A funny thing happened about 2 years ago.
I was laying down in bed, wasting my life away with Snapchat
filters for my own amusement, and to my HORROR I looked at my neck and noticed
that my skin was super wrinkly/had that paper-thin effect that happens as
we age evolve. I immediately screenshot it and sent it
to a friend with a panicked "my neck looks like a vagina"
caption.
I started using a lot of products to try and combat this [if you
happened upon my feature over on Into
The Gloss, you'll see what I started with]. With trying new
things comes the mistake(s) most people make - I tried too many new products
all at once, my skin reacted very badly to it, and then spent months trying to
fix my skin before I was able to see actual results.
It may be too good to be true, but I swear that my current
routine, sticking to less brands, and consistency, has done wonders for me. I
am more confident wearing no makeup to work / on the weekends now than I was
years ago. And, the compliments on those days are how great my skin looks. If
that says anything at all.
I'm going to share my daily routine, but please remember: 1-I am
not a professional, this is just what is currently working for me. 2-I
am coming up on 36 so you may not need to use some of these as often as I do.
3-my skin is oily/dry combination so the winter months coming up are going to
switch some of this up (thicker creams at night). And 4-all in moderation.
These are all products that I have re-stocked at least once, and
have been using for at least 6 months each, some closer to 1-2 years. I have a
few other new ones I'm trying, but it's only been a few weeks, so come back for
those!
THE STARTING LINE-UP (AM)
For me, this all starts in the shower. During an amazing facial at
my Bachelorette, I told my esthetician what daily facial cleanser I
was using, and she mentioned that the ingredients in it were a little
harsh/drying, and the line she was using (Jurlique) had more gentle ingredients, and
was more natural. Between the feeling on my skin, the glow I saw, and the fresh
scents, I was sold. I only bought one product at that time, but I now use
multiple products from this brand because I see the difference. Note, a
lot of these products have gotten a package refresh since I purchased them, so
the bottles may look a little different.
2x a week (typically on Saturday + Wednesday) I use Kate
Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. Right now, I don't
use my Clarisonic (used to every day) because I'm just not seeing the dry skin
I used to without this product. We'll see what happens in the winter
months.
I also use Neutrogena Light Sesame Body Oil all
year round. In the summer, it helped skin from feeling super dry after the
pool, and in the winter it definitely helps prevent itchy + sad looking skin. I
keep this in the shower so after I dry off, I immediately put this on head to
toe. It's also way easier than slathering on thick lotions. Note, it
can be a little greasy for a bit.*
Once I get out and dried off, the first product I apply on my face
for the day is Jurlique Herbal Recovery Signature Serum. It is super
light, and not greasy. During the summer I feel like I have a glow without
anything on top of it, and in the winter when I add coverage, it doesn't clump
or feel dry.
Whether I put on lipstick over it or just want
some hydration, it's all about Glossier Balm Dot Com for
me. I used to always use Vaseline, but it's PETROLEUM people, and you are
eating it. This gives me a similar hydration, but way easier and less sticky to
manage. I have 4 total (Cherry, Mint, Rose, Original) - one on my nightstand,
one at my desk, one in my bag, and one in the bathroom for when I'm getting
ready. I never lose them this way.
After I'm dressed, I like to use Aesop Hand Balm before
I put on my rings. It's my preference because you don't need a lot of it, it
feels like it lasts forever, and it's the only hand cream that I've used that I
don't get a greasy feeling from. Not to mention the heavenly smells.
THE CLOSERS (PM)
Clinique
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% is
what I use pretty much every night. I've been using Retinols for a few years
now (only other brand I used was RoC, they were the first in
this category...), but the consistency of this one is incredible. It's very
liquid-y, which was a bit surprising since all others are pretty thick, but it
felt like it was absorbed immediately and not sticky at all. AND Cruelty Free.
I apply Jurlique Purely Age Defying
Firming Face Oil if I know I'm washing my hair the next day (I
worry about the oils getting on my pillow, then my hair). I also like to give
my skin a day or two off from more intense ingredients to "breathe" a
bit more.
PINCH HITTERS (not as frequent)
I don't do this every day because I can barely get myself ready
for work as is, but on the weekends I will use Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Eye Patches instead
of using eye cream for a bit of brightening.
