Skincare 101

Alright…so as you can see my Instagram has taken off while I have really slacked on my blog. However, I was talking to a friend the other night who was like “I love your posts but some of these products I don’t know what they do!” Well it gave me an idea…to make a beginners mini “guide” to skincare blog post. So without further ado…lets do this!

The order in this list “tried” to follow the order of these products in an average skin care routine. I say “average” because, honestly, everyone’s routine is going to be different because simply, everyone’s skin is different.

• Cleanser – This one is pretty basic. It cleans your skin! I urge you to remove your makeup before using cleanser because makeup can be tough to fully clean from your skin.
  • Current Cleansers I’m Loving:
    • Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser
    • Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
    • Dermalogica Special Cleansing GeL
• Toner- Most everyone has heard of toner or at least uses it. Toner is that extra step that removes the excess makeup or cleanser that can be left behind. It is usually enhanced with alcohol for that “quick drying effect.” In some cases it can be composed of mostly with water with added essential oils.
• Essence – This what might be newer to some people, I know its pretty recent for me. Essentially an essence is a hydrating liquid that is designed to prepare your skin for all the serum, oils, and creams to come! To compare form a toner, essences can feel a little lighter and have a higher concentrate of “active ingredients.” This is to ensure it penetrates deeper into the skin. Essences can have a variety of benefits and uses: hydration, dullness, and much more.
  • Current Essences I’m Loving:
    • Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence- This stuff is thick but it is sooo hydrating. You wont regret it!
    • Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Hyaluronic Essence – Smells amazing and is very light. You can wear it under anything!
• Serum- Serum and Essences can seem pretty tricky, as well. They essentially can do the same thing. They are that step that adds the extra vitamin and ingredients besides simple hydration needs. However, serums tend to be more on the gooey side while essences are usual more watery. Serums can also be very potent with active ingredients which helps them penetrate the skin deeper. However, serum can be powerful and sometimes too much serum can irritate the skin.
  • Awesome serum I’m using at the moment: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos
• Facial Oil – Oils are another highly concentrated face care product.  Facial Oils can be extremely good for your skin! Think about this, the amount of moisturizer you would have to put on your face to achieve the results of a facial oil would be a lot of moisturizer (like more than 1 tube or bottle of it!) Some benefits of facial oil includes: they can help repair the skin’s barrier function, high in the natural source of vitamins and antioxidants and others. Some oils are single purposed with one active vitamin or ingredient. While recently, new oils are coming out with more than one potent ingredient. Oils can be a part of balancing the oils in your skin and this is critical to your skin health.
  • Current Facial Oils I’m Loving:
    • SUNDAY RILEY Luna Sleeping Night Oil
    • Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Facial Oil
• Eye Cream – I have a love hate relationship with this particular step in the skincare routine. Some people say this step is absolutely unnecessary while others explain that the eyes are important features of the face and body and they must be taken care of. The skin around your eyes are thinner and can be more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and other skin issues. Also, there are less oil glands around your eyes to keep them hydrated. Therefore, your eyes could use some extra TLC from time to time. This product does just that.
• Facial Cream or Moisturizer – the cherry on top! this is the layer that really moisturizes your skin and is your outer layer in this routine. This is the step that most people are familiar with besides the cleanser. I recommend investing in this step because a good cream or moisturizer can make all the difference.
  • Favorite moisturizers at the moment:
    • Herbivore Pink Cloud Cream
    • Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
    • Saturday Skin Featherweight Daily Cream

Conclusion of this: You do not have to use every product in the world or every step in this routine I only suggest to take care of your skin how it sees fit. Love yourself, invest in your skin, it’s the only one you get.

My next post is on masks: stay tuned. I know the picture can be a tease or a clue!

Cheers friends,

Casey