Skin | Matters
I was recently asked to share my skin/make up/beauty routine because it's fun and fascinating to see how different women go about their regimen. And I'm more than happy to share! I'm going to start off with my skin routine and will get into the rest later.
Truth be told, I had no skin regimen until very recently. As in, I didn't even start washing my face until last week. I'm hardly exaggerating. I've always had very fair skin and as a teenager I never really broke out. I remember buying a Neutrogena face bar when I was 16 because that's what my best friend used - I maybe washed my face once or twice and then forgot about it. I didn't start playing with foundation until a few years ago as I approached my mid-twenties and started finding the color in my face to be a little bit uneven - but even then, it wasn't a daily thing.
So about 3 weeks ago I told Jeremy "I'm going to start spending a little bit of money on my face... Because I'm getting old." And it's true. As I approach my late-late twenties things are changing. I'm getting wrinkles and I have this red patch right between my eyebrows. After a little bit of research, trial and error and recommendations I've found a routine that works for me. 
1. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil: Like I said... I didn't start washing my face until about a month ago but now I use this almost daily. It feels super oily (yet moisturizing) going on but comes off clean and leaves my face feeling super soft. I love that it takes off all my eye makeup - including waterproof liquid liner and mascara.
2. DHC Mild Lotion: I bought this because I felt funny just buying the Deep Cleansing Oil. I thought it would be a great night lotion but it's really more like a toner. My face is a little dry this winter so I use this sparingly - but I think it will be great in the summer.
3. Oil of Olay Age Defying 15 SPF lotion: I use this on my face every morning.
4. Bare Minerals Prime Time Foundation Primer: If I decide to wear foundation on any given day I use this foundation primer first. It creates a super smooth palette for foundation and blush to go on. I highly recommend it with the Bare Minerals powder.
5. Bare Minerals Powder: I use the original powder as a concealer or for my entire face - but only if I have somewhere fancy to go. I use Mineral Veil as a nice light powder to decrease any sort of shine. During the winter I'll just wear foundation under my eyes, around my nose and on that red patch between my eyebrows. Otherwise, I leave my face bare.
6. Bare Minerals Concealer Brush - This is what I use to apply the powder as a concealer.
And I'm not going to lie - I also use a variety of techniques in Photoshop to touch up any other unsightly spots.
So that's my basic skin care routine. What's your favorite skin care product or routine? I'll get into my make up routine next!
P.S. I'm going to expand on this and start a new "matters" series. I'm an open book, so let me know if there are any other life/beauty/money/marriage/food/etc. topics or specifics you'd like me to dive into.
GAH, those bangs Kathleen!! You're making me want to cut again.
I have fallen head over heels in love with Philosophy Hope In a Jar facial moisturizer. I actually started an entry about my undying devotion to it now, but of course it remains saved in my new posts, unfinished.
You also know my history of drama with acne and ProActiv remains the only face wash to keep my skin clear.
This is great! I'm also in my late 20s, have fair skin and am beginning to notice fine lines, age spots, etc.
I'm definitely interested in the DHC cleanser; thanks for the tip! I also use an Olay product worth mentioning:
At night, I love Olay's Regenerist Night Recovery Cream, which works as advertised - you really DO wake up with a mini-facelift. Seriously, the stuff is MAGIC. xo.
such a pretty gal, miss kathleen.
i use a chanel precision regiment... it's for young people... something about pre-aging. i'm very happy with it. face wash, toner, moisturizer, eye crea. pretty easy.
YAY!! Thanks!
I use almond oil for all my moisturizing head to toe, but I'm curious...no undereye moisturizer? Society makes me think this is the first place I'll age, so I pay a lot of attention to it.
After make up, can you talk about your eyebrows?
My sister uses the DHC oil cleanser and loves it. I use the skin care line by a local lady: SooLilly. Her stuff is awesome. She is located in the Boutique 10/14 on North May/north of memorial. I love the mineral power foundations. My favorite is the Philosophy brand because of the application method -- puff is on jar and you just tap it on your face.....must less mess than loose powder.
Thanks for sharing your regime!!
My skin has been a mess since I was like 14. Before that I remember being jealous I didn't have pimples because it meant I was not a teenager... oh how the times have changed. My skin is not bad right now but i change my routine so frequently, I couldnt give a list of what works best for me. Thanks for this post, I'm always curious what other poeple use.
I use Cetaphil to wash my face, witch hazel w/lavender essential oil mixed into the bottle to give it that calming effect(for my astringent) and Never have I gone a day without useing eye creme around my eyes, between my eyes and above my upper lip and Oil of Olay to moisturize since i was 16 years old..I am 49 years old and when I tell people my age..they gasp and don't believe me~~ It's always so funny when people tell me they think I am 35 years old. I even grew up in Southern California..On the beach...seems I must be doing something right ;0)
Oh..these products cost just pennies, last forever and just plain work. One more thing...I drink TONS of H20!! Love it all!!
I too just recently started working on skin care/using foundation. It's amazing how much better these things work after you find out what's best for you.
