My Summer Skincare Essentials

I want to share my current beauty routine for the summer.  In the summer we need to change our skincare routine because being outside in the hot temperatures can lead to unwelcome problems. Since I'm working from home, and am outside a lot less, I've noticed my skin feels normal and unproblematic. If you're outside sweating a lot, your body is going to crave water; and without replenishing it the skin's moisture will be dry. The solution is to drink a lot of water and using products with oils and glycerin that will lock in the moisture into your skin.

I see skincare as a major investment, as your face is the first thing people see.  I've gotten compliments on my skin lately from a few people so I thought I'd share what I have been using.  You'll see that I don't use a cream moisturizer so I think the essences and oils are what is keeping my skin soft. I drink 8 glasses of water everyday, I know because I have a half gallon water bottle.  I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I go to the farmers market every Saturday and make a batch of salads from that. I take a B vitamin which helps your body produce new skin cells, retain moisture, have softer skin and reduce the skins of aging. B vitamins are also good for your hair and nails. 

I’m a Sephora junkie, but I only shop during their 15% off sale a couple times a year. My goal has always been to create empty bottles, so everything you see listed on my previous beauty posts were used  until the bottle was empty. I don't need to purchase skin care products that often. I think quality skincare products are an investment in your skin's health. Good skin means you don't need as much makeup for your daily life.


AM Routine

Wash

Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

I wash my face twice a day, at night before bed and after my lunchtime peloton ride. I've been using this cleanser daily since July 2020, so that's how long this 8oz bottle has lasted! I love, Youth to the People's cleanser! It comes in a glass jar bottle and does a good job of removing dirt, oil, and makeup, and rinses clean with no residue. Its gentle formula that doesn’t leave skin feeling dry or tight afterwards. Also included in the formula are numerous antioxidants, among them kale, green tea, and spinach.

Toner

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner

 A calming facial toner that hydrates and refreshes the skin without the use of alcohol. Perfect for sensitive and delicate skin, this calming treatment toner helps maintain the natural pH levels without the use of alcohol or other harsh detergents. Infused with soothing extracts of Apricot, Sweet Betty Flower and Saponins from Quillaja Wood, the hydrating formula soothes and harmonizes the skin whilst leaving it looking and feeling fresh and radiant. It also acts as the first layer of hydration and aids in the penetration of the moisturizer or night cream. I spray this toner on immediately after washing and drying my face, then wait a few minutes for the toner to dry before moving on to the next step. 

Vitamin C Serum

TruSkin Vitamin C

I'm on my second bottle of this.  I've tried a half dozen brands out there and they all leave my skin looking a little shiny the first hour of work except this one. Your vitamin C serum should be white in color, once it turns yellow it's starting to oxidize, and if it's brown, it's time to toss it. Vitamin C improves collagen, has a brightening affect and soothes out wrinkles. 

Essence

One Ocean Blue Light Protection Mist

A hydrating mist that protects against photoaging from blue light exposure, dehydration and urban pollution. The ingredients include glycerin, aloe, red algae, peptides, and marine actives.  

Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence

 I use this after I wash my face after my lunch workout. It gives my skin a glow, makes my pores smaller and moisturizes my skin. The ingredients include Hyaluronic Acid, Kombucha, and glycerin.

Sunscreen

UV rays are the harshest in the summer so sunscreen is the most important step in preventing aging. You have to wear sunscreen every single day and reapply every 2 hours when outside. I buy new bottles every year as it does expire. 

Supergoop Glowscreen

This is my favorite sunscreen because it  gives your skin a light-reflective, luminous appearance. It's sunscreen with a pearlescent glow. When I'm not in the mood for that I use Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 which is sheer (not white) and gives your skin a matte finish. 

Hand Sunscreen

My work from home desk is next to the window and I noticed I got a truckers tan where my right hand was darker than my left hand. lol So I bought this hand sunscreen (which is great because you can often tell a woman's age by her hands) and keep it on my desk to apply first thing in the morning. 

