MY SKINCARE ESSENTIALS – ON SALE

Good morning friends! Welcome to a new week!  I hope you had a great weekend.  Mine was lovely and very slow.  I got to sleep in, which felt amazing.  Then, I cleaned the house, did a bunch of laundry and worked on my blog.  I wanted this skincare post to be very informative, so I took my time writing it and I hope it’s helpful for you!

Most of my skincare products are by Colleen Rothschild and her Bestsellers Sale ends today!  Use code BESTSKIN25 to get 25% off.  You also get FREE shipping on orders over $49.

SKINCARE ESSENTIALS

When you start adding multiple products to your skincare routine, it can be confusing knowing the order in which to apply them.

PRO TIP : cleanser, toner/exfoliant, retinol, serum, moisturizer, oil.  Some people recommend applying your sunscreen before your moisturizer and some say after.  I put on sunscreen after moisturizer, as the last step before applying makeup.

The skincare products listed below are my tried and true faves.  I listed them in order of application, but I don’t necessarily use all of the products on a daily basis.  You have to get familiar with your skin and what products are for what issues and how your skin reacts to them.

PRO TIP : If you find yourself getting confused about which products to use at morning or at night, or in what order to apply, label them!  You can use a label maker to specify “AM” or “PM” or “AM1″ AM2” “AM3” and so on. 

MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE  

Radiant Cleansing Balm • Complete Eye Cream • Vitamin C Treatment Complex • Sheer Renewal Cream • Tatcha Water Cream

Radiant Cleansing Balm• I’ve been using this gentle cleanser for years and still love it.  It’s probably the product I would recommend if I had to choose only one.  It’s a balm cleanser you apply with your clean fingers to your dry face.  Then, you wet the muslin cloth with warm water that it comes with and gently wipe off the balm.  The combination of the textured cloth and the Radiant Cleansing Balm act as an exfoliant to gently remove impurities.  I finish by splashing cold water onto my skin to help close my pores, then pat dry. My skin is left feeling soft and clean, but not tight.  Plus, it smells amazing and leaves you feeling like you just left a spa after every use.

Complete Eye Cream • I find that most of my wrinkles are now around my eyes. This eye cream helps smooth wrinkles and fine lines, and offers skin plumping properties under eye circles, puffiness and loss of elasticity.   It’s very gentle and a little goes a long way.  Use your ring finger to tap the product around your eyes.

PRO TIP : if you have product left over, apply it to your lips to help alleviate the fine lines in that area

Vitamin C Treatment Complex • Vitamin C’s anti-aging, damage-repairing and UV-protecting powers make it a must-have product in your skincare arsenal. Use it consistently and over time to see the best results, including reducing hyperpigmentation and increasing cell turnover.  My skin is more radiant and even toned since I started using it.

PRO TIP : Apply a thin layer over your face, but don’t forget your neck and chest. Let it absorb for one minute before applying your next product.

Sheer Renewal Cream • This oil free, lightweight moisturizer is weightless and hydrating.  It also promotes new cell turnover to help minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles.  I like that it has the added benefit of being a primer for your makeup.

OR

Tatcha Water Cream • I also like this water cream as a lightweight moisturizer. It has Japanese wild rose to help minimize the appearance of pores and texture, and leopard lily extract to helps control excess oil and boost skin turnover.  My skin feels so clean and quenched when I use it.

SUNSCREEN

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen • Supergoop Setting Powder

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen • This sunscreen is SPF 40- invisible, weightless and scentless.  It’s formulated with antioxidants that prep your skin for makeup while providing broad-spectrum protection and protection from blue light, too. It has a velvety finish that doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy or shiny.

This sunscreen contains no phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc; also free of oxybenzone, fragrances and oils.

Supergoop Setting Powder â€¢ This was one of the Favorite Things last year and now I know why.  It’s a 100% mineral and sweat-resistant setting powder that goes over your makeup, providing broad-spectrum UV protection.

It comes in translucent or three shades- I use translucent.  You brush the powder over your makeup and it reduces shine and leave a soft matte finish.  It’s made with nourishing and moisturizing ingredients so that it doesn’t dry out your skin like traditional powders.

To use, remove the pin in the middle of the brush.  You tilt and tap the brush against your wrist to get the powder flowing through the brush.  Then swipe the brush onto your face.  You can clean the brush by pulling it from the magnetic base and wash with mild soap and lukewarm water.

EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE

Radiant Cleansing Balm • Retinol Supreme Eye Serum (not pictured) • Age Renewal Super Serum • Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum • Extreme Recovery Cream â€¢ Retinol Supreme Night Oil or Face Oil No. 9

Radiant Cleansing Balm • I use this cleanser morning and night.

Retinol Supreme Eye Serum (not pictured) • I’m out of this eye serum, so I couldn’t photograph it.  It has retinol and vitamin C to help revitalize the delicate skin around your eyes, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Age Renewal Super Serum • This concentrated formula is infused with more than 20 potent ingredients, including peptides, collagen boosters, amino acids, vitamins, and plant extracts. Combined, this serum helps to restore the skin’s complexion to its most youthful radiance and texture.  It also helps reduce those photo aging affects

Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum • This is one product that I highly recommend for reducing dark spots.  I’ve seen a big improvement in my spots fading when I added this serum to my regimen.  It’s a daily treatment that promotes cellular turnover, which addresses photo-aging, fine lines, acne, dark spots and overall skin texture. Derived from the bitter almond, Mandelic acid is a gentle yet highly effective alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).

