My Favorite Skin Care Routine

For someone who isn’t that interested in makeup, it may surprise you that I am extremely interested in skin care products. I believe in the power of taking good care of your skin, and am hoping that future me will be grateful for this belief. Without further ado, here’s my current facial routine:

Always start with a clean face and be patient. You need to let each layer of product soak into your skin before applying the next phase. It doesn’t take long and isn’t complicated- moisturize then brush your teeth. Apply primer, then dry your hair. Allowing products to sink in will give you better results than applying them too quickly on top of each other.

Step 1: Moisturize

I try to moisturize as quickly as possible out of the shower. This helps lock in some of the moisture from your shower into your skin (crazy, I know!). I’ve used lots of different products- from beauty-counter buys to drug store finds. Right now I am loving the Olay Whips line of moisturizers. They come in several varieties depending on what you want (anti-aging, SPF, glow, etc.). I’ve used the SPF version and LOVE it- it’s very light and non-greasy. But right now I am using the Luminous version. It smells amazing and it very fluffy to the touch. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way, so don’t over do it!

Step 2: Protect

SPF is your friend- use it everyday! I use this COOLA makeup primer because it pulls double duty: it gives my work makeup something to hold on to and it is SPF 30 so I feel protected. COOLA primer is an organic plant-based formula and it’s cruelty free. Know what you’re putting on your face!

Pro-Tip: I work in an office, so you wouldn’t think sun exposure would be that important...but you’d be wrong. Think about the small times in the day when you are exposed to the elements: the commute to work, walking from the parking lot to indoors, playing with your puppies in the backyard. Even on overcast or rainy days, those powerful UV rays can do some serious damage to your skin. You might be getting more sun than you think!

Step 3: Eye Cream

There is some debate about what order you should layer these products in...I’m sure much wiser women than me have looked into it. For me personally, eye cream is the final touch before makeup. I use my ring fingers to lightly dap a small amount under my eyes. My main concern is dark circles (and sometimes puffiness). I like this Clinique brand eye cream- it’s silky and easy to apply. Be warned that it takes a little bit to soak in, so use a teeny tiny amount. Be gentle with your application. The skin beneath your eyes is some of the most sensitive on your whole body.

End of the Day: CLEANSE

The best skin care tip I can share with you is to wash your face. At the end of the day, remove any makeup you’re wearing, then cleanse. If you don’t wear makeup you should still wash your face at the end of the day. Throughout the day you are exposed to air pollution, dirt, pollen, all kinds of junk that needs to be rinsed away. I’ve been using the L’Oreal micellar water shown here because it saves me a step- not only is it one of the best makeup removers I have ever used, it’s also a great cleanser. It’s gentle and my skin doesn’t feel striped after using it. It is important to moisturize again after cleansing. You can use a night cream if you like (but I use the same Olay Luminous moisturizer again). Be sure to moisturize your neck as well!

A routine doesn’t have to be stressful or cost prohibitive to work. Remember that no matter what your routine is, you are beautiful and your skin care routine should serve YOU.

“Happy girls are the prettiest.” -Audrey Hepburn