This post contains affiliate links as well as honest feedback on products I received free to try. All opinions are my own.
I wanted to share a little about my current beauty routine here not just because it might be helpful to anyone who stumbles across the below list, but also for my own record keeping. As a skincare addict, I love trying new products and sometimes have a hard time keeping track of what’s working for me versus what isn’t.
I have a combination complexion that is both oily and dry which is frustratingly odd. My forehead can be both shiny from excess oil and flaky from environmental dryness at one time. I struggle with small acne breakouts usually located near my mouth or nose and skin discoloration from the breakouts I had in high school. If any of the above sounds similar to you, consider the below routine which has been working for me:
Morning
1. Lush Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash
OK no, I don’t have a beard. I bought this a while ago for my husband who, as a matter of fact, does happen to have a beard. He had a conversation with me about wanting to take better care of his skin to which my eyes brightened in skincare talk excitement. My husband gets a single zit maybe once or twice a year, however, his skin is really dry despite his drinking a gallon of water a day. Seriously! Even though he is younger than me, he’s got some pretty deep forehead and crow’s feet lines mostly because his face rests in a natural frown and because he’s so dry. The Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash is perfect for him because it’s a nice, good-smelling cleanser that hydrates when it’s applied. On a whim, I decided to try it out myself and actually really liked it. I wouldn’t use this facial wash to remove my daily makeup, but it works great as a morning cleanser to wash the sleep out of my eyes and the overnight product I have on from the night before. In the winter, I don’t even use a morning cleanser because it’s so dry here in Arizona. Instead, I splash my face with water a few times and call it good.
I’ve loved the Neostrata brand for years, so it was no doubt that, after extensive research of good but affordable eye creams, Neostrata’s came up rated as one of the best. I’ve been using it ever since and have no complaints.
3. Evian Facial Spray + Yeouth Pure Hyaluronic Acid
I did a little research and discovered this amazing stuff called hyaluronic acid. I immediately decided to incorporate it into my skincare routine. I found the Yeouth brand from reviews on Amazon and decided to give it a try. I love this stuff so much! I can honestly tell you I’m not sure if it actually helps my skin or not, but I absolutely love how it feels. I also read somewhere that hyaluronic acid can be better absorbed if you apply it to damp skin. So, I’ve been spritzing my face with Evian’s facial spray and then applying the Yeouth immediately after. It’s refreshing and feels amazing.
If I’m feeling particularly oily, I’ll stop at step 3. Usually, I moisturize with CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream and then apply my foundation right away. This is a pretty heavy cream and if you’re very oily, it might be best to find a lighter moisturizer for the day and use this at night only.
Night
1. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Clearly, I’m a fan of CeraVe! I love that they make basic, affordable skincare products that actually work. They also don’t test on animals. That’s pretty much all I’m looking for in a cleanser.
This is a pretty intense product, but I highly recommend it if you’re like me and suffer from continuous breakouts, hyperpigmentation or scarring and overall dullness of skin. I have no doubt this is the product that is keeping me from looking like I one day decided to rise up out of my grave and walk around. It can be exhausting caring for a newborn, but I’m fortunate to have some good skincare products to armor me through my sleepless, parenting battle.
I actually only use this twice a week; it’s that intense with the amount of concentrated ingredients in it. This is a cream where I both love the smell and the texture. It helps to keep my skin looking youthful and refreshed.
See above.
4. Neostrata Bionic Face Serum
I received this product free to try, and I am definitely loving it. If you’re serious about taking care of your skin and having it look healthy even as you age, a face serum is good to have in your regimen I think. The Neostrata Bionic Face Serum is great because it’s light and dries quickly after it is applied. My skin has kept a pregnancy glow with the help of this serum, even though I gave birth to Abigail almost two months ago. I’ve also noticed it has helped brighten my skin up a bit which makes the discoloration from acne scarring appear to be less prominent. My only complaint about the serum would be about the smell. I’ve been holding my breath when I apply it to avoid smelling it and rinsing my hands immediately after. Luckily, it dries quickly!
I’ll use any product that helps keep fine lines at bay which is a benefit of using this face serum according to Neostrata. You can use the serum on targeted areas where you might have or are developing lines, but I chose to use it as an all-over facial treatment. It has a sticky texture to it which I don’t really notice after I let it dry and apply my night moisturizer. That being said, I wouldn’t use it in the morning underneath foundation. I haven’t tried it myself, but I doubt it would blend well.
See above.
What about you – what products are you using this summer? Do you switch your skincare regimen based on the current season?