What’s My Skincare Routine?

I get asked on a regular basis what skincare products I use, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to share my go-to products. I’ll start by saying that the most important part of my routine is limiting my time in the sun and wearing a 70+SPF sunscreen on my face and body anytime I’m outside for a significant amount of time. My favorite is Neutrogena Age Shield Face Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 70 – a sheer yet moisturizing sunscreen that protects skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

When it comes to cleansers, I use two different kinds – for everyday use, I alternate between Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash and their Coconut Milk Cream to Foam Face Wash. I like both and tend to gravitate towards the Coconut Milk when my skin feels a bit on the dry side.

When wearing heavy or waterproof makeup, my go-to is DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. This stuff is amazing and removes long wear and waterproof makeup completely and leaves skin soft, not taut. It’s worth mentioning that I used this as an everyday cleanser for years but I like the convenience of using the foaming face wash in the shower plus t’s easier to travel with, in my opinion. 

I don’t use toner and that’s just a personal choice. During my tenure as a beauty consultant and makeup artist, I would use the routine recommended by whatever brand it was that I worked for at the time. I found that as long as I had a really good cleanser, I could just skip this step – I like to keep things simple.

Treatments… this is where I don’t mind spending a little more to get products that deliver actual results. I’ve done a few campaigns for DRMTLGY the past couple years and I have to tell you, every product I’ve used works and is worth every penny. It’s surprisingly affordable compared to similar products and I buy directly from the manufacturer. However, it can also be found in select dermatologist offices and med spas. DRMTLGY Retinol .05 (at night) and Vitamin C,E & F Serum (during the day) will change your skin within a few days and used regularly will drastically improve fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and the overall firmness of your skin. 

Last year I reviewed the Ambari Beauty PM Active 12 Serum (a retinol alternative) and Gold Perfection Mask (once per week). I’ll just say I was blown away by the results, which were immediate. Both products incorporate AHA’s, PHA’s and Shitake Mushrooms, along with other potent ingredients, that act similarly to retinol. I now alternate between Ambari and DRMTLGY, as I like them both. The thing that really stood out for me with the Ambari products is they literally give my skin a beautiful, natural glow – and people notice.

As long as you’re using retinol (or an alternative) and Vitamin C daily you’re going to see a vast improvement in your skin. PLEASE NOTE – you must start out slowly when using anything that contains Retinol, AHA’s,  and/or Vitamin C, usually just 1 or 2 times weekly, several days apart, until your skin gets acclimated. These are powerful ingredients that can cause irritation if used too often. **Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when incorporating these into your skin care routine! 

Both DRMTLGY and Ambari offer great percent off deals on your first order, loyalty programs, plus they have great sales throughout the year – Ambari even has a recycling program where you earn a $50 gift card when you recycle 3 of their bottles. #shopsmart

When it comes to moisturizer, I use DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46 during the day. I literally wear this every day with a dusting of Bare Minerals Translucent Loose Powder. It adjusts to any skin tone, no matter how light or dark, and leaves your skin with a gorgeous finish. Visit their website to see before and after results – it’s truly amazing! At night, I like DHC Extra Nighttime Moisturizer – this is a wonderful, olive oil based moisturizer (don’t worry – it won’t clog pores) that works for all skin types and is safe to use with most treatment products. This is another solid that I’ve used for 5+ years.   

Once per month I manually exfoliate my face, neck and decollete using either the Vanity Planet Microdermabrasion Wand or the Dermasuri Deep Exfoliating Face Mitt. I used to have microdermabrasion done at the med spa monthly until I discovered I could get similar results at home with the Vanity Planet product. Manual exfoliation makes all the difference when it comes to how your facial products absorb. Retinol and AHA’s increase cell turnover but manual exfoliation removes the dead skin cells so your products are absorbed by the new skin cells rather than being wasted on the top layer of dead skin. I did a tutorial on the microdermabrasion wand on my YouTube channel.

Last but not least, eye cream. My current favorite is Clarins Total Eye Lift Eye Cream. This stuff is amazing and one of the few I’ve found that actually deliver noticeable results – it even works on the little bunny lines between the eyes! I’ve been using this since last year when I partnered with them on a campaign. Prior to that, I used various brands but wasn’t committed to any of them. This stuff actually does firm the skin around the eyes and reduces the appearance of fine lines with regular use – I haven’t seen as dramatic results with other brands as I did with Clarins so it’s now on regular rotation in my skin care arsenal.

Last but not least and I can’t stress this enough…. Whatever you put on your face, use on your neck and decollete, as well!!! I’ve spent more money than I care to admit in an effort to reverse the damage I incurred on my decollete due to neglecting to apply sunscreen on my chest during my 20’s and 30’s. It’s vastly improved from what it looked like a couple years ago but the damage is still visible. It’s great to not look your age but don’t let your neck and/or decollete give you away!