My Skincare Routine

I have to admit- until recently, I never really valued taking care of my skin.

Over the past year or so, I have fallen in love with all things beauty. Learning how to nourish my skin has become a huge part of my life and my everyday routine. To give some background, I am naturally very fair-skinned, and have been dealing with eczema since I was born. My skin is also combination- my cheeks and chin are always dry and my nose and forehead are a little bit oily. If there's one piece of advice I could give overall, it's to get to know your skin. Talk to professionals, research what the best products are for your skin type, and show it some love! Now, onto the routine!

Morning

1. Wash Face: Every morning when I wake up, I wash my face with plain warm water. That's IT! It may seem odd, but what I've learned is that there's no universal formula when it comes to your skin. I learned that I actually break out less when I just use plain water! I do use face wash, but I just don't prefer to use it more than once a day, which is what helps me prevent breakouts.

2. Moisturize: After washing my face, I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15. It is VERY important to me to use a moisturizer that has sunscreen in it because my skin is so fair and I want to prevent skin cancer. I never go outside without some type of sunscreen on my face, even in the winter.

3. Chapstick: I'm constantly putting on chapstick, but especially in the morning and at night. My favorite is Nivea Mint & Minerals. It smells so fresh & feels amazing.

4. Makeup: If I am going somewhere, I do my everyday makeup routine, which you can read all about HERE! If I happen to be staying home that day, I prefer to go makeup-free. I usually try to go makeup-free or light-makeup at least 2-3 days a week for most of the day.

5. Supplement: I keep the Nature's Bounty Hair Skin & Nail Gummies right on my bathroom countertop so that I'm reminded to take them every morning. This part of my routine has become subconscious at this point, like brushing your teeth, and aside from that, they taste like candy! It is so important to take a supplement like this one to guarantee you are getting enough biotin, vitamin C, and other vitamins/minerals that help keep your skin healthy.

shower

1. Body Wash: Of course, at some point each day I have to shower. The time of day when I shower is usually when I end up doing the most skincare. In the shower, I wash my body with Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash. 

2. Shave: The type of razor I use is also really important to me because shaving is another thing that can cause damage and bumps to your skin. I have been using Gillette Venus ComfortGlide for as long as I can remember, and it's the only razor that doesn't give me razor bumps all over my legs.

3. Exfoliate: This summer my friend introduced me to what is now one of my favorite products EVER. I use the ClariSEA Pomegranate De Bump Salt Body Buff during every single shower and it has helped smooth out my eczema a lot. I use it on the back of my arms, all over my legs, and my butt. It really is a miracle worker.

4. Face Wash: The last thing I do before getting out of the shower is wash my face. I put 2 pumps of Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser into my hands, massage it for around 20 seconds into my cheeks, chin, and forehead, and rinse it off!

post-shower

So I'm that crazy person that uses three different lotions post-shower, but I promise it's for a good cause. As I mentioned, I've had terrible eczema my whole life. Sometimes it's almost gone, and then other times I get terrible flair-ups, especially during the winter or when the seasons change.

1.  Face Lotion: I first apply my Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer all over my face

2. Body Lotion: Then, I use a very generous amount of NIVEA Daily Moisture Lotion on my thighs, everywhere below the knee, and my butt. Lastly, I use L'occitane Shea Butter Body Cream on my arms (especially the back of them), the back of my legs, and my stomach and chest area. It is the most buttery & soft lotion and although it's a little pricey, it's worth every penny. I also will sometimes use Aveeno Eczema Therapy Cream in those same places when I run out of the other one.

3. Chapstick!

before bed

1. Remove Makeup: I used to not be as strict with taking off my makeup before bed, but now I make sure I do it every single night. It can cause breakouts and hinders the aging process. I also feel like it makes my skin very dull the following morning. To remove my makeup, I use the Clinique Take The Day Off Towelettes. I just started using these after only using Almay for years and I find them to be a lot more soothing.

2. Wash Face: Again, I wash my face with just plain old warm water! Sometimes I will use a tiny bit of Cetaphil but I honestly feel better when I just stick with water.

3. Lotion: After washing my face, I put a pretty generous amount of Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer on.

4. Chapstick: I especially love the feeling of putting on chapstick before bed, because when I wake up in the morning, my lips always feel super nourished.

a couple times a week

1. Face Mask or Peel: I try to do either a mask OR a peel (not both) twice a week to clean beyond the surface of my skin. My mom introduced me to Dr. Dennis Gross a little over a year ago and his products are nothing short of amazing. I use his Smooth & Flawless Peel + Moisturize Pads and they literally bring out everything that is hiding under your skin- blackheads, pimples, large pores, etc. I haven't found a specific mask I'm obsessed with yet so I kind of switch it up, but one I really love is the Karuna Hydrating + Face Mask. I decide what I want to use each week depending on what my skin feels like. If it's oily and breaking out, I use the peels. If it's feeling really dry and itchy, I go for a mask.

2. Clarisonic: If I wanted to, I could use my Clarisonic every day, but truth be told, I've had it for 2 years now and have never been able to be that consistent with it. However, I have found that if I just try to use it 2 or 3 times a week either in the morning or at night, it still makes my skin super soft and just feels amazing. I'm all about setting achievable goals, so 2-3X a week is very do-able for me.

3. Eye Cream: Another thing I am kind of crazy about is the underneath of my eyes. Dark circles run in my family and I have always had them. Every product I have ever used under my eyes breaks me out, so I find that when I only use it 2-3X a week I avoid the breakout while keeping my eyes fresh. My mom and I both swear by the Mario Badescu Olive Eye Cream for our dark circles and it is definitely the best I've found so far. In addition, I sometimes swap in the Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate if I'm feeling really puffy or tired.
 

So I know this was a lengthy post, but I wanted to give you every detail of my routine!! It is so important to keep your skin healthy to prevent aging and to feel your best. What's your favorite skincare product? Share with me in the comments below! :)
 

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