It is late Spring and the sun has come out here in Victoria, BC! About two weeks ago this inspired me to go through my skin care products and toss out what has not worked and what was expired. Armed with renewed enthusiasm, I went shopping for new products that I had researched on the Internet. These products were also receiving good reviews online, but most of all, they appealed to me; pretty much anything with the word "rose" in it. The new products will be in bold.
So, these are my new Spring skin care routines:
Morning
Cleanser: (from last Spring, amazingly still good!) The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Clarifying Foam Wash. This products is effective, moisturizing and washes off completely. It helps to keep the skin luminous.
Toner: Pixi Skintreats Glow Toner with 5% glycolic acid to gently exfoliate skin. I did not use a toner before, but I realized I did not have a chemical exfoliant and it might be good for my skin; is has! It does not sting, prepares the skin for serum and, after a few days of using it, it creates a nice texture on the skin.
Serum: Physician's Formula Rose' All Day oil free serum. This products is luscious! It smells amazingly like a real rose and it feels smooth and nutrient. It has a slighly iridescent tint to is that subtly highlights the skin and brings it to life. I love it and I know I will repurchase again and again. Some users complain about the dropper, but I realized it was made only to release a small amount at a time. Usually two drops will cover face and neck.
Moisturizer: Pixi Skintreats Rose Flash Balm. This is a fairly thick moisturizer, but it does not feel so on the skin. Paired with the above serum, is builds a healthy look for the skin and keeps it hydrated throughout the day. I like it but it is expensive for the quantity you get: 45 ml/1.52 oz for $37.00 Canadian.
Eye-cream: Physicians Formula Refreshmint cucumber and bamboo eye de-puffer. This is a stick products and it does feel refreshing under the eyes in the morning (helps towards that waking up feeling) but it does NOT de-puff anything, sorry. I will not repurchase, I was somewhat disappointed.
Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45. Never leave home without a good sunscreen. I hated sunscreens for their greasiness but this one does dry out quickly and leaves no white cast.
Daytime Face Mist: Garnier Skin Active Soothing Facial mist with Rose Water. Very refreshing product, especially when the temperature goes up and your skin needs a boost. 99% naturally derived ingredients.
Evening
If I am wearing make-up I use my beloved Garnier Skinactive Micellar Water. It even removes non waterproof mascara.
Cleanser: Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Cleanser. This is a fantastic product and it contains papaya enzymes to lightly exfoliate the skin.
Toner: Same as in my morning routine; the Pixi Glow Toner.
Serum: CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum. Although I like this product, it works better in Winter, as it goes on fairly dense and a bit greasy. It absorbs however. This is a good product containing Ceramides (they form a lipid mantle over the skin and protect it and keep in moisture!) The hyaluronic acid adds moisture (this molecule holds 1000 times its weight in water!) and retinol is the anti-aging agent. Quite affordable.
Eye Cream: L'Oreal Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Eye Cream. This is a nice cream formulated to nourish dry, mature skin. It is gold in tone and it is moisturizing yet not greasy and it is ok under makeup.
Moisturizer, anti-aging: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, fragrance-free. I like this product, this is my second purchase. The Peptides in it make it anti-aging and I feel it does what it promises, though it does not feel too moisturizing and I add Vichy Aqualia Thermal Riche cream. This cream delivers moisture, but use sparingly otherwise it "pills" on the skin. Also I do not like the scent but that is a personal preference. This cream is full of minerals and hyluronic acid. In spite of the smell, I will repurchase.
Face Oil: I alternate between 2 that I like a lot; The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil. The other is Sukin Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil. This is pure Vitamin A and it stimulates collagen production. I do feel that TBS oil is over-priced, although they often have sales and BOGO deals, so I will not complain :) If you get their card for $10.00 you also save 10% on any purchase. I love that the products are all cruelty-free. I am trying to phase out the products by companies who test on animals.
Masks: Garnier Skinactive Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask with Chamomile and Hyaluronic acid. This mask is so moisturizing! It leaves the skin hydrated and soft. It is suitable for dry and sensitive skin.
- The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask. This smells fantastic and it is truly an indulgence, but well worth it :)
- L'Oreal Pure Clay cleansing mask with Argile. I only used this mask once, so more feed-back coming later.
- Physicians Formula Charcoal Detox Cleansing Stick. My first encounter with this product was not positive. Although it smells great, kind of floral, is left a dark cast around my nose. The stick goes on black and I think the pigment, however small, gathered in my large pores on the sides of the nose. I will give it another try, skipping the nose area.
This is it for now! I am really enjoying my new products and I am getting better at sorting and keeping less potions around, which really works well . I hope that this article has helped you, and that you enjoyed it. Please feel free to leave comments and feed back :) Lots of love!
