Skincare. It’s my favourite part of my self-care routine. However it hasn’t always been a peachy keen experience. It’s been a ten year roller-coaster of trial and error, anxiety, frustration, and finally, joy once I got the formula right.
The ironic thing is that my skin was flawless when I was a teenager (when one would expect the worst as far as acne is concerned). I barely needed any unique products, I could eat and drink whatever I wanted, and nothing went wrong.
But something went wrong at 22 years old. It was purely hormonal (As I discovered after many failed attempts at solving the issue). It wasn’t a lack of water, poor skincare, or my diet. It was simply part of my growing-up phase, and my body chemistry had changed.
To cut a long story short, that was 22, and I am now almost 36. A lot has changed with my skin in that time, and I am finally in a place where I can say I’ve got it figured out.
I should add the disclaimer that this article is for my skin. My skin type happens to be combination leaning more towards oily. I intend that this post provides value to you regardless of your skin type. However, everything I write is what works for my particular skin needs.
I use the word “strategy” because that is what it feels like I’ve refined it to. I’ve put in many hours, days, and weeks of doing the wrong thing and haphazardly going about things before finally arriving at the right thing.
With that, please keep reading to learn about everything I do to keep my skin blemish-free, (mostly) wrinkle-free, and with an overall healthy appearance.
This post contains affiliate links. This means that I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post, at no cost to you.
CURRENT SKINCARE STRATEGY
Vegetable green juice
The recipe is spinach, cucumber, pineapple or mango chunks, a splash of orange juice and water. You can swap out the sweet fruit for any other one you desire, but the spinach and the cucumber are the non-negotiables of this recipe.
Cucumbers are loaded with collagen, and spinach is rich in vitamins – namely vitamins A, C, and K – which work together to help your skin do the following:
- Enhance radiance (makes it brighter)
- Heal from scards or sun damage,
- and fortify its natural barrier.
A big part of my skin issues has been a sallow, colourless appearance. If I don’t get enough iron, it’s not the best look. Drinking four or five large servings of this green juice has eliminated that problem. It’s vital to stay consistent, however. If I go for four days or more, things start going south again. It’s annoying to stay disciplined sometimes but the results are effective.
Two litres of water.
My skin gets dry quickly, especially my lips. Drinking four 17 oz. “Swell” sized water bottles a day is the bare minimum amount of water I drink in a day to look and feel my best.
My pick is linked below if you would like to purchase your own.
Each bottle holds 0.5 litres, so four of those give you two. It’s a great visual way to track your intake.
According to this article by Healthline, the benefits of drinking enough water include maximizing physical performance, increasing energy levels, aiding weight loss and more. You can read the full articles HERE.
Supplements.
I try to keep these as simple as possible. The options available are endless, so I would recommend spending some time doing some research on what your particular skin needs are. I take Centrum One A Day Women’s and Omega 3-6-9.
Omega 3-6-9’s help to keep skin moisturized and plays an integral role in the inflammatory response of the skin and its ability to act as a barrier.
The above are the things I consume to improve my overall skin health from the inside out. Below is a list of the topical products I used in rotation. I have written detailed descriptions as to why I think each product has worked the best for me.
SIX KEY FACIAL TOPICAL PRODUCTS
Facial cleanser
I started using Cetaphil when I first started tackling my hormonal acne about ten years ago. Cetaphil is non-comedogenic, so it’s specially formulated not to clog pores. Not to mention it’s available at all drug stores, and the price tag is very pocketbook-friendly.
You can use the link below to purchase online.
Retinol
Retinol reduces fine lines and wrinkles by boosting the production of collagen. It also stimulates the production of new blood vessels in the skin. I use a 1% retinol. Retinol is potent and does not need to be used daily—maybe twice a week as part of your nighttime skincare routine.
I am very picky with eye creams. My needs are tightening and fine lines. I like the texture of the product to be smooth so that it spreads easily and evenly.
Eye creams have never cured my dark circles, no matter which brand I have tried. I got rid of my dark circles by drinking tons of the green juice mentioned above – specifically, the iron in the spinach does the trick!
However, I’ve been able to find the perfect products for tightening and reducing fine lines around the eyes. I’ve included a link to my favourite eye cream below.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is the newest addition to my skincare rotation. I’ll be honest I was always a bit put off by the name and felt intimidated by the technical name. But I did some research, and it turns out it’s precisely what my skin was missing.
Hyaluronic acid is derived from our joints. It keeps our joints working like a well-oiled machine and keeps things hydrated. It has a similar effect when used on the skin. It helps skin stretch and flex and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
You can consume both hyaluronic capsules orally or apply it topically as part of your daily nighttime routine.
My favourite one is from The Ordinary. The link below to purchase:
Gua Sha facial massage stone
I grossly underestimated the importance of consistent facial massage over the years. There are many finger techniques that you can use to do this. However, I prefer to use a gua sha stone with facial oil.
Gua sha massage promotes blood circulation, improves fine lines and wrinkles, and boosts lymphatic drainage. It’s also fabulous for relieving tension from muscles. Do it right before bed, and it will also help put you to sleep!
The gua sha stone and facial oil I use are linked below. The Be Barefaced oil is perfect for sensitive, acne-prone skin. It’s light and does not clog your pores. I have woken up with breakouts after using facial oils, but I didn’t have a single pimple with this one!
Daily moisturizer
I don’t get too fancy with my daily moisturizers. The truth is that I use a lot of it and feel much more comfortable using a mid-priced product from a respected brand. I have been using Olay Moisturizer for over a decade and being honest, it rivals (if not beats) most high-end brands out there. My skin is left hydrated for close to eight hours with a dewy finish.
The link to purchase is below, but it’s available in most drug stores.
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