I use to have a whole drawer literally filled with different skin care products. It got overwhelming, and I found that I wasn’t using most of the products that I had purchased. So about a year and a half ago, I decided it was time to downsize and stick to just the products that I loved, and that I’ve found really work for my skin.
As a reference, I have combination skin. My t-zone gets very oily, but my face also gets really dry….like dry patches, Sahara desert dry. I don’t have bad acne, but my problem areas are my nose and my chin. I get blackheads on my nose, and whiteheads on my chin. Occasionally, I’ll get painful under the skin acne on my chin but it’s normally minimal. I’ve found that less is more with my skin care. I have my key products that I use daily, and my weapons that I bring in when my skin is being a pesky B. Below I have listed my ride or dies for my perfect skin.
- Makeup remover
If I have a full face of makeup on, I like to take everything off before cleansing my skin. This way, the cleanser can get deep down and clean! I love using Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar water on a cotton round to remove all of my makeup. It literally takes off everything, and doesn’t leave behind a sticky film like most makeup remover wipes do.
- Cleanser
I only have one true love when it comes to cleansers, the Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser is my go to. It works as a cleanser and toner in one, which I love because I don’t incorporate a toner into my routine (I’ve never found one that I thought did wonders). It gets your face squeaky clean without stripping natural oils, so your skin doesn’t feel stiff afterwards. I use this day and night, religiously.
- Daily Moisturizer
I have a little bit of redness on my cheeks. Not bad, but enough that one time when I asked a MAC employee to try a blush on me, she asked if wanted her to take off what I already had on….I didn’t have anything on. I have a natural rosiness to my cheeks, and I’ve found that the Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 30 helps minimize my redness. Although it doesn’t claim to help redness, it has ingredients such as green tea and vitamin E, so it has calming properties for your skin.
- Nightly Moisturizer
I was struggling so hard to find a good moisturizer to use at night that helped me to wake up with plump, dewy skin. I had given up all hope, until I discovered the Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb. You can use this as a daytime moisturizer too, but I love slathering this on before bed. I wake up with plump, moisturized skin every morning because of this guy.
- Under Eye Cream
When it comes to under eye cream, I simply look for hydration. My first ever eye cream was a Bobbi Brown eye cream, which I liked, but it wasn’t worth the $50.00 price tag to me. So, I went on a hunt for the perfect eye cream, at a decent price. After trying many that ended up drying out my under-eyes, I ended up loving the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It keeps my under-eyes wrinkle and line free, and at a decent price point.
- Lip Conditioner
It’s easy to forget to moisturize your lips, but it’s just as important as keeping your skin hydrated. I always had a hard time finding a product that worked for me because when my lips get dried out, they get drrryyyy. I’ve found that the Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy works best for me. I put it on my lips at night, and I wake up with soft, flake free lips in the morning.
- Purifying Masks
When I need to deep clean my pores, I have a few go-to products depending on the situation. If I have an area that is breaking out, I turn to the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. It brings everything to the surface and speeds up the clearing time. If I have one or two under the skin pimples that I need to get rid of asap, I use the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. After only 1-2 nights of applying this as a spot treatment, it brings everything to the surface. Lastly, if my problems at the time are blackheads, I always go back to the Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. It will extract everything on your nose for you.
- Hydrating Masks
On the days that my skin is dying for some hydration, I have two go-to masks. One is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. The other is the Too Cool For School Egg Cream Mask Hydration. Both work great, whichever one I use just depends if I want to do a 20 minute sheet mask, or lather something on my face and sleep in it all night. Both masks work wonders for my skin, and leave me with a fresh, plump, hydrated face.
