Hi all and Happy Monday!
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This week I’m sharing my beauty routine. This is a prompt I gleaned from 365 Days Of Writing Prompts For Romance Writers by Kim Knight. Read my review here and check it out on Amazon – it’s free with Kindle Unlimited. This is actually the last prompt I gleaned from this book. If I ever get to writing that dang novel, I’ll borrow more of the prompts, but this is my last Kim Knight-inspired blog for a while.
Morning
Almost as soon as I wake up, I wash my face. I use a few different face washes, depending on what my skin needs at that time. I have pretty terrible combination skin, and at thirty suffer from the first signs of aging (wrinkles) as well as hormonal acne. I am going to add another face wash to my rotation soon, but currently I alternate between Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Daily Face Wash and CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.
Next, I use a toner to hydrate my face and prepare it for other products. I almost always use Lancome Tonique Confort Comforting Rehydrating Toner but if I’m in a hurry or want a little more moisture, I go with Rose Water Facial Toner Hydrate and Refresh by Trader Joe’s. The Lancome is more moisturizing, but the Trader Joe’s product is a facial spray and has a super hydrating feel to it for instant comfort. Then I go in with other products I might need that day before moisturizing. This will include an acne product if I have a really bad flare-up. I don’t really have a holy grail acne item as what I’m using varies. I have used so many good ones over the past few years. It just depends on what I was lucky enough to score via Influenster recently. Here’s my referral link if you would like to sign up! It’s a free app where you review products and can be given free products to review and sometimes promote on social media.
For moisturizer, I have a few options. Lately I have been using a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation, so I hold off on moisturizer until I put on make-up. In that case, I’ll either use that Trader Joe’s spray and call it a day, or go in with Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea. If I’m not wearing make-up that day or going for a more full coverage look and using foundation, I’ll use Lancome Hydra Zen. If I’m using tinted moisturizer that day, I uce Lancome’s Skin Feels Good foundation. I fell in love with these products when I got them on Influenster and have consistently gone back to buy them. Lancome is more of a luxury brand than I am used to for skin care, but a little goes a long way and it really feels great on my skin.
I might throw on some body lotion if I remember, but I don’t always. I suffer from eczema on the back of my neck and usually apply Gold Bond Eczema Relief at some point during the day.
I use both facial sprays mentioned throughout the day if they’re on hand and I feel like I need a refresh. I feel like the green tea in the Mario Badescu product really wakes my skin up.
Night
I am a night showerer, so I do that first. If I am heavily made-up that day, I try to remember to remove my make-up first, but I don’t always. In the shower, I wash my face using the same cleansers mentioned above. My facial moisturizing routine is pretty similar, but I might add in an anti-aging product I scored on Influenster, too.
Admittedly, there are nights I am exhausted or lazy and don’t feel like going all out on skincare. In that instant, I at least use Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. I like this one when I’m in a rush because I can use it on my face and my body. It’s the best for when I feel lazy or rushed, and I like it for traveling because it means only carrying one bottle.
If I’m feeling up for some #selfcare, I go all out with my moisturizing routine. For my body, this includes using Truly 24K Jelly Tonic Glow & Tighten Butt Serum on my butt and thighs. It also includes using a rose quartz roller on my face after my toner. There are some nights I completely change things up and use an overnight mask instead of a moisturizer to give my face some extra TLC. The mask I use is Summer Fridays Jet Lag Hydrating Mask.
Most nights, I use the Gold Bond on the back of my neck before using Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Body Lotion with Lavender, Natural Oatmeal and Chamomile & Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils. I find the scent so relaxing and the Aveeno is soothing to my dry skin.
And there you have it! My beauty routine. It’s usually pretty short and simple, but I do like to go all out when I have the time and desire.
