Skin Care (What I use)

Hello again! I am back and this time I am sharing with you all my personal skin care routine. I am a firm believer in taking care of your skin. This will allow your makeup application to be more flawless. So I am going to share with you some of the products that I use to help improve my canvas.

For starters I have combination skin. I tend to be oily in my "T" zone and "normal" in other areas. I only experience break outs during my monthly visit from mother nature. So here are some of the things that I do and some of the products I use to clean and maintain my skin.

Makeup Remover

The first step in cleansing my skin is taking off any makeup that I have applied. The majority of the time I use Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Cleansing Facial Wipes. But if I have on a full coverage beat I may reach for these two products to help remove the glam.

#1: Clinique "take the day off" balm ($29.00 3.8oz) : This balm breaks down makeup and dirt making it easier to cleanse the face. This balm is suitable for all skin types.

#2: Almay Eye Makeup Remover Pads ($4.49 80 count): I use these when I wear heavy eye makeup. I like these because they do not have a greasy feel to them. They contain aloe, cucumber, and green tea and they are hypoallergenic and fragrance free.

CLEANSING

One of the most important habits that you can pick up is to wash your face daily using a facial cleanser. Soap is a big No No! Regular body soap is too harsh to use on the face. Facial cleansers come in many different forms to cater to your specific skin needs. As you can see here I use three different brands with three different formulas. I use them depending on when I'm washing my face, whether I'm washing off makeup, if I'm experiencing a break out, along with a hand full of there reason.

#1: The first facial cleanser is the Neutragena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub ($5.99 - 4.2 oz). This is not a cleanser that I use daily. I tent to use this cleanser when I am experiencing a breakout or when I feel the need to exfoliate my skin (which is about once or twice per week). This particular cleanser contains salicylic acid which aids in reducing inflammation and redness of the skin. This particular ingredient is very useful to those with oily skin when used in the right concentration.

#2: The second cleanser on my list is the Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Soap ($20- 5oz). This is a cleanser that I have been using as my nightly cleanser. I got this small travel size in a Christmas gift set. It was only $10 bucks so I picked it up and I am loving it. This cleanser is oil free, which is great for a grease ball like me. Although, this cleanser is meant for use with the Clinique Sonic Face Brush, I find that it works fine with the current face cleansing brush that I have.

#3: The final cleanser on my list is the L'Oreal Ideal Clean Foaming Gentle Cleanser ($4.00 - 6.8 oz). I tend to use this particular cleanser in the morning when I wake up or just when I feel the need to cleanse my face whenever I am not wearing makeup. It is very inexpensive and it gives a gentle cleanse. I like this one in particular because it is made for all skin types, it's oil-fee, and it is suitable for those with sensitive eyes and contact wearers, AND you get 6.8 oz for only $4.

Moisturizing

After cleansing your skin it is important to moisturize . Here is a list of moisturizers that I use for different reasons.

#1: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + ($26.00 - 4.2oz). This moisturizer came with the Clinique cleanser mentioned above. It's a great light weight moisturizer. It is for dry to combination skin types and it's fragrance free. I use this daily.

#2: Andalou 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream ($24.99 1.7oz). This particular moisturizer contains Alpine Rose Stem Cells, pomegranate, aloe vera,and hyaluronic acid which helps to tighten, tone, soothe, and revive the skin's hydro lipid barrier.

#3: No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advance Eye Cream ($19.79 - 0.5oz). I believe that you should always include some kind of eye cream in your regimen. Especially if you suffer from puffy under eyes or dark circles. This eye cream addresses those issues and it is hypoallergenic which is great for sensitive skin. I use this in the morning and at night after cleaning my skin.

#4: Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer ($4.99 - 4oz). I tend to use this moisturizer when I am experiencing breakouts. This particular moisturizer contains salicylic acid and it is oil free.

#5: No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Day & Night Cream (Day: $15.74 -1.6oz, Night: $22.49 -1.6oz). These moisturizers aid in preventing fine lines and wrinkles (I'm only 23, but never too young to start moisturizing lol). The day cream has an SPF of 15 in it to protect the skin throughout the day. The night cream contains shea butter and ginkgo blob leaf which helps firm skin and restore moisture to the skin that was lost throughout the day.

Bonus Step: This is a face mist that I use to help hydrate and tone my face. I got this on sale at my local Marshal's for only $6. It retails for $32. However, you don't need to break the bank for a toner. Witch Hazel is a natural toner that will only run you a couple of bucks. With that being said I love this spray and they have a rose hibiscus one that I plan on purchasing when I want to splurge on more beauty products.

Preventative Care

By "preventative care" I am referring to ways that I try to keep my skin from breaking our or acting up in any way. This includes:

1: sanitizing my makeup/vanity

2: cleansing my makeup brushes

3: Make sure hands are clean at all times!

#1: I use 91% Proof Alcohol to sanitize a lot of things in and on my vanity. I keep it in a small spray bottle on my vanity. I use it to sanitize powders, eyeshadows, lips sticks, tweezers,surfaces, EVERYTHING! It helps keep all the germs away.

#2: Cleaning your makeup brushes is a MUST. If you do not clean them you are bound to have breakouts due to bacteria lurking in the bristles. I use Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap in Lavender ($10.79- 16oz Bottle/ $4.69 Bar). I recommend that everyone purchase this soap. It is one of the more organic and "clean" soaps void of chemicals on the market and they come in a number of different scents. I try to wash my brushes once a week. In between washing my brushes I cleanse them with 91% alchohol on a paper towel between each use. I wash my makeup sponges after EVERY use. This is because after you use a sponge it is a breathing grown for bacteria. So please make sure you are sanitizing your brushes before you place them on your delicate face.

#3: Like your mom always says, "you better wash you hands". This step might be the most important one of all. Before you touch your face to apply makeup, take off makeup, cleanse, moisturize you should wash your hands. You do not want to transfer any bacteria from your hands to your face. Anti-bacterial soap works best.

I know that was a lot to read but I wanted to make sure that I included all the information needed. I hope this helps some of you . Let me know what your skin care routine is. What are some of your favorite products?

Thanks for reading and as always stay beautiful inside and out.

Maura Marie