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Christine’s Skincare Routine
I’ve gotten a few questions from my classmates, readers, and even my cousin on my skincare routine. While I like to think I’ve been blessed with good genes for clear skin from my parents, I do work hard to make sure my skin is taken care of properly since I do have Oily/Combination skin and because I often try new products for my blog! I think the most important thing to do when it comes to skincare is to make it part of your schedule. If you’re not being consistent with your skincare, then you’re not going to see any results. So, without further ado, here is my skincare regimen that I’ve been following for the past couple of years with some additions!
Every morning:
Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash – Every morning in the shower, I wash with my Bliss. I’ve written a review for this product before, but I love it because it’s gentle and effective. It’s great for oily skin, but is generally made for all skin types!
Bliss Fabulous Face Lotion with SPF 15 – Ever since kicking my tanning bed habit, I’ve decided to try and undo some of the damage from my tanorexic phase. Now an avid self-tanner and SPF user, I try and look for lotions that have the SPF already built in for me. I use this lotion every morning after washing my face and let it soak in before putting on my makeup for the day. It smells like candy oranges and keeps me soft and matte.
Every night:
My night time skin care routine is a little bit more intense. I live by the rule of washing your makeup off every night before you go to bed, no matter how tired/drunk/lazy/forgetful you might be. I will stagger to the sink to wash my face no matter how terrible or tired I’m feeling. Heather Locklear gave me that piece of advice when I was watching her in an interview as a little one and it stuck.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover – Obviously, I only use this when I wear eye makeup, but since that has turned into an almost every day thing, I do this before washing my face at night. It’s cheap and it works better than baby oil. Shake it good because the dual action formula burns otherwise!
LUSH Dark Angels Cleanser – This is my nighttime cleanser. I started only using it once a week to keep oil at bay, but quickly changed it to my every night cleanser. It smells like Earl Grey Tea and turns your whole face black. Your skin feels amazing, soft, and clean. My best friend and boyfriend have also become LUSH converts after hanging out with me for so long. After a long night out with a face full of makeup–this is my go-to. Use less than you think you need to, and make sure to scrub the sides of your nose well!
Bliss Detoxifying Facial Toner – After I wash with the Dark Angels, I swipe some toner over my face quickly. I love the smell and feel of this amazing toner. It’s tingly and fresh! It keeps my skin clear and helps to remove any extra dirt or residue from the Dark Angels. I only use this at night, but you can use it during the day or as a primer for your makeup.
Pond’s Dry Skin Cream – Finally! I slather on a ton of Pond’s for my night cream. It’s been around for 100 years, has simple ingredients, and makes me nice and soft by morning. Night creams are my favorite to be honest, however, I’m not buying into the “fancy night cream” trend. Save yourself the money and just stick to Pond’s. It’s cheap and it works!
Once a week:
Last, but not least, once a week I do a mask. I use the Iced Mint Mask from Morgan’s Boutique. It’s tingly like my toner, but my skin looks so fresh and matte afterwards. I use it every Saturday or Sunday to extract any dirt or grime from my pores. It’s also just fun to do, and can be done while I’m reading or relaxing.
Things I’m Loving as of Late
At this time of the year there are plenty of things to love! I just haven’t had any time to talk about them. Now that grading is completed and classes are done for a the next month or so, here’s what’s been keeping me going for the past few weeks during my semester as well as recently!
Currently, I’ve been experimenting with some sparkle, ’tis the season after all. I received an awesome sample of Morgan’s Boutique Eye Fix to try out in my last package and immediately fell in love. For me, an eye primer is KEY! I tend to layer on the shadow when I mix colors or add eye glitter which has a tendency for fall-out. This primer goes on smooth and easy. I love that the cream color virtually blends into my skin. I had no creasing by the end of the day in New York City (yes!) and my glitter stayed on for the most part. I often forget I have it on and rub my eyes during the day and, ta-da! Sparkly cheeks! Overall, I am so happy with this product, and now Elizabeth offers a beige primer for those of you with deeper skin tones. I also love that it’s only $5.99–beauty at a bargain!
