The question I get from you guys most is about my skincare routine. This is extremely flattering, so thanks. The truth is I have always just looked young. I remember being sixteen and getting asked if I was twelve and wanting to cry. When I was a senior in high school people thought i was a freshman. And when I finally turned 21 I got hassled all the time getting into bars. I guess it’s finally coming in handy? Secondly, I know I look younger than my age {32} but please keep in mind – I have a professional taking my photo over here. So my skin probably looks a lotttt better in photos than it does in real life. That said there are some things I swear by, and some tips & tricks I’ve picked up over the years so I thought I would share them here. And this goes without saying, but I’m by no means an expert – this is just the stuff that works for me!!
Moisturize + Hydrate! A LOT.
- For a daily moisturizer I am a big fan of SisleYouth, which I wrote about in more detail here… it’s a great lightweight day cream with anti-oxidants galore. I love that it really sinks in and hydrates – without being greasy.
- At night I love a good face oil. This one from Josie Maran is really nice, as is Rodin. Sunday Riley Juno is another longstanding fave. You can also make your own, though I haven’t tried it yet. My friend Emma mixed me a really amazing blend that I am begging her to sell. I like to put so much on after washing my face that it feels greasy… by morning everything is absorbed and my skin is nice and soft.
- I don’t like wasting my money on overpriced products and find that a lot of the more expensive ones tend to be overrated but all of that said, I do really love Creme de La Mer. It is probably my biggest beauty indulgence, though I use it {very} sparingly. {I’ve mentioned this before but the smallest {1 oz.} size lasts me at least a year and a half.} I like the original – not the “soft.” The soft one does not last nearly as long a the original. But La Mer is a godsend, especially in the winter. My skin is sensitive and gets upset… red, chapped, + dry in the winter. If I apply La Mer before bed, it is fixed. I also love it when I have a hangover.
- Drink up. I drink a LOT of water. Like, a crazy amount of water. I refill my big BKR water bottle 4 or 5 times a day at work (and it’s one liter), drink another one at the gym, and at least one large mason jar of water with lemon when I get home.
Less is more!
- I know this sounds a little hippie-ish, but other than moisturizer, I really just don’t like putting stuff on my face. I rarely wear foundation or concealer. I hate having “gunk” on my face and feeling like my skin can’t properly breathe. For big occasions and photo shoots I wear tinted moisturizer {love this} or sometimes, BB Cream, but most days I just apply a little bit of bronzer {this one, from Benefit is my favorite… I’ve been using it for ten years!}
- If it doesn’t feel good, it probably isn’t good for you. I tossed my Clarisonic because it hurt my face. This is just common sense, but I won’t use any scrub that hurts, or any serum or potion that makes my skin feel tight or irritated. Beauty should not be painful. A while back, everyone was raving about Nerium so I tried it. It made my skin feel tight and itchy so I ditched it. Even if a product claims to do miraculous things, if it doesn’t feel good, don’t use it!
- Wash your face before bed. Just do it. I didn’t start doing it routinely til maybe a year ago, but my skin looks a lot better for it. This cleansing oil is my favorite.
Nutrition is {really} important.
- I visited Susan Ciminelli a few months ago and she told me that a daily Vitamin C supplement {I take 500mg of Ester-C once a day} would help the broken capillaries on my cheeks. I thought I had minor rosacea but she said it was actually broken capillaries. Who knew? The vitamin C helped quite a bit and my skintone has started to even out. Susan is a great resource for natural/alternative beauty. I’m about halfway through her book – it is awesome and full of good advice – including DIY recipes that you an make with things in your pantry. Also, unrelated, but her Algae Deep Cleanse is one of my favorite products – ever. It cleanses and exfoliates and leaves your skin completely glowing. It has a huge celebrity following.
- I also try to eat well. I avoid dairy + gluten 95% of the time – I know this is hard {cheese is my kryptonite}, but my skin is so much happier for it and I feel a zillion times less bloated. And I always eat organic produce and free-range meats!
I also think {and this could be terrible advice /is not even remotely scientific} that acting younger than you are helps. I am incredibly immature, love goofing around with my friends, and just being silly. I really believe that f you never act your age, you’ll never look it. One last thing {only because you asked} I have not had Botox! I would never judge anyone else for doing it, but it’s just not for me – at least right now!
