Okay little mingos, buckle your seat belts. I had several requests from my
Flawless Face Post to show what I use in terms of skincare, so today, we're going to discuss just that. I've been a product hoarder for years, so I think it is safe to say that I've vetted out a lot of the good from the bad.
One thing that should be noted is that quality skincare can't ALL be purchased from a drugstore. While I love a good bargain and believe that beauty doesn't have to break the bank, I also know that I have to live with my skin for forever and I want products to help it stay as healthy and youthful looking as possible.
So let's get started, shall we?
WASH YOUR FACE:
I was blessed with good skin in terms of not having acne issues, but trust me, I've had my fair share of red dry patches that make me look like I bathed in Retin A. My goal for my face is for it to be as well hydrated as possible. Moisture keeps the wrinkles away, or so I hear. For me, moisturized skin really starts when it is freshly cleaned. Every morning, I wash my face in the shower with HOT water using the
Neutrogena Deep Clean Scrub. I love how this gently exfoliates and has a refreshing minty feel to it. It definitely wakes me up! Another option I like is the
Neutrogena Oil Free Stress Control Face Wash. If I feel a blemish coming, I use this and it really does the trick. As I mentioned earlier, there are a few products I love that are more expensive, but I can assure you they are worth it. I LOVE the
Bliss Face Wash. It smells SO GOOD and works so well!
GET RID OF THAT MAKEUP:
I'll admit it, I am SO lazy at night time. The LAST thing I want to do is wash off my makeup. There have been many a night that I have gone to bed with makeup on. I know-it is terrible. I need to work on being more diligent with this. A trick I've found is to use the
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes. These are fabulous to do a clean sweep before bed and a little secret-the Target brand works just as well. Also, I am a FIRM believer in using Eye Makeup Remover. It is seriously the best way to have a refreshed look. Face wash isn't always going to cut it. I like
Neutrogena's Eye Makeup Remover and LOVE the knock off version with the Target Brand. When I'm traveling, I always take
Lancome's Makeup Remover with me because it works on both Eye Makeup and Face Makeup. Well worth the extra pennies, I assure you.
PREP YOUR SKIN:
Now that you have washed your face, you need to prep it for the makeup you are about to apply. My skin takes makeup best within 5 minutes of when it is freshly washed, so time is essential here. Right after washing/drying my face, I use
Oil of Olay's Astringent to make sure that I got rid of any leftover dirt or oil. I have extremely dry skin so it seems counter-intuitive to use this, but this is what I really believe makes the biggest difference. Using toner cleans out the pores so that they can soak up the anti-aging products and moisturizers you will use. I cannot imagine not using a toner now. AND on evenings that I need to touch up my makeup after work, I can swipe on some toner and save a good 5 minutes of the application process. All about the time saving here!
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE:
I started noticing wrinkles on my forehead in college and ever since, I have been PARANOID about the aging process. So before you read any further, you must know that this is an EXPENSIVE section. But, I promise you this is where you get the most bang for your buck. I am a huge fan of Lancome's anti-aging products. They are pricey, but work so well. Their
Eye Makeup cream is so gentle and moisturizing so I put this on immediately after the toner. I'm really careful to not get any anti-aging products near my eyes because that skin is so sensitive so this one is perfect. Next, I apply the tiniest dab of
Lancome's Genefique Serum to my forehead. This is the area that is aging the most and I have to tell you that I can tell a HUGE difference after using this several weeks. The skin feels tighter and more toned. Again, pricey but SO worth it. And then I follow up with
Lancome's High Resolution Night Cream. This is the most luxuriously moisturizing cream that makes my skin feel heavenly. I know it is a night cream, but I wear it daily and love the result.
FOR THE REST OF YOUR SKIN:
You guys-I have used Dove Soap for probably 15 years. I cannot stray from it. It is my favorite scent of all time and it is the most moisturizing soap out there. I use
Oil of Olay's Complete Daily Defense Lotion for my arms and legs that get sun exposure. I'm a freak about sunscreen, so using this lotion daily protects them. I used to use this for my face (as it is intended) and it works so well, but I am addicted to the Lancome Face Moisturizer now. If I'm traveling, it is nice to only have one product that does it all and this Oil of Olay Moisturizer is great for that. Also, using
Burts Bees Baby Oil in the shower is FABULOUS for freshly shaved legs. You will love how your skin feels if you use this and it will give you that healthy glow that looks amazing with cocktail dresses! I use a combination of Neosporin and Vaseline on my cuticles and this really does the trick (always keep these two items in your purse, you will be surprised how often you use them when you have them). For my lips, I always have
Smith's Rosebud Salve on hand as well as the
EOS Lip Balm.
WHEWWW! We made it. I would love to hear what your favorite skincare products are, so tell me- what can you not live without?
