My Current Skincare Routine

My current skincare routine is probably the most HIGHLY requested blog posts, so I’m so happy to finally get an updated one up for you guys! I think the last time I did a skincare post was over a year ago… so it was definitely due. 🙂 Being a blogger, I get many opportunities to try out new products to review, including skincare. While some products haven’t blown me out of the water, others have totally won me (and my face) over.

To give you a little background of my skin, I have a dry-oily combination skin type and do break out here and there; mainly when it’s that lovely ole time of the month. Mother Nature can be one cruel lady sometimes. About a 2 years ago, I was struggling with adult acne BIG time. I had just gotten off birth control (maybe TMI? Sorry!), because I was on it for so long and wanted to give my body a break. Tom and I were about to get married and were eventually going to want kids, and I figured that I would have an easier time getting pregnant if I gave my body a break from BC. Might be a total myth or me just overthinking it, but I figured it would help! (Side note, 2 years later, and we are almost ready for kids. :)) But what it didn’t help was keeping my hormones under control, and because of that, my skin freaked out. It was awful! Lots of break outs and even cystic acne (the worst). I tried pretty much anything and everything, including prescription acne medication which finally cleared up my skin. (If you are curious, I used minocyclin).

My Night Routine

Cleansers

During this time I also discovered Tula, which also had a huge part in calming down and balancing my skin. I believe I’ve repurchased their Purifying Cleanser 4 times now! I use it every single night to take off my makeup and cleanse my face. (Use code TAYMBROWN for 20% off your purchase!) It does an awesome job, and uses probiotics! Most nights, I will also cleanse with my Damn Good Face Wash – yes, it is damn good! It’s all natural and takes off any remaining makeup and gives my face extra hydration to prevent wrinkles, strengthens my skin, and also keeps acne at bay. I looove this stuff, it feels so great on your skin! My Tula cleanser has tons of benefits, but does dry out my skin, which is why I love to use the Damn Good right after cleansing with Tula’s cleanser.

Serum

Following my cleanse, I’ll put on some serum. My go-to serum lately has been Puristry’s Vine Therapy Serum. which also happens to be USDA-certified organic! Chemical-free and lots of great natural oils and extracts that will keep those wrinkles away, and your skin healthy!

Moisturizer

One of the most important parts of my skincare routine – and should be the most important in YOURS, too! Even if you have oily skin. In fact, chances are if you do have an oily skin type and you are skimping on your moisturizer, your skin is just trying to provide extra moisture by producing more oil! In case you didn’t know. 🙂 I have tried lots of awesome facial moisturizers, and will always keep a facial oil and cream in my drawer. They are both equally reached for, it just depends in my mood/current skin situation. There really isn’t one that gets more love than the other.

If my skin is normal, I will use a facial oil. I have recently been using Be Zoetic’s Petal Drops, which has been leaving my skin glowing, hydrated and balanced! There are even rose petals in the bottle… love! I have the travel size, and a little goes a long way, so I would try that size out first to see if you like it (and I know you will!). I also just finished my bottle of Damn Good Oil: The Works, which is another amazing facial oil that I recommend! It has tea tree oil in it, which fights acne.

If my skin is more on the dryer or sensitive side, I will use Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. It’s so rich and does a wonderful job at making my skin feel rejuvenated and youthful. You guys, I know this stuff is expensive. BUT you receive a lot of product, a little goes a long way, and you also get the benefit of receiving collagen and fullness in your skin. It’s clinically proven to reduce the depth of wrinkles, improve skin firmness, tone and hydration after 15 days of use. This is definitely a product fit for those that are in their late 20’s and beyond. There are a ton of amazing reviews on this product!

Eye Cream

As you age, your skin follows. Under eye wrinkles are a quick tell tale to show age, and to keep them hydrated and as wrinkle-free as possible, I use my eye cream morning and night! I’ve been using Dermalogica’s Stress Positive Eye Lift since this past spring and have been so happy with it. The cool tip feels amazing, and it really works well to hydrate my under eye. I have also used and loved Tula Revitalizing Eye Cream (use code TAYMBROWN for 20% off your purchase), and have recently been testing out a sample of Aveda’s Tulasara Wedding Masque Eye Overnight – super happy with these two eye creams as well if you are looking for more options!

Lips

Anyone else need to moisturize their lips before bed? Yep, I never go to bed without doing so! I love basic chapsticks like Burt’s Bees and Rosebud Salve. Just recently, I received Be Zoetic’s Sugar Lip Polish to try, and I’m obsessed! I have been using it 3-4 times a week and love how it exfoliates (and tastes :P)! A really great product to use before putting on lipstick to make sure you have no dry skin sitting on your lips. In addition to that, I’ll occasionally put on Dermalogica’s Nightly Lip Treatment, which is a treatment to smooth the appearance of laugh and feather wrinkles. I haven’t been using this product consistently enough to say it’s worth the $, but I do enjoy it! I just always forget to put it on. 🙂

My Morning Routine

Cleanse

I almost never use a cleanser in the morning. Once in a while I will, but not typically. Instead, I like to grab a cotton round and use a toner or micellar water to cleanse my face.  The one I’ve been using this past month has been Puristry’s Flower Water Toner, and I love it! It’s super refreshing and helps wake my skin up in the morning. Before that toner, I’ve used Simple Micellar Water. An awesome drugstore product that I definitely recommend, and is more affordable than the water toner. Most days I will follow this step with Mario Badescu’s Rose Water Spray. I would’ve placed it in the photo, but it was almost gone, so it just looked like an empty bottle, lol.

Moisturizer

Another tried and true product that I’ve repurchased is the Tula Hydrating Day & Night Cream. It’s my absolute favorite daytime moisturizer! If I’m traveling, I’ll use it at night as well. It’s rich enough to give my skin the moisture it needs, but not too rich where it feels heavy and slick. My skin drinks it right up, and gives me the perfect makeup base. Use code TAYMBROWN for 20% off your purchase!

Before moisturizer, I’ll occasionally use the serum mentioned above, but most days I’m either too lazy or am in a hurry to get ready before work.

Eye Cream

Same as my night eye cream – Dermalogica’s Stress Positive Eye Lift!

Occasional Products

Exfoliator, Masks and Acne Lotion

• I only exfoliate 1-2 times per week, and I use Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant.
• My favorite masks are Be Berry Illuminating Peel Mask and GlamGlow Super Mud.
• For new pimples on the rise, I’ll zap ’em with Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion at night by applying with a q-tip, and wake up to them nearly gone/flattened/less irritated.

Whew! That was quite the lengthly post. It might have been a lot of products to digest… but these are all products that have proven to work for my skin. Please let me know if you have any questions on any products mentioned above, or any questions about my skin in general, because I’m happy to answer them!

Do you have any tried and true skincare products? I’d love to know! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday night, and good vibes for the week ahead. 🙂