Wow, this month has flown by so incredibly fast! I have so much exciting news to share with you all, so if you are just interested in my evening skincare routine, hop on down past the next paragraph. My skincare routine is applicable to both women AND men.
LIFE UPDATES
If you follow me on Instagram stories, you may have a heads up on my life. First, my sister Gabrielle and brother-in-law, Josh, had their second baby, Fenn (after our maiden name, Fennell)! He was born on Friday, June 22, 2018! He is beautiful and their family is just the cutest!
Next, I am rebranding and cannot wait to reveal the new and improved THE AUDREY REEL 2.0! I plan to bring you A LOT more wellness posts. Fashion will still be prevalent, but wellness is truly my passion at the moment. Then, we finally booked our trip to Italy in September so I will be posting tons.
Next, I have written nearly 30 pages of posts to share. Creating video and photo content is probably the most time-consuming part of blogging, although it may seem easiest. I create an idea for a photo and have to get in a position to recreate that look, including props. I need a photographer, usually my little sis, Tillman, of TillmanSloanPhotography.com, or my husband. This requires coordinating time. Once complete, I upload photos, flag the best, edit them to my theme, export, shrink through another program. Finally I can upload them here and only THEN do I feel prepared to write as I feel the photo content really helps drive the storyline.
All of that to say I have been stocking up on posts and am working to get photos for these articles. I love and appreciate your support in this blog. Follow me on Instagram @theaudreyreel to get behind-the-scenes, first access to outfit links, and access to giveaways. Again, YOU are the greatest and give me personal motivation to write and share and improve real talk in social media platform that is not otherwise initiated.
Now, on to the juice! I am shocked at how many people are confused when I ask them about what oil they use at night. I decided to share my nighttime skincare routine and walk you through the importance of each step.
WHY IS SKINCARE IMPORTANT
This comes as a little obvious, but we ONLY get ONE face! We spend thousands on clothes, haircuts, manis, pedis, makeup, and the gym. Yet we take off our makeup each night. Perhaps we would require less if we focused on skin. We can (almost) always get our bodies back in shape. Clothing trends come and go, and or hair and nails always grow out again. There is a huge uptick in love and attention to skincare, but there is so much room for improvement! My makeup always looks best when my skin is exfoliated, moisturized, and replenishing at a fast rate.
MAKEUP REMOVER WIPES
First, I clean my skin of the day. I remove my sunscreen, makeup, sweat, and environmental impurities with either Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Wipes or Cerave Makeup Removing Wipes. I’ve tried other types and have broken out in a form of allergic reaction to them. I am even sensitive to all other Neutrogena wipes EXCEPT for the blue container with the original formula. These wipes are not enough to fully clean your face, but this is my bare minimum on lazy nights. I use 2 if I wore foundation or face makeup.
DEEP CLEAN WITH CLARISONIC
The Clarisonic is a game changer. Due to allergies, I use Cerave cleansing face wash or Cetaphil on the brush. All of the variations of electronic face cleansers are phenomenal. Most have three oscillation speeds and run for just 2 minutes. It charges by placing the charging pad onto the The bristles are designed to fall into your pores and remove 99% of remaining makeup, impurities, and pollutants. Our faces adsorb 5 POUNDS of product and chemicals touching our face annually, so it is beyond important to get these off our skin while we snooze. The Clarisonic does NOT exfoliate, but I do believe it stimulates the skin, refreshing bloodflow and release of toxins under the skin. It also helps prepare my face to better adsorb what comes next. I received this Clarisonic complimentary for testing purposes. Shop Clarisonic HERE.
ALPHA BETA HYDROXY PEEL
Every other day, I use the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Hydroxy 2-step peels. I buy a pack at Sephora and it lasts 2 months. There are 2 strengths and I use the “Universal” one. These pads are vegan and cruelty, sulfate, phthalate, and paraben free. Designed for any skin type, they even skin texture and shrink pores and lines. The gentle part 1 pad contains acids that gentle dry top layer of skin and exfoliates it off. You exfoliate your face The second pad provides antioxidants, pH balancing, and nourishes skin. The acids and peel help stimulate turnover and new growth of skin, which is how it shrinks lines and pores. This peel makes my skin feel baby fresh!
OILS
This is another step that EVERYONE SHOULD include in their skincare. I am clumping serums and oils together as I use them interchangeably. However, oils are a single pressed oil from a natural source. Serums are smaller molecules and are generally blends.
There are literally tons of oils on the market right now. Some interfere with others and it can be overdone. I love to use either Argan Oil, which is Oleic Acid, or oil from Argan Tree found in Morocco. It contains Vitamin E, Omega 6 and antioxidants. I like the convenience of Josie Maran’s variation found at Sephora. You can find it cheaper elsewhere, but these are not as filtered, can contain impurities, and are are “watered down” with additives. Think pouring water into the vodka container to hide that some is missing: the active ingredient is not as active!
SERUMS
My favorite serum at the moment was recommended to me by my girl at Sephora: BIOSSANCE. It contains Vitamin C, Rose Oil, and Squalane. Squalane is an instant hydrator.
Vitamin C is the miracle item EVERY woman needs NOW. Throughout the day we are exposed to free radicals or unstable electrons in molecules. These electrons attack (or just react, because of their natural nature to fill an outer electron shell – bringing your back to chem 101) your healthy skin cells. The porousness of our face makes it easier to adsorb the free radicals.
These radicals are chemicals from air, smoke, UV light, stress, and unavoidable everyday interaction. We eat them in the form of sugar and carbohydrates. Finally, some are found in parks, gardens, and nature. These free radicals react with sin cells, mutates skin DNA, causes inflammation, activates melanocytes (the brown producing cells that cause freckles, age spots, and tan). The foods we eat result in a sugar coating on skin proteins that causes sagging. Some of these radicals trigger cell death.
Our skin experiences greater difficulty in repair as we age. Basically, Vitamin C helps to prevent the loss of those yummy, youthful cells.
RETINOL
With time and body heat, Retinol, an alcohol, breaks down to retinoic acid on your face. Like the peels, this gentle encourages a sped-up healing of your skin that encourages your face to repair and turn over at a faster rate. It is currently the best chemical on the market to speed up and promote the production of collagen and skin turnover, or regrowth. I purchase this brand from CVS, Ulta, Costco, or Sams. Costco carries it most affordably. It is the most affordable, simple, and effective retinol. It is 3% retinol, which is the highest the FDA allows over the counter. I love how soft and fresh it makes my skin. Finally, I ONLY use a retinol on days I do not peel.
KATE SOMERVILLE ‘ERADI-KATE”
If I have any acne, I spot treat them with the sulfur based Eradi-kate. This completely dries the spot. It does not rub off or stain my pillow. Finally, this substance leaves any spots flatter and clear and is excellent for overnight results. Speaking of pillows, I change my cases at least twice a week or as often as I think of it.
SHOP MY EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE
SUMMARY
I hope this encourages you to splurge a little on skincare and start giving your skin the attention it deserves. I also clean my face, use SPF, jade roll, and drink collagen and lemon water in the morning. All of which helps protect my skin. Stay tuned for articles on all these and other things I do to care for my skin.
Love the skin your in because you only get one!
With Joy,
Audrey
