Hi dolls!

Thanks so much for the love in my last post! 🙂

Today I wanted to talk about skin care. I’ve read too many posts about makeup (not that I’m complaining), but it’s also so important to really take care of your skin. You can be the best makeup artist and have the best beauty products, but at the end of the day, you need a clean canvas to work with.

Now, I’m not saying you have to be acne free to put your makeup on perfectly. However, there are steps to having amazing skin. I struggled with acne in my teens, and recently noticed that my skin has become healthier, and better looking now that I’m actually taking care of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I do get a few breakouts and I have areas in my face that are always red, so my skin is far from perfect. I just wanted to share the products and skin care routine that I use to keep my face looking fresh. Oh yeah! Before I forget, prevention is key!! It’s never too early to start preventing wrinkles and protecting your skin from the sun.

Let’s get started. 🙂

Me sans makeup and coffee to kick-start my skin care routine for you! Coffee is surprisingly good for your skin, too. *Happy dance*

So I know most people will tell you to moisturize and clean your face right when you wake up, but truthfully, that just makes my skin more oily. When I cleansed my face both in the morning and at night, I broke out a lot and I think it’s because my skin couldn’t handle that much product.

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I use sunblock before applying my makeup (because as you all know I’m oily and cannot use moisturizer) and I’ve noticed that it has helped my skin. Not only does it give me protection from the sun, but I’ve seen that my skin has more of a glow. As I mentioned before, I tend to get red, especially around my nose, cheeks and chin. Sunblock helps reduce the redness as well as preventing facial brown spots and discoloration. Most of all, sunblock is your best friend when it comes to preventing wrinkles!

I also take vitamins. I like the Hair, Skin and Nails product. (If you buy it at Walgreens, they usually have a buy 1, get 1 free!). I pop 3 each day, and it’s better to take them with your meals. On days when I don’t feel like wearing makeup, I apply Younique’s Rose Water spray. Not only is the rose-water relaxing, but it hydrates your skin without making your face feel greasy. It also helps with skin irritation.

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I always, always wash my face at night! Even if I’m tired as hell I will NOT go to sleep with my makeup on. When I get home from work, the first thing I do is take off my makeup. Your face needs to breathe. My favorite cleanser is Dove soap. The most basic and affordable face wash. I use the regular soap bar. This product was actually recommended to me by my dermatologist. I had terrible breakouts in high school, and tried almost every cleanser from drugstore face washes to prescription ones and Dove has been the BEST!!! If you have sensitive skin, this the perfect product!

One of my favorite cleansers is the Olay Total Effects 7 Blemish Control and Salicylic Acid Acne Cleanser. BUT, after trying to find a link for you guys, I just discovered it’s been discontinued. 😦 So sorry!!! I will say that I’ve tried the Olay Total Effects 7 Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser and it works just as fabulous. I honestly love Olay because this is a product my grandmother has used forever and her skin is beyond amazing. I love these cleansers because it helps tighten your skin, while also minimizing wrinkles. Prevention is key, y’all. You can’t expect to use anti-aging products at 50 and expect for the wrinkles to disappear. It starts now, but of course, we don’t have to go crazy. Baby steps.

When I breakout (because unfortunately I do!), I use Retin-A. This product works wonders if you have bad breakouts. Although, I don’t use this product if I have one or two pimples. I only use it when my pimples are pretty bad. This product really dries your face and makes you peel. A little really does go a long way. My dermatologist prescribed this acne product to me and my life has changed! I’ve tried most products, and at one point I had to even take pills to help with my acne. When I started using this face cream, I noticed my skin became better.

At the end of the day, it’s all about what works best for you. All skin types are different and this is the routine that I use and luckily, it has worked for me.

A few skin care bonuses:

While cleansing your face is important, so are these few tips.

1. Be sure to clean your makeup brushes often! I don’t clean mine as often as I should, but I do get breakouts when my brushes are dirty. Makeup wipes and a brush cleaner can do the trick!
2. This might sound silly, but water has seriously done wonders. I constantly drink water, even when I eat out. Adding a few lemons can also help your skin, especially if you want a glow.
3. Eating healthier. I’m not the healthiest person, but I do try to eat vegetables and fruits. When I’m about to start my period, I really pay attention to what I’m eating because that’s when I break out the most. Eating healthy is not only great for your skin, but it’s just great in general.
4. Exercise! This is something new to me. I’ve noticed that working out has not only helped with my stress, but my body feels so much better. When you take care of your body and health, you’re also helping your skin.

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I hope you enjoyed this post! I would love to learn about the products you use! 🙂