Hi ladies and welcome back to Beauty and the Mama blog. This week we’re talking skin care. I first became passionate about skin care in my early 20s. I started experimenting with makeup and watching every single makeup tutorial on YouTube that I possibly could. With that, I learned a lot about my skin. I didn’t understand why my skin was so dry, patchy, and textured, but I was putting all of this beautiful and expensive makeup on. Finally recognizing that it was not the makeup, just my lack of skin care, I started shifting my passion to skin care.
The purpose of this post is offer skin care tips and share recommendations. My routine changes relatively frequently. I enjoy trying new products, but I do have a couple tried and true products that I will likely never be without. Before I jump in to the current routine I am following and list the products I am using, I want to mention that just because these work for me does not mean they will work for everyone. Everyone has different skin types and needs. My skin tends to be dry, is sensitive, very eczema prone and I wouldn’t say acne prone, but I do get hormonal acne on my cheeks and chin line.
I put a lot of emphasis in my routine on line reduction, hydration and getting rid of dark sun spots (I used to frequent the tanning bed) and I don’t tend to put too much effort in to getting rid of pimples when they show up, I just kind of leave them be and they’re gone in a day or two. If these are things you’re looking for some product inspiration on, read on.
Morning Routine
I will start with morning time: I don’t typically wash my face in the morning. I know that might seem weird, but my skin freaks out when I do. There are some times that I do, but I truly couldn’t even tell you the last time I did. Sometimes, I will use warm water and a wash cloth… but again, that’s not often. I usually just jump right in to my products.
I always start with Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and press this in to my skin. This stuff is EXPENSIVE, but it seems to last quite a while (I only use this in the morning – I’m still above the half way of the bottle and I am two months in to this one). I held off on buying this for so long. Literal years. I tried Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma and tried to convince myself it was just as good (and $100 less). It’s not. I love DE as a brand and I do think the C-Firma would be incredible…. If the CE ferulic didn’t exist lol. I used the DE version for years and when I ran out of it most recently, I made the jump to Skinceuticals and wow – I saw a difference in my skin so quickly. I really should have taken before and after’s, but I didn’t even think to do so. I get melasma when pregnant and most of it is above my lip (if you don’t know what melasma is, it is hormonal skin darkening), looking like a mustache. It is so faded now in the two months I have been using the CE ferulic. I should mention that it smells bad. Kind of like meat? But I was prepared because the DE C-Firma also has an unpleasant smell… Skinceuticals is much stronger though – it doesn’t linger on your face though! I was fully prepared to not repurchase this because I just couldn’t justify the price, but that thought that quickly passed and this is going to be a part of my routine for a very long time. Seriously, just google before and after’s – you’ll see what I’m talking about. It evens out your skin tone so drastically. Here’s the link for it if you’re interested: https://rstyle.me/+MQKNwUhZViGup8Ujg-Pinw
I always wait a few minutes in between applying products because I read a while back that it’s good to let them each soak in. I also read that applying layers and layers of products is pointless because your skin can’t possibly handle all of it – that’s resonated with me. Anyways, while I am waiting, I brush my teeth, make coffee, whatever. Once my skin is a bit drier, I go in with the Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier. This is another pricey one, but in my opinion, worth it. This makes my skin look so plump and young. I noticed the little lines around my mouth have disappeared while using this and my skin feels SO soft at all times. I absolutely credit this product for that. This serum I use both day and night, so I go through it quicker than the CE Ferulic, but this will be a definite repurchase as well. Here’s the link: https://rstyle.me/+-ooEq_UplKs0mCZLp_K6YA
I apply my eye cream while the rest of my face is drying. I feel very indifferent with my eye cream. I do like it, but I don’t feel like they do anything other than offer hydration to the skin around my eyes. I don’t notice them helping lines. I am currently using the CeraVe skin renewing eye cream. It definitely keeps the skin around my eyes from getting dry and it’s easy to apply (squeeze tube instead of a little pot), but I don’t know if it’s a MUST. I used to use Kiehls creamy avocado eye cream, but I ended up feeling like I wasn’t getting amazing benefits from that either. I am on the hunt for a great eye cream that I can recommend!
