My Morning Skin Care Routine

Okay, here we are…. I have been asked to share my daily skin care routine and need to preface this by saying YES, I am a bonafide Beauty Junkie!   I love products!  I remember getting my first Clinique 3-Step Regime (which cause me to break out like mad… :  ) but loved the idea of a RITUAL.  And have continued my love for my am/pm rituals ever since. 

I am 48… actually let’s go ahead and bump it up to 49, because that will be coming up in two short months.  Thus, I have some symptoms that show my age and that is A-OKAY.  I am not in love with my wrinkles and hate my pigmentation (to all my young readers….wear your sunscreen, it is important…. Trust me) but overall am lucky to be out of the cystic acne stage that I had in high school.  Mine was limited to my chin area but oh so painful and I have the scars to remind me..  So, for better or worse, I have been treating my skin since I was a teenager and it is just one of my passions that I can’t seem to shake. 

I used to fight my need to try new things all the time.  I know that my skin would look better if I stuck to one routine but curiosity gets the better of me and I just love to test and try new things!  What can I say…. I find it fun! I am always amazed by people who tell me they have been using the same products for 20 years.  WOW!  That is amazing and there is a part of me that wishes I could do that…. But at the ripe ol’ age of 48/49 I have found a regime that I like but will always sub in new cleansers, try the new cutting edge serum and keep current with what is trending in the beauty industry.  I just LOVE it! 

Therefore, I am starting this blog to share the good, the bad, and the ugly with you, so that you can save you face without having to go down the rabbit hole because I am going to do that for YOU!  I have literally tried 1000’s of products, researched the hell out of products, and am happy to share what has worked for me and what might work for YOU.

That being said, I have learned that just like there is no one diet that fits all, there is also no skincare system that works for all.  SO, keep that in mind as we go down this fun path of exploration and beauty heaven highway! 

Okay, let’s go ahead and dive into my current SKINCARE FAV’s and yes, I use a lot of products, so just get over that right now. 

Skin Type

Normal to Dry, Aging, Hyperpigmentation

Skin Tone:  Light to Medium Neutral/Golden Undertones
Main Concerns:  Hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, crow’s feet

I use a mix of clean beauty with a few key high performance products that might not be perfectly CLEAN.  I like to SANDWICH my skincare with Green/Clean Beauty and a few naughty’s as well. I just can’t seem to go completely GREEN and that is where I currently am.. We shall see what comes next.

AM ROUTINE:
 

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Cleanser: Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser-  OMG!. I love this stuff. It smells divine, cleanses the skin gently but thoroughly and just makes me feel good.  I am big into luxe cleansers and this fits the bill!

Our bestselling cleanser washes away impurities to leave skin soft, refreshed, and luminous. A blend of ingredients- including lycopene (from tomatoes) and hydrolyzed wheat protein - make it ideal for cleansing, hydrating, tightening, firming, and complexion control. 

Cheer up more than just your complexion: This antioxidant rich formula exudes a light strawberry aroma, which brightens the skin and the senses without overpowering.
Multi-tasking product: When applied to face and left to sit for 5-10 minutes (before rinsing), this complexion clearer acts as an exfoliating mask. 
Also, removes your makeup in the same step: It gently removes makeup without stripping the skin of necessary nutrients. It’s also a great formula for cleaning makeup brushes! 

ACID- yep, I love me some ACID!  I am a HUGE fan of Caroline Hirons, London-based skin care guru, and she got me onto ACIDS.  They make a huge difference to your skin and my skin tolerates most acids and actually CRAVES them.  What is an ACID… you might ask?  It sounds scary, right?   Now instead of reiterating what I learned from Caroline, I am just going to link you to her amazing site:  http://www.carolinehirons.com/2017/03/cheat-sheet-types-acids.html  You are welcome.  You can spend days researching her site and that is exactly what I did! 

Anyhow, my skin loves a mix of acids and I am currently using Dr. Dennis Gross Daily Peel Pads.  Oh my goodness, I love these.  As Caroline would say, these are like taking your skin to the gym daily.  I love that idea and I love these pads and I am on my third box.  (THIS IS HUGE, you will find that I actually REALLY like something when I repurchase it more than once.)

TONER-

INDIE LEE Co Q 10 Toner
I just started using this and find it to be lovely and perfect after the ACID stage.  
An alcohol free, skin-balancing toner formulated with the powerful antioxidant CoQ-10. The hydrating and refreshing mixture diminishes the appearance of pores and balance the skin's pH level using Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid. 

Helps Remove Excess Oil and Shine Throughout The Day

Alcohol-Free & Non-Drying

Ideal for Normal to Dry Skin Types

SERUM TIME!!
 
If you are over the age of 30, Vitamin C is your best friend, or needs to become your best friend. Vitamin C is crucial for the body and plays an essential function in maintaining healthy, resilient skin. Other variables like exposure to pollutants, UV light and cigarette-smoke compound the decrease of vitamin C, adding to the signs of aging.  Vitamin C stimulates collagen production, the protein that gives the skin its elasticity and structure. Collagen breaks down, as you age and creases start to form. Stabilizing your skin’s amounts of vitamin C can help counteract wrinkle formation by boosting collagen production.  It also helps make your SPF function better.

