Skin Care sure has become a craze these days. From GRWMs (Get Ready With Me) while people tell stories to whole pages dedicated to it. From products that cost pennies to $1,000+ per month! How do we know what to do?
Well, this isn’t an advice post. This is just what works for me and I’m happy to share in case it works for you. I honestly have never had a ton of skin issues but I have been doing a lot of the same basic things since I was a teen. I’ve switched up some of them as my aged skin has changed my needs and I have connected with professionals, too.
I remember hearing my grandmother, who lived to be 104, used the same simple products most of her life and received compliments on how young she looked throughout her aging years. But, she also made lifestyle choices that I am sure helped. And I’ll of course discuss that. Because- that, my friends, is the golden ticket. Skin care gets hotter and hotter as the SAD (Standard American Diet) gets worse and people get more sedentary.
Personally my biggest issues with my skin is dryness and discoloration. A lot of it from freckles as a kid, too much sun exposure, and melasma formed after pregnancy. Then age spots have appeared in my 40s and just keep appearing. I have some “orange peel” pores from sun damage. I am hitting my mid 40s and that means I have more and more fine lines, but I’ve earned those lines with some pretty incredible years. Aging is a gift so many are not given. xo
I don’t have many breakout issues. I do attribute that to my diet of alot of plants, supplements with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes daily for gut health, watching sugars, a lot of water, and regular sweat sessions.
But, this feature picture of me in the top of this page was leaving a facial with almost no make up on my skin. I did have lashes on and had some leftover eyeliner on- but that’s it. That’s fresh-faced, zero filtered, and 1 month shy of 44 years old. And never- in my life- spending a small fortune on skin care.
My skin care routine is incredibly simple. I would rather spend my money on adventures and my kids than my face! Obviously I believe in caring for my skin as part of a health routine- and our face is your first, “Hello,” to the world, so I understand caring for it. But, if you’re with me on these thoughts than let’s go and get into it.
My #1 piece of advice…. Drink your water! Don’t like to drink water? Do it anyway. 🙂 Seriously. It’s that important. Your skin is your largest organ in your body. It’s not just vanity to take care of it. It’s health. You need your water. If you want to add herbal tea, broth base, fruits, flavoring (be careful of the artificial chemicals in some of those) to it to get it in… go for it. But, get your water. It will make a huge difference on the health of your skin.
I have been drinking my recommended daily in take of water most days since my teens. Not only is it good for your skin but it’s good for your health on many levels. Water helps deliver the nutrients you intake through food and other vitamin sources throughout your body. One of the most important things (and cheapest!) you can do for your health and the health of your skin is drink your water.
Second thing I do is I take a daily skin, hair, and nails collagen. This one is my go to. I have been seeing the same aesthetician for about 6 years now and I remember the first time I saw her after I started this along with an electrolyte drink (without the harsh chemicals found in many of them) she said, “Wow! Your skin looks so hydrated! WHAT have you been doing?!” It took me a minute to even think what was different and when I told her she started it herself! Remember, I told you I battle with dry skin. These two additions have been amazing.
There are different types of collagen. Let’s quickly talk about it because I do often see people using the wrong type claiming it helps them (and would help others) with things it just will not. I would love to help you with this really quickly. Let’s do a super quick simple overview of collagen Types I-V:
Type I makes up about 90% of your body’s collagen. It’s dense and provides the structure for your skin, bones, ligaments, and tendons.
Type II is the joint support. Many collagens on the shelf do not have this and don’t actually support your joints. It’s found in your elastic cartilage. This is why they will specifically say skin/hair/nail if they don’t have this. And if you want joint support- you’ll want to make sure your collagen has Type II in it.
Type III is found in your muscles, arteries, and organs.
Type IV in also a skin collagen and found within the layers of your skin.
Type V is found in your cell surfaces, eyes, hair, some layers of the skin, and in the tissue of the placenta.
As you age your body starts producing less collagen and what you produce or have is more fragmented and less distributed throughout your body. Supplementing it helps. Also, obviously increasing your food habits and reducing things like caffeine and alcohol helps also.
So, let’s talk quickly about that. I mentioned it early with the SAD diet. I won’t go into a whole lesson on HOW IMPORTANT what you put IN your body is on your skin health. We already have touched on hydration and collagen and electrolyte supplementation, but we could talk proteins, leafy greens, gut health, regulating and improving your gut biome, a variety of plants, cutting out poisons like alcohol, processed foods, and excess sugars…. All this and more will help your skin health. And at the end of the day probably produce better results and cost less than serums and washes you may buy. So, just something to think about as we go on with this.
