My Skin Care Routine

 

Today I am going to share my skin care routine with you all.  I am no expert on skin care but in my early thirties and until a few years ago, I struggled significantly with acne.  I tried many things and saw a dermatologist but had little relief from it.  My face has been left battered and scarred but I finally have a skin care routine that's working for my current age, soon to be 40, and is doable on a moderate budget.  Lets dive in!

MORNING ROUTINE:  

1.  Wash with water.

2.  Earth Harbor Biome Brightening Oil $47.99 CAN

I am on my third bottle of this stuff and I LOVE it!  I've tried many "brightening" products and this is my favorite so far.  It actually has decreased some of the dark spots and scars from over the years.  I could not rave about this product enough and reviews would agree with me.  

3.  Moisturizer:  Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Day $52.99 CAN

Anti-aging moisturizer.  Perfect all year round, even through our very dry winters.

4.  Sunscreen:  Vichy 60+ SPF $29.99 CAN

This is what I use all summer long when I am out on the boat or at the beach for long periods of time.  It's thick but it's anti-shine and it doesn't ever make me break out! 

NIGHT TIME ROUTINE:

1. Vichy Milk 3 in 1 Cleaners  $20.95 CAN

I love this stuff!  It's gentle and moisturizes my face, but the BEST part is that I can actually get my eye make up off without hurting my very sensitive eyes or having a reaction.  I've been using this cleanser, and tried to switch to a different one, for a few years and this just works perfectly when paired with my magic make-up eraser.

2.  Oils:  Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane $8 or Overnight Resurfacing Peel $94

I alternate each evening between the two products on my face and neck.  Both are amazing and I love them equally.  Ordinary retionol, excellent to fight signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines, and although its a pure retinol but I've never had a reaction to it and it soaks in very quickly.  The Beauty Counter overnight resurfacing peel feels AMAZING on my skin and when I wake up the next morning.  So although it's $$$ it's 100% worth it to me and my skin.  It makes my skin glow all winter long!  

3.  Moisturizer:  Vichy ActivLift Supreme Night $52 CAN

I end the day with this wonderful moisturizer that not only give my skin a dose of hydration at the end of the day but also seems to help keep my skin firm and more youthful.

SOMETIMES PRODUCTS:

1. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate  $36 CAN

This is a life changing product.  I got it two years ago in a FabFunFit box and have purchased it over and over since then.  I use it twice a week and after two minutes my skin literally feels like it has had a facial that costs $100.  Love this product.  It's $$$ but lasts forever and usually I just buy the mini because it lasts so long. 

2.  Beauty Counter Charcoal Mask $70 CAD

This is a once a week product that I use or I spot treat pimples with it as they pop up.  It's a clay mask that purifies and balances, absorbing excess oil and drawing out impurities.  It leaves my skin feeling completely cleansed and ready for the week ahead.  My teen also uses this to help with teen acne.  

That's my daily skin care routine.  Tell me what I am missing or need to think about?  Tell me about your favorite products!  I am always looking for a good deal.  

Skin Care with Beauty Counter: What I Can't Live Without

I was so excited when you friend Jana approached me about testing out a few Beauty Counter products and give an honest review of them.  I've been tempted to jump into the brand because they are super consciousness about the ingredients they use in their products, their mission being to educate and move people towards clean beauty products without giving up the quality.  Another reason that I was tempted to purchase was that I truly do want to support women in business but I was unsure of where to start.   I am not going to lie, their products are much more than I normally spend on skin care so I was really hesitant to just randomly buy.  That's where Jana came in and offered some products to test  based on my top skin concerns, acne, age fighting, and uneven skin tone/scarring.  She gave me a couple different samples to try and I am here to tell you that I love them all!!!!  You guys, I urge you to speak to Jana about your exact concerns and she will guide you towards the right products so that whatever you buy it's going to make a difference for your needs!

Okay, here are some of the products I test drove and what my thoughts are on them.  I am going to slowly switch out my current products but there was one that I just couldn't imagine waking up without!

You can reach out to Jana's Beauty Counter business here or on IG.

Charcoal Mask

I was already doing a mask once a week but I honestly didn't know how to select the right product for my skin, I  just tried random ones here and there.  Well I learned that this charcoal mask is designed to deep clean my pores, avoid congestion and keep my skin free of acne.  And since using it once a week over the past 3 weeks, I've only have one stubborn zit surface!!!!  When it did, Jana told me just to use it as a spot treatment and the next morning the swelling was GONE!!!!  I couldn't believe it.  Yes it seems pricey at  $65 but you'll get at least 20+ treatments which ends up costing you approximately $3/use, and I am actually almost certain you'll get more treatments than that based on how many times I used my sample pack.  This is definitely going to be ordered as soon as I use my other masks up.  

Overnight Resurfacing Peel

I CAN'T live without this product.  Seriously my skin feels amazing in the morning.  I've been using it every second evening, after I cleans and tone, and before my  moisturizer.  I go to bed and in the morning my skin feel sooooooo smooth, plump, glowing and amazingly healthy.  I didn't even know my skin could feel like that honestly.  I have nothing left in my little sample bottle and I am devastated that I am going to have to wait until in arrives to feel my skin like this again.  I also absolutely love the light orange fragrance in this product.  It's so soothing and gentle on my skin. This is going to be my first Beauty Counter purchase.

All Bright C Serum

I didn't get this item to test drive but I had heard so many good things about it, that when a friend approached me to buy her 1/ 4 of her bottle, she was getting a brand new one, I decided to give it a try.  I use it each morning after washing my face but before moisturizing.  It's claim to fame is that "brightens skin and helps reduce the appearance of existing dark spots", both is something I need and deserve in my life.  Although it doesn't have the greatest smell I did notice that a few darker spots did become lighter on my neck within the first week.  I really want to test drive it for the full 8 weeks as their clinically trials said that "94% said it reduced the appearance of dark spots" which is a huge concern for me, so this might be a need pretty quick.

Lipstick and Lip Gloss
I also tried both the lipstick and lip gloss on and although I rarely wear either these days since it's just covered by a mask, I couldn't believe how well their lipstick stayed put and didn't smudge or fade for hours!  Also, I think I am going to up my lip gloss game for the summer months while I am at the lake. Since I'll be spending a lot more time outside, I think lip gloss is the way to go.  Quick reapplication and just some shimmer and shine!

Final though is that I am really hooked on their products which is a little scary because I can't have it all at once, but here is what my game plan is.  I am going to invest in the products that I mentioned, one at a time when what I already have runs out.    They last a LONG time so it's really a good investment and I love the idea that I am getting quality and CLEAN products, while supporting a local, small, women based business.  What are your go- to products?  Are you making your way to more clean and sustainable products?  Give me your honest thoughts.