I'm serious about skin care. Okay, so that sounds like the language of a PSA about forest fires, but I do spend a lot of time any money investing in my skin. I really believe that taking care of my skin at 21 will set me up for a more graceful 41, 51 and 61. For me, the point of thorough skin care isn't so you don't have to wear makeup--it's essential body maintenance.
I take a pretty scientific approach to buying skin products. I try to avoid brands that over-perfume their products. I'm not sensitive to fragrance or dyes, I just think they are
non-essential to skin care. As for packaging--I try to save my love for product design for makeup packaging. Skin care above all things should
work for you. Save the frills for your compact.
DISCLAIMER: I work really hard to keep my skin in good condition. I am, however, blessed with a "normal" skin type. I am neither dry nor oily (except in slight variations throughout the year--nothing extreme enough to sway me from the middle). That being said, nobody I know with normal skin has "perfect" skin. Breakouts, dullness, unevenness are all skin issues I use products to prevent and treat.
So here are the products I use in the daytime:
And here is the breakdown:
CLEANSER
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel ($33 / 8.4 fl oz)
get it @ bluemercury
It took me a long time to find this product. Actually, I tried a sample of the Alchimie Excimer Purifying Facial Cleanser last night and promptly dumped the rest of the rather generous sample because I was so revolted by something else cleansing my face. This cleanser is HG worthy for me. I use it in conjunction with my Dermalogica Face Brush (a toothbrush for your face). It foams from a clear gel base and thoroughly cleans your skin without over drying. Dermalogica as a brand simplifies its products down to the bare bones. No frilly or pretty packaging. The products work and speak for themselves.
TONER
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Toner ($16 / 8.4 fl oz)
get it @ bloomingdale's
Exposure to the elements AND cleansing your skin changes its natural pH. Toners remove excess dirt and grime you may have missed cleansing, but more importantly, they restore the natural pH of your skin. This toner does it
without oil, alcohol, silicone, parabens, or fragrance. That sentence alone should catch your attention. THIS STEP IS ESSENTIAL. When you forget to tone your skin, your other products are less effective.
SPOT TREATMENT
Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment ($7 / 0.75 fl oz)
get it @ CVS
I don't break out consistently, I break out periodically (you know what this means). During a breakout, I apply this spot treatment to the entire affected area. The name "spot treatment" is a misleading product name. Applying the product to the entire affected area (instead of "spot treating") decreases risk of re-contaminating existing inflamed acne with surrounding bacteria. This product is a 2% salicylic acid gel. Salicylic acid works by actually going down into your pores and breaking down any debris while also exfoliating at the surface. If salicylic acid does not work for you, this product obviously won't work for you. For me, however, I can put this on a spot before it breaks the surface and it will never "erupt." That's pretty magical if you ask me.
SUNSCREEN
Clarins UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40 ($38 / 1.7 fl oz)
get it @ bloomingdale's
Because I don't use a moisturizer with SPF (reasons and details below), it's essential that I use one during the day. Even though I have never burned in a day in my life, UV exposure cause wrinkles, discoloration and skin cancer (duh). So use a sun screen. This step is non negotiable.
MOISTURIZER
LUSH Imperialis Moisturizer ($24 / 1.5 fl oz)
get it @ LUSH
I use a moisturizer without SPF (even though there are great products w/ SPF on the market) for a few reasons. Firstly, it's not as effective as just using a single purpose sun screen + moisturizer. Secondly, I have a tendency to slap on whatever moisturizer no matter what time of day it is. This has caused embarrassing flash-back in nighttime photographs due to titanium dioxide found in many moisturizers and foundation. Titanium dioxide shatters light rays (that's how it protects your skin). Unfortunately, it doesn't discriminate between sunlight and flash-light. Hello, Whiteface Tanbody. This SPF free moisturizer has a light lavender, neroli oil, and lily fragrance and is formulated for normal or combination skin. I know I said I try to keep fragrance out of my skin care, but I like this moisturizer, so sorry.
And that's it! I know that was rambly. Nighttime skin care soon :)
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