UPDATED SKIN CARE ROUTINE : SPRING/SUMMER 2016

 

If you’ve been riding with me for awhile here, you know my skin is….seasonally temperamental.

Sassy. It’s sassy.

In the winter, I’m dry as the Sahara. In the summer, I’m oily as can be. Spring and Fall are sort of my ‘transitional’ seasons with my skin. That’s when I become more combination. So naturally, I have to adjust my skin care routine to accommodate.

So I thought I would share my current skin care routine for combo, acne prone skin, in hopes that if you’re someone who’s struggling with keeping their skin clear and properly hydrated but not overly oily, you’ll be able to pick up some tips!

Let’s get started!

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MAKEUP REMOVAL

  Before I even think about cleansing my skin, I always remove as much makeup as I can with makeup remover wipes. Lately I’ve been using the Equate Beauty Night-Time Soothing Makeup Remover Towelettes to break down my foundation and concealer and any other face products.
To remove my eye makeup, I still use extra virgin coconut oil, and then remove all the gunky residue with another makeup remover wipe. The coconut oil breaks down any and all eye makeup, and conditions the lashes all at the same time, keeping them soft and strong.

CLEANSING

Since I’ve been oily and dry all at the same time, while still battling acne, I’ve set aside my regular acne cleanser, and upped my exfoliation game to daily. It’s really not recommended that you exfoliate daily, however I’ve found that it’s working well for me, as long as I do it gently. While in the morning, I only use a makeup remover wipe to wipe away any oil on my face from the overnight hours, each night, (especially if I’ve worn makeup that day) I’ve been using my Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask as a cleanser. Sugar is water soluble and a gentle enough exfoliant to remove the dead skin cells that clog your pores and contribute to breakouts, the charcoal helps to draw impurities like dirt and makeup out of your pores, and again, it’s not widely recommended to exfoliate daily, though it’s not nearly as harsh as broken shards of stone fruits in say, the St. Ives line of exfoliating cleansers.

MOISTURIZE & TREAT 

 

 This is where I try to moisturize and treat all at the same time. And this happens in one of two ways.
On days I’m not planning on wearing makeup, I apply my Vicco Turmeric Skin Cream with Sandalwood Oil immediately after cleansing/exfoliating (click the link to read a full review). Turmeric is great for fighting breakouts and fading old acne scars, and Sandalwood Oil helps to fight breakouts as well as regulate oil production on the skin. It has a slight yellow tint to it, which is fine on bare skin because it helps to balance any redness, but I’ve found that it just doesn’t work well under my makeup.
So for days that I do plan to wear makeup, I first moisturize with my Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Dry Skin, which is lightweight, hydrating, never greasy, and absorbs super fast! Over that, I then apply my Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel, which also soothes redness, hydrates, controls oil, and is great for use during an active breakout as it helps to heal it, and makes a great primer for the skin before makeup. I especially like to use the aloe vera gel as a ‘primer for my primer’ if you will, creating a barrier between my skin and any chemicals I’m going to put on top of it that are in my makeup.

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So there you have it! That’s my current skin care routine for the spring and summer months, for combination, acne prone skin. And it’s working rather well! Just see for yourself!

 

  What are some of the skin care products you’re loving for the warmer weather? Leave me a comment and let me know!

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REVIEW – MARY KAY TIMEWISE MICRODERMABRASION KIT

 I feel like it’s been a hot minute since I’ve talked about skin care – and now that winter in New England is in full force, you guys know (if you’ve been following me for awhile) that my normally combo/oily skin has been super duper dried out. Like flaky, peeling, crepey dry.
For a short time, my best friend Sandra was selling Mary Kay products. Since she’s decided to stop, she has been discounting her remaining stock, and I was able to scoop up the Mary Kay Timewise Microdermabrasion Kit from her for $10. TEN DOLLARS!! It is a trial size set, which I believe she was originally selling at $20, but still….that’s a great deal!
The full size set normally retails for $55, and this mini-kit included a bonus ‘Mini Replenishing Serum + C’, and that itself retails for about $56!
I won’t get any sort of long term use from this kit, but for someone who’s never done microdermabrasion (unless you count the weekly exfoliating face mask) it was a good place to start!

Let’s get into the review!

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PACKAGING 

 

 This comes in a small light pink box with black trim, and the Mary Kay name printed vertically down the front right side. The box is small, maybe 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches, and opens to reveal three products inside:
 Step 1 Refine scrub – .5 fl oz
Step 2 Replenish lotion – .17 fl oz
BONUS Replenishing Serum + C – .17 fl oz

Step 1 comes in a flip-top squeezey tube, and the other two products come in small vial like bottles with a pump (which I always appreciate!). Again, light pink and black packaging, signature to Mary Kay products.

FORMULA

 

 Step 1 is the actual microdermabrasion scrub. It comes out of the tube in a medium thick, lotion consistency, with no fragrance to it.

 

 Step 2 is a replenishing lotion, with a milky like consistency, and an almost pink/lavender/iridescent kind of color to it. There is no scent.

 

 The bonus Replenishing Serum + C is a pale yellow color, fluid lotion, and it smells vaguely citrus-like, but not strong enough that it would be overpowering to someone who is sensitive to fragrance.

APPLICATION & WEAR

Now for the fun part! Prior to applying step one, you should have freshly cleansed skin, but  you should use a very gentle cleanser – it specifically warns against using something harsh, or with acne medication in it, as it can irritate the skin. Try something like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($8).
So after cleansing, I applied a nickel sized amount of product onto my finger tips, and began gently massaging into dampened skin. Immediately I could feel the exfoliation, and the granules are so fine that it feels almost like sand (in a good way). I gently massaged in small circles all around my face for about 1-2 minutes, really focusing on the areas that have been extra flaky lately; the sides of my nose, my forehead, chin, and across the tops of my cheeks. Then I rinsed with warm water.
Next I applied Step 2, and one pump is enough for the entire face. It glides onto the skin very easily, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t leave behind any sort of shiny, greasy residue. It felt incredibly hydrating, too, which my skin just drank right up!
And finally, for the Replenishing Serum + C – the instructions say to apply 3 pumps (although I think 2 is plenty) after Step 2 has absorbed, and instructs to apply it in the morning and at night as well. I don’t know if it’s the ‘C’ in this product, but I felt like my skin just glowed when I put this on! It felt great!

When I woke up the next morning, my skin looked brand new! A few minor breakouts were gone, it looked so much smoother and baby’s-butt soft – I couldn’t believe I was looking at my own skin!
Now it’s not exactly a miracle product – don’t expect that you use it once and all your skin woes disappear forever – but I didn’t realize just how much dry skin was built up on my face until I used this!

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Have you guys tried microdermabrasion? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

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LOTS OF LOVE & SMOOTH SKIN!