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Beauty ·

My Current Skincare routine: A Complete Skincare Bible

When I turned 30 this year, I got really serious about my skincare. Then covid/quarantine happened, and I took it to a whole other level. Buckle your seatbelts ladies. This one is going to be a long one! I’ve turned into somewhat of a skincare fanatic, and with the help of some fellow bloggers and the 30PlusSkinCare Reddit page, I’ve really perfected my routine. My skin has honestly never looked better!

I am going to share exactly what I’ve been doing and will also include a more basic routine that I’d recommend for those of you just starting out on your skin care journey.

I have always had acne prone, combination skin. However, I will say dryness is more of a problem than oily-ness.

I also want to note that in the photos below, I am not using any sort of filter. I am however, wearing makeup in some of the photos!

For reference, here is a photo of me with makeup on!

Here is a photo of me without makeup on!

My Detailed Step-By-Step Routine

AM Routine

I keep my routine in the morning pretty simple. Cleanse, tone, vitamin C serum, eye cream and sunscreen. I also prime if I’m going to be wearing makeup. I like to use primers with skincare benefits so I consider it part of my skincare routine!

1. Cleanse: I only use water in the AM

2. Tone: Apply Erno Laszlo Hydraphel Skin Supplement Hydrating Toner with a cotton ball. This stuff is great! Super hydrating and leaves me skin feeling really clean and refreshed. I got it as a gift and would repurchase. Don’t ever use a toner with alcohol in it! It will strip your skin’s natural barrier which is really hard to rebuild.

3. Vitamin C: Apply vitamin-c serum and let it absorb for a minute or 2. This one has the same ingredients as the popular Skinceuticals one and is a fraction of the cost!

4. Eye Cream: I use this one by Elemis. It really helps concealer go on smoother and it’s anti-aging. I like that it’s lightweight. It does the trick, but I’m not ready to say that I’d never try anything else. I’ve never really found an eye cream that has WOW’ed me. I think the GloPro does so so so much more for my under eye area. It really plumps and reduces darkness after one use!

5. Sunscreen: If you only have time for one thing in the morning, let it be this! And maybe brushing your teeth, too! I mix 1 pump sunscreen and 1/2 a pump of drunk elephant sunshine drops together and apply all over face, neck and even décolletage if wearing a lower cut top. I like to mix in the sunshine drops for a bit of a glow, especially when I’m not going to be wearing makeup during the warmer months. It’s a pollution blocker, so I like that the sunscreen is protecting me from the UV rays and the sunshine drops are protecting me from the gross air pollution. Don’t forget to put sunscreen on your eyelids and ears! I swear by this sunscreen. It doubles as a moisturizer, it’s lightweight, doesn’t smell and doesn’t break me out. I love it so much I give it to friends as gifts! I always have it on hand and NEVER run out!!

6. Prime: Apply a primer under your makeup as an extra barrier for your skin. I like the Tatcha one when I’m going bare face. It really fills my pores and gives my skin a soft, poreless look! I also like the Chanel one for a lit from within glow.

Bonus step: When I have time/remember, I use my Nuface as many days a week as I can! It really helps with any sagging skin and lifts the brows. I talk about his device more below!

If I can, I try to use my Pixi eye patches first thing in the morning to help with any puffiness/tiredness. I keep them in the fridge and wear them when I’m drinking my coffee.

PM Routine

1. Remove Makeup: I like these wipes. I like that they have hyaluronic acid as an ingredient which means they are moisturizing. They smell great, too.

2. Double cleanse: This has really helped clear my skin up! I use this oil cleanser first, then this glycolic acid cleanser afterwards. I feel that this step has practically made any breakouts vanish! I also think this combination has really helped keep my pores less clogged.

3. Tone: This one has a cult following. I use the same toner AM and PM.

4. Alternate Lactic Acid and Retinol or retinol alternative every other night: I just started using this Herbivore Bakuchiol retinol alternative and I’m really liking it so far. Since I’m still nursing my second baby, I can’t use retinol but the second she’s weaned, I’m going to get an RX for tretinoin gel from my doctor and start out by using it once a week and work my way up in frequency of application and RX strength. You can also get Differin gel over the counter now.

5. Moisturizer: Weleda Skin Food LIGHT is my go to. The regular version is wayyy too thick for my face. It would be good for severely dry skin in the winter, though! I love it and some people say it’s a less expensive, natural version of the pricey cult classic La Mer cream. I like that it’s thick and very moisturizing!

