but also prepping your pores for moisturizing.
Once completed, I move on to the eye cream. Under my eyes do tend to get a bit more dry, so I need something a little bit more thick and creamy. I really have been loving the Do Not Age with Dr. Brandt eye cream. I put some product on my ring fingers and light pat the bottom of my eyes without putting too much pressure.
The next step is moisturizing the rest of my face. As I usually do a full skin routine at night, my serum is the La Nuit De Chanel. I only do one full pump, spread it around on my hands, and then tap my hands lightly around my face. Once my skin absorbs the serum, I apply about a pea size of the Hydra Beauty Gel Crème from Chanel.
To complete my skincare routine I spray generously the Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Facial Water.
I do try to incorporate masks a few times a month into my skincare routine. It does vary from the sheet mask that I purchase sometimes from Sephora or even TJ Maxx, to the cream based masks. I recently purchased Korean sheet masks that have gold from TJ Maxx – super excited to try. However, for cream based masks, my current favorites are Estee Lauder Clear Difference Purifying Exfoliating Mask and the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask. When I decide to do a mask, I put this step after toning. When removing the cream based mask, over the bathroom sink, I use a small hand towel with very warm water, and gently remove the product. After, I pat dry with a different towel, and then move forward with my moisturizing steps.
These products are my personal favorites and work for my skin type and skin needs. This all seems very long and tedious but in all honestly it really is not. It takes a few minutes to do everything. The routine is a bit longer, when you do add the masks. I personally have been very happy with the results that I have been seeing in my skin and when I do these steps, I cannot tell you how many compliments I receive on my skin. Really having a skincare routine makes my skin feel amazing and have a nice natural glow, where it makes me feel confident tackling the world even without makeup!
Up & Up Make Up Wipes
https://www.target.com/p/fragrance-free-25-ct-facial-wipes-up-up-153/-/A-51253744
Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
http://indielee.com/shop/all-products/brightening-cleanser
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator
https://www.sephora.com/product/microdermabrasion-age-defying-exfoliator-P45503?keyword=dr%20brandt%20mic
Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic
https://www.sephora.com/product/clear-complexion-tonic-P199611?skuId=1227917&keyword=boscia%20clear%20complexion%20tonic
Do Not Age with Dr. Brandt
https://www.sephora.com/product/do-not-age-with-dr-brandt-triple-peptide-eye-cream-P383053
La Nuit De Chanel
https://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/skincare-moisturizers-la-nuit-de-chanel-137063
Hydra Beauty Gel Crème from Chanel
https://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/skincare-moisturizers-hydra-beauty-gel-creme-125551
Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Facial Water
https://www.sephora.com/product/pure-nurture-facial-water-P408233?skuId=1910744&keyword=ole%20henriksen%20nurture%20me%20facial%20water
Estee Lauder Clear Difference Purifying Exfoliating Mask
https://www.sephora.com/product/clear-difference-oil-control-mattifying-hydrating-gel-P392894?skuId=1680842&icid2=products%20grid:p392894
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
https://www.sephora.com/product/instant-detox-mask-P395615?keyword=Caudalie%20Instant%20Detox%20Mask