Face Care Routine!

Ok ladies, this is my first ever skin care routine featured on my blog. I have always had trouble deciding what face products to use that will work well with my skin. I feel like I have finally gotten a great routine down that is keeping my skin clear and healthy looking to the point where some days I don't feel like I need to wear foundation. 

For reference..

My skin is combination leaning more towards the oily side in my T zone. I have pretty large and visible pores. My skin does not usually break out with certain products. The only breakouts I get are caused by hormones or not fully cleaning my face. On a side note, I did have a horrible breakout reaction to the supplement Biotin. I started taking it in order to help my hair and nails and it made my skin more oily and start breaking out. :/ 

Anyways, here is my skin care routine!

It's pretty simple.  

Morning 

Cetaphil Daily Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin

LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff. I had used so many different kinds of face washes prior to this. I was recommended this by many people and always read great reviews on it so I decided to try it. It is so simple yet works so well with every skin tone. I purchased the cleanser for normal to oily skin. This keeps my skin hydrated without making it oily throughout the day which is what I experienced with other facial cleansers. This is def. my holy grail and I will always repurchase. 

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner

This is acutally a recent find of mine. I was stocking the shelves at Ulta (this is how I find many products I want to try haha), found this, and decided to try it. I had never used a toner before this. This has quickly become another one of my holy grail products. After washing my face with Cetaphil and drying my face, I put a generous amount of this toner on a cotton circle thing, and put it on all areas of my face. I have really seen a significant reduction in the size of my pores with using this. This product also contains Salicylic Acid which smooths out my complextion and really helps in preventing breakouts due to excess oil and dirt. 

Olay Comeplete SPF 15 Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

I use this as my everyday moisturizer. When looking for a moisturizer I wanted something that contained a sunscreen but wouldn't make my skin extra oily and feel gross. This moisturizer is perfect for that. Although my skin is not very sensitive, I chose the sensitive formula just in case! I put this all over my face and neck after my Nutrogena Pore Refining Toner has dried. 

Loreal Revitalife Eye Cream

I have been using eye cream ever since I was in middle school (might as well start early?). Since I got my dad's skin, I pretty much know that when I get older I will have crows feet and bags under my eyes. I really do not have a preference when it comes to eye cream but this one works really well and it is inexpensive. 

Night 

Walgreens Makeup Removing Towelettes

At the end of the day, I start out my skin care routine by trying to remove as much makeup as I can using makeup removing towelettes. Since I use these everyday, I try to look for ones that are pretty inexpensive. My favorite would have to be the Walgreens and Wal-Mart brand towelettes that are compared to more expensive brands. They work just as well and I like that they have a bit of texture to the towelette to help remove excess makeup. 

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin

Again, I use my Cetaphil cleanser to wash my face a few minutes after removing most of my makeup with the cleansing towelettes. 

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner

I also use my pore refining toner again the same way as previously mentioned. I like that I can get away with using this twice a day without it drying out my face at all. This is the final step in removing any makeup that was left over from the day. 

Loreal Revitalift Face and Neck

After all the products that go on the face during the day, it is important to restore the moisture and help repair the skin on the face. At night is when I use a thick moisturizer targeted at restoring moisture and helping prevent lines and wrinkles. This specific moisturizer actually came in a pack with the Revitalift eye cream. I love the feel of this moisturizer on my face. It is super thick and I really feel like it is moisturizing my skin very well. I feel like I do not need to spend loads of money on moisturizer when the drug store brands work well for me! 

Loreal Revitalift Eye

After using the Revitalift Face and Neck, I finish up with the Loral Revitalift eye again! 

Extra Products 
These are extra products that I use but not on a daily basis.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

I use this mask on days that my face is just not looking its greatest. I also use this as a spot treatment on pimples as it dries them out very nicely. This masque smells very minty like tooth paste and kind of tingles/burns when I put it on. I leave this on for 15 minutes, wash it off with warm water and a wash cloth, and my skin looks refreshed and smooth. 

Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing Brush

I use this product once a week to exfoliate my skin. To use this, I put the Cetahil cleanser all over my face, put this brush on the highest setting, and work it on my face for about a minute. It is an inexpensive alternative to the Clarisonic brushes. 

Neutrogena Clear Face Sunblock SPF 30

This is a recent purchase of mine since we are nearing the summer months where it is very important to protect the delicate skin of our face from the sun. When looking for a face sunscreen, I wanted something that was at least SPF 30, had broad spectrum coverage, was light weight, and wouldn't cause my skin to be more oily or break out. This had everything that I was looking for! I have only used this a few times, but I know it will be great for the summer. It is a very thin formula so it does not feel like I have sunscreen on my face. I used this under my usual foundation and makeup and it did not feel any different. 

No makeup on! Woot! :)

What are your favorite skin care products?

Diving in "The Deep End" with Bare Minerals Ready Bronzer.

Did I mention that I have an obsession with bronzers?

Yes, I have added yet another bronzer to my ever-expanding collection. 

When I first set my eyes on the Bare Escentuals/Minerals new "Ready" bronzers I was very intrigued. I had heard good reviews about their bronzer in "Warmth", but steered away from it because it is a loose powder. (Not a big fan of loose powder messes)

 Seeing that a lot of people like the Bare Minerals/Escentuals brand, I figured this would be a good first product for me to buy from the brand. Being the bronzer and tan fanatic that I am, I decided on the darkest color of the three bareMinerals Ready bronzers available. "The Deep End", appropriately named, is the darkest being labeled as dark tan. 

