Routinely Speaking: Facial Skin Care

 

            How many of you used to read Kelly Stamps’ blog? She was one of the very first bloggers I read and felt a connection with – though I did not know her in real life. I started reading her blog when she was pregnant with her oldest child, Harper, and now that she’s a teenager, I just have to wonder how she grew up and I’m still the same age! It’s been fun to read along with Kelly’s adventures, and even though she hasn’t posted on her blog for almost two years, she’s active on Instagram, so I keep up with her there.

            A few weeks ago, she posted about her middle child, Hollis, and her extensive skin care routine. It’s extensive in process and research. Hollis is somewhere in the neighborhood of twelve, and all I could think about when I read about her skin care tips was that when I was twelve, I was riddled with acne and hated even washing my face with soap! I never would have been a skin care guru at that age – but Hollis not only has impressive knowledge, she’s something of an influencer. Women were sending Kelly messages asking her to ask Hollis about this or that.

            I may have failed at age twelve when it came to skin care, but I try to do a better job now. If I can keep my face looking a little younger than forty-five for a little bit longer, I will gratefully accept it.

            Today I want to tell you about my own skin care routine, but I also want to be clear that I understand this can be a hot-button topic. (Who knew!? But it’s true!) Different people have different passions when it comes to the products they purchase and use. For some, it’s important that they be made in our country. For others, it’s important that they are not tested on animals. For others, it’s important that they be all-natural. For others, it’s important that the company’s values align with their own. For others, it’s important that they’re affordable. And when it comes to skin care, for some, it boils down to what doesn’t irritate their sensitive skin!

I want you to know before I share my routine that I’ve settled on the products I use for a handful of reasons that work for me in this season of life. It’s okay if you would choose something else! I’m simply sharing in case you’re looking for something to try!

If you look up skin care routines on Pinterest or watch GRWM (Get Ready With Me) videos on social media, you’ll see that some people use dozens of products every day – twice a day! My Grandma, who washed her face with soap and slathered on Ponds Cold Cream before bed, would never have dreamed that such routines could take an extra half hour out of your day – on both ends of your day! I have made a personal choice not to spend that much time on washing/treating/moisturizing my face. That’s been my personal decision. So my routine is fairly simple, and in truth, if it were more complicated, I’d be tempted to skip it entirely. It’s better to buy the things you’ll actually use and then follow through than to invest in a whole kit that takes way too long and ends up sitting under your bathroom sink.

MY MORNING ROUTINE:

ONE. Rinse Face. I start my day by taking a warm washcloth and rinsing off my face to finish pulling away any dirt that showed up since the night before when I officially washed my face.

TWO. Use E.L.F. Toner. I’ve been using the E.L.F. Pure Skin Collection since last April, and I love how it works on my skin and how affordable it is for our budget. I get mine at Walmart, usually, but you can order it through Amazon, too. The toner costs about $9.00, and I’m still on my first bottle (and it sounds/feels like there is still quite a bit left.) I just apply it to a cotton ball and run it over my face, but this year I am hoping to purchase a set of these reusable makeup remover pads that I’ll use for toner application.

THREE. Use E.L.F. Moisturizer. I’ve been using this moisturizer since last April as well, and I’m just now getting to the bottom of the first bottle. I should add that the Pure Skin Collection is fragrance free, void of the bad-for-you things you should try to avoid in cosmetics and is not tested on animals. This bottle costs $12.00 and clearly lasts a while!

That’s it for me for the morning. Rinse, tone, and moisturize. Then I give my face a bit of a break before I apply my makeup.

MY NIGHT ROUTINE:

            ONE. Remove Eye Makeup Using Coconut Oil. I searched high and low for a good eye makeup remover that didn’t cost too much and didn’t irritate my eyes. I mentioned it to my sister one day, and she told me she just uses coconut oil – like the kind you cook with! So on my next trip to Aldi, I bought a little $6.00 jar of coconut oil right out of the baking aisle, and I’ve been using it ever since. It removes all my eye makeup well – including mascara – and is very affordable! I’ve been using a tissue to apply it and remove the makeup, but when I purchase the reusable makeup remover pads, I’ll use those instead.

TWO. Use E.L.F. Cleanser. I purchased this cleanser in April with the other products and I’m nearing the end of my first bottle. It cost $9.00 and is very gentle on my skin. I feel it does a good job of removing all my makeup. I wash my face at the sink using a washcloth, but you could wash with your hands if you prefer.

THREE. Use E.L.F. Toner. Yes, the same toner I use in the morning! I use it again at night after I take off the makeup.

FOUR. Use E.L.F. Vitamin C Serum. I just started this step right before Christmas, so I can’t speak to its long-term effects just yet. I purchased this Vitamin C Serum. I’ve read that Vitamin C helps with a youthful look, so I wanted to see if it works. The bottle is $16.00, and I’m guessing it lasts a while. It smells citrusy and wonderful and just takes a few drops for each application.

FIVE. Use Coconut Oil to Moisturize. I used to put on the E.L.F. moisturizer at night, but I’ve started putting on coconut oil as moisturizer instead, saving the E.L.F. product for the morning. So far it hasn’t created oily skin, nor has it left residue on my pillow. I like how it smells (like the beach!) and it helps me double-moisturize while saving money!

That’s it for the night routine. Remove eye makeup, cleanse face all over, tone, add the serum, and moisturize.

I do have one thing I plan to start doing this year: dry brushing my face in the morning. I learned about dry brushing last year and have this facial dry brush (for $13.00) from Amazon on my wish list. I love the instruction graphic in this post that explains how to directionally run the brush each day to remove dead skin cells and improve the overall health of the skin on your face. So that will be coming into my routine one of these days.

This concludes my tour of my facial skin care routine. It’s within our budget, it’s free of the ingredients I’m trying to avoid, and it works well with my skin – keeping it healthy, breakout-free, and hopefully slowing down the wrinkles!