Skincare Routine – Updated!

Helloooooooo, friend! My apologies it has been a minute and I even skipped a newsletter. In my last blog post, Life Update, almost a month ago, I filled you in on some homeowner issues! On top of all that, me, Charli, and Dean all got sick with a major sinus infection that was so miserable. Thankfully, it wasn’t covid, we tested twice lol! So we finally got the hot water heater installed, plumbing and a/c fixed, termites are gone, and we started demo’ing in the mater bath already. Needless to say, we cheers’d a few beers in this process … not Charli, just Dean and I :). In all that, my mom was sick as well so I didn’t have a sitter to get any work done. We are finally back on track, which is why you are finally getting this long awaited Skincare Routine – Updated post!

Really quick! I didn’t get to do a detailed Father’s Day blog post with everything going on but I do have a Father’s Day Gift Ideas shop page that Dean and my dad helped with and I will continue adding to it throughout the weekend!  Ok, back to skincare for now!

I have completely changed up my routine through lots of trial and error after having Charli. If you’re interested in my past routine, you can find that blog post here. I still love all of those products but motherhood definitely takes a toll on you lol so I changed some things up. The following routine is what works for me and my skin and I cannot promise it will work for everyone. I have combination skin usually more on the oily side. It used to be VERY oily so, if that’s you, you may prefer my past routine. Or you can always learn something from both and combine what works for you. Per usual, I’m always happy to answer any questions below!

Oh, and none of this is sponsored at all. I make a commission off of only two of the products included in this blog post. Other than that, it is just simply what works for my skin at this current time in my life!

Skincare Routine Cleansers

A cleanser is a cleanser is a cleanser! That’s totally my opinion but we all have our favorites.  To be honest, I always look at ingredients and, if you’ve been around here for a while, you know that! However, a cleaner isn’t going to make or break your skin as much as the products that you put on after cleansing both in the morning and at night. I definitely still have my favorites though so I’ll introduce them here then I will show where I use them below for the morning and night routines.

• Beauty Counter Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil – I use this on makeup days! I’m not a rep for Beauty Counter. This is the only product I use from them but I can attach my reps link here. This cleanser is insanely awesome and the only one to ever get ALL of my makeup off in one wash including mascara (when I wear a full face). It’s an oil so you put it on your hands and massage it into your face. Wet your hand a little then massage again. It will feel a little milky. I usually do this one or two more times and softly massage mascara area as well. Then, take a warm face towel and wipe the makeup away and it just melts off. After the first use, I was sold and continued to purchase this product. I tried some of their other products and liked them but didn’t love them enough to continue with them. It contains rich in vitamin E, fatty acids, and a plant-derived Retinatural™ Complex.
• Image Skincare Ormedic balancing facial cleanser – I use this on no makeup days. It works fine with makeup but not as good as the one above. It’s a gel cleanser with organic aloe vera and botanical extracts containing select certified organic ingredients.  I actually used this entire line when I was pregnant and primarily breastfeeding. It’s refreshing, clean, and smells good!
• Olay Scrubs Pore Perfecting Vitamin C + Dragon Fruit – I was gifted a set of these and this one was my favorite. Smells so good! I use in the bath/shower after using my cleanser to exfoliate and minimize pores.
• Equate Beauty Oil Free Cleansing Towelettes – I use these in the morning to just to freshen up before applying my morning skin care routine! Any brand will work. I just always grab these because they are oil free, smell good, and are a great price for the amount.

Morning Routine (in order)

