my skincare routine
P.s. make sure to check back regularly. I update this when i get hooked on something new!
A.M. ROUTINE:
I am big on a morning massage ritual to stimulate the energetic points on my face, specifically a Korugi facial massage. A morning facial massage helps in promoting blood circulation and helps the lymphatic system flush toxins out of the facial tissues, which improves the appearance of saggy or puffy skin. Gua Sha facial massages are also a favorite of mine (using a gua sha tool vs your hands) to drain lymph, stimulate collagen, and lift your skin.
Some mornings, if I have the time - I will use my Lightstim red light hand-held device. LightStim for Wrinkles provides rejuvenating wavelengths of light energy to treat fine lines and wrinkles. I have noticed it gives my skin an awaken, plump, youthful appearance first thing in the morning. Or (when not pregnant), I will use my NuFACE microcurrent facial device for 5 minutes to tone, lift and reduce wrinkles. I do genuinely like both, but they are nice-to-haves, not necessities.
I do not usually cleanse my skin in the morning, as I find that washing my face more than 1x a day strips it of its natural oils. I usually just splash my face with cold water (helps wake me up) and dab with a clean washcloth.
I will, however do a morning exfoliating mask 1-2x a week. My current favs are the Wholemaker Co. Manuka Chai Mask, DRMTLGY Pumpkin Enzyme Mask and Cocokind Sea Kale Clay Mask. Overnight our skin cells shed, and a morning exfoliating mask is one of the best ways to rid of that dead skin sitting on the surface of your skin to avoid fine lines and wrinkles from forming. I like these two as they are not too harsh on my skin.
Then comes my fairly simple line-up of facial beauty products:
Facial Serums: Herbal Face Food’s The Cure and The Serum. Both of these are made from 100% plants and are my best product finds of 2021.
Eye cream: Clearstem BRIGHTEYES Eye Gel
Moisturizer: Clearstem HYDRAGLOW Stem Cell Moisturizer
Eyelashes: Babelash Enhancing Conditioner
SPF, always (and use at least an SPF30): I really like the DRMTLGY Physical Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 44. It’s water resistant, tinted to blend with every skin tone and has broad spectrum protection.
Post-morning gym sesh, I use a cleansing wipe to wipe away excess oil and dirt (right now in my car I have Klean Freak wipes and DRMTLGY tingl pads).
Next up, I spritz a hydrating acidic water-based mist on my face, like the Rose Geranium Facial Tonic HydroSoul mist from Evanhealy. I find this step super helpful in keeping my skin looking refreshed. The water our skin cells naturally produce is acidic water, but as we age our bodies make less of it causing our cells to become dehydrated. The only way to stop the cycle of dehydration is to give the cell exactly what it already makes in the body (cue acidic water like that found in the mist I recommended). If you were to just rely on H2O water molecules to hydrate your face, you wouldn’t be as effective because the size of an H2O water molecule is too big to penetrate the outer rim of a skin cell. Acidic water is made of molecules small enough to be easily absorbed into the outer rim of the skin cell.
Great skin truly does start from the inside out, so nothing will make your skin glow like a clean, plant-forward diet and one where you consume quality protein. And while I think getting adequate protein in your diet supersedes taking a collagen supplement for purposes of keeping your skin tight, I have personally seen a benefit in adding liquid collagen to my routine, as a little cherry on top.
I take a tablespoon shot of Liquid BioCell Collagen, which provides hyaluronic acid, collagen and chondroitin sulfate. It supports joints for an active, flexible mobile body, rebuilds healthy skin from the inside and enhances skin hydration and skin volume. I switched over to taking this in May 2020 and found I absorb the collagen in liquid form much more than taking collagen in powdered or pill form. Research actually shows your body only absorbs about 15-20% of the powdered collagen, whereas your body absorbs about 98% of this liquid collagen. I have noticed it makes my Xeomin (a Botox alternative) last longer too. (For a better deal, I recommend buying a 2-pk of the Liquid BioCell Collagen.
P.M. ROUTINE:
If I am wearing makeup, I take it ALL off when I get home. I use Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Melt Away Cleansing Balm to easily get everything off.
I recently started using an oil based cleanser and am loving how nourishing it is for my skin. It’s the Purify Botanic Cleansing Oil by Green Envee. I use that daily and use Green Envee’s Illuminate Enzyme Cleansing Powder a couple times a week for a deeper scrub. I dry my face with a fresh wash cloth. It has to be said - do NOT use the same towel you wash your body with.
If I have a few blemishes, I will put a dab of tea tree oil on those spots. I love the one from Trader Joe’s.
I follow that up with either the same eye cream and moisturizer from my daytime routine. For my nighttime lash routine, I use the Babelash Enhancing Serum.
I also take another tablespoon shot of Liquid BioCell Collagen at night.
Occasionally, I will get boujee with either:
My rose quartz Gua Sha tool (again) to relax tension in my facial muscle, increase skin elasticity, help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, promote lympathic drainage and decrease puffiness.
An ice gel face mask (that i store in my freezer) and leave on for 10 minutes.
My Vanity Planet Microdermabrasion Wand to exfoliate and suction away impurities that can clog pores.
My Vanity Planet Iconic Facial Steamer to open up my pores, stimulate circulation and just relaxxx.
I am fortunate to get gifted a lot of these products and is a reason why i am able to provide multiple options that i have seen great results with, but it is also worth noting that our skin is complex and that each person is individual in how complex their routine needs to be to keep their skin replenished, protected from sun damage, hydrated, nourished with skin-restoring ingredients to fight aging, give you that “glow,” even skin tone, etc. Don’t look for one miracle product to change your skin and don’t expect instant results. Be consistent with a routine for awhile and if you try out anything and you experience redness, flaking skin, extreme dryness, stinging or discomfort, that product is not for you, you guys.
I ALSO SWEAR BY…
Hydrafacials, 1x a month. Pregnant, I can’t get a “hydrafacial” but lean on my babe Brianna at A Little Touch of Heaven in Newport Beach for a mama-friendly custom-facial.
Getting your eyebrows are microbladed (I got them done by Alix at Hairy Little Things).
When traveling, hydrating sheet masks and DRMTLGY Brightening Eye Masks save me. They sooth and refresh my tired skin and eyes.
At-home dermaplanning with exfoliating face razors, 2x a month. I do this to shave off peach fuzz, exfoliate, make makeup application so much better and to help with anti-aging (since fine lines can develop when there is dead skin cells on the surface of your face). Plus after I do this, my face feels as soft as a baby’s bottom! And no, my hair does not grow back thicker or darker.
Staying hydrated.
Getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
Xeomin (a Botox alternative), when not pregnant. I am a big proponent of preventative Xeomin or Botox or whatever you fancy in order to prevent the look of fine lines and wrinkles from forming. I personally like Xeomin and find that my body absorbs Botox too fast, which makes sense since Botox has accessory proteins, which your body can tend to build up antibodies to and thus your body will fight to push out the neurotoxin so wrinkles and fine lines will come back faster. The benefit of Xeomin’s pure-form - one without any protein additives - means users have a lower chance of developing resistance (antibodies) that can limit its desired effects.
I have done one VI Peel in my life and thought it was well-worth the money.