I have a confession. I’m 43 years old and I could be one of the last people that DOES NOT have a skincare regimen.  When I tell you I’m rough around the edges, I mean it.  My routine consisted of using regular anti-bacterial dial soap that lays on the sink all day, followed by whatever body lotion I have at the moment. I know, I know, I should be ashamed of myself!  And to add to it, I have frequently gone to bed with a face full of make-up.  I’m sure you’re cringing by now so I decided to grow up and adopt some sort of a routine before my face decides to rebel.

The Basics

Alright, so before I jumped headfirst into buying stuff, I did a little research for the simplest steps to a thorough skincare routine and find out why we do them. I was pleasantly surprised because the steps were all steps that I am currently familiar with. 

Step 1 – Cleanse – This helps rid your skin of all the oils, make-up, toxins and grime from the day.

Step 2 – Tone – This removes any debris left behind and helps neutralize the skin’s natural ph.

Step 3 – Exfoliate- Removes all the dead skin cells (doesn’t have to be done every day)

Step 4 – Serum – This step allows deep penetration of nutrients and is usually done at night.

Step 5 – Moisturize – Protects and adds the moisture back into your skin

Trial and Error

Once I got the steps down, I really wanted to see what was out there before I committed to any particular product.  I gathered samples when I ordered things from Ulta and Sephora and I would frequent the aisles of TJ Maxx. They had a ton of different products and the prices were friendly. Use this time to see what type products and brands agree with your skin.  I ended up tossing a few due to my skin’s reactions. 

Honorable Mention

After looking at a few items I committed to two different moderately priced brands because they provided a “starter kit”. I loved this because it gave me a chance to use the whole line of products together before purchasing them individually. 

Murad – Start Bright Here

This was highly effective especially for removing the dark spots, but it was a little too harsh for my skin. I began breaking out around my mouth with fine bumps on two separate occasions, so I stopped using this one immediately. I will say it really began lightening those spots so if your skin is a little less sensitive, you should give it a shot.

Mario Badescu - All is calm

I’m enjoying this group of products. I was shocked that the enzyme cleanser doesn’t create bubbles, so I have to constantly tell myself that my face is clean even without bubbles…. Lololol.  I will say that even though there were only five different products, it felt like there were sooooo many steps.  I’m a simple girl and really felt I needed to also look for something more realistic that I would be able stick to.  The products here were all great though, especially the toner, face mist and night cream.  My skin felt so nourished.

The Winner Is…

After testing out the various products and routines I’ve finally landed on one drugstore find.  Cetaphil is great for sensitive combination skin like my own and the regimen is more manageable for my lifestyle and pockets.  The cleanser makes bubbles and the moisturizer isn’t too greasy.  I also picked up this Biore’ toner because I loved that part of the skincare process. 

I will continue to indulge in the occasional face oil, mist and night cream but for a standard skincare program I think this three-step process will suit me just fine.

Thanks for listening and until next time,