I've been reading such great things about oil cleansers lately. My skin is super sensitive. My forehead always feels oils because of my bangs, but my cheeks are so dry that last time I had a facial they peeled for a week! I finally found a cream cleanser by Noxema that uses triclosan instead of salicylic acid that's worked so much better for me. (Although after googling triclosan I may be switching to something more nature-friendly very soon.)
I really like Boots Botanics moisturizers from Target - very affordable and easy on my hard-to-please skin. Also - Benefit's Benetint lip and cheek stain is phenomenal!
Well I'm 37, next month I'll be 38 and everybody thinks I'm 25, so....I'm lucky I guess ;-)
I use Milk Cleanser from Avene and Nutritic from La Roche-Posay and sometimes I also use Clinique and I like it.
As for the new " matters " series, I have a household/menu planning/shopping lists blog...so I would like to know how you manage your household budget.
Mónica from Portugal
I'm in this really awkward phase I think... I'm 23, and just finished breaking out sometime in the last year or so. I'm still using kind of acne cleansers... I feel I need to figure out something more grown up.
I'm of the pale persuasion as well despite being a Mexican. I have tiny patches of freckles over my cheeks and it has always scared me that they would develop into skin cancer. So, when I was in my late teens, I started using moisturizer, sunblcok whenever, even if for only 5 minutes, I stepped outside. I'm 34 now and I think my paranoia has paid off. I use Neutrogena (SPF 50) as my daily moisturizer, Oil of Olay night cream and drink lots of water to keep my skin hydrate. I've started seeing that faint 11 in between my eyes but, well, I'm 34 so I'm semi-ok with it.
Have you ever heard of jojoba oil? If not, look it up! I just recently started using it on my face and it has already worked wonders. It's not heavy at all, and is supposed to mimmic the 'sebum' your face produces. As for the Bare Minerals primer.. I'm going to have to start using mine :)
Thanks for saying you also use Photoshop to clear up unsightly spots! That statement made me laugh and I admire you for your honesty. :-)
I never had any problems with acne until my 20's so it has taken 8 years for me to find a product that works for me. I use Noxzema Clean Blemish Control for Adults. The facial scrub is quite gentle and it doesn't dry out my face. My facial moisturizer is Clinique's Acne Solutions and my toner is Oil of Olay. I also have to be careful of foundations that don't break me out. I finally found a keeper in Clinique's Acne Solutions foundation that treats my skin as well. I am relieved to finally have a routine that works for me.
Oh! and since I turned 29 this past year, I started using an eye treatment for my under eye circles and prevention of wrinkles. I am loving Aveda's Green Science eye cream.
Judie - It's funny because I've had eye wrinkles since I was in my early twenties. I've played around with eye cream but just never really committed to anything. After reading some of these comments though, I think I may look into some more options. And I will definitely address the eyebrows in my makeup post. Thanks again for sparking the idea for this post!
Margie - I'm jealous of your freckles!
Everyone else - Thank you for your sharing your favorites! I definitely have a few new things I'm excited to try out.
I honestly don't have a regimen beyond the occasional lotion application for dry spots... But I have to say that I'm looking forward to earning laugh/smile lines. I love my husband's. They remind me of how much we have to be happy and grateful for.
i don't wash my face that often either - glad i'm not alone! i do, however, love bare minerals! simply the best! i used to wear it everyday, and now i just wear it when i'm dressing up a little bit. it is just so light + never greasy!
I use DNC products too, and I love them. My face gets SO dry during winter, and the cleansing oil is the only soap that doesn't contribute to it.
I love another Olay product, the Regenerist Daily Mini-peel. I use it in the shower and it makes your face feel great. Odd feeling the first time you use it and feel it heating up, but soon you become addicted to that feeling ❈
p.s. Am home sick with a fever and have just spend the better part of the last two days reading your archives. What a treat! Can't wait to hear about more travel plans.
I'm closing in on 40 and it scares the beejeezus out of me. At 37 I have been using Bare Minerals Powder for a few years and have changed most of my face stuff to all natural / organic / paraben free and such. I'm also very fair but have a lot of redness in my cheeks and across my nose so the BM powder used very lightly evens that out. Love that stuff.
Arriving - I hope you feel better soon! I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. :)
You should check out No More Dirty Looks, both the book and the blog at nomoredirtylooks.com - really interesting stuff about natural skin care and makeup!
I wash with St Ives Green Tea cleanser which I think has really helped my sensitive, acne prone skin. But then I got gifted a clarion mia, which I had never heard of and took me weeks to be brave enough to start using it. I think its made a difference so I am gonna stick with it, fingers crossed.
Do you have any money advice, such as creating a budget. I work at a bank but still when I have to think of financial stuff at home, my brain wants to explode.
Lauren - Thanks for the link! I think I'll spend my day perusing that site.
Alexis & Monica - I will definitely do a money matters post!
I love Bare Minerals! Any other foundation feels like halloween makeup to me. I've just started using jojoba oil on my face at night, and it's fantastic. When I wake up my face is soft but not oily. I'm going to be 30 in less than a week (eeek!)...thinking I should start experimenting with some anti-aging products now!
Side note, my word verification to post is "pness". What??!
Just browsing around your wonderful blog! Thanks for the awesome business cards. Can't wait to read more.
Post a Comment