As far as skincare goes, I’m admittedly not the most fun person to follow if you’re expecting the latest, greatest trends, masks and peels. My skin has become so sensitive over the years, that I rarely deviate from my simple routine. I’ll experiment here and there, and I’ll be happy to share with you what works best for me, but I’ll never abandon what I know works for me. I don’t use the fanciest creams or the most expensive solutions. Sometimes simplicity is best—at least for me.
Finding the right skin care routine is kind of like finding the right bra, in all honesty. There are so many different options out there, that it becomes daunting to go on the hunt to find what’s right. There are so many products out there, it becomes beyond overwhelming. In my opinion, the best investment you can make for your skin is a good dermatologist with whom you feel comfortable. I came across my dermatologist, Dr. Papantoniou, almost by accident while she was working with a group practice that I was using at the time. She eventually branched off and opened her own practice, Simply Dermatology, and of course I followed. Her practice focuses equally on medical, laser, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. I can go there for an annual skin check, and also ask her questions regarding moles, dark spots, and discuss the cosmetic options she offers. (Though I haven’t had anything cosmetic done yet). Through the years she’s helped with various issues I’ve had with my skin and helped me to establish a routine that suits me best.For years I was actually using 2 prescription topicals for my face which (IMO) had my skin looking its best. I had to stop using them during my pregnancy, and even after having Harper, my skin never went completely back to “normal”, and I would have adverse reactions to both creams.
For every day skin care, I alternate between 2 different regimens every 5-7 days or so. My “basic” face routine consists of: Cetaphil face wash and L’Oréal Revitalift fragrance-free moisturizer. On alternating nights, I’ll also use the L’Oréal Revitalift 10% Pure Glycolic Acid serum before applying the moisturizer. The label says when first beginning to use it to use 2-3 times per week and build up to nightly use. My skin can’t handle it every night, and I’ve found alternating nights works best for me.
My “(not so) fancy” face routine consists of the Florence by Mills collection, which I tried on a whim when I was given a gift card to Ulta. I was happy to introduce some variety into my skin care without my sensitive skin freaking out. The products I use are: Clean Magic face wash, Look Alive Eye Balm (seriously guys, this stuff has worked wonders to brighten my eyes up and diminish the appearance of dark circles!), Dreamy Dew moisturizer, and I finish off with the Zero Chill face mist. Every couple of days, I’ll use the Get That Grime face scrub, which not only leaves my face feeling even and smooth, but my hands as well.
The “bonus” products I use include my rose quartz face roller (I try to use it at least once a day, preferably in the morning to help wake me up), under eye gel patches (my favs are the Florence by Mills Swimming Under The Eye gel pads and the Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel eye patches—if I had to choose one over the other, I’d go with PTR. I have yet to try any by Patchology, and when/if I do, I’ll be sure to let you know my thoughts), and Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask a few times a week (I’ve found I like using this the most as almost a primer—applying it before either moisturizer). When I feel a pimple coming on, I’ll use the Zitsticka Spot Clarifying Patch Kit (thanks to Esther Santer for the intro).
Feel free to let me know if you want to see more in-depth reviews of any products that I use or want my personal opinion on any of these. None of these links are affiliate links, as I am admittedly not part of any affiliate program at the moment. Just sharing my favorite tried and true products, and trying to give you the easiest access to them possible should you want to give them a try! Stay tuned for a peek inside my skin care fridge to see which of these products I prefer be chilled before applying.