*This post is not sponsored or affiliated by any of the following brands mentioned. I am not receiving any kind of profit by recommending them.
I admit it. I’m guilty. Guilty of tanning when I was a high schooler and college kid. My only win in that department is that I never went to a tanning bed or a tanning center. I allowed the sun to do it’s thing naturally and proceed to roast my irish skin. As a girl growing up in a beach town on New Jersey, the thing to do in the summer was to go to the beach. And you proved how often you got to go to the beach by how tan you were. It was something you took pride in and worked on all summer long. I realize of course now, with my age and maybe some wisdom I’ve gained, just how bad that is/was for me. My days of grabbing a Banana Boat SPF 4 are long gone. My lowest number is now 30 and I reapply often. After being graced with looking younger then I am, I’ve realized that I won’t always be that lucky. And I need to backtrack on some of my missteps to continue taking care of my skin.
After years of sun damage, lack of sunscreen and using moisturizer minimally, a 180 has been done. Not only did I do that to my skin, but for 15 years, I piled a lot of makeup on my face for dance performances that would then be caked in sweat. Makeup wipes didn’t exist back then. So a good old fashioned scrubbing of soap or Noxema did the trick. Additionally, after growing to love makeup more( More on that later), I’ve realized I have to continue to take care of my face specifically after using various products on it. Thankfully I am also at an age where I have learned what type of skin I have, what works for me and what doesn’t. I’m fortunate enough (knock on wood) to not have been affected by skin cancer. Additionally, I have escaped Acne and many breakouts. Don’t get me wrong, I still have the occasional pimple and plenty of blackheads that arrive on my chin and nose. But overall, I’m pretty lucky.
A trial and error process has had to take place with what I use on my face and how I do it. Do I have a simple “9 Step Process” like David Rose on Schitt’s Creek? Heck no. I don’t have time for that. But I do have certain things that I rotate through during the week to try and give myself a boost in the moisture, mineral and vitamin department.
I will preface this list with admitting that I am not an aesthetician. What works for my skin, may not work for yours. And vice versa. I have dry skin as a whole. But I also work in an environment, (kitchens), that often leave my skin oily by the end of the day. The following products I recommend are ones that I rotate through during the week. Each day might be a cocktail of different ones. But I will tell you, I always include some sort of serum and I always include a moisturizer. Those two are always, always a given. Both are shown to have many beneficial elements no matter what your skin type is.
Let’s Get Started!
Face Cleaners
I was a frequent user of makeup wipes as soon as they came on the market. It made life so much easier. Then when Micellar Water showed up, I scooped that up as well. I still use makeup wipes but I’ve realized that my skin is becoming more sensitive as I get older and most likely, more temperamental with makeup being left on it. Not only was I guilty of the sun damage, but I was also frequently guilty of the biggest cardinal sin when it came to facial skin care: I would go to sleep with my makeup on. Honestly after working long hours, I would be so exhausted, falling into bed frequently happened. But two years ago, I committed to making sure I got my makeup off every night that I went to sleep. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some nights where I pass out on the couch and that’s where I stay. But now I pay a price. My skin will almost definitely start to breakout a day or two later.
So now I give my skin a wipe down with a makeup wipe first or a swipe of Micellar water. Simple Makeup Wipes with Micellar Water work amazingly well. You don’t have to struggle or rub aggressively to get eye makeup off. Additionally, if you get a bottle of Micellar Water (Garnier or Simple are my go to brands), you’ll find the same results. Only difference is that you will need to post likely use a few cotton rounds per cleaning session.
In it’s temperamental skin transition, I’ve noticed that just a makeup wipe, while better then nothing, wasn’t apparently satisfying my skin. I needed to give it an extra little love to make sure all that makeup was off. Additionally, there’s always a chance that when you are tired, you might be wiping and missing spots.
Therefore, I started using a Face Cleanser. Physicians Formula Matcha Face Balm came recommended to me and I started incorporating it. I have to say, it’s a great product. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling dried out like a lot of face washes do. It smells great and smooths all over the skin cleanly and effortlessly. And the formula is so creamy and dreamy. It feels amazing smoothing it all over your skin. Plus it comes with a handy dandy little tool to use.
