Skincare

MY ROUTINE:

I recently placed a pretty large order with Beauty Counter in an effort to switch over to safer beauty. I also happened to be out of several items or about to be, and it was the perfect time for me to start with a new regimen. Normally I would not switch over to a whole new regimen all at one time because my skin is so sensitive and acne prone, but because I was low on products, I wanted to go ahead and give this brand a good try! After all, I had heard SO much buzz about it in the blogging community. There also happened to be a site-wide sale going on too 🙂 Typically, I would only try one product at a time so that if I happened to breakout, I would know exactly what caused it, BUT, I was too eager to try them all when they came in!

Fast forward a few months, and I am happy to say that I am VERY pleased and thrilled with all of the products I have tried so far and I already plan on repurchasing when I run out.

I am unable to link any of the products because the BC is not a part of the affiliate program I link products through, but I still want to share what I've been LOVING! Also, I incorporate the products listed above! If you have any questions whatsoever, please don't hesitate to ask. I have struggled with my skin for a very long time and still get breakouts but I feel that I have a pretty good system down now and even have a few tricks for treating breakouts that I will write about sometime in the future. My skin is far from perfect but I have felt that I can go makeup free or at the very least wear minimal makeup where I cover up spots with concealer and lightly powder my face.

Use the two lists above as a guide to help if you are ever unsure of what order you are supposed to apply your skincare!

Let's dive into my current routine...

• MORNING:
  • Step 1: Cleanser – I don't ALWAYS cleanse in the mornings. A lot of the times, I will just use my toner. If you have dry skin, try skipping cleanser in the morning.
    • In addition to a Beauty Counter cleanser I have been enjoying, I also REALLY like the Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser. I love that has a pump, it's under $12, it's gentle for my sensitive skin, AND I can pick it up from Target when I'm running low, too!  I keep the Beauty Counter one in my shower and the Honest Beauty one at my vanity - it just makes it easier instead of having to go back and forth. Neither leave my skin feeling tight or dry afterwards. If your cleanser does this, it's too harsh for your skin.
  • Step 2: Toner – I have been using this toner for as long as I can remember. Alcohol free, gentle, and clean ingredients. Oh, and another product you can buy from Target for under $10. I use a cotton round to apply (we get a ginormous package from Costco, but I really want to look into buying the washable ones to go more 'green'. If you use some or know of a brand, please let me know!) This toner works great on your bikini line too to help prevent ingrown hairs and treat razor bumps.
  • Step 3: Serums – I don't know if turning 30 had anything to do with this or not, but I JUST started incorporating a medical grade Vitamin C serum into my routine. Yikes. Yes, it is expensive, but so are treatments at the spa or dermatologist's office. Because I am pregnant, I can't use Retin A so I looked into what I COULD use that would help treat: . I did a whole bunch of research on this stuff before I actually purchased it (just like I do with pretty much everything) and people say this stuff is GOLD. use in the daytime because it targets dark spots and hyper-pigmentation.
  • Step 4: Moisturizer – When I wear a CC cream I skip this step and just apply SPF and then the CC cream but if I’m wearing foundation I moisturize before with this moisturizer.
  • Step 5: Sunscreen -"Wear it everyday" my mom has always said. My favorite is...
  • Step 6: Foundation - When I'm not pregnant, I use IT Cosmetics CC Cream in the color "light" daily. It contains Retinyl Palimate which is considered to not be pregnancy safe. Shop the rest of my makeup favorites here!