Heya Aspiring Gurus!
I haven’t done an updated skincare routine in ages! Well, that is a little dramatic, more like over a year. A lot has changed in my life and my skin care routine is constantly changing. I haven’t had a steady routine for a long time, not even now. I’m hoping to discover more products that I love. So far, the only constant in my skin care routine has been my Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer. Everything else is in constant flux. I guess, that is to be expected for a skin care junky like myself. I love all things skin care…maybe even more than makeup. Shocking, I know. Any ways, let’s get into my morning skin care routine, which includes my basic makeup face for work. I like to keep my makeup basic for work. I’m there to work, not impress, but I love a little makeup.
Skin Care Routine:
First, I start off my washing my face with whatever sample that I have left over from my subscription boxes or the last drags of a cleanser I didn’t particularly like. I actually subscribed to Beauty Fix and September’s box comes with a facial scrub, so I will be using that. I haven’t found a Holy Grail morning cleanser yet. I just apply my chosen cleanser, leave it on for a minute, then rinse and pat dry. Really simple and easy, because my mornings are busy and my routine needs to be short.
I either use a toner or I go right to my moisturizer. I used to use toner religiously, but it is something that I stopped doing this year. I really want to get back to using it. I want to get a liquid one though. These toner pads are too scratchy and harsh on my delicate facial skin. I want to buy a Burt’s Bees one and get some exfoliating cotton rounds. Or the Pixi Glow Tonic, I’ve heard amazing things about that one as well.
My current moisturizer is my Holy Grail and I will never stray too far from it. I love the Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 so much! I do have my eye on the Neutrogena Grapefruit Acne Fighting Daily Moisturizer, since I do get acne and I find that having an acne lotion works really well at treating and preventing them. I tend to find them drying, so I always use them every other day. I still get the acne fighting effect without it over drying my skin and making it even more oily than it normally is. I have oily skin. Always have and most likely always will. I’m finding out what works and what doesn’t. I have to use moisturizer. If I don’t, my skin is even oilier from lack of moisture and it overcompensates. I use one pump, brush my fingers together, and tap most of the product on my cheeks before moving to cover my forehead and T zone. I also go down my neck with whatever remains. I’m heavy on my cheeks and jaw line, where I tend to be drier. This leaves my face slightly dewy, before it soaks in. It usually takes two to 5 minutes to completely soak in and look matte.
Then, I like to add on some skin protection, since I have a genetic history of skin cancer and have had two scares so far in my short life. Cancer is no joke and everyone should be using actual SPF in their routine. SPF in your moisturizer isn’t enough. Now, I’ll get off my soap box. I look for acne safe SPF that will not clog my pores or make me more oily. I pour a quarter sized amount on my fingers and dab some of my neck, cheeks, and forehead. I rub in my neck first, then my forehead, then my cheeks bringing the product to the rest of my T zone as well. I will apply another quarter sized amount of product and repeat. This ensures that I am getting all the protection that I need from the sun on my daily adventures (going to work or daily events). It takes 5 to 10 minutes for this to sink in and for the white cast to disappear. It leaves my skin with a healthy glow after. I look hydrated and healthy. I will usually have breakfast and get dressed during this time.
I will prime my eyes to prevent them from getting too oily throughout the day and to get rid of the purple discoloration that I have. My veins color my eye lids to look like I’m always wearing purple shadow. A skin colored primer cancels this out perfectly. Right now, I am using ELF and I warm it up on the back on my hand before applying it. I would not repurchase this. It is dry unless you warm it up first to get it creamy. That wastes product though and I’d rather just use a creamy product in the first place.
I will then use my current base with a flat Kabuki brush. I love using this brush to apply foundation. It blends out like a dream. I am using a travel sized version of Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, which has just enough coverage for my taste. I really love it for that everyday look. It gives my skin a healthy glow and depending upon my mood, I will sometimes not use powder after. It is just a pretty finish that sometimes I don’t feel like covering it up with powder. I apply from the outside of the face in to the center.
If I have any redness or acne peeking through, I will add my trusty concealer on top. I want to try the Nars dupe from Maybelline when I am done with this one. This does not completely cover acne and I think it works better for dark circles. It brightens up that area while concealing the purple color as well. I always use a little underneath my eyes, since I have hereditary dark circles. It is very creamy and blends out really well. I like using a foundation brush in a tapping motion to blend it into my tinted moisturizer.
While my face sets, I will style my hair. It can take me anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes most weekday mornings. I will then decide depending on how my skin looks that day, to use a highlighter or a staining blush. If I want to look glowy and skip powder, I will chose a highlighter. The pink one doubles as a blush! I use it on the apples of my cheeks and blend in a c shape going towards my hairline and onto my temples. It gives me that light from within glow. I then, pat some of the inner corners of my eyes and on my eyebrow arch. Most of the time, I forget the cupids bow. It is a subtle glow with micro-shimmer, instead of obnoxious glitter.
If I am feeling like I want to use powder, I will use a staining blush. This one from Pixi looks scary, but it blends out into the most beautiful sun kissed glow. It has that beach vibe to it that I love. A little goes a long way, but I find that it is foolproof to apply. Even when I use a little too much, I can still blend it to look natural. I use my fingers and concentrate on the apples of my cheeks before blending out towards my hairline. It gives it a nice faded effect and best of all, no harsh blush lines!
If I decide to powder, I use a fluffy brush and apply the powder in a tapping motion concentrating on the T zone and lightly coating the cheeks and neck. I don’t love the one that I am using, but it is good for setting my makeup and keeping me matte throughout the day. By the end of the day, I am oily, but not as oily as well I use zero powder. It doesn’t add much color, but it does lighten the skin a little bit. It hasn’t broken me out, which is a good thing in my book.
That is my morning routine! I might just go ahead and do my evening routine tomorrow, but these types of posts have been draining to my lately with being pregnant and all. I might just do a book review post instead, I hope you all don’t mind. I want to see your morning routines! If you have a post on one, link it in the comments section below. I love reading these types of posts!
With Love,
Home Sweet Phoenix Cove 