So, I have a big birthday coming up this week. And by big, I mean a big number, not necessarily a milestone or anything. Yikes. But to be honest, I don’t mind getting older because with the years I’ve gained confidence in myself and a better understanding of what I want from the rest of my life.
However…. I am becoming A LOT more conscious of my skin care and making sure I’m using products that are effective. Having always been a research girl, these are products that I spent a lot of time looking into. Of course, from time to time I try other things but I generally always go back to these tried-and-true.
CLEANSER
A gorgeous woman with beautifal skin recently told me that all she uses to cleanse her face is a Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar ($1 per 90g bar). I was floored because I NEVER considered that for my face but I’ve been trying it and loving it so far!! My face feels clean and not overly dry. Still, my occasional go-to is Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Make-up Remover ($12, 177ml), which I find to be super gentle, leaving my skin smooth and soft. For extra love, I’m enjoying Whish Nourishing Dew Mask ($54, 60ml) that arrived in my first FabFitFun box.
BASE
I’ve recently discovered that my face loves serums. It just drinks them up and I’ve noticed a huge difference in the overall brightness and tone of my skin. These are the first things you put on after washing your face and provide a nice, hydrating base. Your day cream goes on top.
My first love was RESIST C15 Super Booster from Paula’s choice ($49, 20ml). It contains a 15% Vitamin C concentrate with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid, which brightens skin and evens skin tone. I’m currently using Viverskin C+E ($150, 30ml) that also contains Vitamins C and E and was sold to me by my cosmetician after a recent treatment. To be honest, for the price point I’m not noticing a lick of different so I probably won’t buy this again. What I’m really itching to try is the product I found on Amazon that has over 2,500 4+ stars and is only $25 for 60ml!! It’s simply called Vitamin C Serum by All Natural Advice and has 20% Vitamin C as well as Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid. If you try it out before me, let me know how you like it!!
Bonus: Circadia by Dr. Pugliese Hydralox ($28, 15ml) is a serum that “locks-in” moisture and gives skin a nice glow. My sister-in-law swears by this product and her skin soaks it up. I’ve been enjoying the product but the jury’s still out if I’ll continue once I’m done this bottle.
DAY CREAM
I’m a huge fan of the Avène Rich Compensating Cream ($53, 50ml on amazon.ca) and have been using this product for years. It’s light but feels nourishing. Sometimes it might be too light for the winter months but they have an “Extremely Rich” ($35, 50ml) version, if needed.
EYE CREAM
For years now I’ve been using No7 Protect & Perfect Eye Cream ($58, 15ml) and have been pleased with what I see. The cream smoothes fine lines and reduces those pesky bags. The area around my eyes is super-sensitive and I’ve had no issues with this cream. But I recently ran out and saw that the Toullgo Anti-Aging Eyecream ($24, 30ml) gets great reviews. I’ve been using it for about a week now and the dark circles are definitely lighter and the area around my eyes seems smooth. I’ll have to give this one a few more weeks before I make a permanent switch.
NIGHT CREAM
By now you’ve probably heard of Retinol, which is touted as a miracle cream for reducing dark spots, improving skin texture, tightening up pores and smoothing wrinkles. But be forewarned, it can cause reddening and even peeling on some skin types. If you’re going to go this route – which I do – then keep your dosage low and only use it 6/7 nights per week. Once again, my cosmetician sold me on AlumierMD Retinal Resurfacing Serum 0.25 (couldn’t find this online but it’s about $100, 30ml… search for a professional near you!) I like it but I’m still a fan of my old favourite Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night with Retinol ($20, 17ml). For me, the latter does the job.
All that said, I’m starting to wonder if my occasionally dry, red skin is a result of Retinol so I may need to take a break. If you have a night cream you love, please let me know in the comments below!!
SUN PROTECTION
Ladies – now pay attention – an SPF is a MUST. The sun can seriously damage your skin in ways you won’t even notice until you’re a bit older. Brown spots, wrinkles, uneven skin tone…. It’s all sun related. So, protect your skin!! Most people don’t realize this but you’re especially susceptible when you’re driving on the side of your face that is being blasted by the sun through the window. Never leave home without sunscreen on your face. This should be your last step before putting on any makeup.
There are two ways you can go. Either use a foundation that contains sunscreen or buy a sunscreen especially designed for face. As a tinted option, I am absolutely in love with IT Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ ($50, 32ml) For a naked face, I’ve been using Neutrogena UltaSheer Face with a 60 SPF and I find that it doesn’t leave my skin looking slick (yay) and there have been no breakouts (yay-yay).
That’s my skincare overview! As you can probably tell, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with skincare. I have no desire to try any quick-fix altering options like botox. I’ve nothing against it personally, I’m just not looking for a temporary fix and would rather love the skin I’m in with gradual results. That doesn’t mean I haven’t tried other skin treatments. In fact, I’m currently going through Intense Pulsing Light Therapy (IPL). I’m due for my second treatment in about a month and will report back on the results and an explanation on how it differs from other options.
Do you have a skincare product you love and want to share? Please leave a comment below!
xoxo,
Mary
Thanks for sharing!