I feel like I have started a thousand posts with the same four sentences (okay, so many it was more like three posts: this one, this one, and this one too) about making 2014 the year this Momma thought a little more about myself. Blah blah blah, you guys know the drill.
Lately I’ve been thinking more about my skin. Specifically the skin on my face.
The place to start with skin care is with four easy steps.
1.) Proper makeup removal.
Here is a lesson that has taken my entire adult life to properly learn. Those convenient little make-removing wipes don’t cut it. They just don’t.
Have you ever removed your make up with those wipes and then wiped down your face with a cotton ball full of toner and it turned a yucky brown color? THAT’S MAKEUP YOU DIDN’T REMOVE THE FIRST TIME. Yuck right?
I’ve tried a few different methods of proper makeup removal and I finally found something that works super super well. Warning, it totally goes against everything you’ve ever thought of about taking care of your face.
Coconut oil. Yup, raw oil on your face. The theory here is that oil dissolves oil and it’s a facial treatment people have used and sworn by for generations.
Take a medium sized scoop of coconut oil into your hands. It will be soild, so run it between your hands to liquefy it then apply to your face. Your make up with smear all over your face and you will look like a monster but I promise it’s totally worth it.
When your face looks all slimy and messy, take a hot wash cloth and cover your face with it. Relax! (I will warn that with your face all covered, it’s a great opportunity for your husband to give you a hard time.) Keep it there until it cools then wipe your make up/oil off. The washcloth helps open your pores, pulling any makeup or oil away from clogging your pores.
2.) Cleanse!
Some people only put oil on their face and that’s it. I call these people brave and a little crazy.
I have combination oily skin and I use a lot of oil-based makeup so I’m not totally comfortable going to bed with just oil on my face. I always use a cleanser twice a day (before and after makeup). When choosing a cleanser, remember your skin type. If your skin tends to be oilier, look for a cleanser that is gel-based or mildly foaming; if your skin tends to be dry, look for a soothing, creamy, moisturizing cleanser.
Once you have your cleanser wash your face after you remove your make up.
3.) Toner
Think you’re done washing your face yet? NOPE. Find yourself a good toner. This step will help balance your skin, remove any residue that’s sneaking on your skin,
Toner should be alcohol free so it doesn’t over dry your skin. By step three your cotton ball should be almost totally white. It’s ridiculous. You’ll be thinking “How the heck did I go so long thinking it’s normal for something to be on this cotton ball?!”
4.) MOISTURIZE.
Twice daily. Morning and night. I used to be afraid of going to bed with lotion on my face. Again, this relies heavily on finding a moisturizer for your skin type.
Once you find it, use it. LIKE really use it. For real!
You should moisturize your entire face, not just dry patches, all the way down to the neck.
If you’re moisturizing in the morning, don’t forget that ultra-important sunscreen!
5.) Bonus: Exfoliate
Try to do this once or twice a week with either a homemade sugar scrub, a cleaner and brush, or a generic over the counter exfoliating cleanser.
Exfoliating removes dead skin and general yuckiness. It should be done after your make up is removed and before your use your toner.
What do I use? I’m very much in love with Clinique’s Three-Step system. It consists of a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer specifically tailored to my skin type. Visit your local Clinique dealer and get ready for some magic.
Since starting this four step regime, my pores look smaller, I have fewer break outs, and my skin just looks and feels healthier each and every day!
Have a foul-proof skin regiment you couldn’t live without? Tell me about it in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
Ally Jean Blog 