Do you want to transform your skin? - Updated!



I’ve always been a skincare aficionado, I got it from my mom who used to get monthly facials. When I was a teen she introduced me to facials and brought me to the dermatologist often to keep my skin clear. Now I get facials every other month or so. I love reading up on new products and reviews. The gold standard in skin care for beautiful skin is to use sunscreen daily, a vitamin C serum and retinol. I updated all the links in 2024.


I wanted to share my current skin care regime that has really working for me as I’m really happy with how good my skin looks right now.  My routine is a bit involved that I had to print out a daily AM/PM schedule that I keep posted in the bathroom since I don’t use everything every day.  I've found that using the products below have produced the best results for me.

First a little about my skin, I used to have oily skin but now I think it’s normal and I’m in between the acne and wrinkles stages. My main focus is just brightening my skin and keeping it exfoliated. My goal is to not have to get botox until I'm in my 40s. So you ask what is the magic combination of products that will produce the best results? 

Sunscreen
Sunscreen really is the fountain of youth. UV Rays are the number one enemy when it comes to aging. Sunscreen protects against premature aging, spots, and loss of elasticity. You can use a bronzer to give you face some color if you want. The main thing is to always wear a hat at the beach and wear sunblock daily year round (which I do). Some brands of sunscreen can be loaded with nasty chemicals, so it’s important to look for a product with zinc oxide as the main ingredient and does not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. My favorite brands are:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios
Tocobo
ColorScience

Vitamin C
If you pick just one product to use on your skin for anti-aging benefits, pick vitamin C. It aids your collagen and elastin production which fights wrinkles and ensures you have an even skin tone and texture. If you're fighting discoloration on your skin, Vitamin C will help lighten it. Not all vitamin C products are created equal, I know because I tried out a $40 product off amazon. The serum was orange, it’s supposed to be a light yellow.  When it becomes oxidized by light and air it turns colors and some manufacturers hide this by adding color to it. There’s different types of Vitamin C- you want to make sure the ingredient list says L-ascorbic acid, the highest quality. Vitamin C is meant to be applied during the morning for daytime wear because of their ability to neutralize free radicals.
C E Ferulic
Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum

Retinol
Retinol is the purest form of Vitamin A. Retinol stimulates collagen production, which helps to plump up and reduce fine lines so it’s something you should start using in your 30s. It helps with cell turnover and hyperpigmentation. My mother will tell you it makes her skin glow. You can get it by prescription from your doctor (which your insurance won’t cover) or over the counter. The OTC versions are a lower strength concentration of ingredients and will take longer to see results. However with a prescription, as I have, be prepared to experience some skin sensitivity and minor peeling. You'll need to start off slow by not using it daily. My doctor said that a lot of people give up early because of the initial side effect of peeling skin and thus they don’t give the product a chance to work. You just have to build up your tolerance. A retinol should be part of your PM regimen. If you’re also using an AHA product, you should avoid using them the same evening. I used a whole bottle of Neutrogena's Rapid Repair whose commercials promise results in a week, but it did not deliver on that promise. Instead I recommend these products:
Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM
A313 Vitamin A Pommade
RetRx 314


Exfoliation
Sloughing off your dull top skin layers help prepare your skin to better absorb the other products you put on it. There's several methods to exfoliate your skin. You can use the Clarisonic brush to break up the dead skin and get rid of the tiny bumps on your forehead. It's basically a large electric toothbrush with a powerful motor that turns the bristles in a circular motion. It has a timer so you know how long to be on each section of your face. It's waterproof so you can use it in the shower. The head does need to be changed every 3 months but the body is rechargeable by plugging it into a wall. There are different versions of it depending on your needs. I honestly can tell you that it truly is amazing! I've read various articles that compared it to cheaper drugstore brushes and in each test the Clarisonic outperformed cheaper models. It comes in so many pretty colors and gift sets with product combo packs. Yes it does go on sale occasionally, on Monday QVC had it on sale for $110 and last week on Clarisonic's website although most have sold out by now. 

For chemical exfoliation try out an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). Glycolic acid is an AHA that comes from sugar cane and will break up the debris on the skin's outer layer. I still like the old school, abrasive physical scrubs but you want to be careful with this and not over exfoliate. Don't buy a product that has plastic beads in it. A ban was put on those products last year to protect our environment. Below are my tried and true products:
Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner with Azelaic Acid
Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence



Masks
Masks are a weekly boost to your skin care routine. It's a great pampering session if you can't make it to
a professional.  If you have oily skin, clay and charcoal masks are great to soak up some of that oil. Dry skin benefit from a moisturizing mask. My favorite masks in my monthly rotation are:
Origins Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask
Pumpkin Enzyme Mask


Supplements
Beautiful skin is also a job on the inside as well. We all know we need to drink a lot of water, but you also need to consume omega-3s and healthy fats which help moisturize your skin. On a daily basis I consume avocado, chia seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds and either olive oil or coconut oil. I take a vegetarian Omega-3 vitamin in lieu of fish oil. I also take a silica vitamin which is an essential mineral that supplies your body with nutrients by binding water in our cells. Silica helps to keeps your skin hydrated and delays the aging process and collagen formation. I got this tip from reading Christie Brinkley book. Silica also strengthens your hair and nails. I make my pesto sauces with walnuts as they are a cheaper replacement for pine nuts. I keep a bag of sunflower seeds on my kitchen counter and sprinkle a tablespoon into salads and on top of my smoothies. They are high in Vitamin E and rich in the antioxidant selenium which preserves elastin to keep skin smooth and tight. I eat red bell peppers every week because they are high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. I often drink green smoothies.
Biosil
Ovega-3


Facials
If it's in your budget, you should try to get facials regularly (every month or so). Facials gets rid of dead skin cells, stimulate new ones, improve hydration, clear up blemishes, and even out your skin tone. They also improve the blood flow to your skin and are just relaxing. The result is it allows your regular products to work more effectively. I'm not a fan of basic facials that just wash you face and put a mask on you, I can do that at home. I only like facials that use some kind of equipment as follows:

Microdermabrasion - is a machine that gently sands your skin and has been effective in treating mild acne scars, enhancing collagen and elastin production, and improving blood circulation. You need a series of these to see results. If you're brave, you can buy your own device and do it at home.

