I have a confession to make…I’m a skin care junkie. When it comes to self-care my favorite thing is taking care of my skin. And that means scouring the shelves for skin care products that actually work!
For years, I thought I had oily acne prone skin. And honestly that was far from the truth. I had dry, combination skin which was producing excess oil due to lack of moisture and it was causing breakouts.
In my early 20’s I gave up apricot scrub and started looking for skin care products that actually work for me and my skin profile. I’ve tried many products along the way and here’s what I learned.
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My Skin Care Profile:
This is what I’m working with when it comes to skin type.
- Aging Skin (Just turned 30 y’all!)
- Uneven skin tone
- Dry, Combination Skin
- Large Pores
- Redness
- Dark Under Eye Circles (Always)
- Occasional Hormonal Acne Breakouts
- Occasionally Sensitive
After doing a lot of research I have worked on revamping my skincare routine to nourish and improve my skin. I have found several amazing products that I swear by. Below is my list of ride-or-die skin care items I can’t live without.
My Favorite Skin Care Products
Make-Up Remover:
Garnier Micellar Water- This is by far my favorite Make-Up remover I’ve ever use. Micellar water is super gentle on your skin and removes makeup easily with no scrubbing.
Cleanser:
It Confidence in a Cleanser– This cleanser is creamy, refreshing, and gentle. A little goes a long way, which I love because it lasts forever. It’s good for all skin types and contains no parabens or sulfates.
Toner:
DIY Toner For Sensitive Skin– I make my own toner at home most of the time. I love this easy DIY using witch hazel and essential oils. It helps to balance your skin while improving skin texture and tone.
Thayer’s Facial Toner with Rose Petal– is another gentle toner that I love. You can use this with a cotton wipe or add it to a spray bottle for a gentle mist. It smells divine and the rose and aloe vera keep it from been too drying. This is especially good for acne breakouts.
Face Masks:
Brightening Sheet Mask– Farmacy sheet masks are very high quality. I love this one for dull and uneven skin tone. I will wear it for the recommended amount of time, and then use my jade roller over top to really allow the essence to sink in. Love the glowing, dewy skin it gives me.
Hydrating Sheet Mask- Another Farmacy sheet mask, I love this one for times when my skin is super dehydrated. It’s great for after traveling or a day in the sun. The coconut water, HLA and cucumber extract are great for helping your skin to retain the moisture. Leave on for 15 minutes and you’re good to go.
Eye Cream:
Eye Cream for Dark Circles– Inkey List is a great and affordable brand from Sephora. Caffeine is a great dark circle reducer and helps to minimize puffiness.
I have always had dark under eye circles and this product has really helped me to combat them quickly. It’s also on the Clean at Sephora list and is under $10!
Combat Fine Lines and Wrinkles– Dr. Brandt’s 24/7 Retinol Eye Cream is definitely a splurge on the list. But, the results are fantastic. I use this at night and wake up in the morning looking more refreshed with less under eye circles, puffiness and finalizes. You use only a pea sized amount for both eyes, and it lasts a very long time.
Serum/Essence:
The Ordinary, “Buffet” Serum- This serum is very inexpensive and works very well on aging, dry, and sensitive skin. It’s a multi-peptide serum that includes hyaluronic acid and amino acids to help you skin have a more youthful and hydrated appearance.
It is also phalate, paraben, and sulfate free, which is a bonus!
Organic Rosehip Oil for Anti-Aging- Rosehip Oil is full of vitamin C and anti-oxidants, which fight aging and give your skin a great glow. Put Rosehip Oil on before at night and awake with glowing, healthy skin.
Retinol to Treat Fine Lines and Wrinkles- Another amazing item from Inkey list that is great for layer is Retinol. It is an anti-aging cream that is derived from Vitamin A. This retinol is slow release which makes it less irritating than other retinol products on the market.
It treats wrinkles, dullness, darkness, and uneven texture.
I use this retinol at night a few times a week. The results of adding retinol to my skin care routine over the last few months have been wonderful.
Moisturizer:
It confidence in a cream- I’ve been using this cream moisturizer for over a year. This cream is luxuriously smooth and thick. It fights aging and is both hydrating and gentle at the same time.
I noticed huge improvements in skin texture and redness when I started using it. I have ordered it twice since I received it in a subscription box!
Sunscreen:
SunBum Face Sunscreen in SPF 50- This sunscreen is definitely my favorite all purpose facial sunscreen. It’s not greasy, breakout resistant, and is Oxy-benzone free (which is important here in Hawaii, to keep our reefs safe.) We always carry a tube of this on the boat and when we go out hiking. It is also very affordable compared to other facial sunscreens.
Tools for Skin Care:
Rose Quartz Facial Roller- A facial roller is a fantastic tool to combat puffiness and inflammation! They help your skins texture and firms while allowing your serums and moisturizers to sink more deeply into your skin.
For an added inflammation bonus put yours in the fridge or freezer 30 minutes before use!
Glass Bottle Fine Mist Sprayers– I love using these mine mist sprayers for my DIY Facial Toner. They can also be used for other toners or micellar water to help make application easier. These glass sprayers help me to use less of each product which saves money!
Silicone Face Scrubber- I love these little scrubbers for your face. They can help to make facial cleansing easier and more effective. Just wet your face and apply cleanser directly to the scrubber. Wash your face and neck gently in a circular motion.
These scrubbers help a lot with large pores and black heads! I loved mine so much a I gave some to my best friend as a gift! And they are very inexpensive.
Skin Care Products for the Body-
Dry Brush for Radiant Skin- I love to dry brush to get rid of dead skin cells. This type of exfoliation is great for your lymphatic system. Dry-brushing also helps you retain moisture from lotions when applied after use.
Spongelle- These buffers are body wash infused with amazing scents. They are an exfoliator and a body wash all in one. Each sponge lasts for at least 14 uses, the body wash in them is super hydrating and smells magnificent.
Spongelle has really helped with the keratosis pilaris on my arms and legs. I have re-ordered these due to how much I loved my first one. Black Orchid and Wild Peony are my current favorite scents.
I also have tried their mani-pedi buffers too, which have a rougher exfoliator on the back side, and will leave your tired feel baby soft!
Take 25% Off Sitewide with code LOVEMOM at Spongelle! Valid 4/27-5/10.
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion- This very affordable lotion is awesome for daily use! It’s great for normal to dry skin. It is nice and thick and rubs smoothly into your skin. It’s great for sensitive skin and has no scent.
Sun Bum SPF 70 Sunscreen – This is my favorite sunscreen company right now. There products work great, smell amazing, and aren’t stick! Water and sweat resistant for 80 minutes, we keep a bottle of this on our boat to keep us safe from the sun. It’s also reef-safe! Woohoo!
Skin Care Products For Aging Skin
Skin-care is an important part of any self-care and beauty routine. But, everyone’s skin is a little different. Genetics, hydration, location, and so much more can dictate how our skin looks and feels.
Using amazing skin care products that will work with your skin type is key to developing a skin care routine that can let your true beauty shine!
Comment below and let me know, what are your ride-or-die skin-care products!
Highly recommend Dermalmd under eye cream best dark circles. It improves the look of your pores and skin, tightens up area, and it really worth the money! Try it out and see for yourself!
Thanks for the recommendation!
Brilliant blog post. I also have super dry skin and have tried (and loved) a few of these products already. Going to give that sheet mask a go though. Sounds lush! Dharma X
I’m so glad that you found something new to try! The sheet masks are very nice and feel like such a treat to put on.