Just a heads up, this is a long post, so I hope you guys are ready for reading it! Hope you enjoy and be sure to check out Part 1, where I talk about my Skincare Philosophy and Tips on Having Clearer Skin.
In the mornings, I like to first start off with the the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. This is the first facial oil I've tried, and I have to say that I have noticed a difference in how bright my skin is the more I use it. Then, I go in with the Clinique All About Eyes Serum to depuff my eyes in the morning. Once that is settled, I will go in with an eye cream to moisturize my dry under eye circles. Currently, I am finishing up the StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles and the CVS Age Refine Eye Cream. Both of these eye creams are very moisturizing...but I haven't noticed much change in the fine lines underneath my eyes (which exist after the many years of pulling on the sensitive area to put my contact lenses into my eyes). After that, I go in with the Kiehls Photo-Age Correction High Potency Spot Treatment, focusing on the areas were I have dark sots on my face. Lastly, I go in with the Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture to moisturize my face. Since this has no SPF, I then go in with a moisturizer containing sunscreen.
These three moisturizers are ones that I am currently trying finish before buying another moisturizer with sunscreen. Unfortunately, none of these moisturizers I would recommend to my readers. Out of these three, Avalon Organics Vitaminc C Renewal Moisture Plus Lotion SPF 15 is the thickest in consistency and has the tendency to give me a white cast. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Sun Defense for Face SPF 50 (Review), is the most liquidy but has an awful fragerance. Lastly, Puristics Totally Ageless Daily Anti-Aging SPF 15 has the best consistency, but gives an weird residue on my face when I rub it into my skin. With these three moisturizers, I usually mix it with Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture to make it a lot easier to apply and to prevent a white cast. For a moisturizer with sunscreens that I have used in the past and recommend, check my review of Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen. After all of this dries and sets into my skin, I start applying makeup on my face (if I'm feeling fancy!)
When I'm cleaning my face at the end of the night, I like to first start off with an eye makeup remover to remove any eye makeup I am wearing. I am currently using the Up & Up Waterproof Makeup Remover, which is Target's answer to the cult favorite Neutrogena Makeup Remover. After I remove my eye makeup, I use wash my face using a gentle cleanser to remove the rest of my makeup. I am currently using, Kolarmy Active Cleansing Milk for that task. This cleansing milk is nowhere near as strong as a product I would like to use for this step, wouldn't recommend and waiting for it to run out before I can try something else. In the past, Olay Cleansers have worked very well for me in this step.
Next, I will jump into the shower and use a stronger cleanser with my Olay Cleansing Brush (a drugstore alternative to the uber popular and uber expensive Clarisonic). I am currently using Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash. I like to have a bit of salicylic acid in my cleansing products to help prevent breakouts to occur. This does dry out my skin slightly, so I don't recommend this for dry skin. Once I am finished cleansing, I exfoliate my skin using the St. Ives' Blemish Control Apricot Scrub. I can use this exfoliator every day, but I know with a lot of people this is a bit too harsh for them to use everyday. If that is the case, the Sensitive Skin version of the scrub is where I will direct you too. Once I am finished exfoliating, I go in with a toner. Currently, I am trying to finish up the Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Balancing Toner before I decide to chuck it in the trashcan. This is probably the worse toner I've tried, highly regret making this purchase. It leaves a weird milky film residue on my skin when I use it. Needless to say, just because the product is organic, doesn't make it a good product.
For my body, I use mainly these two products. I use Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash with a loofa to make sure my body is squeaky clean. For the loofa, I try to get an exfoliating one, because I haven't gotten around to finding a body scrub that I like. For my feet, I use Freeman Bare Foot Peppermint and Plum Foot Scrub with Tea Tree Oil. This is probably my third foot scrub from the, and I have to say that this works like charm (and my feet go through a lot of damage)!
