Skincare 101 for Winter Skin

One of the top questions I get is, “What is your Skincare Routine?”  Let me first say how honored I am to be your valued source for skincare advice…like THANK YOU for trusting my opinion. AND because you trust me I’m gonna keep it real with you, this is not as simple to answer in the comment space on an IG post or even via DM!!! LOL.

You babes are gonna wanna bookmark this post because I’m going to break down everything I do for you. My approach to skincare comes in 2 parts:  

1. What you put inside your body; AND
2. How you care for the outside.

If you have ever messaged me I’m sure these are the exact words I messaged back. 

Largely what you all see in me are my lifestyle choices I made nearly a decade ago. For me, the outside of my body is dependent on the inside, they are hand in hand. Especially when we are talking over 30 skin.  I say 30 because that’s a great age to get in front of the effects of aging. Like if you really want to look and feel your best entering middle age develop healthy habits early on and reap the long lasting benefits later in life.

INSIDE: WHAT I EAT AND DRINK FOR HEALTHY SKIN

1. Drink water.  Yep super simple. I try to drink about a gallon of water each day.  This can be in the form of water duh, or herbal and/or green tea.
2. No soda. Limit alcohol AND refined sugars.  I don’t drink, never have so going out on a limb that maybe some of my happy skin is attributed to that factor. 
3. Without sounding too hippy-dippy if you want happy thriving skin then you need to eat happy nutrient dense foods.  Plant based eating is like eating sunshine and earth. If you want to glow on the outside, you must glow on the inside. What better way than filling your body foods that will naturally boost your skin. 

Food I eat for healthy skin:

• • Avocado
  • Nuts/Seeds like almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds
  • Dark leafy greens like kale, chard, and spinach
  • Veggies like broccoli and carrots
  • Lemon
  • Olive Oil
  • Berries

OUTSIDE: HOW I LAYER SKINCARE

The goal of a skincare is to cleanse, restore, revitalize, nourish, and protect.  In the brutally cold winter months this even more important because your skin is under more stress.

I believe in layering on products, yes, in a particular order. (From thinnest  to thickest in consistency) 

EACH LAYER TO BE APPLIED TO FACE / NECK  / CHEST…AND IF YOU’RE LIKE ME SHOULDERS 

I have broken down my skincare steps below. Under each category, I’ve shared shopping links to a variety  my favorite products in different price points. These are all products that I’ve tried and love. You can also shop all of my recommended products at once from  here: MY AMAZON STORE.

Disclosure: If you make a purchase using the links below, I do earn a small commission.

Skincare Step 1. Cleanse with balm or oil cleanser  

SOOOOO important to remove makeup & sunscreen 

I have oily skin, so cleansing is crucial in the prevention of breakouts and clogged pores. 

*This step is applied to dry skin. I like to massage my face for 30 secs. Then either towel off or rinse off.

Skincare Step. 2 Cleanse with water based cleanser 

I like to double cleanse.  This 2nd cleanser is to remove sebum and environmental gunk from pores. 

*Apply cleanser to a wet face, massage for 30 secs. Rinse with warm water.  Pat dry.

Skincare Step. 3 Exfoliate or Mask 2-3 times a week

Removes dead skin cells and deep cleans pores

OR

Hydration treatment

Skincare Step 4. Toner

Returns pH balance back to your skin.

*I like to use a cotton square for this step.  Swipe from the center of your face to the outer edges.

Skincare Step. 5 Essence

Attracts moisture and creates a lovely foundation for hydrated skin.  Pat and press into skin.

Skincare Step 6. Serum

Targets specific issues. Most general & great for all skin types is Vitamin-C serum. Helps brighten skin and aids in the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles.

Skincare Step 7. Moisturizer

I love moisturizers that hydrate and nourish.  Common ones can be gel, lotions, or creams. I tend to use lightweight moisturizers in the AM, gel or with a fluid lotion consistency. While at night I use heavier or creamy moisturizers. I rotate between a few depending on the weather.

Skincare Step. 8  Eye Balm/Cream

I prefer balm texture eye creams to create a thicker longer lasting barrier to lock in moisture under my eyes.  I feel like all the other layers of products are sufficient to hydrate and nourish that I don’t need an additional “eye cream”.

Skincare Step 9. Oil

I love applying a light dry oil to seal in all the layers AM & PM.  This step adds that extra lasting hydration and nourishment. MYTH: Oily skin should not use oils.  NOT TRUE. In fact, oily skin tends to be more stressed and lacking hydration because to the eye it appears hydrated.  It is very important to use non-pore clogging dry oils that are rich in antioxidants and fats.

Skincare Step 10. Sunscreen

EVERYDAY FOR EVERYONE!!  Most important step, never to be skipped even on a cloudy day and/or  rainy or snowy days.

SPECIALTY TREATMENTS:

Spot treatments for blemishes I swear by 2 products: Cocokind Turmeric stick on the bottom and Skin Food Eye White Pore Mask on top.