And each time you get your sweat on you are improving your skin health! Sweating helps cool and regulate your skin temperatures, helps moisturize your skin, and can even help kill some harmful bacterias on your. skin. But, it is good to wash up soon after to prevent clogged pours after a good sweat sesh.
Okay, on to my skin and the basic routine I have followed forever. Not swayed by gimmicks, this has been tried and true for me.
Let’s start with the morning. I wash with a gentle cleanser. CeraVe is my go to. I don’t use a harsh exfoliating cleanser or anything with strong burning or smelly chemicals. Your skin care shouldn’t burn or aggravate your skin.
After cleansing I also use a gentle but great quality cream to moisturize my face. I use Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. A little goes a long way. It’s fragrance free, non-comedogenic, non-greasy and it leaves my skin feeling so dewey and fresh. It lasts forever!
As much as possible; I just don’t wear make up or I wear very little. Working at home definitely helps with that, but I also have no issue going out in public with a fresh face because this routine does work so well and has for years. But, I also like to wear make up and get done up and I do that too!
So when I can I let this large organ -my skin- breathe. I get it into the light for Vitamin D absorption and natural fresh air as much as possible and I do use sunscreen. There are a lot of trains of thoughts on this and I also won’t make this a sunscreen post, but there are natural and non-harmful varieties out there.
When I do wear make up, I tend to go with a tinted moisturizer over a full coverage, also. This one from Tarte is my very favorite and I’ve tried a lot. I was going to add my make up faves to this post, but I think I’ll save it for another. But, that’s my start.
At night I wash with a wash cloth and CeraVe bar soap. I could use the same wash as the morning, but I tend to like the ease of the bar soap next to my bathroom sink. And this one locks in moisture which is my goal for my evening routine.
For awhile I was using a retinol and it did do wonders to reduce the appearance of my age spots. It truly did exactly what it said it would do. But, as soon as I would stop, they would come back. I kinda just got sick of fighting it and decided my age spots are fine! And so are yours; beautiful! :). That being said.. I might do it again from time to time and on and off. I’m not opposed because the results absolutely happened.
I have found that adding these tan drops (which are pretty inexpensive) to my moisturzer in the morning can also reduce the appearance of the age spots. That with the tinted mostirizer is a big help!
I also have found lemon essence oils, frankincense, and rose oils can be effective in reducing the appearance of the hyperpigmentation. There are precautions to consider before placing oils on your skin so please read up on that and apply safely.
Anyway, currently after I wash my face in the evening I apply cold pressed argon oil that I have also added a little rose oil to. You can order it on Amazon or at many local health stores- my local Natural Grocers carries it. After that sets in (good time to brush and floss teeth, get clothes. out for tomorrow, etc), I top with a good quality hyaluronic acid. I let that sit on my face at night and I wake with such moisturized and glowing skin! My skin is less flakey now in my 40s than it was in my teens when the skin on my nose used to peel under my make up.
A few maintenance things I do. Sleeping with a silk pillow case is good for your skin (and hair). Wash it often. Weekly I use an over the counter derma-plane. I get these on Amazon and they last a long time. Then I actually would absolutely recommend going to a Medispa for professional care and advice every 6 weeks or so. Or few months or a couple of times a year; whatever you can squeeze in. The professionals there have studied skin health and have valuable knowledge and advice. Ask questions and learn. This will go a long way for you. And when they are using medical grade products on you they are using products on you that must do what it says it will. They can’t make false claims on medical grade products the way over-the-counter product does. And a spa service can cost less than some of these products out there, too!
I have learned so much of what I know from my local aestheticians and spa. If you’re in Salem, I love and recommend Phiz Spa. And they also carry some great products in the spa you can purchase and take home. I know my girls would blush if I say it, but when you’re seeing a skin care professional in her 20s that still has a baby face and in her late 40s looking early 30s… you know you’re in good care! Check our Carrie and Juilanna there!
That’s it! That’s the big routine. And some before and afters from a quick trip to the skin spa! I hope this can help some of you! Always my goal! Speaking to y’all like we are girlfriends and lunch! Okay, let’s talk soon! 🙂