I love to shop and I love to get people excited about makeup and skincare. So, whenever someone asks me to help them find a new makeup or skincare routine, I jump at the chance to do it. It's fun (because it's shopping, duh!) and it's rewarding because you help them solve a problem that was frustrating them and potentially affecting their self-esteem. I recently helped design a routine for a woman in her 20's that lives in a humid climate. Despite her location, she still has chronic dry skin. She had tried a variety of products from store-bought to spa lines and was not seeing the results she wanted. So, we went shopping! At her next facial appointment, her esthetician asked her what she was doing and commented on how much her skin improved--so these products are definitely worth checking out!
To Remove Makeup - Pond's Cold Cream $7.99 (& Washcloth)
I know cold creams are a controversial topic in the skincare world, but I am recommending what worked, not debating the origins of a product. Pond's Cold Cream dissolves makeup and features that classic scent. If you remove the makeup with a damp washcloth or larger cotton pads, you won't have to deal with a lot (or any) residue. You can omit this step if you want and perhaps try a cleansing oil or your favorite makeup removing wipe.
To Cleanse - Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk $28
This cleanser has a light citrus scent and exfoliates without any harsh grains or useless "exfoliating beads". You never want to over-exfoliate though, so if you feel your skin starting to dry a bit you might need to cut down and alternate with a super gentle cleanser like Cetaphil.
To Tone - Thayer's Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Toner $9.95
I'm pretty sure the price of this toner went up thanks to a new surge in popularity on Instagram. It smells wonderful and really balances your skin. If cleansing leaves your skin slightly dry, the glycerin in the toner will rehydrate it a little.
To Treat - First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Liquid Recovery "Serum" $38
I put the word serum in quotation marks because this product feels like water, yet it provides incredible hydration without any oily feeling. The effect is noticeable almost instantly. I would say even combination skins could give this a shot.
To Moisturize - Neutrogena Deep Moisture Day Cream with SPF 15 $11
The Neutrogena Deep Moisture creams are great for hydrating without a greasy feel. You can use the SPF version in the AM and the non-SPF version at night.
Intensive Treatment - Boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask $34
A couple of times a week, or after a big dry spell, this sleeping mask is your secret weapon. Sleeping masks have been popular in Asia for quite awhile, and thanks to the advent of BB creams arriving in the West, we are slowly starting to see more of these magnificent skincare items make their way to North America. This mask from Boscia uses tsubaki (camellia) oil, a main ingredient in many Japanese skincare products. You rub the gel-like cream into your skin and get to bed. In the morning when you wake up, you will have baby soft skin.
***These are not affiliate links and I do not get paid to endorse these products. I'm just recommending what worked for a client.
photo credit: Mait Jüriado via photopin cc
photo credit: visit~fingerlakes via photopin cc
