Last week I shared all about my struggles with hormonal acne, specifically cystic acne. I was so touched by all the feedback I received. I am not alone in my struggle! Anyway, I did that post first so you could understand what I base my skincare regimens upon. I want to use effective anti-aging products, but ones that don’t break me out.
Note: In a few weeks I am writing about my skincare regimen when I am pregnant and nursing with several “clean beauty” products that I have discovered. I mention some of them in today’s post, too!
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Morning Beauty Routine
Cleanser
I start by washing my face with Beautycounter’s Cream Cleanser. It’s gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin. In fact, my almost 11 year old daughter uses it, too!
Vitamin C topical
Next I use my SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic for Vitamin C. My dermatologist says a Vitamin C serum is one of the most important things you can use as far as anti-aging. Y’all, let me be honest here, it smells odd and takes getting used to, but it truly makes your face glow. Other options: this Obagi Professional-C Serum also comes highly recommended. And Meg, my assistant, loves this Kiehls serum for under $50.
** This is something I started a few years ago but wish I had started sooner. **
Moisturizer
Here is something I change out a lot depending on the dryness of my skin or what I am trying at the moment. I definitely like this Skinceuticals moisturizer and Obagi for a deeper moisture. I also like Beautycounter’s daytime moisturizer when I am not super dry.
Sunscreen
My last step before makeup is applying sunscreen to my face Again, I am always trying new sunscreens but here are my top contenders: dermatologists often recommend this Elta MD a lot and I used it for years and I have also liked Supergoop’s City Sunscreen. I also like their new Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 which almost acts like a makeup primer.
Reapplying Sunscreen
For reapplying sunscreen throughout the day I love this refreshing spray for when I am outside (makes a great gift, too, in its cute, new packaging!). I also just got Supergoop’s Invincible Setting Powder SPF with its updated formula. It would be perfect to blot out shininess. I will give you an update on that soon!
Stay tuned for my favorite family summer sunscreens in an upcoming post!
Nighttime Beauty Routine
Shower
I use the Beautycounter Cream Cleanser again but this time I use my Clarisonic for a deeper cleanse. Pairing the Clarisonic with the cleanser helps to clean of any dirt, dead skin, and makeup.
If I don’t take a shower, or even if I do, I will use (one of my favorite products ever!) Beautycounter’s Cleansing Balm to remove any leftover makeup, including eye makeup with a Q-tip. I love this product because it is great at removing any impurities from my skin without removing any moisture. And it smells so refreshing like I am at the spa!
*Retinol
Once a week, sometimes every other week, I apply a tiny amount of prescription retinoid to my face. See last week’s post for why I use this but most dermatologists recommended for anti-aging and collagen boosting. If you don’t want a prescription grade retinol, this is highly rated, highly percentage over-the-counter Retinol. However, if you have dry skin, like me, be careful to not over use. Definitely something to talk with your doctor about!
Skin Firming Serum
This Juice Beauty Firming Serum is something I just started a few months ago. It’s made from all fruit extracts so safe for nursing. But I am obsessed! I truly can tell a difference in my skin firmness. It can be used morning and night but it’s pricey so I just use at night. FYI, Right now Neimans is having a spend $200, Get a $50 gift card if you need to stock up on beauty products!
Moisturizer
My skin is already really moisturized after the Cleansing Balm but if I feel I need more moisture I will use one of the moisturizers I mentioned above. But I just bought this anti-wrinkle Juice Beauty moisturizer because I was so happy with the other Juice Beauty product I was using. Will keep you updated on that.
Note: Sometimes I don’t need a moisturizer and just do a moisturizing sunscreen. When my skin is super dry I will leave on a thin layer of the Cleansing Balm as an overnight moisture mask. It does not break my skin out!
Spot Treatments
If I have a pimple, or feel like I have one coming, I will use Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. It is a miracle worker on some pimples!
Eye Cream
Another product I am constantly switching out trying to find my favorite. I have used Colleen Rothschild Complete Eye Cream. Recently I started Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Serum and will let you know the results. FYI, my sister swears by this highly-rated Caudalie Eye Cream.
Other products I like but don’t use regularly:
Skinceuticals Clay Mask (pictured at top; amazing for hormonal acne!)
Beautycounter’s skin oil (mix with moisturizer or to thin out foundation)
I know that was A LOT of information! I may have forgotten something but will add later if I did.
Update: I wrote a post dedicated to skincare when pregnant and nursing. Read it here.
Tell me what was helpful and what your current go-to beauty products are! And a note to all the younger women reading this: I wish I had started using some of these anti-aging products before my mid-30s. And definitely I recommend seeing a dermatologist regularly, even just to check for skin cancers.
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing my favorite beauty tools (you probably saw this GloPro pictured above!) and my skincare routine when I am pregnant and nursing since I receive a lot of questions about that.
One beauty deal:
Neiman Marcus is having a gift card with purchase deal (online only) that includes beauty products! Use code APRILGC.
What do you think?