MY SKINCARE ROUTINE

Whew, this year is flying by already. I, for one, am totally unprepared and so far behind on everything. I certainly wasn’t expecting the chaotically busy quarter that I’ve been having. But just wait till Wednesday (finger’s crossed nothing comes up, knock on wood) for that story! The best way I can manage the high stress and all the consequences that comes with is through a healthy skin care routine. Literally nothing feels better or more relaxing than washing my face at the end of the day. It’s like an instant moment of peace bracketed by total discord.

The AM. This is when I’m the most mild on my skin. Any excessive treatments, wether for drying or for moisturizing, will make my skin oily under makeup. Always. So, I KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). I start by washing my face with a mild acne wash, I like Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash then follow up immediately with two different Clean & Clear acne creams. One, Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, with salicylic acid and the second, Persa-Gel, with benzoyl peroxide. I’ve found this combination is the next best thing to prescription. Next, I dab a little moisturizer (currently using Mary Kay Time-Wise Age Fighting Moisturizer, for oily skin – it’s perfectly light and feels so good) on any dry spots and tap on an under eye cream, now I’m using 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream. And that’s it.

The PM. This routine is the longest and has lots of room for variation. I usually decide if I want to tend toward drying or moisturizing in the morning while I’m putting on my make up. First, I always start by removing my makeup and pre-washing with a towelette. This saves my washcloths from damage and means my PCA BPO 5% Cleanser actually gets into my pores and cleans the residue and build up instead of the easy to remove top layer. After that, I use my same Clean & Clear acne treatment combo or a Retinol based prescription, depending on the level of oiliness I’m seeing. I’m not sure what a night serum does, but I love the way Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate feels on my skin, so that goes next. It’s technically supposed to help with wrinkles, and with as many funny faces I make, I could probably use the early start. 😉 Then I use a little night time moisturizer, I like Lancôme Bienfait Multi-Vital Night, to hit any dry spots. Follow that up with Mario Badescu Drying Cream for any large areas of oiliness and Mario Badescu Drying Lotion on specific blemishes. Depending on the status of my hands and feet, I love to use this Burt’s Bees Tips ‘n’ Toes kit in the evening as I catch up with a book or a favorite tv show.

What are my trouble spots? The corners of my eyes and nose are always dry! I could be having the worst break out of my life and my eyes (and sometimes my eyelids) will be so dry and flaky! The bottom and corners of my nose are the same way. On the opposite end of the spectrum, my forehead, hairline, and right along my ears are always oily. So my routine involves almost all spot treatment, a little drying lotion here, and some moisturizer there. If I’ve got a subtle breakout, sometimes I layer my drying cream over a very, very thin layer of moisturizer to prevent the normal areas from becoming over dried. Life is so complicated.

When do I not follow this routine? Well, whenever I’m running late. Or get home late. My skin care is very important, but life’s about prioritizing right? Sleep does wonders for your skin, for your overall health. So if I get back late, I will always wash my make up off. Always. But missing a night or two of extras will not make a significant change – plus I’ve come to relish these days because they give my skin a chance to decided how it really feels, and I can adjust my treatment accordingly. For example, if I miss a day and breakout, I know my skin is in an oily phase. If it seems too dry in the morning, I know I should focus on moisturizing.

The bottom line? I listen to my skin. It’s finicky, but it responds reasonably quickly. The daily treatments manage the overall trend (oily), but my whole system is mild enough that I can alter it on a daily basis to manage the small changes – a little extra oily or a little dry.

How do you manage the small variations in your skin’s health? Are you an always-washer, or a leftover make up kinda girl?

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