Lastly, I am really bad about sunscreen. Of course I put it on if I go in the sun, but I am bad about using it on a daily basis. If anyone has a good all natural moisturizer with SPF {that doesn’t feel heavy or gunky!!}, please share!
Benefit’s Hoola bronzer is one of my all-time favorites as well. I love how you can wear it all year long, building up more for the summer. Great post, skin care is so important!
xx, Jen
http://www.comfortably-chic.com
thanks! so many great tips! i dont wear anything on my face other than moisturizer and eye makeup…but i really want to try an oil at night. xo
A lot of mineral powder makeup has SPF, which is nice if you want a no-makeup look. Just brush it on as a last makeup step. Josie Maran used to make a great lotion with SPF, but I can’t find it anywhere…. sadly must be discontinued.
LOVE IT! less is more. hydrate, moisturize and get some sleep 🙂
Xo,
Belen
http://blog.androbel.com
Ooh, I will definitely try taking a vitamin c supplement – I have rosacea (so shitty, thank goodness you didn’t end up having it!) and I am on antibiotics for it currently but maybe an added boost of vitamin c will help with some of my redness & broken capillaries too! Thanks for the tip!
I LOVE this Boscia one: http://www.sephora.com/self-defense-vital-antioxidant-moisture-spf-30-P377650?skuId=1494491
It’s amazing and I don’t feel greasy at all. If it’s a super windy day, I actually add a drop or two of face oil to keep my skin extra protected.
I need to drink more water…but when I do…it gives me a serious case of the hiccups!
http://vodkaandarose.blogspot.co.uk
I love reading about your skincare routine! I swear by La Mer cream and also use the Nars tinted moisturizer. I’ve been curios about the oils so I’ll need to give them a try.
xx,
Kristi
http://www.currentlycrushing.com
aveeno has a good moisturizer with spf!
Josie Maran Suncreen/Argan Oil is fab. It’s light and layers well and smells like apricots 🙂
thank you! I will check it out!!
Your post is perfect timing!! I am a LOT older than you (52) and will be traveling to Mexico in a month for Spring break! This is the first year that I am considering not using a tanning bed prior to going on vacation. Do you use tanning beds before your trips? I LOVE laying poolside but feel like it is no longer “in style” to be that tan!! Your thoughts?? Love your other tips & really need to try OLO products stat!! PS – I use a BB cream that includes SPF!
Oh my god! NO TANNING BEDS! I haven’t been inside one since college {over ten yrs ago} and I regret that majorly but didn’t know any better back then. Please no! I know you are older than me, but they are so bad for you! Wrinkles, skin cancer, yikes!!! A good spray tan and a great sunscreen go a long way. Please, please stay away from tanning beds!
You have confirmed what my heart told me was the right the thing to do!! Spray tan & sunscreen!! Thank you for your response!! 😉
Thanks for sharing! I just want to clarify- what products/make up are you wearing in your outfit posts? You look gorgeous! I am considering quitting foundation to go fresh-faced. On the fence.
Usually not much. I sometimes use a little bit of the NARS tinted moisturizer, but usually it is just bronzer… And Sisleyouth! If I have a blemish I use BareMinerals concealer. But again, keep in mind I have a great photographer! QUit foundation! Maybe try it for a week?
Wow I’m so impressed!! I’m gonna pick up some of that bronzer & try to quit the foundation. Thanks for the tips & motivation. You rock Grace! 🙂
i was reading this and thinking, “i could never just wear moisturizer…i NEED redness correcting photofinish primer AND foundation!” and then i got to part about ester-c. i have the same issue with broken capillaries so i am definitely going to try this. thanks for the tip!
oh yay! give it a try. I really hope it works for you!!!
Seeing what others use for skincare is always so interesting! I just started using the OLO cleansing oil and really liking it so far. Korres is one of my favorite skincare brands and has worked wonders for my skin!
ED4OLO’s cleansing oil is my favorite (along with everything else in the line)! I wish I could be as good about drinking water and eating less dairy but I just LOVE cheese too much. For SPF try Marie Veronique Organics – she even makes a tinted SPF that just feels like moisturizer!