Once I finished washing my face, I go into my night time routine which contains the majority of products I am using in the day. Unlike my daytime routine where I am usually very consistent on using all of the products, I am usually more lax about my nighttime routine. When I feel like going through all the steps, I start off with the the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. Then, I will go in with an eye cream to moisturize my dry under eye circles with StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles or CVS Age Refine Eye Cream. After that, I go in with the Kiehl's Photo-Age Correction High Potency Spot Treatment, focusing on the areas were I have dark sots on my face. I haven't used enough of the spot treatment to form an opinion on it, but I will definitely let you guys know what I think about it! Lastly, I go in with the Elizabeth Arden Good Night Cream to moisturize my face. On days when I don't feel like going through all the steps, I usually stick to just eye and night creams and go to sleep!
At least once a week, I exfoliate my lips using Lush Mint Juleps Lip Scrub or Santa's Lip Scrub. By doing so, I am able to ensure my lips will be perfect to put matte or bright lipstick on. After exfoliating my lips, I go in with Maybelline Baby Lips in Peppermint to moisturize my lips. Absolutely adore these products here, definitely recommend you try if you haven't already.
For acne spot prevention and treatment, there are a couple of things I have in my arsenal. I use Noxzema Ultimate Clear Anti-Blemish Pads twice a day, usually once in the morning and once at night. I have gone through countless of these pads, and now I consider it to be an essential in my collection! For spot treatment during the day, I usually stick to either Kate Somerville Eradikate Acne Treatment or Clearasil Daily Clear Tinted Acne Treatment Cream. Both of these contain sulfur, which is not as strong as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, but they are still very effective. When I am using these multiple times a day, I notice a difference in diminishing my acne by day three, if not earlier. Between the two spot treatments, I recommend the Kate Somerville Eradikate, it has a tendency to work a lot faster than the Clearasil one. Only downside is that you have to use a Q-tip to grab the product out of the Kate Somerville (and the price is more hefty). At night, I would use the Clearasil Daily Clear Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream. This product has benzoyl peroxide, and is a bit harsh on the skin... but nevertheless every effective. It has a tendency to dry out my skin, so I honestly don't gravitate towards using it. In the past, Clinique Acne Solutions Gel has been very effective on my skin... I've been meaning to go repurchase it but as you can see, I still have a lot of product to finish before doing so!
About once a week, I try to use a mask to ensure that my skin isn't being clogged up with products that I may have missed. I alternate between Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Facial Clay Mask (which focuses on cleaning out my pores) and Lush Cupcake Mask (which is great for whenever I am breaking out). If you aren't oily skin, I would not recommend Cupcake mask, because this will strip the oils away from your face, causing your skin to be drier. Otherwise, I highly recommend both of these masks!
Once in awhile, I will opt to use a paper mask. These are very popular in Asia...and rightly so! The Young Skin Cucumber Mask is very hydrating, perfect for the days when my skin is feeling dry. I stock up on these when I am in Canada, the Asian markets over there have so many goodies that we don't have over here! About once or twice a month I go in with Biore Pore Strips to further ensure that my pores are clean. Usually the Freeman mask does a really good job at cleaning out my pores, which is the reason why I don't use this as often!
Last, but not least, for any scars on my body I use the ScarZone Scar Diminishing Cream. This product I have used for years, highly recommend it! It's the only thing I use to clear up my scars, and it has worked wonders!
Long post right? So, just for a recap, the products I recommend are as follows:
Elizabeth Arden Good Night Cream, Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture Cream, Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Facial Mask, Freeman Peppermint and Plum Foot Scrub with Tea Tree Oil, Kate Somerville Eradikate Acne Treatment, Lush Cupcake Mask, Lush Lip Scrubs, Maybelline Baby Lips, Noxema Ultimate Clear Acne Pads, ScarZone Scar Diminish Cream, and Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil.
What products do you guys use in your skincare routine? Do you guys have any products you would like to recommend? Let me know in the comment section below!
Be sure to check out my giveaway here (open internationally)!
