I hope you are doing well!
Throughout these past few weeks I have been busy as a bee working on a project with my choir so obviously blogging went flying out the window!
Today's post is extra special since I have a fabulous guest called Sara who reached out to me with an informative post on her skin care regime!
Martina XOXO
Hello lovelies! I’m Sara and I am so excited
to tell you about my skincare regimen that took my skin from pimply to
near-perfect. But before I start, I want to give a huge thank you to Martina
for letting me write this for her! Thanks girl!
I used to use a lot of acne products in the
hopes of clearing my skin but none would ever work. A pimple would disappear
and another one would pop up elsewhere the next day! I used to wash my face
with Murad’s Clarifying Cleanser and moisturize with Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin
night cream. I always had some minor acne and redness but I was turning 20 at
the time so I knew my skin needed a change. There came a point when all I
wanted was clear skin. That’s it; not a new car or a cute boyfriend—just clear
skin! I realized that I had to start
investing in a few higher-quality products, but I vowed to only purchase what
was really necessary.
After some trial and error, I finally
pinpointed a routine that works! Here are the steps I take to achieve a fresh
face on a tight budget:
v Purpose’s
Gentle Cleansing Wash (which can be found at most drugstores) is “clinically
shown to be as gentle as water” and I believe it. I’ve never been irritated by
this cleanser and it’s great for day and night. It is so light--it literally
feels like nothing is on your face. Cetaphil’s cleanser is just as gentle, but
a tad pricier.
v Skinn Cosmetics DermAppeal Microdermabrasion from
ShopHQ is my go-to at home microdermabrasion treatment. The amount of times
a week you exfoliate depends upon the product you use and your skin type, but
for the most part you should exfoliate about 2-3 times per week. If you don’t
already, you should definitely do it! Dead skin cells, sebum (oil), bacteria
and/or hormones are the building blocks of acne, so don’t let that gunk pile up.
When I use the DermAppeal microdermabrasion product, I wash my face and pat it
dry and then I splash warm water all over. I spoon out a generous quarter-sized
blob with a dry spoon and I massage my face in big, slow circular motions. The
active ingredients are triggered with water, so you don’t want to put your
fingers in the jar. Finally, I hop in the shower, do my deal and rinse all of
the product off. It’s much easier to do it this way because the magnesium
granules take a few minutes to wash off. The results are wonderful! I always use
this on a Friday so I look all glowy and magical when I go out later that
night. J
v Another type of exfoliant I use is called GlamGlow SuperMud activated
charcoal mask and boy, is this stuff super! Ask anyone in the beauty biz and
they’ll give a nod to this stuff for its detoxifying properties. It’s a
chemical exfoliant with both Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHAs & BHAs) so
it leaves your skin really smooth. This mask has a sort of vacuum technology
that just draws the goop out of your pores and shrinks your pimples. I do a
spot treatment with this every couple of days and when I want to do a full
mask, I make sure it’s on a day when I’m not using my Skinn microderm. This
product is a little on the pricey side but it’s totally worth it. If you’re not
ready to splurge, try the Origins Clear Improvement charcoal mask for a little
freshening up!
v The final step in my skincare regimen is the Purely Nourishing moisturizer
from Bare
Essentials. This is like a dream to apply. My skin thanks me every night
when I slather it on! It has an ActiveSoil complex which means it’s formulated
with a good amount of potent antioxidants. Keeping your skin moisturized is
extremely important, so if your skin isn’t as dry as mine, try a lighter cream
like the Philosophy Take a Deep Breath. I use this in the summer months so I
don’t break out.
It’s pretty amazing how 4 products can
really make a difference in a girl’s life but it’s true! I went from perpetual
pimples and constant redness to just a few blackheads on my nose and pinkness
on my cheeks. Gals, it’s all about
quality, not quantity, so if you’re unsatisfied with your skin do something
about it and invest in a few products! Don’t get frustrated when you buy something
and it doesn’t do wonders for you—to find the perfect skincare regimen for you,
you’re going to have to do a little trial and error. The most important thing
is to have fun with it!!
Thanks for reading! J
