beauty/

“Current Beauty Routine”

One of the questions I do get asked the most is what my beauty routine is. In the last few years it really hasn’t changed but the biggest suggestion I can share is to make sure you are consistent with your beauty routine. Here are the products I currently use, the steps and benefits.

My skin concerns: inner eye wrinkles, dry patches, dark spots, oily and blackheads on the nose.

Step 01) The Cleansers

Mario Badescu “Acne Facial Cleanser” - I am most prone to getting acne during stressful times of my life which isn’t often. Because I have an oily face this cleanser does not dry my face out. I use this twice a day, morning and night. If you are more on the dry side maybe use this once a day or every other day and rotate with another cleanser. Makeup remover cleanser favorite: Tatcha “Camellia Oil 2-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser” it’s nice and gentle. It removes the toughest eye makeup and is great for double cleansing.

Step 02) The Exfoliator

Paula’s Choice "Skin Perfecting Liquid Exfoliant” is one of my newest additions to my skin routine and has been doing wonders for my skin. Especially with me having blackheads on the tip of my nose. I use this with a cotton round to really get the exfoliation in. If you have dry and sensitive skin I wouldn’t recommend you using it twice a day as I do. Maybe once a day or every other day. Honorable mentioned: Mario Badescu “Botanical Exfoliating Scrub” if you’re the type who needs it in a cleanser form and likes to feel the little granular textures then I suggest this. The smell is refreshing as well.

Step 03) The Toner

Laniege “Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Revitalizing Toner" is one of the newest toners I’ve been using. Prior to this I was using the Son & Park “Beauty Water” which I still recommend. But due to lack of immediate availability I had to pick something else. Korean and Japanese beauty items tend to work on my skin the best so I tried out this toner. Remember toners are great additives to assist your next few steps. This toner is moisturizing and gives you a refreshed feeling.

Step 04) The Oils

I have two types of oils that I use depending on the texture of my skin. If my skin is having dry and patchy days I reach for my Drunk Elephant “Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil” This oil changes the texture of my skin immediately. But wait, didn’t I say that one of my skin concerns is oil? You’re right. Don’t be afraid to battle oily skin with oils. It’s weird but it cancels each other out. On days when I feel like my skin doesn’t really need an oil but likes a nice glow I turn to the Merit Beauty “Great Skin Instant Glow Serum” but I apply this one after a serum versus the Drunk Elephant before the serum. Missing: when my skin is really going through it where I have multiple pimples and/or darkspots I will use the Kiehls “Midnight Recovery Elixir” at night along with my Drunk Elephant oil.

Step 05) The Serums

Serums is probably one of my favorite beauty items. Its concentrated and it really does a full 180 on my skin. The one serum I’ve been gravitating to the most is the Summer Fridays “CC Me Vitamin C + Niacinamide Serum” It helps keep my pores tight and texture nice and smooth. Helping me get closer to that glass skin. Honorable mentioned: If you are prone to getting dark spots like I do (I mean after a pimple it immediately turns dark) the Tatcha "Violet-C Brightening Serum" works for me as well. However it does leave me a little dry so make sure you moisturize very well after this one.

Step 06) The Moisturizer

Tatcha’s “The Water Cream Oil-Free Pore Minimizing" has been a favorite of mine for a while. I love the lightness and how it really keeps my face moisturized. My face does better with this type of cream than a gel based version which feels sticky. I also use left overs (when I scoop up too much at one time) on my hands as well.

Step 07) The SPF

Tatcha’s “Pore Perfecting SPF” has been a favorite of mine for years. If you’re not applying SPF then the rest of your beauty routine has gone in to the trash. It comes out white but the white cast turns translucent when applied. This is also another contributor to keeping my pores tight. The downside is that I am unsure if this is something Tatcha still makes. I had purchased their newer version and will update this in the future.