About the Bronzer 

Experience the rejuvenating power of positively charged sea minerals. 

"bareMinerals Ready" is an innovative concept in solid mineral technology. Created through a unique cold-pressed method, this formula combines our proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral Complex composed of positively-charged sea minerals with antioxidants and cold-pressed carrot oil. Our skin-nourishing Bronzer delivers anti-aging benefits for softer, smoother and firmer-looking skin, and buffs on a natural-looking buildable tan. 

No parabens, no binders, no fillers, no harsh chemicals, no kidding. 

Ingredients

Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calcium Ketogluconate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Silica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, 77492, 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163).

Apply to complexion with a face brush for a beautiful golden glow. Focus on areas the sun would naturally hit: cheekbones, forehead, nose, and chin. 

hello :)

"The Deep End" is the darkest of all of my bronzers. 

My Thoughts

I have been using this bronzer for the past week or two and have been really loving it. The color of this bronzer is a deep, dark tan with a hint of golden bronze. In the pan, this seems to have a slight hint of shimmer. But, on the skin, it shows up completely matte. For this reason, I have been using this as my contour color for the hollows of my cheeks, sides of my nose, top of my forehead, and on my jawline. I love that since it is so dark, it actually shows up as a contour on my already tan skin. (It can be hard to find a bronzer dark that is enough!) The texture of this is very smooth and goes on seamlessly. The color, at first, goes on very sheer and is buildable to the darker color seen in the swatch. This is another reason I like it as a contour. If it were to go on very dark at first, I would probably end up with way too much bronzer!

Here is a pic of this bronzer used to contour.

Price and Retail

The "bareMinerals Ready" bronzers come in 3 different colors on Sephora.com and Sephora stores for $24.

Have you tried any of the "Ready" products from Bare Minerals?

Blue Glitter.

Hello!

This eye look kind of ended up being a test run for a makeup look that I will be doing on one of my friends tomorrow for her prom. 

I looooveeee the color of this NYX glitter. 

Please ignore the big scratch on my forehead...

My cat decided to run on my face with her claws while I was sleeping. -_-

Face

Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pure

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation in Honey

Too Faced Chocolate Soliel Bronzer 
Physician's Formula PH Matchmaker blush in Natural

Milani Minerals Makeup in Natural Tan to contour
Lorac Perfectly Lit in Radiant for highlight 

Brows

Ulta Brow Style kit

Eyes

Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance 

Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Audacious Asphalt" as base

Urban Decay e/s in blackout on top of Audacious Asphalt

NYX Glitter Mania in Blue on lid

Urban Decay e/s in Bootycall on inner corner of eye 

Urban Decay e/s in Naked to blend

Loreal Infallible e/s in Midnight Blue in crease and lower lash line
Urban Decay e/s in Bootycall as highlight under brow

MAC Feline Kohl Pencil on waterline 

Maybelline Flared Mascara

Ardell 120 

No lipstick

Beachy Texture with Lee Stafford Sea Salt Spray

While stocking the shelves at Ulta a week or two ago, I noticed this line of hair care products in pink and purple bottles that caught my eye. The brand was Lee Stafford. After researching a bit, I found out that Lee Stafford is a veteran hair stylist that made his own product line. I had never heard of these hair products before but I decided to try out the "Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray".  

What it is

If you love the look and feel of just stepped out of the sea, naturally sun dried hair, then you will be swept away by this spray. 

This defining Sea Salt Spray will bring out the tousled textured look you can usually only get after swimming in the sea..until now! Hair will still feel soft to touch but with added bounce, definition, and body to die for! 

What it Contains

With a ProMineral Complex of Dead Sea Salts and 26 minerals 

With sunflower extract to help give moisture and shine to protect and repair against free radicals

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxythanol, VP/VA Copolymer, Polyimide-1, Parfum (Fragarance), Sodiumm Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Methylpraben Hexyl Cinnamal, Helianthus Annuus, (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Coumarin, Sodium Hydroxide

Directions 

Simply spray approximately 10 times (adjust to suit) over towel dried hair and gently blow dry or for the ultimate beach goddess look just leave to dry naturally.

This Sea Salt Spray also works amazingly on your hair when it's dry. 

The Results 

In these pictures, I followed the directions by spraying my hair (I only sprayed the bottom, not my bangs.) 10 or more times with the spray while my hair was wet/damp. I then let my hair dry naturally. 

My hair is naturally a little bit wavy and this really brought out my waves while giving it a messy beach texture. :)

My Thoughts

I have never used a beach hair or sea salt spray on my hair before. Overall, I am very happy with the results of this product! I have used this several times since I have purchased it and probably my favorite way to use it is on my second day unwashed dry hair. I either spray it on my loose hair or put my hair in a side braid and spray it directly onto the braid and let it set. This makes my hair look and feel instantly "beachy" and brings some life to my flat unwashed hair. This product has a very strong smell of hemp with a hint of sunflower undertones. And, when I say strong, I mean VERY strong. If you were to spray this in your hair in the morning, you would most likely still smell it by the end of the day. 

I think this will be a great product to use in the summer for the UV protection as well as for hot days when I don't feel like styling my hair.

Price

I bought this product at Ulta for $11.99. 

Have you used a "Beach Hair" Spray?