Turning 25 makes you stop and think about a lot of things. “What have I really accomplished so far in life?” “If 50 is the new 30, what is 30 now?” – and the big one – “Why am I not taking my skincare more seriously?”
It’s not that I had been ignoring it completely, I never sleep in my makeup and I’m always slathering on moisturizer. It’s just that my regimen has been rather unconventional at best. Having dealt with combination skin since highschool, I tended to flutter back and forth between covering my forehead and chin in acne medications and Proactive masks to fight off that random stubborn break-out, to dousing my skin in heavy cream moisturizers to heal the parched, flaking skin caused by my own face products. Pregnancy changed this vicious cycle a little, not only as I gave up Salicylic acid, but also as keeping my eyes open past 8:30pm, or fighting morning sickness for a lengthy morning routine caused me to drop down to the bare minimum. Caring for a newborn left me with even less time or interest in lengthy routines. One night I found myself applying an SPF Day Cream to my exhausted skin before going to bed, I decided it was time to be an adult and take responsibility for my skin.
After reading endless numbers of product reviews and researching all my options – this is what I have come up with. A gentle, steady combination of products that won’t irritate my skin with harsh chemicals and will still take care of my combination skin.
A.M.I’ve stopped washing my face in the mornings. A few years ago the thought would have totally disgusted me, but I’ve discovered that my skin didn’t need it, and seems to stay better balanced without washing.
Vitamin E Wipe – I do however use a vitamin E wipe. I buy these at the Dollar Tree for $1. They are very mild and don’t sting my eyes the way some wipes do.
Anew Vitale Day Lotion with SPF 25 – Lightweight, oil-free, and claims to diminish pores (my biggest complaint about my skin). This lotion absorbs wonderfully and I love the smell.
P.M.
Cold Cream – I use the Avon brand, but I’ve used several different brands and they all seem to be about the same to me. I’m not exactly sure how effective cold cream is in cleansing, but to me it is by far the most relaxing part of my routine, and it does remove all of my eye makeup (I don’t wear waterproof).
Anew Reversalist Foaming Cream Cleanser – This cleanser is unlike any I have ever used before. It only takes a very tiny amount, and it creates the richest, most luxurious foam I’ve ever experienced.
Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner – I love that this toner is alcohol free, so it won’t dry out my skin, but it still removes any final traces of makeup and helps keep my pores clear. (I’m currently using the Target brand of this product, and I love it just as well!)
Anew Vitale Night Cream – This is the sister to the day cream that I use, and I love it just as well.
Weekly
I used to be a little over zealous with my Clarisonic (I use the Ulta Brand), which would irritate my skin, causing me to have to quit using it for a time, and then starting the process all over again. I now use my Clarisonic only once a week, on Wednesday evenings, and it seems to be the perfect balance for my skin.
So far I love the way everything is working together! I feel like my skin is clearer and healthier than maybe ever before.
I use a lot of Avon products – I sell Avon so I get a hefty discount on mine. However, I do love their products and highly recommend them! If you are local and would like to give it a try, Contact Me and I’ll give you 10% off any of the products I’ve mentioned in this article.
Emerald Earrings 