My Skincare Routine & Tips

December 18, 2018 by Brittany Boone

This post is one of those topics that I love to talk about and get asked about so many times on social media, but I haven’t done enough posts on it yet. That would be my skincare routine and what I do on a daily, weekly, and every 6 week basis. Last year during this time I talked about some of my favorite winter beauty products that I use, and this time I am talking about my entire skin routine. Your skin is one of those things that can show every sign of state that you are in and the environment’s effects as well. Whether you are dehydrated, stressed, or was just out in the sun, your skin will be able to tell it. As my esthetician has always told me, you can cover up your body but not your face. We all have probably tanned when we were younger, not worn moisturizer, or forgot to take off our makeup. I am guilty of several of these, but have tried over the years to really focus more on my skincare and getting products that actually work well for me. Not every product that is advertised or that you see another blogger using is going to work with your skin. It has been a tried and true journey, but these tips and routine below have worked for me so far.

My Skincare Routine

Wash with a Gentle Cleanser: I do not splurge when it comes to face cleansers. There is no point as the majority of them are just supposed to remove the day away from dirt and impurities. This Vanicream Gentle Cleanser is about as pure as it can get and free from sulfates, fragrance, and dye. It is a great cleanser under $10 that is gentle for daily use and is moisturizing enough to use during the cooler winter months as well.
Tone with Micellar Water: This is one of those holy grail products that I never not use. If I have been out late and feel lazy and too tired to wash my face, I still at least soak a cotton pad in this Bioderma Micellar Water before going to bed. This stuff is better than any toner I have used, and it takes off your makeup while being one of the best products you can put on your face.
Add a Serum: Every morning I use about 4 drops of this Skin Ceuticals Phloretin CF. This has some of the best anti aging ingredients of any serum that I have found. My dermatologist recommended this for me to start using, and I love the brightening and anti aging benefits it has on my face. It helps with environmental factors with a high concentration of phloretin and vitamin C that improves cell turnover and helps lighten the sign of discoloration. This serum is one of my splurge items, but I feel like for a serum it is worth it. At night when I don’t use retinol, I will alternate with this nightly anti aging lifting serum as well. This one doesn’t have as much anti aging ingredients, but it is a good serum to have on hand.
Use Retinol Nightly: I now have been using my Skin Medica Retinol almost every night. I put one pump into my hand and put it all over my face. There are varying strengths of retinol out there. I have just been doing the .25%, but could increase the strength since my skin is not irritated by it daily. If you aren’t using a retinol at night, it is time to use one. This is the best anti aging product you can start using and it truly does make a difference. Make sure you do wear sunscreen every day when you are using this product, as your sensitivity to the sun increases.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: One thing my mom has always told me is to moisturize my face to help prevent wrinkles and dry skin. This is so true and is the simplest way to remain youthful and feel glowy. I always apply moisturizer in the morning after my face serum and at night after my retinol. I have been using this it Cosmetics Moisturizing Super Cream and it provides the perfect amount of moisture. Due to contrary belief, even if you have oily skin like mine you still need to wear moisturizer every single day.
Don’t Forget About Your Eyes: The eye area is such a delicate area and one that can often get overlooked. It is so important to be able to moisturize and provide the anti aging that this area needs. The eye area is one of the first areas to show signs of aging, so it is important to always uByese an eye cream. I love this Yon-Ka phyto contour eye cream that I use every single morning. I keep it in the fridge and when I am making my coffee I put it all over my lids and underneath my eyes. It has a minty smell to it which is really helpful in the morning to make you feel more awake. It helps with de-puffing, dark under eye circles, and to help lift the skin.
Always Use SPF: The last step I do is apply my sunscreen after my moisturizer before I start putting my makeup on. This is a step that can not be missed. Even if it is not sunny outside, you still need to apply SPF every single day to shield yourself from those rays you can’t even see. I have tried lots of sunscreens out there but have loved this Elta MD Sunscreen. It is clear and provides great coverage without being too thick like other sunscreens can be. There are also a lot of sunscreens that have too many chemicals in them, and this one does not which is also a huge plus.

My Favorite Skin Care Tips

Get a Facial Regularly: You can use all of the great products you want, but until you incorporate a facial into your routine as well I don’t know if you will see the best benefits. I started getting facials when I was 16 and had bad acne. It took years of my body getting into a routine and under control, before I could honestly say that I am comfortable now with my skin. I get a facial every 6 weeks because that is my splurge item to myself, and I honestly feel and look my best when I do this. Whether we do a regular facial with extractions and a soothing mask or do the bio lift with the currency machine, it helps no matter what. When you start to go regularly your esthetician will start to know your skin and will recommend products that are best for your skin at that time.
Add Some Collagen: I am a sucker now for collagen, but think so for good reasons. It is something that boosts your elasticity and the more collagen for your skin the better. Not only does it help your skin, but also your nails and hair too. I have mentioned before in this post that I add a scoop of natural collagen peptide into my coffee every morning. This is a flavorless powder that you can add to anything from smoothies to oatmeal that is an easy health benefit.
Visit Your Dermatologist: It is important to visit your dermatologist once a year for an annual skin exam. This is good to start getting in the habit of doing. Many years of laying in the sun can do more damage than you think to your skin. I go to Metropolitan Dermatology Institute here in Houston and love it. It doesn’t feel like a doctor’s office and the products and recommendations that they have given me have been great so far. Take the time to do this and get into a routine. The next thing I want to do is some in office peels that would give me that extra glow.
Use a Mask Weekly: If I am going to an event I always try to put on a mask prior to the event. I swear by these sheet masks that I have mentioned several times before on my Instagram stories. They work wonders and the hyaluronic acid in them is something that our skin needs more of. I prefer sheet masks to any other type of masks because they give me that glow and plumpness that I love. On Sunday nights is my typical mask routine as well that I get prepared for the week. Depending on if I am breaking out or have other issues, I will use a clay mask too. Know your skin and try to do a minimum of once a week for a mask.
Don’t Forget About Your Neck and Chest: We get concerned so much with our face that we sometimes forget to extend the products down to our neck and chest area. This area is just as important as our face and will show signs of aging if we don’t take care of this area too. In our generation of looking down at our phones now more than ever, the neck area is more important to focus on.
Exfoliate/Exfoliate/Exfoliate: I try to exfoliate my face and body 3 times a week if I can. This involves using a mild body exfoliator and my favorite face exfoliator here. The little rice beads are not irritating and cleansing off the dead skin is key for a more healthy looking skin. I also try to body brush before I get in the shower. This involves using my body brush on dry skin in light strokes moving towards the heart. It is a simple step that increases your circulation and skin texture over continued use.

Giveaway

I hope you all have enjoyed seeing my skin care routine and tips and let me know if you have any questions. In honor of the holidays I wanted to do a giveaway for you all on Instagram. I am giving away to (1) lucky winner all of my favorite makeup products that I use from it Cosmetics. Check out the steps below for how to win!

Winner will win all of these iT Cosmetics Pieces: $380 Value!!! (5 piece makeup brushes, Bye Bye Breakout concealer, CC Cream with SPF 50+, Bye Bye Under Eye Illuminator Concealer, Perfect Lightning Radiant Touch Magic Wand, CC Airbrush Perfecting Powder, Bye Bye Redness Correcting Powder, Confidence in a Compact with SPF 50+, Bye Bye Pores Illumination, Brow Power Eyebrow Pencil, Bye Bye Redness Skin Relief Treatment Moisturizer, Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream)