For the past few years, I really got into taking care of my skin. Before I got sober, I would only drink one or two times a week, sometimes I would even skip a week, but of course, there was an excess of alcohol in the times I drank, and I would chain smoking cigarettes. Just because I wasn’t drinking all the time, did not mean that my skin would clear up when I wasn’t drinking.. My skin was actually taking quite the toll. People would think I was the older sister, when I am actually three years younger. I started using face masks to try and pull out all the toxic shit that was living in my face, and graduated to night creams, & then day creams. My skin care game is so strong these days and I thought I would share some of my absolute faves. I have combo skin, so these are what I have found works for me. Based on your skin type, you may experience different results, so listen to what your skin is telling you when you are trying new products. Here, I am focusing mainly on my favorite face cleansers & face creams (both day & night), but have a couple of grab bag items also. I think having a good face cleanser that works well for your skin type & a moisturizer for your face is the bare minimum one can do to better improve their skin. Often times when my crazy mind tells me the cleanser “isn’t working the same,” (aka not giving me that fantastic deep clean tingle), I will take a break from it and try a new product– rotating products is also something that works.

So, I used to have this client whom I cleaned her house. This one day I was cleaning her bathroom and I noticed this small thing that I guessed could be like a vibrator or something, in the shower. I thought maybe she was in a rush to get out of the house and forgot to put it away, but no, I kept seeing it every time I went there. Chalking it up to the idea that she & her husband are trying to spruce up their sex life, more power to them, I just accepted that this thing that now lived in their shower. Now up to this point, I had only been aware of the rotating brush for your face– you know, the clarisonic ones, which is best described as a electric toothbrush, but for your face. I had one in the past, and it made my face feel so clean & often people would notice a difference if I had used it for the first time in a while, I just felt like it had to be stripping away at my skin. Anyway….so I was looking at sephora’s website one day, and boom, that freakin’ vibrator looking object was on the site. The only thing was, it wasn’t a vibrator at it, it was a face scrubber device made of silicone. Mind blown. Some can be pricey. As a person who has a shopping problem, I originally abstain from buying one, but then, this one day at TJ Maxx (which should be a twitter chain with everyones experience at tj maxx), I saw a toned down version; more of a silicone pad, for like less than $3. Obvi, I bought it. I do like using it and it def gets whatever cleanser I am using deeper into my pores and skin. Face scrubbing pads & brushes are a nice way of adding a deep clean feel without much effort. I can tell that the more expensive versions are most likely better, but I am cool with this for now. Maybe I should look for the charger for my clarisonic….

TULA

Ok, so one of my old clients is a beauty blogger. I was blessed to get all the products she either wasn’t interested in or had double of. That is how I found this brand a few years back, and wow, what a game changer. The first sample I was given was the day & night cream. I can’t even describe in words the explosion of hydration that hits your face & the feeling like it is being hugged with this product. My skin feels so soft after, not normal soft, this heavenly cloud soft. They have an array of products I absolutely LOVE. My favorite products are: the day & night cream ($52); they also have a gel version of this, but I prefer the cream, as the gel is a little sticky for my skin. The Cult Classic Face Cleanser ($28), is great because a major part of proper skin care is obviously washing your face. This cleanser feels so good on your skin & doesn’t dry it out. Prob would put on my top 3 favorite face cleansers for sure; Face Filter ($34), PLEASE GET THIS IF YOU DON’T WEAR A LOT OF MAKEUP BUT SOMETIMES WANT TO SPRUCE IT UP. I’ve always been more on the minimalistic side of makeup, but do like to have a put together face.. and let’s face it (no pun intended), some mornings you wake up and you are like, damn I need some makeup today, but only have time for something quick and easy. This product is your girl. It gives your skin a little tint, so it covers up pores on your nose and cheeks and evens out your skin tone a bit. I would say I have medium skin tone, I don’t know how it would react to other skin tones either lighter or darker than mine. If skin is very fair it might be too dark of a tint to look natural. It might be ok for darker complexions because it does have a red tint in the mixture, which could possibly add glow. For all skin complexions, I found Future Dew ($24), which gives skin a dewy look. I have never used this product personally, but it is a clear gloss that you are adding, so it works the same on all skin tones… Also, Tula makes a spf Protect and Glow ($36) that is a clear color rather than a tan color, & it gives your face a glow-like look & protects it from the sun! This product was a little too greasy for me but it has great reviews so maybe your skin will react differently.. Rose Glow & Get It ($30), this cooling and brightening eye balm is great to give your face a little something in the morning. I wear contacts almost daily, and I have dry eyes, which makes it harder for me to feel awake in the morning (or maybe I’m just not a morning person lol). As part of my morning routine, this cooling balm feels crisp on my skin & gives my face a little extra glow.

Origins

Origins has always been a favorite of mine. Affordable, environmentally friendly, & an all around go-to company. I particularly love their Ginzing collection, which boasts caffeine, from coffee, as one of the main ingredients. This makes it great for your morning routine (which you prob knew I was headed this way, after I said coffee) to give yourself an extra boost right in your face! They have a wonderful scrub cleanser ($23), which is such a treat in the morning. The scents of citrus plus the caffeine hit you like a refreshing cup of joe for your face. I ran out a while ago and just thinking, about this I’m like, damn I should repurchase that, it was so nice when I last had it. The Oil Free Gel Moisturizer, ($31), also a treat in a morning skincare routine. Similar to the face wash, it gives you this refreshing & moisturizing boost. I prefer this particular product, in the summer rather than colder months, since my face gets too dry in the winter for this product to be effective. Eye Cream to Refresh and Depuff ($33), is also bomb. On brand for this line, it also perks up under eyes, and gets your ready for the day. Checks and Balances ($34) is also a great face wash that Origins carries. It gets your face feeling SO clean. It does dry my skin a little bit sometimes, so I usually can’t use in consecutive days– be SURE to moisturize after. Other great products are their Drink Up line, which are masks that add moisture to your face; their clay mask on the Skin Improvement line, and all around, has lots of good products for your different needs.

ECOOKING

This is a Danish Skincare brand, and I am putting this on her mainly for one product and one product only, because it is seriously THAT good. The Multi Balm, ($17-$26), is out of this world. I have eczema which makes my hands and feet get particularly dried out. Before I went to a dermatologist, I had a sample of this product. It has the consistency of vaseline, but it is a million times better. I swear by this product & I have never found anything better, that gave me such considerable & fast results. I have tried one of their face lotions and it was nice, although, I didn’t particularly like the smell. I’m sure they have lots of other great products, but I just haven’t tried them…yet.

Perricone MD

Okay, this brand is expensive (budget-friendly options after this). The first product I received was a gift. Once I ran out, I looked it up online, and almost shitting myself after I saw the price, I realized I could only purchase items while on sale & only their cheaper products. This is the skincare brand I really treat myself with. My absolute FAVORITE product is their Intensive Overnight Treatment Moisturizer, ($179), I’m not going to go into too much detail on this one, but if you can get your hands on this treat, all I am going to say is WOW. High Potency Classics: Face Finishing & Firming SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer, ($69,) I love this SPF; it works to protect my skin & to have a no-makeup look. Every time I wear this product, I get complimented on how nice my skin looks & how I am glowing. Hydrating Cloud Cream, ($59), the name says it all. It just feels so light on your face, just like a cloud…..

Low Budget Faves

Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter- under $7.00, a true gem of an everyday lotion that feels amazing & smells even better; Aquaphor- under $15, a petroleum jelly type product, that works great for very dry or cracked skin; Cetaphill BAR SOAP (3 pack @ bed bath and beyond is around $10), this has been a God send for my skin (and for those of you who are weirded out by bar soap, they have body wash also)- this was also a game changer for my eczema, because regular soap and body wash dry my skin out but. For those lucky souls who have more normal skin, this really is moisturizing and smells fantastic; Yes! to Cucumbers Milk Cleanser (around $10), a soothing & gentle face wash, which feels refreshing & soft at the same time; Mediheal, Charcoal Intensive Pore Cleansing Foam, $8.99, this is the stuff I use with I wanna ramp up my nightly face wash, because it really does go deep down into the pores. After my first use I literally said “wow,” when I saw how nice my skin looked. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $22, this lasts a really long time. It basically is a lip gloss/balm that you put on your lips overnight– I kid you not, my lips look very plump when I use it regularly; they also have good face sleeping masks (love the lavender one) that are gel based.

Final Word

Like I mentioned, listen to your skin. If you have a bad reaction or a real dried out face, it’s not the one. Also keep in mind, some products are better in different seasons. My face is more on the oily side in the summer & dry in the winter, so I have to use different products to accommodate these changes (now if I only could find a man who treated me even half the way I treat my skin……). Cerve & Cetaphill are good for winter months– easy breezy to get your hands on, as they are sold everywhere. Whatever your skin care routine may be, I hope this helps & remember: wash yo face! Any questions? Please feel free to ask in comments or just leave some love!