A beauty regiment is important to me. I get one skin for the rest of my life, so I try to take care of it best I can.
I find makeup and skincare fun and one thing I've learned recently is that I don't need to spend a crazy fortune to keep my skin in decent shape. I wrote about why I rely on Paula's Choice Beautypedia reviews here. Now Beautypedia is free (I think you register, but you don't pay for a subscription anymore). Prior to buying any skincare products or makeup, I check the product review. If I even consider buying the new IT product, I check Beatypedia first. Often I am in the store double checking the review or pulling up my list of fave products
This is my collection of skin care products. Everything is a 'best product' as reviewed on Beautypedia.
Only two of the items cost over 20 bucks (coupons, sales, etc). For drugstore items, I now only go to Harmon or drugstore.com. I've found their regular prices are cheaper than any sales I've come across in CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc. Plus, at Harmon you can use Bed Bath and Beyond coupons, so the prices can be even lower at times. The only time I'll buy from CVS now is if I have a 30% discount (which usually brings the price to Harmon's) or if I have lots of Extra Care Bucks.
These are my cleansers. It took me a very long time to find ones I am happy with year-round.
I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser in the winter when my skin tends to be more dry or in the mornings only in the summer. When my skin is a little more oily (some evenings and summer) I use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. These are large pump bottles and last quite some time. They are fragrance-free (a big plus in my book) and work beautifully. I also use philosophy's microdelivery exfoliating wash once or twice a week. This is one of the pricier products and is not used as often as others, so it lasts me about a year.
For daytime moisture, I always always always use something with sunscreen. Usually the products I use are by Paula's Choice. When my skin is slightly oily I use the Moisture Boost Daily Replenishing Complex, for the dry winter I use the Skin Recovery Lotion. The site has sales often for a percentage off and free shipping and I order these products twice a year. Recently I've been using Olay Regenerist DNA Superstructure Cream with SPF30. This is a thick formula so it might not be for everyone, but my skin has been in need of extra moisture lately and this seems to do the trick.
Evening creams are:
Skin Recovery for dry nights
Moisture Boost for the summer
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle Cream (with Retinol) - I use this every other night under one of the Paula's Choice products. I don't use it daily because the retinol is a tad bit tingly on my skin.
Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer - for when I am very dry. I bought this in December when my face was flaking off (I don't know what the heck happened, but I think it was due to trying a new cleanser that obviously not for me) and this stuff was incredible. At 45 bucks it is the most expensive product in my arsenal, but it does work wonders. I have used it in the past and it lasts me a year. It has formulations for all skin types, but I have used the dry/very dry one only and only use it as needed.
I also use Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum morning and night.
In the evening it's under my moisturizer when I am not using the Neutrogena cream and I use it over my moisturizer for day. It is so silky smooth and I think of it as a makeup primer. I buy the fragrance free version.
Finally, I use Paula's Choice Lip and Body Treatment Balm and Lip Exfoliant to keep my smile smooth.
The exfoliant lasts a looooong time since I use that weekly. I buy the balm a few times a year and it keeps my dry lips from being chapped. I love this product.
So there you have it, my current face products. At some point I'll pull out the makeup bag and go through that too!