 I have used many different brands of Vitamin C serums but my current favorite is Sunday Riley’s CEO Rapid Flash Brightening Serum.
C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum, (infused with 15 percent ultra-stable, advanced vitamin C) rapidly brightens the appearance of the skin with immediate radiance, while fighting the look of dark spots and discolorations at the source. Skin looks firmer and plumper, as youthful bounce and an even tone are restored. The gold standard form of vitamin C, THD ascorbate is both highly stable and oil-soluble, helping it to rapidly absorb into the skin for enhanced tone, clarity, and visible brightening. This hydrating antioxidant formula instantly polishes, protects, and illuminates the skin, while phytosterols help to reduce the look of redness and skin sensitivity. Saccharide isomerate extract diminishes the appearance of pores and reinforces the skin’s moisture barrier for a skin-smoothing glow.

MOISTURIZE—okay, this is a step where I often use a face oil instead of an actual moisturizer but right now, I am enjoying Sunday Riley’s CEO Cream and will do a whole other post on ALL my FACE OILS.  I have a handful that I adore and yes… it includes Vintner’s Daughter.    But to keep things simple today, let’s just talk about this freaking AMAZING cream.  OMG!  The smell alone is worth the price of admission.  It smells like tangerines/oranges and the texture is thick and divine.  I seriously would love to bath my whole body in this stuff and am hoping she comes out with a CEO Body Cream!  Although, this cream is thick, it melts into the skin and my skin just drinks it up! I tried this before I tried the serum and completely fell in love with it.  Out of all the things I have talked about today, I would say you must try the cleanser, the peel pads and this moisturizer!  You would be go to go with that simple regime… I myself, LOVE product so have a few more to go….

 

C.E.O. C + E Protect and Repair Moisturizer infuses five percent advanced, oxygen-stable tetrahexydecyl ascorbate (THD ascorbate) into the skin—the gold standard form of vitamin C. THD ascorbate is the newer, clinically-proven, oil-soluble derivative of vitamin C, which penetrates better into the skin while being exceptionally stable against oxygenation. With 5 percent THD ascorbate, this moisturizer is powerful at fighting the first visible signs of aging and restoring vital skin radiance, while being uniquely suitable for those with sensitive skin, as THD ascorbate is significantly less irritating than other forms of vitamin C. Once in the skin, it helps boost youthful-looking skin texture and volume, in addition to providing photostable, antioxidant support. 

Blended with protective, anti-pollution expopolysaccharides and refining lime pearl extract, this formula visibly repairs the effects of aging, environmental stress, and pollution-induced damage. It is rich yet never greasy, providing hydration and antioxidant protection to the skin for a visibly younger, softer, and healthier-looking complexion. 
 

SPF-  okay, this is one of these products I wish I had been more diligent about using when I was younger.  Dare I admit, that I even used to go to tanning beds, in my quest for golden bronze skin.  UGH!  Now, I am paying the piper and have loads of hyperpigmentation and sun spots to prove it.  To all my younger readers, PLEASE, BY ALL MEANS, wear your SUNSCREEN, You will thank me later.

I have to admit that I have not found my HOLY GRAIL SPF.  They tend to upset my skin but due to using acid/retinols on my skin, I MUST wear one daily, even here in Portland, OR.  Currently, I am using FarmacyGreen Screen Daily Environmental Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen with Echinacea GreenEnvy™  

This is a very nice sunscreen that has a slight white cast that dissipates quickly.  I am not in LOVE but definitely don’t hate it either.   It does the job!  

A non-greasy broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen and daily skin shield that guards against the environmental factors associated with skin aging.

Eye Cream-  again, this is an area where I have tried lots of different one’s and have to admit that my favorite so far is the $200.00 La Mer Eye Concentrate that I splurge on when Bluemercury or Sephora have their special 20% off sales.  I just finished up my little pot and am so sad. It is just super moisturizing and my old crinkly eyes LOVE it!  But my wallet does not.  Thus, I am using Tata Harper’s Restorative Eye Cream. Yes, this is still pricy but both the La Mer and the Tata Harper last around 5 + months for me.  This one is nice and soothing to the eye area.  It melts into the skin and soothes out the appearance of wrinkles.  I just don’t find this one as moisturizing as the La Mer but the ingredients are much cleaner!  
This soothing treatment helps minimize the appearance of crow’s feet and reduces the appearance of puffiness, dark shadows, and visible signs of fatigue. This cream delivers and helps retain hydration.

That is my AM Routine and next up I will post my PM ROUTINE!  

Thanks for visiting and please feel free to share any of your favorite skincare products.  I am a total junkie so love to hear from my fellow beauty junkies too.

xoxo,

 

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