Extreme Recovery Cream (if my face is dry) • I came to really love this deeply moisturizing cream, and it wasn’t too heavy for my skin.  It’s best for dehydrated skin and I tend to use this more in the winter or if my face is feeling dry.  It has active peptides and hyaluronic acid to promote healthy collagen production for visibly smoother and plumper skin.

Retinol Supreme Night Oil OR Face Oil No. 9 • Both oils deeply nourish your skin (without breaking it out!).  I know it seems counterintuitive to put oil on your skin, especially if you have acne prone skin like I do.  But, I found that my skin LOVES these oils and when I apply them at night, I wake up with glowing skin.

The Retinol Supreme Night Oil has the added benefit of regenerating your skin with a highly potent vitamin C.  Vitamin C is important for boosting collagen production and repairing skin damage due to the environment and the sun.
PRO TIP :  If my skin is feeling particularly dry, I make a ‘cocktail’ out of the Extreme Recovery Cream and Face Oil No. 9 by dipping my finger in the cream and then adding a couple drops of the oil and rub them together in my hands before applying to my face.

LIPS

Hanalei Lip Treatment • Tatcha Lip Mask

Hanalei Lip Treatment • Made with Hawaiian botanicals, this lip treatment moisturizes and relieves dryness. It’s been a favorite of mine for years! It has over 2,600 positive reviews on Amazon.

Tatcha Lip Mask • For more intense hydration, you will love this lip mask.  It’s a soothing non-sticky mask as opposed to a lip balm. I love the light color and how my lips feel after using it- no flakes, chaps or rough spots!

DEEP CLEAN

Glycolic Acid Peel Pads • Micro-Mineral Resurfacing Scrub • Clarifying Detox Mask

Glycolic Acid Peel Pads â€¢ I’m really liking the latest skincare product by Colleen. They are big round pad that you wipe your face with to target fine lines, hyper-pigmentation and imperfections. You’re left with a fresher, brighter, more even complexion.  The blue agave helps calm and reduce any irritation.

I use these ‘as needed’, typically after a super sweater workout.

Micro-Mineral Resurfacing Scrub • Consider this scrub an at-home alternative to professional microdermabrasion treatments.  It has micro-mineral (ultra-fine) crystals that you apply to wet skin and gently scrub in a circular motion, avoiding the eye area.  You don’t have to press hard- the crystals do the work. You’re left with refined texture, unclogged pores and a brighter complexion because the dead skin cells are buffed away.

Clarifying Detox Mask â€¢ This is my favorite mask I’ve tried and it works wonders for my skin.  It removes all the trapped dirt and debris that can build up over time.   It’s activated charcoal and clay draw out the impurities in your pores and leave behind a balanced complexion. It has a blend of Vitamin C and Willowherb extract to brighten and soothe inflamed skin.  It’s good stuff!

Apply a generous, even layer to face and neck, avoiding eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes, allowing mask to dry. Rinse with tepid water then gently pat dry.

PRO TIP : you can use a dot as an acne spot treatment. 

TOOLS

GloPRO Microneedling Tool

I did a detailed post on how to use this handy gadget, so I won’t get too wordy here.  But, suffice it to say that I credit my GloPRO as the #1 tool for helping my skin look as youthful as possible.

See those teeny little needles on the roller?  They basically prick your skin to make your skin look better.   As the roller moves over your skin, it stimulates the skin so that the skin cells repair themselves, resulting in better looking skin.  Your skincare works better when you apply it right after using this.

I use my GloPRO a few times a week and my skin looks so much better since I began using it almost a year ago.  My hyperpigmentation has diminished, my skin’s texture and appearance has improved, and my pores seem smaller.

Tinkle Razor

Have you heard of women shaving their face? I shave mine!  But, the fancy name for it is “dermaplaning”. You can get this done at a dermatologist’s office with a much sharper surgical blade, or do it at home with these slim razors that have a high quality blade with fine microguards to help protect your skin.

Dermaplaning removes peach fuzz and dead skin and softens your skin. After you do it, your skin will feel smooth as a baby’s bottom.  Your skin will absorb your skincare products better and your makeup will appear smoother.

Start by gently cleansing your face, then use a toner or astringent to draw out the oils in your skin, and put your hair back away from your face. Pull your skin taught and hold the razor at a 45 degree angle and, using short strokes, gently pull the razor down your face. As the fuzz starts to accumulate on the blade, wipe it off on a clean cloth.

Repeat until you’ve done your whole face.  Gently cleanse your skin and then use a toner and light serum or moisturizer.  Avoid any skin irritants for 24 hours.

I have lots of hair around my jawline and I’m always surprised how much comes off when I dermaplane and I do it about once a month.

And don’t worry, dermaplaning does not make your hair grow back thicker or darker.  Be careful around your brows, so you don’t accidentally lose one!

 

I hope this post was useful for you.  With so much time at home, my skin has been getting lots of attention lately! Has yours?  What are your favorite products? Have you shaved your face?  Used the dermaroller?  Let me know in the comments!

And remember, today is the last day to save 25% on the Colleen Rothschild Bestsellers.

Use code BESTSKIN25  Shipping is FREE on orders over $49.

Now go kick Monday’s booty! 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

3 Comments

  1. I asked my dermatologist once about whether to apply sunscreen or mousturizer first and she told me sunscreen. She said the closer that layer is to your skin, the more effective it is in doing its job; that other products should be layered over it. Makes sense to me if I see it from that perspective.

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