6. Eye Cream: I use this one by Elemis. I use the same one for my AM and PM routines.

7. Lip Balm: I apply this Laneige Lip Mask every night before bed. I also sometimes wear it during the day. It’s super hydrating, smells great and and gives your lips a really plump, juicy look.

8. Bonus Steps: I use my GlowPro microneedling device every other night and I use my PMD (Personal Microdermabrasion device) once a week on a night that I am NOT using the GloPro. I use the GloPro on my entire face including my lips. I use the PMD on my face, décolletage/chest area and the backs of my arms for the keratosis pilaris that developed after I had kids. It’s really helped with that! These are both safe for breastfeeding and the GloPro is even safe for use while pregnant (always check with your doctor first, though!).

Simplified Skincare Routine for Those Embarking on Their Skincare Journey

AM

1. Cleanse

2. Tone

3. Vitamin C

4. Sunscreen

PM

1. Cleanse

2. Tone

3. Serums (acids, retinol)

4. Eye Cream + Moisturizer

Bonuses + Extras + Devices

1. Botox – this is a game changer. My forehead wrinkles are the things I am most conscious about. They are heriditary and have bothered me since I was in high school and they have gotten deeper and wider with age. Someone once told me this is a trait of Scandinavian people!? Is this true??? ! was recently able to get botox again after about 2.5 years of going without it due to pregnancy/nursing then getting pregnant again. I get botox for my forehead, in-between my eyebrows and my crows feet. Hands down, botox gives me the most dramatic results. It’s also preventative. Botox works by freezing the muscles in your face and if you can’t move the muscles in your face, you won’t get wrinkles! It also makes your makeup go on so much smoother. I go to Rosa at Newport Coast Dermatology. I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I wanted to show you guys a before and after photo so you could see just how dramatic my results are!! I am not wearing makeup in either photo and made sure to take the photos in the same lighting around the same time of the day. There is no filter on either photo.

*Side note: I am currently breastfeeding baby #2, and both my OB and my dermatologist said getting botox was fine if I pumped and dumped for 4 hours after the injections. Definitely check with your doctor!

2. Dermaplaning – I use these facial razors from amazon to remove peach fuzz and dead skin every week or two. My makeup goes on so much smoother and I think products get absorbed much better.

3. Masking – If I have an event to attend or am having photos taken i.e. a wedding, I always start my day/skincare routine with masking. Sometimes I even mask the night before and the morning of. If I have a rough night with the kids, I use Pixi eyepatches from Target. I keep them in the fridge for an added de-puffing effect. I use the Pixi sheet masks the night before a big event. They really deliver on the “glow factor”. There are so many different types of masks out there, so find one that addresses your skin concerns! I also use chin masks to contour and de-puff my jawline. I like these chin masks from Amazon best.

3b. Ice Rolling – I like this one from Amazon. This goes hand in hand with masking. I use it to de-puff my face in the morning. Can be used over eye masks and chin mask.

My husband loves this look. He’s lucky.

4. GloPro – Another holy grail device. If I had to pick just one device, it would be this one. It’s a microneedling device that transforms your skin. It also helps serums absorb better. It shrinks pores, gives you a very visible glow, and enhances your overall complexion. Safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

5. Nuface – This device is pricey but dramatically lifts my cheeks, jowls, and eyebrow area. You can see instant results, but it works best if you consistently use it over time. Not safe for pregnancy, but it is safe for breastfeeding.

6.PMD – Short for personal microdermabrasion device, this is the first beauty device I purchased. I got mine at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale a few years back. I use mine once a week and notice a difference in the texture of my skin. I also use it on the back of my arms for my keratosis pilaris that showed up after having kids.

5. Facial Steaming – I sometimes use this when I’m cleaning or to really open up my pores before I apply my serums at nighttime. Works great before masking or for seasonal dry skin.

Other Noteworthy Tips

Say no to pore strips and squeezing pores! This permanently damages your pores and makes them bigger. I am trying SO hard to be better at this!!

To store and organize all of my beauty products, I use an acrylic double decker lazy-susan. I try to keep my products lined up in the order that I use them so that I can just quickly go through my routine without skipping anything.

I use a beauty fridge to store my sunscreen, eye cream, eye masks and face masks for the ultimate de-puffing experience. I definitely don’t think this is necessary, but I love mine.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments section! What products have dramatically changed you skin? Let me know!!

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