Face Scrub
Using a face scrub isn’t a part of an everyday process for me. In actuality, this can actually do my harm then good. The idea of a face scrub is to take off dead skin cells that are hanging out around your face and remove extra dirt and oil. Most Skin Experts recommend doing it between 1-3 times a week. For those with sensitive skin, once a week is probably best. Also, I would recommend doing your research to find face scrubs formulated for Sensitive Skin types. These have been two I’ve like recently.
St. Ives Radiant Skin with Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange not only has an amazing aroma, but leaves your skin feeling so smooth, clean and refreshed. I generally try to use it once a week to remove any dead skin cells. Also, a little bit goes a long way so you don’t need to pile a ton on. Just take the dime size amount and rub it all over your face.
Another face scrub that has given me really like results, and also doubles as a face mask is Freeman’s Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Mask and Scrub. This claims it will do a few different things for your skin: Tones, purifies, mattifies and softens. You can leave it on for 5-10 minutes as a mask or you can use it like a face scrub and rinse it off immediately. I have used it both ways and have gotten great results with clean skin that is noticeably softer and brighter skin.
Face Serums
After taking my deep dive into makeup, I realized I needed to start amping up my skin routine. Incorporating a serum into my daily treatment was something that came highly recommended on everything that I read. Most articles, specialists and experts recommended working a serum with hyaluronic acid. Now, if you are like me and hear the word Acid, you probably thought that you do not want that coming anywhere near your skin. But in this case, it works in your favor. Hyaluronic Acid attracts extra moisture in the air and feeds it into your skin. So if you are someone that has dry or very dry skin, hyaluronic acid is going to act in your favor.
I’ve tried a few different brands toting a lot of promises with their amounts of the acid in them. Most of them cost double or more of what I have found to be my favorite. The extremely affordable brand, The Ordinary, has many serums and face products that cost a fraction of the price of most brands they share a store shelf with and provide more bang for their buck. Their Hyaluronic Acid Serum costs $6 before tax and provides a rich, clear, even product that provides a noticeable different after using. This is another case where a little bit goes a long way, but honestly after seeing the results you get from it, you may want to slather your face in it. It gives you a moisturized glow, leaving your skin juicy looking and moisturized that continues well into your day.
Pacifica products are ones that have gotten a lot of attention thanks to their eye catching packaging and range of products from Shampoos to Perfumes to Arm Pit Detoxing Scrubs and more. I gave one of their Vitamin C Serums a try a few months ago and while I enjoyed it, it didn’t wow me like the Sea & C Love Vitamin Serum did. This one is packed with not only Vitamin C but also Marine Extracts as well. It automatically gives your skin a brightness and glow that you may have been missing.
These two combined have become my go to serum cocktail on a daily basis. I will frequently use both in the AM and the PM as well. When I applying, I will actually press it in to my face instead of just slathering it around and letting it sit, especially if I don’t have time.
Other honorable mentions for the Serum category are The Ordinary’s “Buffet”, which features peptides, Elemis’s Superfood Facial Oil which not only smells amazing but makes your skin glow.
Moisturizers
Moisturizers really didn’t mean a whole lot to me as far as ingredients. I’d get one that I heard a lot of good things about and go from there. Obviously it wasn’t doing me much good because my skin still felt dry on a regular basis. A few years ago, one of my coworkers recommended Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar Moisturizer. In a nutshell, you really can’t go wrong with this. After trying several different ones over time, I still come back to it. It’s smooth, doesn’t weigh you down and doesn’t affect your makeup. Another one where a little bit goes a long way, a large jar of it can last me well over a year. The Renewed Hope in a Jar is even better!
Upon trying a few Elemis Superfood Products last year, I fell absolutely in love with their Cica Calm Hydration Juice. Not only do you feel like you are doing something really healthy for your skin from the herbal based aroma, but it leaves your skin looking so vibrant, juicy and full of life. With the consistency of a blend between a serum and a gel, this is not your run of the mill moisturizer. I will be buying this for years to come.
