The Skin You're In!

Okay, first thing's first!!! I’m always told that I have clear, beautiful skin and that I'm SUPER lucky to not have a laundry list of skin issues. Luck? I wish! I tell everyone who asks, it's not luck, but a regular morning and evening skin care regimen that I never skip out on! There are five steps that I religiously follow every morning:

 

1. Cleanser - Wash away those impurities! I prefer Estee Lauder's Perfectly Clean, in the blue tube. It's a little pricey, but worth every penny. This product leaves your skin squeaky clean and leaves absolutely NO residue! Available at most department stores, so get some!

 

2. Exfoliator (use 1-2 times per week) – This lovely product sloughs off dead skin and allows new skin cells to surface. Dr. Murad’s AHA/BHA (Alpha-hydroxy acid/Beta-hydroxy acid) Exfoliator is the best that I’ve found thus far.
Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Beauty Brands stores all carry this item, but call your location ahead of time to make sure it’s in stock. Super convenient, right?!

 

3. Toner – This is essential for balancing your skin’s pH level, or level of acidity. If you have too little oil, your face will be dry and if you have too much oil, your face will be oily and too shiny. If you wear makeup, either condition will detract from the look you want to achieve. Who wants that?? A toner balances things out, and should be used daily.
I recommend Estee Lauder’s Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion for Normal/Combination Skin, or her Soft Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion for Dry Skin. Oily skin will need the Perfectly Clean Formula.
Dr. Murad’s Essential-C Toner is excellent too! The brand also offers a Hydrating Toner for Dry Skin and a Clarifying Toner for acne-prone skin. There’s something for everyone! Again, you can find Murad at Ulta, Sephora or Beauty Brands.

 

4. Serum - The main reason you'd want to use a facial serum is to get added nutrients into deeper layers of your skin that a regular moisturizer is not able to reach because the molecules in a moisturizer are bigger than those in a serum. Serums address and correct specific concerns, so when browsing you'll notice different types, such as anti-aging serums, skin brightening serums and even acne preventative serums. Talk to a beauty advisor at the makeup counter about which one will be most effective for your skin type.
Being an Estee Lauder fan (is it obvious yet?), I love their Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator serum. In addition to promoting even skin tone, the product reflects sunlight off your face giving you a natural, healthy glow that is really quite fabulous. If you have really oily skin, you can probably get away with using a serum only, without a moisturizer. Your skin will let you know if it needs more hydration, for sure. For everyone else, faithfully use your moisturizer!!! ...Which leads to the last step:

 

5. Moisturizer – This wonderful product is crucial to the success of your skin care regimen! It hydrates the skin to replenish the moisture barrier and helps prevent future dryness. Washing your face without a moisturizer is a big NO NO. You must, I repeat…MUST apply your moisturizer daily. Twice daily if you use a night time regimen, which I highly recommend. There are a ton of moisturizers on the market, but I’ve found Estee Lauder’s to be my favorites. To determine the best one for you, go to the makeup counter and ask the beauty advisor to assist you. Tell her your concerns, and she’ll hook you up! If you are a budget conscious shopper, the price tag may give you a small heart attack, but I promise the investment is worth it.
As I always say: You will be in the same skin for the rest of your life. If you spend good money on your hair, clothes, and shoes, doesn’t your skin deserve the same quality?! Yah, it does! J If you downright refuse to make that kind of investment, I’ll tell you that I have also had great results with Oil of Olay moisturizers when I used the brand once upon a time. *wink*

 Your night time regimen will be steps 1, 4 and 5 only. If you choose to use a toner at night, that’s cool, but avoid doing so if you have dry skin, especially in the cold weather months! Also remember, what you do for your skin NOW will determine what it will do for you as you age. Think about that!

Well loves, I hope this has been helpful!!! If you have questions or concerns, feel free to drop a line!

…Peace!

~Carmen~