Nightly Skincare Routine

Here's how I show my skin love every night. Note, I do not have face wash listed. I take my showers at night, so my face gets washed then. I don't really consider that part of my "nightly routine." (Click here to read about beauty products I love, here to read about my makeup routine, and here for healthy skin tips.)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I have very oily, very sensitive skin. I'm finally in a relationship with my skin that is not toxic. My routine works for me; it may not work for you. I'm interested to hear what you've found that works for you. I think the main thing with skin care (but, I'm no dermatologist) is making sure you keep your skin clean and moisturized. It took me years to realize that even oily skin needs moisture.

On a side note, I'm thinking about doing a giveaway. If I did, would you guys be interested?

1. Clinique Clarifying Lotion Number 4. I use this all over my (clean) face and neck.
2. Clinique Dramatically Moisturizing Gel. I use this immediately after 1. all over my face and neck.
3. Josie Maran Argon Oil. I use this before I go to bed under and around my eyes.
4. Bare Minerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment.I use this after 4. sinks into my skin lightly dusted over my face.
5. MAC Prep+Prime Future Length Lash Serum. I use this after 5. on the growth line of my top lashes.
6. C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm. I use this before I go to bed all over my lips. 

My makeup routine

I get asked a lot of questions about my makeup, so I thought I'd share a little bit about my makeup philosophy.

I have very oily and very sensitive skin. "Special needs" skin, if you will. Taking those things into account, I have to use products that will keep me from breaking out, but also provide oil control. It's taken me a long time to find the right products, but I FINALLY know what works for me.

I like a more natural look for work. I don't usually wear eyeshadow, and I only line my top eyelids. I try to look as polished as possible, but not going so far with the makeup that I look like a hooker. For night, I still like to look natural(ish), but I do a little heavier on the eye makeup (so not hooker, more high dollar escort). I am more likely to wear eyeshadow at night, but it's not always a given. I line my eyes a little darker and do a couple more coats of mascara.

Here's my work makeup routine...

1. I use either Equate Anti-Wrinkle Cream or Aveda Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisturizer depending on my mood. Both moisturize well. The Equate is thicker and better for winter. The Aveda isn't as rich and I use it more often in the summer. I use these under my eyes and around my nose. Even though I have oily skin, I think it is SO important to moisturize!

2. MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer. I use this under my eyes, around my nose, and anywhere I have a blemish.

3. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. I use this all over my face and blend with a kabuki brush.

4. Bare Minerals Warmth and MAC Powder Blush in Pink Swoon. In the summer I use Bare Minerals Warmth, as well as blush. I dust lightly over my face with a foundation brush. Then, I blend the blush on the apple of my cheeks and up my cheekbones.

5. MAC Eyeshadow in Mystery. I wet an eyeliner brush and swirl it in the eyeshadow. Then, I line my eyes.

6. MAC Opulash. First I curl my lashes, then I sweep 2 coats of mascara in my top and bottom lashes. I let them dry and curl again.

7. MAC Lipstick in Speak Louder and Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish in Katie. I apply the lipstick to both my lips, blot, and then apply the polish.

 

10 Tips for Fabulous Skin (that won't break your budget)

I have weird skin in that my face and chest are super oily, but the rest of my body is dry and sensitive. I really have to moisturize like a mad woman, but I also have to be super careful what products I use because my skin will get so itchy and disgusting. It's a pain in the ass, but I have great hair so I guess you win some you lose some. Here are 10 tricks that keep my skin looking fab without making my histamines go haywire.

1. Use an olive oil salt scrub (mine is made by my mom) to exfoliate while providing moisture.

2. After showering, apply your moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Your skin absorbs moisture better when it's damp than it does when it is dry.

3. For extra soft legs, apply a thick(ish) coat of petroleum jelly to your legs before bed and hop into sweat pants (the ones that close around your ankles so you don't mess up your sheets.) In the morning, your legs will be as soft as a baby's bottom.

4. Buy a Vitamin E stick (around $3.00) and use it everywhere. Lips, eyes, scars it doesn't matter - your skin will thank you.

5. At night, wash your face twice. Once will remove your makeup, twice will cleanse your skin. No one wants to go to bed with dirty skin.

6. Don't wash your face in the morning. If you wash your face properly at night it won't be dirty in the morning. I know it sounds weird, but I swear it works. I wipe my face with a cotton ball soaked in liquid exfoliator in the morning. It controls my oil and gets rid of dead skin cells. 

7. Use hydrocortisone cream after working out. I recently started noticing teeny red bumps on my chest after I have a hard, sweaty workout. I rub a very small (pea sized) amount of hydrocortisone on my chest before bed and they are gone in the morning.

8. Put chapstick on your lips before you brush your teeth. It keeps the toothpaste from drying in the corners of your mouth. Don't you hate that?

9. Rub carmex on your cuticles to keep them supple. I have no scientific proof, but I swear it makes your nails grow, too.

10. If your face gets oily during the day, don't apply more powder to your face. You'll only clog your pores with oil and makeup. Instead, you should gently blot your nose, chin, and forehead with a square of toilet paper. You want to do this very carefully so you don't remove your makeup.

I hope you can put some of these tricks to use. They may not all work for you; I realize I have special needs skin. These are just things I've found work for me, and as a woman, I feel obligated to share.For an older post on my fave beauty products click here.