Update Skincare Routine~April 2018

I just want to start by saying that I’m going to make this into more of a mini review of each product instead of just listing the products I like to use both in the morning and in the evening.

Let’s start with the AM routine, which has become more minimal.

Step 1: Face Wash-I use Artistry Hydra-V Fresh Foaming Cleanser and have been using it for years. I like the foaminess of it and the fact that it’s not really heavily scented. It gets the job done.

Step 2: Toner-I have been using Thayers Witch Hazel to tone my skin ever since my aesthetician recommended it to me last year. She told me that Witch Hazel can help with the breakouts I get and clean the skin after I get my eyebrows and my upper lip waxed. I have to say, it really does help and work. I haven’t used any other toner since. However, I have probably used almost every single scent from this line and like almost every single one.

Step 3: Eye Cream–IT Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream has become my new favorite and beloved skincare product. It combats everything I’m looking to remedy around my eyes; dark circles, fine lines, and dryness.

Step 4: Moisturizer-I am the kind of person who isn’t married to one moisturizing product. I have tried many, many in the past. The one I’m using right now is the Garnier SkinActive Soothing 3-in-1 Moisturizer. This is an alright one. I think it would be better as a winter moisturizer because it’s so thick. Now that it’s finally feeling like spring here in Minnesota, it feels a little too heavy on my skin. Yesterday, I bought a new one to wear during the day so I think I’ll keep this one to the night time routine. Also, this moisturizer can be used as a mask. I would not recommend doing so, unless you want to wipe off most of the product or you have really, really dry skin.

Step 5: SPF-At the minute, I’m using La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60 Dry-Touch Sunscreen. I liked this one in the beginning, but now I’m not a fan. I don’t know if it’s not working with my moisturizer (I put this one right after) or if my it’s just not agreeing with my skin. I have noticed that it just pills off my face and doesn’t really absorb into my skin.

Now for my night time routine (much more comprehensive).

Step 1: Face Wash-At the moment, I am finishing up the Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash. I like it and it does the job, but I have used better. I just don’t know if it really got into my pores and cleaned them.

Step 2: Exfoliator (2 days a week)-I am also using the Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub. I like it because I feel like it’s keep my skin in check. But I also don’t like it because it’s a coarser exfoliant. I typically like gentler scrubs.

Step 3: Toner-Again, I used the Thayers Witch Hazel toner.

Step 4: Eye Cream-You guessed it! I use the IT Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream at night as well.

Step 5: Facial Spray–Mario Badescu Facial Spray is the one! I have been using it for over a year now and I can’t see myself using any others in the near future. It’s cooling and fresh feeling and even if it’s not doing anything, I don’t care. I just love spraying this all over my face.

Step 6: Facial Oil-This is one of the newer products in my routine. Well, not so much a new product but a new brand. I have started using the The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose-Hip Seed Oil. I love everything about rose-hip seed oil and love even more The Ordinary. Not only is this skincare brand inexpensive, but there’s so much science behind their products. You go and look at their site and read about each of the products and wonder how they get their prices to be so low. Okay, enough about the brand. The product itself is great. I use rose-hip seed oil to combat the redness in my skin. Ever since using this, I’ve seen a noticeable difference in the redness on my cheeks. It has been minimized.

Step 7: Spot Treatment-I am trying out a new product to combat my spotty, spotty skin. It’s the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment. I can’t say much about it yet because I’ve only been using it for less than a week. Let me know if you want me to do a more in-depth review of it later on. I also use the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. This one I like because you can just apply it straight to you acne spots and the next morning they are instantly minimized.

Step 8: Moisturizer-I also use the Garnier Skin-Active Soothing 3-in-1 Moisturizer at night.

There are also lots of extras and body care items I like to use.

Masks-There are a variety of masks I like to use, but at the minute I love using sheet masks. They are so easy to use and there are sooo many out there that do all kinds of different things. Some of my favorite sheet masks are the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb masks and the Tony Moly sheet masks. I also love using eye masks. The one I’m using right now is the Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Masks.

Lotions-For my hands, I like to use either Zoella Beauty Wonder Hand or Codi Olive Hand & Body Lotion. I have been using Wonder Hand for a couple years now and the Codi Olive Hand Lotion I received from the nail salon. For my body, I am using St. Ives Revitalizing Acai, Blueberry, and Chia Seed Oil Body Lotion. I love the scent and it goes on light; which means it absorbs quickly.

Lip Products-I love lip balm. I especially love tinted lip balm. My newest obsessions are the LanoLips Tinted Lip Balm and 101 Ointment. I also interchangeably use Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm.

Body SPF-With my fair skin (or even when I have used self-tanner), I find it very important to protect it with sunscreen. I have gotten some pretty bad burns in the past, so I have learned my lesson and religiously wear sunscreen (even in the winter). The one I like to use is the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless SPF 30. It smells like coconuts, which is amazing because it feels like I’m at the beach every time I apply it.

Body Exfoliators-I don’t do it enough, but I do like to exfoliate my body (especially when self-tanning). I have found a recent obsession with the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. It’s creamy and gentle and really does work. At the moment, I’m using the pomegranate one but I don’t like the scent so I can’t wait to use the one in the picture above.

Body Wash-Now, I don’t know if this counts as skincare but I’m going to include it anyway. Like the moisturizer, I don’t tend to stick to one brand in body wash either. Right now, I’m using the St. Ives Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Exfoliating Body Wash. This body wash smells delicious! And that’s really the only thing it’s got going for it. It’s such a mild exfoliation that I don’t know if it’s actually doing anything.

Cleansing Oil/Micellar Water-I like to use cleansing oil on the days I’m wearing makeup, especially waterproof makeup (typically, that’s just my mascara). The one I’m using right now is the Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil. I won’t say much about it though because I already did a review on it. I also like using Garnier Micellar Water for eye makeup.