Edit| My Skincare Routine Part 3

Hi all,

I've been meaning to do a skincare routine post, but with how many products I cycle through it would've been an exhausting blog post to write (and read...) I've decided to split the post into three parts so that you can decide on what's most interesting to you. I will put in links later for easier reference.

Part One talks about my go-to serums, lotions, and eye creams that I cycle through on a daily basis. 

Part Two consists of my special treatments and masks done on a weekly basis.

Part Three will close the edit with discussions on the truly banal: my face washes, scrubs, and exfoliants as well as morning routine. 

Keep in mind that I have dry to normal skin that occasionally acts up with blemishes and dry patches/flakes. What works for me may be too much for your skin.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Waterry Essence Water Base SPF 50+ PA+++ is a great sunscreen. I can use it alone without a moisturizer in the summer and it's very lightweight with no tug/resistance when I rub it into the skin.  I also can layer this underneath my Cerave or Josie Maran and it doesn't cake up or pill. You can find it under $12 on EBay.

Cerave Facial Moisturing Lotion AM has been my holy grail for almost two years. It's very moisturizing for a sunscreen and layers well with any foundation. When I had combo/oily skin, it could be a little too rich for the summer. However, this has been my go-to ever since moving back to a drier climate.

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47: I recently acquired this baby in a swap, and it's an interesting product. It's tinted peach and is a little on the thick side when you try to rub it in, but it's a helluva lot of SS protection for a tinted moisturizer. It evens out my complexion when I am rushing out the door. 

On top of everything, I also have to remember to swipe on a pea sized amount of Benefit Porefessional primer on my cheeks on the sides of my nose where my pores are most apparent. Then, I pat on a little bit of the Cerave Eye Repair Cream and then I'm prepped for my foundation routine!

For cleansing, I've been reaching for the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil at night after I remove my eye makeup with the Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover. This combination gets every single drop of makeup (even waterproof!) off my face without the need for a makeup remover wipe beforehand.

I used a sample of the DHC oil once and hated the smell, but I quickly learned from another trial size that the packet had somehow expired! The oil itself smells faintly like olive oil and emulsifies with water. I can rub it onto my lashes with no adverse reaction such as stinging, blurry vision, etc. 

As for the Sonia Kashuk remover...it puts my Neutrogena version to shame. It's very powerful without leaving an oily residue...and that's all that matters to me. As a contact lens wearer, a lot of makeup removers can irritate my vision. This doesn't and it's only $10 bucks at Target. 

And that concludes my skincare routine edit! I hope you've found some new products to try out and have a better understanding of my regimen. It's ever changing, so expect an update by next year!

xo Be

Edit| My Current Flawless Foundation Rountine

I swear to god, my skin has been my main obsession lately...since my stash is streamlined, my foundation game has to be tight and right and remain consistent. I needed several base products that would moisturize, sun protect, mattify, and fully cover the hyper-pigmentation in my face (which I should also address soon) during the course of a nine hour workday.

Although I've been flirting with several sunscreen formulations, I keep going back to Cerave because no other product with SPF will keep my nose as hydrated as this lotion. It's a little thick and heavy feeling at first, but it ensures that my makeup will glide on effortlessly.

Second, I pat and press a pore-filling primer into the center of my face mainly focusing on the areas around my nose. With any silicone-y primer that doesn't have a grip to it the best technique is to pat and smooth the product into the skin rather than spreading it around. After this step all minor textural issues are gone.

Then I go in and spread a pea sized dollop of the Tarte foundation onto the sleeved brush. I try to distribute the product evenly but focusing on the center of my face again. I also go back in and add an extra layer right on top of my left cheek that's been bothering me with its broken capillaries and dark spots. This way I can save time not applying any extra concealer that may not match my skin tone exactly.

Finally, I set my T-zone in place with the Duo Mat powder. This one is very lightweight and doesn't cake up especially if you use a light hand. I prefer it over my UD Deslick powder which is way too powerful for the current weather and my Rimmel Stay Matte which has no mirror and doesn't control oil as well.

From left to right: Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF30, Benefit Porefessional primer, Tarte foundation brush, Tarte 12 hour Amazonian Clay Foundation in Medium Sand, MUFE Duo Mat powder in 207 Golden Beige.

  

The main focus is of course the Tarte foundation, which has quickly grown to be my holy grail for an every day flawless base. Why? It lasts all day through minor heat and humidity and even a workout. I use the brush for every day and my fingers for the fullest coverage. Short of the 12 hour claim, it averages around 10 hours of wear before I notice any flaking or lessening of coverage.

The coverage is full yet very natural. If you pick the right shade it should blend right into your skin.

Medium Sand is the perfect match for me at NC30-NC35 while Light Medium Sand is more NC25-30. I love that they considered people with yellow and olive tones.

While the consistency feels thick when you first squeeze it out, it is very lightweight on the face compared to other full coverage foundations. I only have to blot once with this foundation (around my nose) and it will prevent oil for the rest of the day. It also doesn't dry out my skin. I would say it's perfect for normal to combination skin. Very oily skinned girls will have to blot and this won't play nice with rough or dry patches. I noticed no new clogged pores with this routine. 

Overall, I'm happy with my routine for the moment. It may seem strange to be using a full coverage foundation when the weather is warming up, but I seriously love the ability to skip concealer or powder if I need to.

xo Be