Double Cleanse || Always Step #1. Cleanser is essential for removing dirt, makeup & impurities on your skin. The purpose for using a cleanser is to remove all pollutants from your skin and unclog pores. Cleansing varies for everyone based on your skin type. Some people only cleanse once. I personally double cleanse, even if I only wear a little amount of makeup or SPF. Think of it that the first cleanse will remove all the dirt and pollutants on your skin and then the second cleanse will actually provide a deeper clean. I start my routine with a “Pre Cleanse” if I am wearing makeup. IT Cosmetics Cleansing Balm is great at melting your makeup away and to gently remove your makeup – especially eye makeup. It is very gentle on your lashes. I will say that you need to be careful about getting into your eyes. I recommend to apply it down on your lashes and wiping away in the same direction to avoid eye contact. The cleansing balm also contains an anti aging serum so theres an added benefit lol. Then, I go in with a cleanser. Gel or foam cleansers will remove any remaining residue. A gentle exfoliating cleanser provides a deep cleanse. I’ve been loving the Daily Exfoliant by PCA. It is feels so good on your skin – it smooths and polishes your skin. I love it for my normal to dry skin. I use it to avoid dry patches and get all the dead skin cells off. The facial wash by PCA Skin is another great, refreshing cleanser.
Tone || Second step in my skincare routine is using a toner. Toner is used to balance your skin’s pH after using cleanser. Some cleanser could strip your skin of moisture and the toner can help rehydrate and balance the skin. Toner also helps to prep the skin for the products to follow. Currently I am using the nutrient toner by PCA Skin. This specific toner contains vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids to nourish the skin. The toner has AHA’s that help refine pores and remove superficial dead skin cells. This will allow your serums to absorb better and hydrate the new skin under those layers. If your skin is more on the sensitive side, I would recommend using a more gentle toner such as the hydrating toner. This toner is great for all skin types. Provides antioxidant protection and improves moisture retention.
Serums || Okay, lets talk serums!! Might be my favorite step in the whole routine. I tend to layer more than one serum especially at night. In another blog post I will go more in depth about vitamin c & hyaloronic acid. I could go on and on about it. But for now, I will keep it short and discuss what I’m using right now. Serums are used to address different skin concerns you may have. C-Quench antioxidant serum contains vitamin c that is an antioxidant that minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while promoting an even skin tone. By far my favorite though is their hyaluronic acid booster serum! I don’t know why it took me soooo long to try. But I wish I tried it sooner. Love love love how this feels on the skin while applying and even afterwards. Between using the exfoliant cleanser & this serum ,I honestly feel like I have giving myself an at-home facial. My skin feels so rejuvenated with these products.
Eye Cream || Eye Cream is vital for anti aging! Nobody wants “crows feet” aka wrinkles near their eyes. Hylunia Eye Cream is an intense repair eye cream that I use as a preventive for aging. Eye Cream will also help combat dark circles and puffiness. There’s soo many great eye creams out there. You can find one for about any concern you have. I really like the Marine Flower Peptide from Eminence as well.
Moisturize || Some people chose to skip this step! I personally could NEVER. I love moisturizer with my dry skin. Right now I am using hydraluxe and I don’t think I’ll ever switch. It feels so luxurious on your skin. It provides intense hydration for your skin. I like a lot of moisturizers out there, you almost can’t go wrong lol. However, this one feels different than most and I can notice a different in the product with reflects the price. It is on the pricer side of moisturizer. On the more affordable side, I really like the Guava & Bamboo moisturizer by Eminence. Eminence has a great product line.
Retinol ||Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A. There are also natural alternatives to retinol. You want to start off with a 0.3 Retinol before building a tolerance to a higher retinol. The purpose of retinal is to boost cell turnover, stimulate collagen and elating production and neutralize free radicals. The Intensive Clarity Retinol by PCA Skin is what I’m currently using. It is a 0.5% retinol. Another great retinol is by Skin Ceuticals – the refining night cream. These are a products that you want to use with caution!! You need to be sure that you are using this products at night and wearing your sunscreen throughout the day to prevent further damage.
Sunscreen || Last step in your morning skincare routine! I have a whole blog post written about sunscreen – why you should wear sunscreen , what kind, when etc. I finally tried the Sheer Tint for my face sunscreen and I love it. I used the Elta MD for years – I do love Elta MD. However, I found that the PCA one bends so much better with my skin tone and hydrating. Honestly, I look forward to applying everyday and most days that all I wear and go for more “no makeup” days. They have a continuous spray sunscreen that is broad spectrum that I use for the body.
This is a longest blog post I have written thus far and I could go on & on. However, I will stop here. I will continue to update you all as my skincare routine changes (if it does.) I will be writing more in depth blog posts about skincare as you know I love! So stay tuned for more!!
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