If you've been following me from the beginning, you might remember my first skin care routine post. While it was a good regimen at the time and I used that same routine for a while, I have recently discovered much better products that are more natural, and that are working wonders for my skin! If you want to know what I slather on my face on a daily basis, then keep on reading!
STEP 1: When I wake up in the morning, I feel like a zombie. Let's just say that I am not a morning person, whatsoever. In order to keep my skin feeling clean and refreshed and make me feel human again, I like to wash my face with a delicate cleanser that will get rid of all the gunk that has collected on my face overnight from my pillowcase (gross, but true. Always make sure you bedding is clean). I always reach for Boots No7 Gentle Foaming Mousse Cleanser. It's super gentle, yet it cleanses my skin so wonderfully without giving me that tight feeling. It's soap free, which I absolutely love. It gets the job done and it gets my face ready for the day.
STEP 2: Moisturizing your skin is possibly one of the most important steps you can do in any skin care routine. Not only will it quench your thirsty skin, but it will also prep it for makeup.This product has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. It's light-weight, oil-free, and fragrance-free. It doesn't sting my skin or eyes and doesn't leave a film behind. It absorbs in seconds, and my skin is happy. I use this on my body as well. Say hello to Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
STEP 3: Sadly, I have acne prone skin, and it is especially susceptible during that special time of the month. I have found a miracle product that has seriously cleared up my breakouts in record time, and it works so well for me. I have tried everything, and this by far has given me the best results. It's 100% natural, and this stuff is magic in a little glass bottle. Tea Tree Oil has multiple uses and has anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-septic properties. The oil comes from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia tree, which is native to Queensland, Australia. It has been used for centuries by the indigenous people of Australia to treat many things, such as colds, wounds, etc. This stuff is powerful, so a little goes a long way. Try diluting it with some water, and apply it to your blemishes with a cotton swab. Tea Tree oil is to be used topically only, as it can be harmful if ingested. Make sure you get 100% tea tree oil!
STEP 4: At the end of the night, all I want to do is get all my makeup off my face and turn into a zombie again. I like to shower at night, so I remove my makeup in there. My eyes are very sensitive, and many products irritate the hell out of them. Many years ago, my mom suggested I use Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash to remove my eye makeup, and that has been my go-to ever since. It's gentle, removes all of my eye makeup (surprisingly) and it doesn't burn my eyes. All I do is a apply a quarter sized amount in my palm, and lather it up into a foam, and remove my eye makeup. Oh, and it's cheap, too!
STEP 5: About 3-4 times a week, I like to exfoliate my skin. In my old skin care routine post, I had said that I liked to exfoliate every day. I have learned that I was basically abusing my skin and causing microscopic tears that were possibly causing more breakouts. So now, I use a much more gentle scrub, and only use it thrice a week. Exfoliating is great because it removes excess dirt, oil, makeup, and dead skin cells. I love Aveeno's Skin Brightening Scrub.
STEP 6: A few weeks ago, I made my very first trip to Lush, and let me tell you, my skin was quietly yelling, "THANK YOU". The young man working there was super helpful and listened to every thing that was wrong with my skin. He told me about this magical soap called Fresh Farmacy, and my skin has changed so drastically. My skin is in the best shape it has been in so long, and I owe it all to this bar of soap. I have an uneven skin tone, with lots of redness and this stuff makes it disappear. It's extremely gentle, and my skin is literally squeaky clean afterwards. It contains calamine and chamomile extract to calm and soothe, rose and lavender to tend to dry patches, and tea tree to treat blemishes. It smells very herbal, which I enjoy. Another great thing about this product is that it can be used as a spot treatment for blemishes, and even bug bites! It's amazing, and I don't know how I have lived this long without it.
STEP 7: When I'm out of the shower and my skin is super clean and refreshed, it's in some serious need of moisture...it's parched by this step! Since I am in my mid-late 20's, it's crucial that I use a night cream with anti-aging properties. Prevention is key! I hate products that feel heavy on my face, so I really enjoy this night cream by Neutrogena. It's lighter than most night creams, and it doesn't smell too strong, which is a huge plus!
STEP 8: A deep cleansing face mask can make a huge difference in your skin, even just by using it once a week! It will give you a nice looking glow and make your skin appear much more radiant. It works it's way deep into your pores and removes any left over makeup, dirt and oil that your other products missed. There are many awesome masks out there that I love, but the one I'm currently digging is Catastrophe Cosmetic by Lush. It's loaded with real blueberries that are packed with vitamins that are essential for your skin. I love this mask for it's prevention properties, too!
I hope this post was helpful to you, and that you try out some of the products I mentioned! My skin is so problematic, and I know how frustrating it can be. It's only right to share with you guys the products that are working for my skin. So if you have sensitive, oily and acne-prone skin like me, then give these a shot! Hopefully they work as well for you as they do for me. Best of luck!
