Hey y’all! I thought this post would have been up sooner but sometimes stuff at home takes priority and things like writing a blog post get pushed to the side- I’m sure you moms out there totally get this. Anyway, let’s get right to it.
Skincare has always been a passion of mine. My mom has THE BEST skin and frequently gets mistaken for my sister. She has always given the best beauty tips and I hope I look just as great as her when I’m in my fifties.
My sister and I didn’t wear a smidge of makeup until college (unless you count the bright lipstick and glittery shadow we had to wear for cheer comps!) and I think that really benefited our skin in the long run. It was also during college when I purchased my first eye cream and that basically was the start of my obsession. Since then I have always researched products for my skin type and made it my goal to feel confident makeup free.
I have dry and sensitive skin. In my 30s and especially after becoming a mom, I noticed that my skin was changing. I noticed more fine lines, dark under eye circles, and dullness with some dryness. My skin was different before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and after so I chose products that fit whatever “season” my skin decided it was going through.
My current routine is 8 steps! And I’m sure you are thinking wow that is too many steps but in all honesty it takes me less than 10 minutes to do and I’m not saying that you need 8 steps too- just find something that works for you.
Here is my current rotation:
Cleanse
If I workout first thing in the AM, I use a cleanser. My go to has been SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser because it is gentle yet effective. My skin is dry and sensitive for the most part and I like that my skin doesn’t feel any dryness or tightness after using this. If I don’t workout first thing in the morning, I simply splash my face with water and pat dry.
Tone
After being on the lookout for a hydrating toner, reading reviews, and watching a million Asian Skincare videos, I decided to give the Hada Labo Hyaluronic Milky Lotion a try. This is an amazing toner. The packaging is in Japanese so I can’t read any of the ingredients but I will tell you that this is a must for my dry skin. The hyaluronic acid in it definitely locks in moisture. I apply it to my face with a cotton ball/round and it removes any dirt and oil that my cleanser or water did not remove and leaves my skin soft and ready for serum.
Serum
Next, is serum and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is worth every penny. A good vitamin C serum can do wonders for anti aging and brightening the skin. I press a few drops of this all over my face and neck every single morning. This is the only product that has diminished any dark spots/hyperpigmentation that I had from acne. Ferulic acid combined with vitamin C and E helps protect your skin from damaging UV rays which can cause skin cancer (and is even more effective when used with a sunscreen) and also improves fine lines and wrinkles which is a total win for me. This product literally does it all. It also helps your skin build collagen and gives it a youthful appearance. I have used this serum for so long and I even though I love to try new products, I will not stop using this one. This is definitely an investment product but I really recommend adding any vitamin C serum into your routine, especially if you struggle with dullness, darkness, and uneven skin tone.
The fourth step for me is SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. This looks like a moisturizer but is actually a treatment. I have been through several jars of this and it is a holy grail for me. I apply this all over my face and neck using my fingers. Lipids are an essential part of out skin and they maintain the skin’s protective barrier and keep dirt out. As we get older our skin’s lipid production starts to decline which can lead to loss of firmness, loss of volume, uneven texture and dryness. I definitely felt all of those things happen to my skin after I had kids and entered my 30s. This product has ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids and these counter the effects of decreased lipid production. After using this for over a year, I noticed that my skin had more volume and my skin looked smoother (not completely poreless but they were definitely minimized).
Eye Cream
As you read earlier, eye cream has been a must for me since college. I wanted to make sure I kept my under eyes looking as youthful as possible. I noticed after I had Olivia, I looked so tired. My dark circles were on another level from lack of sleep, my under eyes were extremely dehydrated and that’s probably from not drinking enough water in combo with breastfeeding. I am most self conscious about my under eyes and I know I needed an eye cream to help brighten and hydrate the area. Out of all my skincare products, eye creams are something I frequently change because there is always something new out there that promises amazing results. Currently, I love Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream as my morning eye cream because it’s light, hydrating, brightening because of the vitamin C, and looks great under concealer. If you feel like your concealer looks dry and cracked, add an eye cream and I promise your concealer will apply and set nicely. Eye cream is definitely a game changer.
Moisturize
Next up is moisturizer and I have been using Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream for extra dry skin for some months. It is so good and very affordable. This stuff sinks right in and my skin loves it. I wouldn’t consider my skin extra dry but for some reason I do like this formula a little more than the original. The hyaluronic acid in this is truly a drink of water for the skin!
Face Oil
This seventh step is not necessary but sometimes I want my skin to be extra hydrated so I always reach for a face oil. My current favorite is Drunk Elephant’s Virgin Marula Oil. I use this on my face, hands, or any place I have dry spots and it instantly sinks in and hydrates. The trick is to use very little, so I only use a couple drops and press it in to my face and neck on its own or mix it with my moisturizer. Whatever product I have left i use on my hands, cuticles, etc. Marula Oil helps hydrate the skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and adds radiance. Sometimes for an added glow, I like to add a single drop of this to my tinted moisturizer or foundation.
Sunscreen
And finally after my moisturizer sinks in, I apply sunscreen. It doesn’t matter if I am leaving the house or not, I apply it every single day. My favorite sunscreen brand is SuperGoop! and my go to is their MatteScreen because it doubles as a primer, minimizes pores, and wears well under makeup. If I use a tinted moisturizer or foundation with sunscreen, I still apply a separate sunscreen first because research has shown that sunscreen in foundations, etc is not as effective at protecting your skin on its own.
This was a long post! If you made it to the end, you are amazing!
Skincare can be quite pricey but I am all for investing in products that actually work. You can spend hundreds of dollars on makeup but it will not look great unless you take care of your skin. With that being said, you don’t have to go out and buy all the products I use but you can start by simply adding an eye cream or a good moisturizer and build from there. Just starting a simple routine of cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and eye cream will help you skin tremendously. I hope this post was helpful and if you need help finding some products that could work for you skin type please send me a message- I LOVE helping and recommending products because I have tried so many.
