Last month, I went up to Jersey to celebrate pre-Halloweekend and my friend Erin’s birthday. I laughed so hard about everything and nothing with some of my best friends from college and it was an awesome time.
I think that of the best parts of a girls night is being snuggled in a blanket and coze clothes the next morning, once things are calm, and just chatting. My friend Jenn was telling me she had some skincare concerns but didn’t know where to start. I am always happy to help with recommendations. I talk about the products I love, a lot, but I wanted to break down why I use them. Honestly, I used about every product I have last night at one time after a weekend of partying, and my skin is so happy and soft! I don’t always use everything, but this is the order I typically go in:
Grapefruit Facial Scrub
I use scrub to combat skin dullness
I know that some people don’t love exfoliating scrubs because they think it irritates the skin, but I use this scrub every time I’m in the shower and the only time I’ve experienced irritation is when I absentmindedly scrubbed my eyeballs last Halloween. Don’t to that.
Holika Holika Lazy and Easy Gudetama All Kill Cleanser Oil to Foam
I use a gentle cleanser to, well, cleanse
I used to be a total face wipe junkie. I still have a pack in my desk to use before I hit the gym and in my toiletry bag for when I’m on the go, but they don’t do a great job of actually cleansing your skin. They’re also extremely wasteful and I’m trying to be more mindful about my consumption. This particular cleanser has a really nice, mild scent and is super gentle on my combination skin. I go for a cleanser and washcloth in the morning (since I usually shower and scrub at night). Just make sure to change out your washcloths early and often.
Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner with Aloe Vera Formula
I use to toner to combat breakouts and to minimize pores.
My skin is generally pretty decent, but I got a facial last spring where the aesthetician recommended using a toner to reduce my poor size. Fair enough. So I bough the one she recommended… which was about 3x the price of Thayers and with less results. This is gross but I had a weird few patches of back acne that were painful and irritated. I used Thayer’s witch hazel on them and they all but went away overnight.
Strawberry Seed Face Oil
I used face oil to soothe and moisturize my skin.
I’ll be honest, I much prefer using oils to serums. In this particular oil, there’s only one ingredient, so I know precisely what I’m putting on my face. I also see quicker results, especially if my face is irritated. For example, if I’ve been blowing my nose a lot, my nose gets absolutely raw. One night with an extra drop of oil and my skin is comforted. If you have specific skin concerns, such as aging or discoloration, you may want to use a serum instead, but that’s a personal preference. While I’m currently using and loving the oil above, I have also tried and loved Radha Beauty Rosehip Oil and Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-nourishing Illuminating Argan Oil with a Touch of Gold.
Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Face Moisturizer
I use gel moisturizers for keeping my skin hydrated.
You have no idea how excited I was when this little teal bottle became available for Amazon Subscribe & Save. This has been one of my favorite products for years, but it is, for some reason, hard to find in stores! I prefer a gel moisturizer because they don’t sit as heavily on my skin as a lotion. If you really have an issue using a drugstore brand, the lightweight from Fourth Ray isn’t bad. One day, when I don’t have to fiercely budget, I’ll use Clinique Women’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel as an everyday product. Until then, I LOVE my Clean & Clear.
Lancôme Moisturizing Rose Jelly Overnight Mask
I use an overnight gel mask to re-hydrate after I’ve not been kind to my skin.
On a normal day, I usually wear my Covergirl oil-control BB cream, saving foundation for special occasions. Usually, those special occasions are accompanied by a drink or two, so my skin is dried from the outside and the inside. I use an overnight mask any time I’ve worn foundation. It helps reset my skin to its former softness.
later hater spot treatment
I use spot treatment to combat cystic acne.
My biggest skin issue is cystic acne, which mostly acts up with hormones. I get huge, painful zits on my chin every month that nobody can see (until I pick at them) but ohhh booooy do I feel them! But then I discovered this spot treatment and I swear, they go away, literally, overnight. Just a dab on your problem areas and they’ll shrink by at least half while you sleep. I even had a random zit in my ear that was killing me-this stuff helped. It’s truly a miracle.
Do you have specific skin issues and products to help you fight those issues? I’d love to hear all about it! What’s your all-time favorite skincare product?
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