Hydrafacials - Similar to microdermabrasion,  it exfoliates but at the same time pumps nutrients such as  Antioxidants, Peptides and Hyaluronic acid back into the skin. It reduces fine lines and makes your skin look radiant. It is very customized as there's different percentages of the chemicals and different serums to treat your specific skin issues. I always see immediate results afterward!

LED lights -  You wear sunglasses and expose your face to red and blue lights. The light stimulates collagen production and tissue repair. I've seen some celebs post on instagram at home masks that they use, but they are pricey. In the past I used this device for my acne.  It uses a blue light to destroy acne-causing bacteria while it gives a gentle vibration and gentle warming to help to open pores so bacteria is exposed to the zit-zapping light. It does eat up batteries very quickly so I used rechargeable ones. But I was shocked at how great this worked at reducing any bump under the skin I felt coming up. In 24 hours there was a visible difference.
Dr. Dennis Gross

Chemical peels - I do light peels, not the kind where your face is red and peeling for a week. The idea behind a peel is that you damage the top layer of your skin so that a fresh layer of skin appears. Jessner's solution peels are popular at my doctor's office but I stick with a Lactic Acid peel which is a light AHA peel made from sour milk. It's good for exfoliating your skin, stimulating collagen production, and treating hyperpigmentation. Speaking of which, Kojic Acid is a good option to treat hyperpigmented areas. I think lasers are starting to replace peels, but they're pretty pricey so I stick to the peels. For instance I read that movie stars ask for the Clear + Brilliant laser to be put into their contract, but my Dr. charges $500 for it. I still think a regular peel regimen can do wonders. There are some even lighter versions you can do at home:
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel


Facial Oils
Facial oils have been used by women for centuries and I think are regaining momentum in popularity now. In the winter time I add a little to my forehead to nourish and replenish my skin. It's great to use under powder so your skin doesn't look as dry, but dewy. Facial oils are okay to use on oily skin as well, as it will slow down your skin's natural oil production. You should look for 100% oils with no additives. I rotate between Marula (South Africa's beauty secret), Squalane (from olives, which you'll see in tons of beauty products on the market) and Camellia (Japan's beauty secret) oils. But you can also use Argan, Jojoba, or Macadamia nut oils.   You just add a light dab to your skin and you'll find them fast absorbing. I use this oil on the weekends. 

I hope these tips were helpful, please let me know what has worked for you.

23 comments

  1. So many great ideas for skin transformations here. I really try to keep sunscreen on during the summer. My skin is very fair and I burn easily if I don't stay lathered!

    ReplyDelete
  2. All about that vitamin C. I need anything for the anti-aging, discoloration and collagen, so I am always using vitamin C! Miracle worker!

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow I've never had a facial and I guess I don't know enough about it but I really don't think anyone ever needs botox. Taking care of my skin is a priority. I have extremely sensitive dry skin so I do moisturizing masks and oils along with gentle cleansers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to transform my skin. it has been awful since I was a kid! It goes from oily to dry almost overnight it seems!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This sounds amazing, my skin gets so dry this time of year! I need to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This was super helpful to me. I am really needing a skin care overhaul because my face has started aging terribly this year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love getting facials. I'm going to try microdermabrasion but I'm kind of nervous.

    ReplyDelete
  8. yes, yes, and yes! I always exfoliate and use facial oils but I need to invest in more spa appts for facial treatments.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So many great ideas for skin transformations here. I really love going to the spa for facials but doing them at home is worth the huge money save.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You can never do too much for your skin. I'm obsessed with sheet masks right now, but I really want to try out some products from Drunk Elephant and Sunday Riley. I've heard great things, although they are an investment.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You can totally no do too much for your skin! I firmly believe that they key to no wrinkles is moisturizer! -Debra

    ReplyDelete
  12. You can never do too much for your skin. I always exfoliate and moisturize.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love taking care of my skin. Wrinkles are a part of life but I can at least slow them down right??? I think so. Taking fare of your body should be #1.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Taking care of your skin is important, at my age I'm using Mask, sunscreen and exfoliation.

    ReplyDelete
  15. These are helpful tips! My skin care routine are moisturize, mask, and facial peels. So glad to know more skincare.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love doing face masks. They make me feel fancy! Sunscreen is super important too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have this post bookmarked for reference to all these amazing tips. I guess I never knew that there is hope for my aging skin.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This sounds really cool! I don't exfoliate, but I might want to. My skin could definitely use help this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is a great list! I really think sunscreen makes all the difference in the world. I need to start scheduling facials more often!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow this is a lot of info! You do a lot to take care of skin, which is great! I have been trying out a lot of Mario badesceau products lately and trying to do a cleansing mask and a hydrating mask weekly. I definitely don't do facials as often as I should!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have been putting more and more focus into my skin. It is so important to do it now so that it can stay healthy as I age.

    ReplyDelete
  22. There are so many choices when it comes to taking care of our skin and it's nice because it's easier to pick which ones work best for your skin care routine. I've tried at least half of these and so far, I'm happy with my regimen.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have a very strict skin care routine lol...love all these tips and they are all great ways to help your skin look great. I love masks its one of my favorite part of my skin care routine. I also use an exfoliating cleanser which helps keep skin smooth. This is really a great post, great job!!

    ReplyDelete