I’ve become prettttty obsessed with skincare over the last two years. I went from never washing my face to putting a million products on my skin in the AM & PM. I have to attribute this newfound love to my older sister, Alie. Her skin GLOWS but she is diligent and she works hard for that glow. She inspired me to start taking care of my skin and I am forever grateful!
I wanted to share my AM + PM skincare routine with you because it is tried and true! While I am a “product junkie” and I am pretty much always testing out new things, I only share them if I am 100% positive they work.
To preface – I have dry skin and in the winter I love to stay hydrated. My favorite skin “look” is super glowy and dewy – nothing better than fresh skin!
MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE
Step 1:
Fresh Rose Hydrating Toner (mini size)
I start my AM routine with a hydrating toner. It reduces the look of pores while hydrating the skin, a win-win! I’ve used this for over a year and I love it! I tried the mini-version first to see if I liked it and I loved it!
Step 2:
ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum
The PCA Skin ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with a blend of peptides and hydrating emollients. If you’ve ever watched me speak on stories, you will notice how I am an *extremely* expressive talker – I am constantly moving my eyebrows up and down. This serum was mentioned, by another blogger, as “botox in a bottle” & she raved about it. I had to try it!
I fell in love with it and am on my second bottle. I just use it on my forehead so it lasts forever! You just apply it on areas where you want to diminish wrinkles.
Step 3:
I typically use the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum but for the last four months, I have switched to Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum. My mom tried it…and when I tell you she freaked out…she sincerely freaked out over this product!!
She had a sunspot on her face that she had attempted to get rid of for a year, with the SkinCeuticals serum – the sunspot didn’t budge. She heard great reviews about the Perricone MD serum and decided to try it. Well, her stubborn sunspot has dramatically lightened in only a few months!! She was so obsessed with the product she bought it for me and my sister to try. Whenever I get a bad pimple it tends to leave a mark. I’ve been battling a dark spot on my chin for what seems like forever & this product has 95% lightened it!!
Step 4:
I’ve talked on stories a bunch about the Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Anti-Aging Oil (note: if we ever talk about a product on stories or Instagram, it is because we genuinely love the product. Your trust is imperative to us and we would never want to lead you astray) and it really is a fabulous product.
I have dry skin and this product quenches my skin’s thirst without it feeling heavy or my makeup piling (LOL what makeup…that’s a 2x per month type of thing these days!). It is an anti-aging, multitasking facial oil that combines the power of a serum, the richness of an oil, and the freshness of a toner to visibly smooth, plump, and revitalize the skin. My skin looks lifted, hydrated and smoooooth from months of using this product.
Step 5:
I rave about the OleHenriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream ALL the time but that is because it really is the only eye cream that lightens my dark circles. I suffer from thin under-eye skin (hereditary – my sis does too) and I have tried probably every eye cream that makes a best-seller list. Let me tell you, they all disappoint me!
When I say I have dark circles, I mean I have darker under-eyes than a pair of black lululemons. The Banana Bright Eye Cream has noticeably brightened my eyes and it is great for the AM because it has a tint to combat darkness! I’ve tried two new eye creams, along the way, since I began using the Ole one (hey, I’m product obsessed) and they didn’t come close to the results I receive with the Banana Bright Eye Cream.
Step 6:
My last step = Marc Jacobs Youthquake Hydra-full Retexturizing Gel Crème Moisturizer (it comes in a mini-size you can try).
See a trend here? I always get the mini versions to test the product for a long enough time to see if it works.
If you’re thinking “hmmm, Marc Jacobs? That can’t be the best moisturizer compared to others.” Well, I was right there with you in that thinking…
However, a beauty influencer, I trust greatly, had incredible things to say about it – thus, I gave it a try! It is AMAZING!!! When I say it legit looks like you can ice skate across my face, it is that smooth, I mean it. It’s a multitasking moisturizer, with powerful pineapple enzymes and encapsulated sodium hyaluronate, for hydration, retexturizing results, and a glowing, makeup-ready canvas.
It is like an Instagram filter I am not sure how lol….but it works so hey, I’ll take it!
AM PRODUCTS:
EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE
Step 1:
Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Clean Foaming Face Wash. I love this cleanser because it is oh so foamy and doesn’t strip my skin. My skin feels clean without feeling tight or dry! I’ve used for over a year!