Again, it wasn’t until I started my research that I realized the benefits of a night time cream. Especially with the aging process showing it’s head more and more everyday, I’ve learned this is really where you can effectively treat anti aging and wrinkles but layering on a good night cream. What’s the difference? Night creams are generally thicker and more nutrient dense. None of us are putting on makeup to go to sleep. So it’s able to really do some work while you have your eyes closed. It’s recharging your skin with extra moisture and extra nutrients. I started using Aveeno’s Positively Radiant night cream as consistently as I could. Honestly, I tried the Absolutely Ageless and really did not care for the scent of it. So much so that I handed it off to my Mom to see if she liked it, which she did. This cream is also fantastic in the rare case of sunburn to really give your skin that extra dose of moisture and TLC.
Eye Cream
I used to think Eye Creams were really “extra” and unnecessary. Come on… your eyes don’t need cream. But I like many women, have started to see those fine lines starting to emerge around my eye area. And again, while I have been lucky so far with looking younger then my age, I’d like to keep that train running as long as I can. I will say, this product is pricey. It’s something I actually put off buying for years. I couldn’t bare to spend that much on an eye cream. However, in one of my few “I’m gonna treat myself during a pandemic moments”, I caved and bought it. So far, it’s been worth every single penny. Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream is soooo rich and luxurious. A tiny bit goes such a long way, which helps soften the blow of a high price for a tiny container. I truly believe this will last me over a year and that is with me using it regularly.
Face Masks
To be honest, I used to try and do a sheet mask once a week when I was less busy. Now, between working on the house, at school, and this blog, I actually can’t remember the last time I got to do a sheet mask. But when I did do them, they gave me an excuse to take 20 minutes to relax, unwind and do something nice for my skin. While it’s fun to pick up different ones here and there, my go to often was to buy a pack of them from Amazon and try different ones for different things over time. These from Amazon are ones that I have ordered over and over again.
If you are looking for specific things to target, Yes To Foaming Deep Cleaning with Caffeine or Deep Cleaning with Grapefruit are not only a lot of fun to do and to try, but really do manage to clean deep down and pull dirt out of your pores.
Clay or Mud masks are very popular for those with oily skin. My skin isn’t super oily over all, just mostly on my nose and chin. If you are looking to detox your pores and draw the junk out of them, a charcoal mask is going to be your friend. If you have extra cash to burn, then GlamGlow is a brand renown for their deep pore penetrating masks. They are also the ones to reinvigorate Clay Masks as a real way to deep clean your face and draw out extra oils. If you are looking to spend less, Loreal Pure Clay Charcoal Mask gets the job done just as well and is a perfect dupe for GlamGlow. I paint this on my chin and T Zone when I need to draw out oils and deep clean those high sweat areas. These are potent so no more then once a week is recommended.
Face Devices
Something I was turned on to at both my time with Nordstrom and a famous television network was Clarisonic’s Mia 2 Cleansing Brush. The different heads could be used with face cleaner and clean your face 7x more then normal soap and water. Sadly, Clarisonic went out of business and therefore, the end of their production came to be. I stocked up on heads before it happened. But I love how smooth it leaves my skin and how clean it leaves it. My Mom has also jumped on that bandwagon and has come to love hers as well. Now, many other companies have jumped on board and have created cleansing brushes that promise a deep clean. Tula has made one that I plan on purchasing when all of my clarisonic heads are gone. Theirs has an added benefit of a UV light stand to clean bacteria off of the brush, a feature clarisonic did not have.
Not necessarily a device, but one I have found really helps with puffiness is a jade gua sha stone. I was turned on to gua sha last year and the benefits it has to your lymphatic system. It helps moves toxins and excess fluids out of your body and through your kidneys. Facial gua sha helps do the same. It enhances blood flow, removes excess fluid when your face feels puffy and helps combat puffiness from coming back too soon. Now some will claim that it also well remove cellulite and double chins. While cellulite may be minimized over time, the double chin thing is quite false. It removes fluids, not fats.
I don’t expect anyone to run out and buy all of these products. But maybe you are looking to start taking better care of your skin and aren’t sure where to start. Or you are looking for a replacement to something you have. Like I said before, I’m not a skin expert, I’m a chef. But this is what I have found works for me and what I have had great success with. We only get the body we are in once. Take care of the biggest organ that makes up your body.