Hanacure All-in-One
Facial. Ok, if you haven't tried this, I'm recommending this is the
first thing you do after reading everything in this post. And don't get sticker
shock, this is a facial for under $30. Here's what happens.
- You mix up the mask, and paint it on your
face, neck, chest and hands (their directions, not mine). It's very wet
and thin when you first apply. I make sure to get a little bit everywhere,
and then I go back to problem areas - neck, forehead, smile lines - and
apply a thicker coat.
- What happens now is different than any
other mask I've tried. While you fan yourself/sit under a fan, the mask
starts to dry and you feel it tightening on your skin. Over the coarse of
the 30 minutes, it tightens up more and more, pulling your face back like
a lift.
- When you wash it off, your skin feels
like a baby's butt. I thought I was having a reaction the first time since
certain areas became very red, but it's because it's pulling the blood
flow to your face. I do this at nighttime and when I wake up in the
morning, no redness!
- I see instant results, and for the next
24 hours specifically, certain lines on my face, like 3 deeper forehead
wrinkles are. not. there.
- I let my skin fully dry, and then I add
the Jurlique Face Oil to soothe the skin for sleep.
Plus, I love seeing my skin so happy and glowing.
- Right now, I buy the 4-pack and use the
night before a big event, or if I need some pampering. Leading up to my
wedding, I did this every Saturday for 5 weeks, INCLUDING the night
before.
- I really, really, want to show you my
"during" photo, but I am not that brave. Other people are
slightly weird looking. I look like one of the Pig People from The Twilight Zone. And I'm
not being dramatic, I have shown colleagues this photo on my phone (no one
will ever have it) and they have screamed. Loss of skin elasticity is a
real thing for me, ladies.
- CAUTION: With
the above, do this in a private setting. If you laugh it will break the
mask, and if you let someone see you they may run in horror, depending on
your skin.
OTHER TIPS
The reality is, it's not just amount the products themselves. And,
not for nothing, when you end up spending this much on your skincare, you want
to make sure you are applying everything as efficiently as possible. These are
not things I taught myself - between listening to the Fat Mascara podcast,
getting tips from friends, and reading Into The Gloss, I have
logged + applied what some of these experts said immediately.
- It's
not just your face! When I apply serums in the morning, and
products at night, I apply it to my face, neck, chest, ears (those age
too, and we never care for them!!) AND your hands. While I use Aesop
during the day, at night when your skin is drinking this up more than any
other time, I want the good stuff (definitely retinol) on these areas.
- When
you are putting on eye cream, always use your ring finger to gently
dab. This finger uses less pressure than say your pointer finger
and will do less damage to THE thinnest area of skin on your entire body.
- Be gentle
with exfoliators. I only exfoliate 2x a week now, before I
was just using Clarisonic with face wash for a gentle "buffing".
Using exfoliators every day, or products that have hard ingredients, can
actually scratch your skin and cause damage. Yes, I know that it feels
good, but gently rubbing these on as needed will be
better for the long haul.
- Add
Retinols in slowly. Retinols are the real deal and can be
really strong for a lot of people - starting by using it (sensitive
version, too) once a day, every two or so days. And/or just test a small
spot on your arm if you have super sensitive skin. It's also very sensitive
with the sun, so if you do wear it during the day, you
must be careful with SPF. Hence, why I only use it during the night.
- Layer! In
the winter, I do sometimes add a thicker cream over the Retinoid, but I
like to wait a few minutes and also make sure that there aren't any
intense ingredients that will compete/conflict with an active ingredient
like Retinoid. Chriselle Lim uses multiple serums, so mix
to your heart's content. Just start from thinnest to thickest.
- Balm
Dot Com alter-ego. I want to say I heard this tip from Nicole Richie in an
interview years ago. When you are traveling, applying a vaseline-type
product on and slightly in your nostrils protects your nose from
"grabbing" all the germs that are flying around. You know how
your nose gets super dry? When it does, it's more prone to catch these
germs and this acts like a barrier. I have used both the Mint and Rose
versions just last week, and having that smell in your nose versus other
plane things is just an added bonus. If you are shy, do it in the
bathroom, if you have no shame like I started to not have with this, just
do it when you sit down.
What are your favorite products?
xo.
