Tuesday Trend: Skincare Essentials

L to R: frank original body scrub//frank original body balm//soapwalla almond luxe body polish//kiehl's original musk body lotion//crabtree&evelyn lavender hand cream//aveda hand relief creme

Years ago I saw an Oprah episode about women who looked several (and I mean SEVERAL) years younger than their actual age. No joke, one woman was 75 and she legit looked 40. She said everyone thought her son was her husband when they went out to dinner together. The one thing the women all said they did to keep their youthful glow? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Not just your face, they said. Your entire body needs to be hydrated at all times.I was a teenager but it has stuck with me all of these years. The skin is the body's largest organ so it makes sense, right?

Here's the thing, though: I HATE moisturizing. It is so time consuming and tedious but I make myself do it anyway because I know it's good for me. Using products like the frank body scrub and Soapwalla Almond Luxe Body Polish are great at helping to keep skin moisturized so if I do miss a day here and there my skin doesn't suffer too much. These products are on the pricey side so I do not use them everyday and sometimes I choose an area that needs it the most and skip other areas. The frank body scrub and body balm is an excellent combination and such a treat to use! The almond luxe body polish smells heavenly and leaves my skin so soft it's unbelievable!

My mom gave the Kiehl's Original Musk body lotion a few weeks ago and I have to say, it is the best lotion I have ever used! It is light so it dries relatively quickly and doesn't leave behind a greasy or sticky feeling on your skin. The smell is also a huge plus! I try to put this on right after I've toweled off so it feels like a part of my shower routine and not like an extra step.  I am a recovering nail and cuticle biter so hand cream is a must in my book. I haven't bitten my nails or cuticles in almost three months but they are still ravaged from 20+ years of habitual biting. Ugh. Such an unsightly habit but I am not going to lie, it has been really hard to kick! I alternate between using the Evelyn and Crabtree hand cream and the Aveda Hand Relief cream. Both moisturize really well and dry quickly so it's usually a matter of scent preferences that decides which one I use on any given day!

What skincare products do you use? Any tips or tricks to make moisturizing easier??

Tuesday Trend: Nighttime Beauty Products

L to R: Shea Moisture African Black Soap/Bare Minerals Deep Cleansing Foam/Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins (oil free) Night Cream/Beauticontrol Defend and Restore Night Creme


With my skin being more combination now than it used to be, I switch up my nighttime routine depending on whether my skin is feeling dry or oily that particular day.

Routine:

If oily/breaking out: I wash  my face with the African Black Soap which helps to dry up the oil and blemishes. I have definitely seen a decrease in blemishes since I started using this soap I use the Beauticontrol Defend & Restore Night Creme pretty much every single night regardless, it is a truly amazing night creme. It hydrates without clogging my pores and I feel like my face looks refreshed in the morning. If my skin is feeling extra oily, I'll use the Origins Night-A-Mins instead to help moisturize but also clear up some of the excess oil-- that is where this night cream really stands out to me. 

If dry: I wash my face with the Bare Minerals Deep Cleansing Foam which I have used on and off for years. It does a great job of cleaning my face without that super tight feeling afterwards. I follow up with the Beauticontrol Defend and Restore Night Creme every night that my face is feeling dry. 

I recently added Burt's Bee Garden Tomato Toner to the rotation and while I haven't been using it long, I am happy with the results. It definitely appears to be balancing out my skin tone which is a welcome relief. It doesn't feel overly drying but I do follow it up with one of the night creams. 




What do you use at night? I love hearing about people's daytime routines but I am fascinated by what people do for their skin at night. Please share!



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Tuesday Trend: Daytime Beauty Products

L to R: Vasanti Detox Nutrient Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser/Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator/Egyptian Magic/Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Day Oil 

I've mentioned before that I don't wear makeup Monday-Friday because it will just melt right off my face after first period but I still want my face too look clean and bright during the day. Over the past two years, my skin has gone through some changes. My skin used to be primarily oily and now it's more combination of oily and dry. The past few months it has been incredibly dry so I had to make some changes and these products have really worked for me.

Routine:
Monday - Thursday: I use the Vasanti Detox Nutrient Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser and follow up with Egyptian Magic-- this stuff is actually magic. It really saved my skin from the red and flaky look. It starts as more of a salve but turns into an oil when rubbed between your hands. If I am wearing makeup that day or going to the gym, I will use the Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Day Oil as it is lighter than the Egyptian Magic.
Friday-Sunday: I use the Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator to exfoliate my skin after the long week. I follow up with either Egyptian Magic or Dr. Hauschka depending on what I am doing that day. 

I love to hear what products other people are using, so tell me what you use during the day! I have a different routine for the nighttime which I'll share later. I have found that mixing it up between day and night works best for my skin. Do you have a different routine for night and day? Do tell!