• Equate Beauty Oil Free Cleansing Towelettes (explained above)
• Alastin Skincare Renewal Retinol .25 – (award winning product) I started using this for breakouts during postpartum for hormonal breakouts and I really loved the results so I continued using it. It does contain retinol. I get the .25 strength. I wasn’t a fan of retinol before this but, after talking to my dermatologist, I was ok with the lower strength. I use it to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smooth skin texture, and to help improve skin tone.
• Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum – (award-winner and bestselling product). I use this to soften the appearance of wrinkles and support skin elasticity. It is so refreshing and smells so good. It contains hyaluronic acid to help lock in hydration and supports the look of plump, bouncy skin. It contains multiple forms of vitamin C to help brighten the skin and fight visible signs of dullness and fatigue. I feel like this is a double whammy for anti-aging and hydration. No parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, and synthetic dyes. But it still smells so good and refreshing!
• Image Skincare Daily Matte Moisturizer SPF 30 – Never forget your sunscreen! So they say, right? To be honest, I’m big on sunscreen but I don’t do this every single day. I work from home so if I’m inside majority of the day, I may not put it on. If I’m going outside for just a few minutes, I acutally don’t put it on because good ole Vitamin D from the sun is good for us! If I end up going out for a while or playing outside with Charli, I will just put it on right before I go outside so the time of this varies but it’s my fav sunscreen. I use the matte one since I have oily skin but they have one for all skin types. I want to try the tinted one soon! And, again, no parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, synthetic dyes, or animal testing.

Night Routine (in order)

• No Makeup Days – Image Skincare Ormedic balancing facial cleanser (explained above)
• Makeup Days – Beauty Counter Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil (explained above)
• Olay Scrubs Pore Perfecting Vitamin C + Dragon Fruit (explained above)
• Q rePAIR Serum – I use this for collagen production! Designed to address signs of aging, sun damage, scars, and stretch marks. You can use it on your body but I just use it on my face. The hydrolyzed Type I and II collagen peptides are medical grade and designed for maximum results. It also promotes healthy supple skin, healthy skin barrier, and healthy cell regeneration support.
• Q reFINE Overnight Gold – An anti-aging overnight treatment designed to help skin repair while you sleep. The hydrolyzed collagen peptides (Exclusive Tetrapeptide Collagen Blend) are medical grade and designed for maximum results. It also contains Gold Colloid, which has been used historically for its firming properties, probiotics to support healthy bacteria that balance the lipid layer of skin, and Plant Stem Cells to encourage a healthy inter-cellular collagen matrix.
• Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil (Face) – This is a great all in one face oil if you’re looking for something easy. Helps moisturize and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Contains retinol and Vitamin C to improve and brighten tone and texture. 10 pure oils. Hypoallergenic and paragon free.

Additional Skincare

On some nights, maybe 2 – 3 nights a week, instead of the Q reFINE Overnight Gold, I will alternate one of these below. Just depends on my skins needs.

• Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Bio-peptide crème –  This repair crème boosts and balances moisture-depleted skin with botanical butters, hyaluronic acid and organic plant oils. It contains select certified organic ingredients and is very refreshing with a soft citrus scent.
• Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Overnight Masque – This is literally the most refreshing product I’ve ever applied to my face! It’s an overnight treatment that soaks into the skin and boosts the appearance of radiance in dull skin. The gel texture drenches the skin with hydration and locks in vital nutrients as you sleep. Then, just wipe your face with a warm rag in the morning. No parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, and synthetic dyes.

Botox

I didn’t go into LOTS detail on wrinkles because, this is the first time I’m ever disclosing this on the blog, social or even publicly, but I get Botox. Now, I say this loosely because I get a VERY small amount! Most people get at least 30 units and that’s being conservative. I get about 15 total, which is VERY minimal. My dermatologist actually laughs at me because I get so little. But it’s the only thing that has “diminished” wrinkles and fine lines for me. Products help age gracefully but botox actually smoothes and diminishes in my personal opinion.

Here’s the thing – if it’s not for you, totally fine. It wasn’t for me till I was 32! I actually don’t recommend it before you really need it because it does weaken the face muscles in the long run. But I got to the age where I needed just a little and I mainly get it to soften the lines and wrinkles in my forehead and in the crows feet area. As an actor, I still need facial movement so my dermatologist and I worked on a routine that worked for me and I love it. I still have lots of facial movement but it gives my face a softer appearance, esp for fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re local, I go to Calypso Dermatology and Dr. Pickens is amazing. Just comment below or message me with any questions! 

If you were looking for skin advice or solutions…

I hope I’ve helped you. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions below and I’m happy to help even more :).  Stay tuned for in the next week or two for a travel blog coming up as well as my review on a few of the most popular self-tanners.

XOXO,

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