Today I’m going to dig in a little bit deeper to talk about something that has made a direct impact on my everyday life: skin care.
Most people suffer from bouts of bad skin starting in middle or high school (when my acne first appeared), but mine really exploded in college.
Having awful acne affected me both physically and mentally and it was truly a painful experience.
I often would take control of where my friends and I would head to dinner based on which place offered dark lighting because I was so self-conscious of my terrible skin. I tried just about everything: topical creams, washes, vitamins, devices — it seemed like the more I did the worse it got. Especially with harsh East Coast winters when my skin would be both broken out and dry. Total nightmare!
Through a lot of trial and error I figured out my best skin care routine that has literally changed my life.
My skin type can best be described as acne-prone combination — my forehead and T-zone are oily but my cheeks get tight and dry. My breakouts mostly occur on my cheeks, almost never on my forehead or nose, but I do get them around my nose or jawline when I’m sick.
The first major change I made was to start incorporating makeup removing wipes into both my morning and nighttime routines. I found that no matter how much I washed my face, I’d still see makeup on each wipe if I’d run it over my skin after a cleansing session. The biggest game changer? Making sure the wipes I purchase are exfoliating-friendly. Getting dead skin off of your face will not only help avoid a dry, flaky face, but it will also help to skirt breakouts.
I never understood why I would need a moisturizer on my oily skin until I started using one and saw changes immediately. I turned 30 last fall, so decreasing the look of fine-lines is definitely on my agenda, which means moisture-rich products fill up a good portion of my makeup bag.
This brings me to one of my new favorite product lines: Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Cosmetics! Until I had the opportunity to try this line, I wasn’t really aware of makeup products that were specifically made to hydrate. I’ve been using the Hydrating Tint for about a week now and have noticed that the makeup (made with hyaluronic acid) doesn’t settle into my pores or wrinkles, rather it smooths them out and makes me look more youthful. I’m also pretty in love with the applicator, because I’ve never seen a foundation that wasn’t super messy meaning I’m not accidentally spraying a glob onto my bathrobe or towels…
#blessed
After I swipe on my face, I use a brush to blend it all in. The shade is called Nude which matches my face perfectly. I have a strange skin tone that’s really hard to duplicate in makeup form — a sort of olive/yellow but also very fair. It’s rare for me to be able to match without blending shades, so I was pleased to find this easy option.
I’m a full-coverage kind of girl, which I have a love/hate relationship with. I love the way the makeup looks on my skin for the most part, but I hate how heavy it feels, especially when I’m out in the California sun. The Hydrating Tint is the very first product I used that doesn’t feel full-coverage but still works to cover any scars or imperfections. I noticed that I shaved several minutes of my makeup routine this way and used way less product saving me money in the grand scheme!
To lock in this look, I use Neutrogena® SkinClearing Cosmetics Mineral Powder. I find that most makeup products that promise clear skin cause my skin to itch or dry out, but this line is sensitive enough for my skin type. I go a shade lighter with Classic Ivory because I need this powder primarily around my eyes which have very dark circles. On my cheeks and forehead I use the orange side of the applicator for sheer coverage and under my eyes I try out the white side for fuller coverage.
It’s also important to note that the Hydro Boost line includes lip products as well. I purchased the Hydrating Lip Shine which promises lips to looks and feel hydrated for 24 hours. The applicator is flat, unlike most that are more cylindrical, lending to an even-keeled, easy swipe on that really does lock in hydration. The color I’m using here is called Berry Brown.
Aside from these makeup tips, I also suggest drinking tons of water, eating well, and avoiding alcohol for the most part.
Please let me know if you have any questions about these products or my skin care routine in general! I’d love to help anyone trying to get their skin to a better place.
1 Comment
The article is great. To maintain healthy skin, you must not only follow the correct daily skin care routine, but also choose skin care products that suit your skin. Neutriherbs skin care products are my favorite. They use natural formulas and environmentally friendly materials. There is no Stimulate, but also nourish the skin very well, the focus is on all types of skin.