Hi friends!

Happy 2018! It feels like forever since I have sat down to write a blog post. I got caught up in the holiday craziness and ended up sick for the first week of the new year. Not exactly how I wanted to kick off the year, but hey at least I’m finally feeling back to normal these days.

I figured there is no time like the present to share my current daily skincare routine with you, especially with the number the extremely dry weather has done on my skin this year.I have NEVER experienced dryness and know I cannot be alone.

The below steps may seem like a lengthy process but after getting used to the routine I have noticed, my skincare routine is something I truly love!

1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Vitamin C Serum
4. Retinoid
5. Moisturizer
6. Eye Cream
7. Spot Treatment
8. Sunscreen

1. CLEANSE

Morning: The first thing I do when I wake up is cleanse my skin with the Glossier Milk Jelly Cleaner using my Clarisonic Mia 2. I have been religiously using my Clarisonic for 3 years now and it has made such a difference!! I have forgotten it when traveling before and noticed a serious difference in the texture of my skin. If you do not want to invest in the Clarisonic I recommend using a washcloth in the morning and making gentle circular motions on your face to create light physical exfoliation(be sure not to tug!).

After Work: I use a cotton round and Simple Micellar Water to remove my makeup as soon as I get home for the day. This is especially important because I normally am headed to workout and definitely don’t want to workout with foundation on!

At Night: At night I use the Glossier Milk Jelly Cleaner again to remove any makeup/sweat from working out, but this time I gently use my hands. I love the Milk Jelly Cleanser because it is great for sensitive skin and is balancing so it does not strip your skin.

2. TONER

Morning & Night: I mist my favorite toner, the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. I love the relaxing feeling of misting this toner all over my face. It also smells lightly of roses!

I also have a mini version of this spray to carry in my purse for instant hydration during the dryer months!

3. VITAMIN C SERUM

Morning & Night: I apply 3 drops of the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum to my face and neck. Vitamin C Serum has a ton of great benefits including:

-preventing damage from free radicles(free radicles are in the air everywhere from pollution, and are constantly damaging our skin just like the sun!)
-diffuses the look of fine lines
-amps up the efficiency of your sunscreen

I notice that this serum gives my skin a ton of hydration and glow, without making my skin oily!

4. RETINOID

Night ONLY: I use Differin which recently became available without a prescription. Since I have started applying Differin to my face at night I have noticed less breakouts overall and an improved texture to my skin.

For those of you wondering what a retinoid is, it is a cream/gel that is typically prescribed by a Dermatologist to combat acne and aging skin. Retinoids help produce higher cell turnover, therefore bringing new skin to the surface faster.

When incorporating a retinoid into your skincare routine for the first time it is very important to ease your way in. I started with 3 nights a week and slowly built up to every night.

5. MOISTURIZE

Morning: I apply RoC Chest, Neck, and Face Cream with SPF 30 to my entire face and neck. This cream is thick enough that is gives a ton of moisture, but is not too heavy for daily wear.

Side note: I have never been one to apply anything but a lightweight lotion to my skin, but by incorporating cream moisturizers I have been able to combat my dryness this winter

Night: I apply CeraVe Moisturizing Cream to my entire face and neck every night. I did this randomly out of desperation when my skin was soo dry and I was shocked by the results. This cream goes on thick and is an intense moisturizer. When I wake up in the morning after slathering this all over my face I am greeted with plump skin that looks as hydrated as my skin in the middle of the summer.

6. EYE CREAM

Morning & Night:I apply my favorite eye cream, the Origin’s Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to my entire eye area. I love this eye cream because of the light texture and the pearlescent sheen it leaves on your skin. Remember to be very gentle why applying eye cream and always use you ring finger(it is the gentlest and therefore creates the least amount of tugging!)

7. SPOT TREATMENT

Night Only: If I feel a breakout coming on I apply the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. This treatment will seriously change your life if you suffer from breakouts! You dunk a cotton swab into the pink lotion-like formula and sleep with it on(be sure not to shake the bottle!). In the morning I notice that the breakout is no longer inflamed and is much smaller.

8. SUNSCREEN

Morning ONLY: IF YOU ARE NOT USING A DAILY SUNSCREEN ON YOUR FACE, PLEASE START NOW(& NO THE SPF IN YOUR MOISTURIZER DOES NOT COUNT!) Essentially ALL of the signs of aging on our face comes directly from the sun. With that being said how silly is it to go through an elaborate skincare routine but then not apply sunscreen daily?

I apply the Glossier Invisible Shield Sunscreen every morning as my last skincare step before my makeup. This sunscreen is very lightweight and absorbs right into my skin. It is also clear and leaves behind no residue or sunscreen scent at all!

And that is the end of my skincare routine! I not a Dermatologist, but I have many years of experience working to figure out what works for my skin specifically, so if you have any questions I will do my best to answer them!

And if you take nothing else away from this post, please wear sunscreen daily. Trust me your future self will thank you!

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