Friday, September 27, 2013

My Current Skincare Routine (Fall Into Beauty Edition)

From l-r: shu uemura Skin Purifier cleansing beauty oil premium a/i, Amarte Daily ExfoliPowder, Zensation Radiance Brightening Cleansing Cream,  and L'Occitane Divine Lotion


The last time I shared my regular skin care regimen was in May and for the most part {I switched some items in and out as I received them} it stayed the same. But as I've discussed before, my skin tends to go bonkers when the seasons transition from Summer to Fall, so I try to head it off at the pass by adjusting my skin care regimen. While the basic regimen stays the same {precleanse/exfoliate, cleanse, moisturize, and treat}, I switch to richer, thicker formulas, those that care for sensitive skin, and thanks to this awesome job o' mine {and the fact that I am getting older}, products that skew more towards higher price points {not that there is anything wrong with drugstore/affordable skin care! I still incorporate quite a few budget buys into my regimen. But there are days when I have to force myself to wash my face and it makes the experience that much better when I'm using a more luxurious product #dontjudgeme}. That being said, yes-these products were sent to me for review. Some of them are newer to my collection than others, so this will be more of an overview of what I'm currently using than a review {I'll post a review of products individually as I get a better feel for what I think about them. If you see something that you are particularly interested in, please leave a comment and let me know!}.







My obsession with oils is well documented, but I only recently discovered the wonders of oil cleansing! It started with Dermalogica's Precleanse , which I absolutely love-but you know me, when I love something, I must try EVERYTHING like it! So I was super stoked to give the shu uemura skin purifier cleansing beauty oil premium a/i {$77 for 450 ml at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/} a try. Cleansing oils are fantastic for removing makeup, cleaning the skin, and though it may sound counter productive, they're fabulous for removing excess oil from the skin. This one is formulated for dry and sensitive skin {which is fine for me in the colder, drier months} and focuses on improving the texture of the skin, leaving the skin moisturized, nourished and more radiant looking. Exfoliating powder is another product where my first foray was via Dermalogica {seriously, Dermalogica is kind of awesome and if you don't know about it, get yourself to an Ulta store and check it out!}. I've featured Amarte skin care previously, and the Daily Exfolipowder {$35, amarteskincare.comwas a stand out for me then, so it should be no surprise that it's a favorite of mine now. It's plant based formula is super gentle, so now I use it every morning as the first step in my skin care routine.



Oh how I love ZENSATION {I introduced the Swiss brand last month}! The Deep Purifying Gel Cleanser was my jam when the weather was warmer, but now that the temps are starting to dip, I'm gravitating more towards the Radiance Brightening Cleansing Cream {$50 at dermstore.com}. Can I just take a time out to say how infatuated I am with the packaging and whole aesthetic of this brand? All of the jar pots {at least all of the ones I've been privy to} come with little spoons to use to dispense the product. This is absolute genius, because it keeps you from contaminated the product with the germs and bacteria from your fingers {plus it just adds a little something something to the overall experience}. This wonderfully formulated cleansing cream features a gentle cleansing agent that dissolves makeup and any impurities without harming the skin. It also includes natural ingredients, like Vitamin E and a botanical lightening agent to improve the skin's tone and texture while leaving it glowing.

Earlier this month, L'Occitane debuted the "Golden Ticket" in anti-aging skin care, with 4 new anti-age products. What makes these products so unique is the advanced formula they utilize that combines the unique anti-aging properties of everlasting Immortelle flowers with the boosted effectiveness of 7 plant-derived active ingredients. I have the pleasure of being able to try out the Divine Lotion {$54 at  usa.loccitane.com}. It's designed to maintain a balanced complexion and help accelerate exfoliation while leaving skin feeling smoother and more supple. All I can say is so far so good-each day I use it my skin feels softer and my breakouts have been down {I think that's due to the exfoliation part of it}. Plus, I can't even tell you how great it smells!

Those are the products that I use pretty much daily. Here are a few that I cycle in and out depending on what my skin needs at the time...


Top left box: L'Occitane Iris Angelica Sublime Essence. Bottom left box: L'Occitane Angelica Eye Roll-On. Clockwise from top right: Zensation Rejuvenating Face Oil, L'Occitane Angelica Face Mist, FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Serum,  and Precision MD Celfix DNA Ceramide Renewal Nourishing Cream





Truth be told, I've used this little gem just about everyday since I received it! Iris Angelica Sublime Essence {$52, usa.loccitane.com} is perfect to wear on its own or as the ultimate primer. Afresh, sheer, first-step formula, it helps to correct skin irregularities and reduce redness {you know how sometimes you get red around your nose and you have to use concealer to cover it up? I've seriously cut down on my concealer usage since I started using this!}. Because this helps to visibly improve the skin’s texture {it makes your pores look tighter}, I love using this on those days I want my skin to look close to flawless, but I don't want to bother with makeup. And on the days I do want to bother with makeup, this makes my skin so smooth-the perfect base for any makeup application.



Now, the Joey New York Quick Results Young Coconut Water Complex Gel and Night Cream Eye Duo has been my eye cream of choice lately, but they live in my bathroom, and I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I don't quite make it out of bed to wash my face at night {on those nights I use a combination of cleansing wipes, micellar water, exfoliating pads, and moisturizer to make do}. L'Occitane Angelica Eye Roll-On {$28 at usa.loccitane.com} lives on my nightstand so it's what I reach for on those lazy nights. Using it ensures I wake up bright eyed and {looking} refreshed.



And the rest of my motley crew:

The ZENSATION Rejuvenating Face Oil {$50 at dermstore.com} is the newest addition to my collection and you KNOW it was love at first sight {I mean, come on, it's oil!}. This face oil combines Sesame Seed Oil, Organic Tamanu Oil and Olive Oil complex to condition, moisturize and nourish the skin. It tones and rejuvenates to give skin a firmer and softer appearance. All you have to do is massage 2-3 drops on your face and neck and your skin will look fantastic.

I use L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Face Mist {$12 at usa.laoccitane.com} to set and refresh my makeup and to freshen up my complexion {when I'm not wearing makeup} before my hubby gets home.

I use FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Serum {$89 at futurederm.com} at night after toning and before moisturizing. A dime size amount of this thick, citrus-smelling serum is enough to cover your face, neck and decolletage. Not only does it help to fade age spots, it works to firm up sagging skin too. 

The PrecisionMD Celfix DNA Ceramide Renewal Nourishing Cream was created to help reverse sun damage and boost hydration. This is the moisturizer I use in my "lazy girl" night time, skin care routine. It has the unique ability to feel nourishing, yet light on my skin, so it's the perfect precursor to the Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial that I put on EVERY night.

So that's it! It's hard work being a girl, huh {well, at least a girl that wants to age gracefully}? Stay tuned for more in depth reviews on each product in the coming weeks, or follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to get more information quicker {especially if it turns out that I don't care for a product, as I tend to only like to write about happy stuff here}. What products make up your skin care routine? Are any of your favorites mentioned here? Any suggestions as to products I should give a try? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...












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