Grace-I have tried so many natural sunscreens….boscia, john masters organics…and they all leave me a little chalky and greasy (I also go sans foundation….hate feeling like I have something caked on…) anyways….my sister introduced me to the most amazing sunscreen….Supergoop City Serum. Has an SPF of 30. lightweight, not greasy, and no white residue. I’m on my second bottle and LOVE it. I put a thin layer under my regular moisturizer.
Lucky girl! I am especially intrigued by your friend Emma’s face oil concoction. She should really start selling it to help out the ladies lol
Wow, I would never say you are 32!
http://www.whatsashawears.com
I am in LOVE with the Josie Maran Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+. According to the FAQ on the Josie Maran website, it is out of stock everywhere right now because they are switching factories, but I highly recommend looking out for it.
I am very fair skinned and I live in Africa, close to the equator, so I have to wear sunscreen everyday. The Maran sunscreen is moisturizing without being greasy on my combination skin; it is lightweight and it doesn’t smell like sunscreen. I also use it when I am home in the US in the winter and it works well for me even when it is chilly outside and my skin is much drier. On weekends I just use the Josie Maran moisturizer and do a light brush of mineral veil powder to even everything out a little and minimize shine, and during the week I layer it with my Nars tinted moisturizer and some mineral veil– all 3 have SPF, so I feel extra protected!
Also, I suggest checking out the Somme Institute skincare line if you are in the market for something new. I started using the 3 key treatment steps (transport, serum and a-bomb) last September and my skin has never been happier. (Both Intothegloss.com and Man Repeller have great posts about the Somme system if you are curious) I was not a fan of their SPF moisturizer though, it was too heavy for me, and I use the Philosophy Purity cleanser since I have a gigantic pump bottle of it that will last me years.
Grace, try the Josie Maran Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40. All natural, light, not goopy at all. And it doesn’t leave your face too white like a lot of the other ones out there
I look young for my age too (31) and you’re right- finally it is a good thing! Except I’m a high school teacher and have been mistaken for a student multiple times- awkward!
I tried the oil overnight, using more than I normally would and this morning my skin felt SO soft! I’m totally doing this every night from now on 🙂
I am also 32, and I started using regular old Oil of Olay SPF 30 moisturizer because Helena from Brooklyn Blonde said she’s used it for years, and she has amazing skin also! I am similar to you– aging is not my issue, blessedly, so for products I just need extra hydrating, sun protection and fighting blemishes occasionally.
I also layer on Amore Pacific serum- it’s pricey but it is literally the most amazing skin product I’ve ever used, and it comes in a big container that seems like it will last awhile. I have never seen one product make such an instantaneous difference in my appearance- within 24 hours, my pores were SO much smaller than they have ever been and my skin had a nice natural glow to it.
Hello!
I was on a similar boat as you. I was looking for a lightweight tinted moisturizer that had SPF and provide minimum coverage. After trying alot of brands and products my favorite by far is Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20! Give it a Try!
I’m excited about the vitamin c, I’m going to try it. I’ve always looked younger too. I’m 52 and everyone thinks I’m in my 30’s( yes, really!). The best thing any good dermatologist will tell you to do is wear sunscreen. I do every day. Prevention, prevention, prevention! I like La Roche Posay fluid 50spf. The one imported and made in France. The ingredients are fare superior to the one made for the U.S. market. Yes, and having a youthful outlook is so true Grace. Life is fun! Smile!
This is super helpful! Thank you! I never had anyone teach me how to have a good skin routine, and I feel like I’m seeing the damage as I get older. I totally echo your act-young advice! It just makes you feel better, too!
I so appreciate this post because I think it’s very important to be considerate of how you treat your skin and hearing how other women approach this is very interesting! I am so happy to hear you say you ditched your Clarisonic because it was hurting your skin. Mine too! I thought I was being crazy! The internet has exploded with applause for the Clarisonic and it made me feel weird that I felt otherwise about it. Great post! 🙂
Olay Sensitive Skin w/ SPF 15 Moisturizer is AMAZING! I swear by it & have been using it for years. Not heavy @ all