Hello friends! I get lots of comments & questions about my skincare, so I thought that I would put it all in one quick & easy post today. Skincare is 100% based on your personal skin type & I am not an expert, so please don’t assume that what works for me will automatically work for you. It’s important to listen to your skin & treat it accordingly. My skin tends to be oily, but not overly sensitive, with some large pores that get clogged easily. I’m also 39, so treating & preventing wrinkles, & brightening skin is a huge concern.
Cleanse – In the mornings when I don’t have any makeup on, I use the Elemis Gentle Foaming Face Wash to gently cleanse my skin & get rid of any buildup/products from overnight. I love Elemis cleansers because they are so gentle, removing dirt & grime without stripping your skin of the necessary oils. My skin tends to be naturally oily, so using harsh cleansers can increase that. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but stripping your skin of all natural oils actually increases oil production. In the evenings, I use the Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm to remove my makeup. This cleanser is a little pricey & I was a little skeptical since it’s just a balm that you massage in, but it has changed my skin! It dissolves even the heaviest makeup quickly & easily, then you just rinse it off & it leaves your skin so soft. Most nights, I wash with the Elemis Gentle Foaming Face Wash as a double-cleanse to remove any stubborn, pore-clogging gunk. I use Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment once or twice a week as a deeper exfoliating treatment in the shower. It has AHA’s to chemically exfoliate & a little silica to help physically exfoliate for smoother, brighter skin. Exfoliating helps to removes the dead skin cells clogging your skin & uncover fresh, new cells, allowing your products to sink in & work more effectively.
Tone – Ok, let’s quickly chat about the difference between toners & serum – a toner is usually a waterlike consistency & will balance your skin or provide exfoliation, while a serum is more cream-like & treats a specific skincare issue. I use Elemis’ Balancing Lavender Toner immediately after cleansing to balance out my skin. In the morning, I use Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, which contains salicylic acid, to unclog pores, prevent breakouts, brighten my skin, & treat wrinkles. At night, I use Alpha H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment with Glycolic Acid, which is a stronger exfoliator designed for overnight use to diminish wrinkles, pigmentation, and sun damage. Can you tell that I love a good exfoliating product? It really is the key to younger-looking skin, when combined with good moisture!
Serums – The only serum that I currently use is the By Terry Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi-Serum. It’s a lightweight CC serum that helps even your skin tone. It also has light-reflective pearl pigments that act to blur imperfections on days I don’t wear makeup. I am planning to add a Vitamin C serum as a stronger way to help even my skin tone & get rid of some sun/age spots, either the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, a pricey but super-effective one, or Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum, which is affordable & has great reviews.
Eye Cream – Your eye area is especially delicate, so it’s important to keep harsh toners or serums away & use products designed to treat the area. One of biggest struggles for me has been treating undereye puffiness & dark circles. While I know that my dark circles are probably genetic & will never be completely gone, the Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream uses natural extracts to improve the appearance of dark circles & to improve skin elasticity. It makes me look more awake during the day & has helped to reduce the appearance of my dark circles.
Moisture – As I mentioned before, keeping skin hydrated is the best way to prevent extreme oiliness & the acne/clogged pores that come with it. The key is finding a moisturizer that provides the level of hydration that your skin needs. My go-to daytime moisturizer is Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer. It provides light hydration for the day, plus glycolic & lactic acids reveal fresher, smoother, brighter skin. It gives my skin the moisture that it needs, & leaves it glowing. For overnight, I’ve been using Elemis Peptide4 Plumping Pillow Facial. It’s a gel-based moisturizer that locks in hydration overnight so you wake up with plump, younger-looking skin in the morning. And who doesn’t want that?
Sunscreen – I will preface this by saying that everyone should be using sunscreen on your face everyday to prevent sun damage & skin cancers. But, it’s especially important if you’re using AHA’s & Retinols like I am. I love Glo Skin Beauty’s Oil Free SPF 40 because it provides great protection in a really lightweight formula that won’t clog pores or contribute to breakouts. It goes on smoothly & doesn’t interfere with makeup application.
Retinol – Retinol boosts collagen production, plumping your skin, which helps eliminate fine lines & wrinkles. It also helps with uneven skin tone & dark spots. It can dry your skin out, causing some flaking, so it’s important to moisturize & wear sunscreen if you’re using one. My aesthicitian recommended Image Skincare’s Ageless Total Retinol-A, so I’ve been using it a few times per week for around 6 months & am seeing some results. Keep in mind that it can take up to 12 weeks for you to see results from a retinol.
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