If you want the link, even just to see which one I am talking about, here it is: https://amzn.to/3LH0sAY
After eye cream, my face is likely dry. I apply my sunscreen (I wear this every single day). I am currently using EltaMD UV Daily and I loveeeee it. It’s tinted and so hydrating. I was using the UV Clear from EltaMD for a long time (it’s a chemical sunscreen), but my skin ended up getting pretty bad eczema from it so I stopped and switched to a physical sunscreen. I am really happy with this one. Sunscreen is a necessity, especially if you are trying to improve the quality of your skin. If you are applying all of these expensive products and not wearing sunscreen, you’re not going to get anywhere. I put this sunscreen on and then I even wear a BB cream with sunscreen on top of this #excessive. Here is the link to the EltaMD I am currently using and loving:https://amzn.to/3LD8URx
Night Routine
That’s it for morning skin care. I do my makeup after all of this, but that’s for another post if you’re interested. At night, I always double cleanse my face. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I feel like a double cleanse is necessary between the makeup, skin care, being outside, etc. So, I do that usually in the shower because I am one of those girls who can’t go to bed without showering lol. The facial cleanser I am using is one that I have used for years (literally since the start of my skin care journey). I have tried others and they’re all fine, but this is easy to get my hands on and works for both myself and my husband. I can’t use anything that foams or else my skin gets too dry and tight. This cleanser definitely gets everything off of my face really efficiently. This is the CeraVe hydrating facial cleanser – here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3EZNtGE
The first thing I put on my face when I get out of the shower is my Differin retinol gel. I have used this for about a year and it has reduced the texture on my skin so much. I have tried retinol from other brands and I personally don’t think they are strong enough for me, so I really enjoy the Differin. Retinol can be purchased OTC, retinoid has to be prescribed by a provider. I may give retinoid a shot since my yearly skin check is coming up, but I’m not sure – it was really strong on my skin the previous times I took it. If you grab yourself a Differin, I recommend starting out using it 3x a week and then gradually building it up to every night. When I first started using it years ago, it dried out my skin so much, but now I use it every night and it doesn’t dry me out at all. Here’s a link: https://amzn.to/3rz28Wh
While that dries, I do some other part of my nighttime routine or apply my eye cream (same one mentioned before). When my skin isn’t so tacky, I go in with the Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier (also mentioned before) press that in to my skin. One that serum is dry, I go in with either my La Mer cream or my Fresh Black Tea cream. La Mer I have used on and off for years and I think it’s the GOAT, but it’s really expensive. It’s something I will keep buying, but I am also ok trying other products in between. La Mer leaves my skin feeling so soft and moisturized and just… better. I don’t know how they do it, but it’s an incredible product – I recommend even trying a sample of it. I love it so much. I also am liking the Fresh Black Tea advanced age renewal cream. I got a few samples of this with a recent order and I love it. I am going to buy purchase the real thing once I finish my samples. The formula doesn’t feel thick or greasy, but my skin glows with this. It adds such a nice plump back to my skin. I am so glad I got samples of this or I’m not sure I would have even known about it – I don’t see anyone talking about it! Here’s the link to La Mer: https://rstyle.me/+tQ2EAzzG1e7Feoa53XMy8Q and here’s the link to the Fresh: https://rstyle.me/+oM1KAOfi6IX4Q8zpL-dPzA
Lastly, I love all of the lip treatments that are coming out. They look so beautiful on the lips and they definitely do the job. But can I just say…. Aquaphor does it best. I put Aquaphor on all day every day. It’s an addiction,
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope you were able to get something out of it. I am so happy to be back to blogging!
See you next Wednesday ❤
Lauryn
Beauty and the Mama 