spring skincare things

i've honestly never been into skincare or had a long regimen that i followed with serums and toners and moisturizers... but as i approached my thirties, things changed.

first it started with actually applying sunscreen to every surface of skin not covered by my bikini, which then translated into more in depth skincare like eye masks + clay face masks... and now, well, i need my own bathroom just for my beauty items.

over the past two years, i've tried tons of products from fan favorites like Kheils and Sunday Riley to The Ordinary and Target staple brands. what i've learned is that everyone really does have different skin. what my skin loves might break you out, and vice versa. with that said, these are my tips & some products that i've found work for me as we approach spring and summer in NY.

if you read nothing else - wear sunscreen. i have an olive skin tone, i've burned maybe twice in my life so i can tell you that as a teen and even in my twenties, i did not listen to this sound advice. if i could go back and change that - i would. the best sunscreen that i've found is supergoop. it's vegan, lightweight, and doesn't have a bunch of crap ingredients in it. it is the brand i recommend to everyone no matter your skin type.

my morning + night time routines are different as is my weekend routine. the products i use vary depending on whether i am doing a morning workout or evening, if i've had a lot of greasy foods or sugar, and how much sun i've gotten, where i've been (polluted city or mountain air). these are things to think about before purchasing or trying skincare items on your own.

T I P S for glowing, healthy skin from the inside out.

first and most important - water intake. drink water. just do it; that alone will make a huge difference in how you feel and how your skin feels and looks.

secondly - limit sugar, caffeine, + dairy. none of these things are groundbreaking tips, they've been told to us by dermatologists and nutritionalists for decades. but, as a caffeine addict, i find i need the reminder at times. i personally limit my fruit sugar as well as processed sugar but to each is own.

third - always wash away the day. i cannot stress this enough: washing your face before bed is a game changer. wash your makeup off, wash away the dirt, oil, dead skin from your day of work, commuting, touching your face; there is so much that happens in a day to our skin, do not neglect it at night no matter how tired you are. i swear the women who do their entire skincare routine after a night out at 2am, slightly buzzed, are the ones who will survive a zombie apocalypse, quote me.

fourth - exfoliate. not necessarily everyday. the amount of times per week really depends on your skin, lifestyle etc. but find an exfoliant whether it be a leave on, a mask or wash, to use a couple times a week before bed. i say before bed because your skin is sensitive after an exfoliation, you'll want to sleep on a clean pillow case, in a room with good airflow - or as i prefer, with the windows cracked. this is not the time to go sweat it out in the gym, instead grab some lemon water + have a little downtime.

fifth - wear sunscreen. it's worth repeating, even if you choose a different brand than the supergroup, do not neglect this step. in your twenties this will seem unnecessary, but thirty year old you with no wrinkles with be thankful.

sixth - find a good dermatologist. especially if you suffer from cystic acne, but i truly think everyone should have a phenomenal dermatologist on hand. most will handle full body checkups - which we should ALL be doing at least once a year. but in addition, they can offer you advice on products, or services you're interested in as preventative measures for 'aging' 'pigmentation' whatever your concerns are.

a good dermatologist will save you money in the long run so you don't buy items that you know your skin won't agree with.

holy grail products for warmer months:

(disclaimer: what works for me may not work for you. this is just what i've found that my skin loves.)

AVEDA exfoliating cream cleanser

YSL night reboot

CHANEL mask

SC peel pads

Thayers toner

Sunday Riley good genes

Summer Fridays lip mask

Summer Fridays body lotion

Ilia tinted moisturizer w spf

i also have an Rx cleanser and moisturizer from my dermatologist that i use every night. again, find yourself someone you love. my dermatologist doesn't take insurance but she understands me and my skin and, for me, that's most important. she doesn't try to tell me to stay out of the sun (she knows i won't listen anyway), she is honest with me about trends, pharmaceutical products, and always tries to save me money but giving alternatives for anything my insurance doesn't cover.

and one last thing: wash your hands + don't touch your face.

what do your hands have to do with anything? you want clean hands when applying product to your skin. and we all know touching your face just leads to more crap on the skin that could cause breakouts. i'm very guilty of touching my face, i run my hands through my unwashed hair and then i'll put my hands on my head or rest my chin on my hand.. it's taken me a very long time to become aware of this habit and its an everyday active process to change.