At the encouragement of a friend I thought I would talk a little bit about clean skincare and in particular my skincare regimen. So you don’t think you’re taking unsolicited advice from a stranger online, I’m showing my credentials of being an aesthetician for 15 years—I can’t believe it’s been that long!! I’ve always been drawn to clean products since I went to esthiology school all those years ago. I believe what you put on your skin is just as important as what you put in your body. Although I’m not perfect (I do love a good chemical peel!) I try to have the products that I use every day to be free from harmful ingredients.
My philosophy has always been to take the best care of my skin so that I don’t have to wear a lot of makeup. I’ve never been into makeup or very good at applying it, so that forced me to focus on my skin and keeping it as healthy as possible. Trust me I’ve had to work hard at keeping my skin healthy all of my adult life. As a teenager I struggled with acne and as an adult I struggle with hormonal breakouts. I’ve never been the person blessed with naturally flawless skin or someone who doesn’t do anything but somehow it still looks amazing. It’s always something with me and it’s a constant WIP!
Before I get started on what I use I want to share a tip with you. Don’t be afraid to listen to your skin and how it feels. Depending on how mine feels on a daily basis I adjust what I use! I change/add products depending on the season. It’s normal to change products with the change of the seasons. Listen to your skin and give it what it needs! Also I’m sharing what I personally use and love. Everyone has different skin needs so some of the products I use might not be best for your skin. If you have products you love keep using them! If however you’ve been wanting to try clean products and slowly replace products you’re currently using with clean products then this post is for you! I’m certainly not saying to throw away everything you are using and buy all new. More so use this as a guide to try some new things!
So without further ado let’s chat about my skincare routine!
Morning Routine:
Cleanse:
In the morning I use 1 of 2 cleansers depending on how my skin feels. Since it’s summer I tend to use a different cleanser than what I use in the fall and winter. My summer morning cleanser is the Odacite Green Ceremony cleanser. This green powder cleanser transforms into a fluffy mousse with just a few drops of water. My skin tends to be oilier in the warmer weather so I can tolerate using this cleanser daily. If you have drier skin this cleanser would work for you to use it 2-3 times a week. I like to apply it right before I get into the shower and leave it on while I shower and then rinse it off before exiting the shower. It doubles as a mask that way!
In the fall and winter I use Lilfox Amazon After Dark cleansing balm. This cleansing balm not only smells amazing but it will completely elevate your cleansing experience. To use this balm I apply a pea size amount on my face and neck making sure to avoid your eyes and work the product into my skin. Then once the product has been evenly distributed I wet my fingertips and work the product into my skin for about a minute. Adding in the water turns the balm into a milky cleanser helping you get a deeper clean. Then I rinse it off. You would think if you have oily skin you wouldn’t want to use a cleansing balm but you would be wrong! The right oil breaks down oil. Therefore this balm works well for all skin types! Lilfox specifically formulates her products so that they do not clog the pores or cause breakouts, and the products work well for all skin types. I also find that Lilfox products are gentle and non-reactive on my sensitive to certain ingredients skin. Another reason I love Lilfox products so much—because any skin type can use them!
Tone:
After cleansing I tone my skin with Lilfox Bitter Orange toning mist. Toning is generally a step most people skip. But toning is essential to rebalancing your skin’s pH level after cleansing. If you have ever experienced your skin feeling super tight after cleansing that’s because the cleanser you have used has stripped all of the oils off your skin thus leaving your skin unbalanced. So toning helps to re-balance your skin. I also find it essential to use especially if you are using face oils instead of moisturizers as it helps to spread the product so that you’re not over using the oils or serums.
Treat:
To treat my skin I apply Beautycounter’s Counter+ All bright C serum. I just started using this one two weeks ago but I really like it so far. Previously I was using the Lilfox vitamin C serum and it was just OK. I didn’t get the results from it I was hoping for so I decided to try this Beautycounter one. Let the product absorb fully into the skin for 2 to 3 minutes.
Eye cream:
I use the Eminence Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream. I struggle with dark circles and this eye cream definitely works! The only downside is if you wear concealer it causes the eye cream to flake off. So if you wear eye make up I would not recommend this eye cream to you for daytime use. Otherwise I love the results I get from it and feel like I immediately see a difference after applying it.
Moisturize:
If I need extra moisture I use Lilfox Prickly Pear Illuminating Face Nectar. I absolutely love this face oil! I apply 2-5 drops only to my face and neck. You don’t need to use a lot of this product because the ingredients are so concentrated. It instantly hydrates and plumps my skin and gives me a beautiful glow!
Sunscreen:
I use Glowscreen and I absolutely love this stuff! It’s a clean sunscreen and it won’t break you out or cause sensitivity. The Glowscreen has a slight tint to it and as the name suggests makes your skin glow. I love dewy and glowing skin but if you do not share the same feelings you might want to try unseen sunscreen. To me dewy and glowing skin is a sign of healthy skin and I personally love the look.
Evening Routine:
Cleanse:
At night I use the Odacite Black Mint Cleanser. I like to use this cleanser at night because if I do have mascara on I’ll use this cleanser to remove it. It does contain mint but I find that my eyes are not sensitive to it at all and I have never had an issue using it to remove my mascara. Normally gel cleansers that foam up are overly drying and strip the skin’s natural oils off. This cleanser does not do that! In fact I would recommend this cleanser for all skin types even dry ones. It is a fantastic all around cleanser! Just make sure to shake the bottle before each use as the charcoal has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the bottle.
Tone:
To help prevent breakouts I use Saturday Skin Glycolic Toner at night. I use this toner every single day because my skin can handle it. If you have sensitive skin or dry skin I would recommend only using it 2 to 3 times a week. Conversely you can also just use the Bitter Orange toner.
Treat:
To treat my skin at night are use Lilfox Dewy Bean Dream. I absolutely love this product! It’s a retinol alternative serum that hydrates and plumps your skin. It also is exfoliating which helps to remove dry skin as well as brighten and even out your skin’s texture. When I wake up in the morning my skin is plumped, hydrated, and dewy. The serums texture is interesting and definitely takes a little bit to get used to but I really like it. It feels like a slightly sticky serum upon application. You then massage it into your skin until the serum no longer has slip to it and it becomes tacky.
And that’s it! These are the products that I use on a daily basis and how I apply them. I know it may seem like a lot and it definitely is a lot of information to take in. I do have masks that I like to use several times a week but so that I don’t overwhelm you with information I will save that for another blog post. If you have any comments or questions please leave them below!