Megababe Beach Paint

If you get melasma, hyperpigmentation on your upper lip aka "a skin mustache", then you have to try this. Luckily for the last year I haven't had to worry about it since I always had a mask on outside. 

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Lightweight Sunscreen Spray - SPF 100

I've been using this for a few years now because it gives my arms and legs this glow like an oil mist which I love! 

PM Routine


Cleanser

Retinol

SkinBetter Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Made with lactic acid, glycolic acid and retinoid to smooth and brighten skin. I'm on my second bottle of this. Retinol is a topical vitamin A that facilities skin cell turnover, improves sun damage; collagen; wrinkles and fine lines. 
It's a mix of rosehip oil, vitamin E, Blue Tansy Oil, and other oils which are rich in omegas to restore skin. Rosehip oil is a good moisturizing agent, has vitamin A, and helps with hyperpigmentation.

Eye cream

Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream
I'm on my second tube of this. A hydrating eye cream with peptide4, Star Arvensis (Omega 3 Fatty Acid), Night Scented stock (flower oil with Vitamin E and essential Fatty Acid).

Eyelash serum
Dime Eyelash Boost Serum

Lips 
Made with moisturizers and plumping wakame algae to hydrate and nourish lips. Ingredients include hyaluronic acid, sugarcane-derived squalene, glycerin, castor oil, jojoba and rose wax (a fragrance-, essential-oil-free, vegan alternative to beeswax). It now comes in a tube which is better since the product will not be exposed to air and your finger.

Masks/Peels

Two or three times a week I will do a mask or peel after cleansing. 

A non-abrasive cream exfoliator infused with natural fruit enzymes to gently smooth and clarify tired, lackluster skin.

A face mask that works like a facial, with potent PHAs and Nordic birch sap to exfoliate, illuminate, and brighten skin. Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs) are a gentler alternative to AHAs that help even skin tone and texture through chemical exfoliation. Nordic Birch Sap help to hydrate and nourish skin. Pink Bentonite Clay help to clarify and renew. Compared to Drunk Elephant's facial, Drunk Elephant is much stronger with 25% AHA and 2% BHA. Ole Henriksen's PHAs are a much gentler form of AHA and costs almost half what the Drunk Elephant cost for the same volume. I use a pen to mark on the bottle of the bottle how many times I've used it. 



Body
The first step of preparing your skin for summer shorts is exfoliation which is key in the summertime. I use a Korean washcloth to scrub my thighs to keep the skin smooth. I have keratosis pilaris "chicken skin" on my thighs so I use Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash (recommended by my dermatologist) on my thighs then follow up with First Aid KP Smoothing Body Lotion. I tried Dermadoctor's line but it didn't work for me. 


If you have dry elbows you need to use this elbow cream which has amazing ingredients like Urea, Glycerin, Lactic Acid and sunflower seed oil.

Trader Joe's Body Butter
If you like Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream, Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Body Butter is a dupe for it at a fraction of the price. 

Feet

Don't walk around your house around barefoot, that and flipflops outdoors is what makes your feet so dry and heels crusty. Even carpets will scratch up your feet. I have my slippers in the wintertime but in the summer I wear these sandals indoors-only which have gotten rid of my plantar fasciitis! Also they have a flexible midsole that absorbs shock, reducing stress on feet, ankles, and knees. It hugs your arches and support your feet. It's better to invest in expensive good quality shoes that will last a long time and support your feet so you never have to think about your feet. 

I apply this before bed, it's made with Sea Buckthorn Oil, Marula Oil, Coconut Oil, sunflower seed and carnauba wax that make your feet silky soft. The product is phenomenal! 

This is an intensive hydration cream with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, glycerin, ceramide NG, and urea (miracle ingredient). I'm on my second bottle of this. 

When I tell people I only get one pedicure a year, I get weird stares as if my feet are gross. They're not! I take really good care of my feet that they don't need professional care. I only get that one pedicure to have perfect nail polish for a vacation, otherwise I paint them myself the rest of the year.

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