Step 2:
At night, I use the Ole Henriksen Glow2OH™ Dark Spot Toner. Above, I mentioned that I suffer from dark spots from acne. I read amazing things about the Dark Spot toner and purchased the mini version. I LOVE IT!! I now use the larger version and my skin tone is much more even.
Also – it is made of high-potency AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids), to reduce the look of dark spots in as little as seven days, so start slow, if your skin is more sensitive!
Step 3:
ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum – this is a spot treatment so you can use 2x per day. I use on my forehead and the area between my eyebrows! Read more above.
Step 4:
I switch off different nights between Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Resurfacing Serum and the Sunday Riley A+ Retinol Serum – I’ll go into more detail below about these amazing serums!!
The Farmacy Honeymoon Glow serum is fabulous!! I wake up and my skin is bright and beautiful! I used to use Good Genes but I like the hydrating aspect of the honey – especially in the winter! It’s a three-in-one night serum that resurfaces, hydrates, and clarifies dull skin while you sleep, formulated with a 14 percent AHA/BHA/gentle flower acid blend.
The Sunday Riley A+ Retinol Serum is the best non-prescription retinol! It’s an advanced-strength retinoid serum that delivers a six-and-a-half percent solution of stabilized retinoid blends and botanical retinol-alternative extracts into the skin. New to retinoids? Start using A+ two nights a week, and then take two nights off. Gradually work your way up to every other night, and then every night.
I love the ingredients in A+ :
– Retinol Ester: Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines, and promotes clearer skin without the drawbacks of retinol.
– CoQ10: May improve the appearance of aging or UV-exposed skin for a healthier-looking, balanced complexion.
– Hawaiian White Honey: Pro-skin humectant, rich in phytonutrients.
Step 5:
Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Anti-Aging Oil.
It is an anti-aging, multitasking facial oil that combines the power of a serum, the richness of an oil, and the freshness of a toner to visibly smooth, plump, and revitalize the skin. My skin looks lifted, hydrated and smoooooth after using this product.
Step 6:
OleHenriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream – the best eye cream! Read more about it above. At night, I also started to mix a new eye cream with the Ole one. I started the Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream with Avocado.
I purchased it at the beginning of November so I have not used it long enough to give a report!
Step 7:
My last step = Marc Jacobs Youthquake Hydra-full Retexturizing Gel Crème Moisturizer (it comes in a mini-size you can try). See AM routine for a full lowdown on this magic product!
Step 8:
In the winter, my skin is super dry so I try to slather as many fabulous products on my face to keep it as hydrated as possible. In November, I purchased the mini-version of the Drunk Elephant hydrating mask. I’ve been putting a little bit of that mask on ON TOP of the Marc Jacobs
PM PRODUCTS:
WEEKLY
- A few times a week or if my skin needs a pick-me-up, I like to use the Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask. I have the mini size and it lasts forever!
- 1x per week, I use the GLAMGLOW Supermud Mask to clear out my pores!!
- 1x per week, I use the Fresh Rose Hydrating Sleep Mask to give my skin a large glass of water! It smells so good and my face looks unreal in the AM.
- When my skin is looking like it needs some extra love and glow, I use the Drunk Elephant Baby Facial Treatment – this is intense so start slow then work your way up!
- I retain water and salt TERRIBLY!!! Often, I need to use eye masks to help the puffiness if I’m going to a special event. The BEST (and I’ve tried sooo many) are the Wander Beauty Eye Masks. If you’re looking for a more budget option, the Bliss ones are AMAZING!!! Hot tip – store them in the fridge.
TIPS
- The place where you will get the most results for your $$$$ = SERUMS! If you are looking to revamp your skincare adding a serum is where I would start!
- It is winter and the skin gets dry. Time to use hydrating products hydrating masks!!
- I have THE DARKEST eye circles…no, I am not being dramatic…mine are really THAT bad. I’ve tried sooooo many different eye creams and I have actually seen great results from the OleHenriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream!! My dark circles aren’t gone but they are SO much better!!
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
- CLEANSE
- TONE
- SERUM
- EYE CREAM
- MOISTURIZER