The last three Chuck Palahniuk books, for me at least, have been a bit of a WTF. After three books in a row that I could barely get through, and I own and have read all of his books and consider him to be one of my favorite writers, I wasn’t sure whether or not to take the plunge. When Damned hit shelves I was skeptical. Would I like it? Would I have to give up my Chuck addiction forever after three bad trips? Let’s see. Within the first few pages I met Madison and experienced a Vietnam style flashback to the ever-annoying Abby Normal, a Christopher Moore character who made me want to listen to this on repeat for 24 hours rather than read another line of her dialogue. (PS – Moore is another one of my favorite authors–I just hate that annoying little goth girl). BUT! THIS IS A THINGS I LOVE POST, SO ONWARD WE GO. Damned was fabulous. Madison was everything that Abby Normal is NOT. A sassy, wise-beyond-her-years thirteen year old girl with enough snark and wit to make me want to go and grab an overpriced cup of coffee with her. Overall, a great book, and no spoiler alerts this time. You’ll just have to take my word on the awesomeness of this read.
Next up, I love wrapping presents. Though I don’t do it as well as these black and red numbers right here–I’m try my hardest to pick paper and a gift bag that will reflect the person I’m giving it to. Seriously–I do this. Wrapping gifts for me is not only fun, but I love “designing” the gift, if you will. There’s also something about the feeling of fulfillment once you’ve wrapped your final gifts and nestled them under the tree.
I’m loving all of the Bath and Body Works winter season soaps. I’ve already purchased Winter Candy Apple, Vanilla Bean Noel, and Mistletoe Kiss all of which are 4 for $15 or 6 for $20. I have little to no self control when it comes to delicious smelling body products and hand cleansers. It’s a flaw, I guess!
LAST, but definitely not least, I love having a boyfriend who is willing to paint my nails and make that artistic talent something I can benefit from too, heh! I usually always do my own nails and nail art, but I was having trouble painting my snowflakes on my hand. I originally wanted a Nativity scene, but the blue I’ve used here was too dark, as was the black tip. Right now it resembles a night sky fade, which was a total happy accident. Keith so kindly free handed the snowflakes for me. Just in time for the beginning of winter. If you want to try this look out, I used ULTA Brand nail polish in Wild Night for the base, OPI Onyx for the slanted tip, and let it dry until later in the evening. Keith used Sally Hansen nail art pens in white to draw the flakes on each nail, and I finished it off with 2 coats of Sally Hansen maximum growth for extra shine and hardness. So far, it’s been almost five days of washing dishes, hands, and baking and my nails still look great!
What are you all loving this week, month, or second?
My Top 3 Favorite Lip Products!
The weather is getting so dry here in Connecticut which means my lips start to complain. Granted I should be used to the cold weather by now, but year after year my biggest pet peeves are dry, chapped lips. What are my favorite products to beat Mother Nature and stay kissable and soft? Here they are (and most are under $10.00!)
I love the Evolution of Smooth lip balm. One of my classmates was using it one day in class and the unique shape automatically grabbed my attention. Their Smooth Sphere lip balm is 95% organic and packed with Shea Butter and Vitamin E. I love the Sweet Mint flavor because it reminds me of my favorite Orbit Gum. I put it on before I go to the gym, on the way to class, and right before bed. Easy, smooth, and NOT STICKY OR WAXY! Nothing’s worse than a waxy lip balm, and this one just leaves me soft, smooth, and minty. Love the tingle!
A few weeks ago I heard about Maybelline’s Baby Lips line. I was immediately attracted to the fun bright colors and awesome font. (Who says I’m not a nerd?) I love to layer a nice lip balm under my favorite glosses during the winter, and Baby Lips is light enough to do just that! I’ve been using this product religiously for two weeks now and I’m already seeing an improvement in my usually dry lips. I love a product that does what it says for less than five bucks! It comes in six different shades, my favorite being Cherry Me which has a light red tint (like you just ate an ice pop!) and a sweet cherry flavor.
As a longtime lover of almost every Lush product known to man, I was lucky enough to be able to try a sample of their Sweet Lips Lip Scrub not too long ago. This little pot packs a punch of chocolate, sugary, heaven. You simply swipe your finger into the pot, scrub on your lips gently to remove dead skin, and lick! Yes, you lick the scrub off and eat it! It’s a tiny bit messy, but the results are so worth it. I personally love the idea of being able to eat my cosmetics, and this is one of the many reasons Lush has found their way into my heart. Safe, people-friendly and many animal friendly products with fresh ingredients. Love their philosophy, and love their lip scrub.
When it comes to winter, my lips and hands go into temperature shock overdrive. Luckily this season I’ve been able to find some amazing, affordable products to keep my lips lovely. Each of these three products has been boyfriend approved, too! There’s just something about knowing that Mr. Keith is as happy about my new lip products as I am!
What are your go-to glosses, scrubs, or balms for the winter or all year round? Are you a lipstick or gloss gal?
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