First, I am not an aesthetician or a dermatologist so everything I’m about to share is based purely on my own experience and opinion. I have tried close to every technique and product out there (ok maybe not but it sure feels like it) and here are my tried and true favorites. Some may work for you, some may not – maybe you will try all and love all, maybe you will just find one that you can’t live without!
My skin is not perfect, I was told by my aesthetician that I have “thin skin” – good for not showing scars, terrible for fine lines and wrinkles – I think I’d rather not scar well 😉 I really didn’t start paying attention to my skin care routine until my early 30’s – yes, I REALLY wish I had started younger but what’s done is done and all I can do is try to fix the damage that has already occurred. Endless trips to the tanning salon and days spent outside in the sun with baby oil on my face – why didn’t my Mother lock me in the house??? Just kidding, she tried but I was 18 and truly didn’t think past the next day.
I have learned that skin care is something that I will always invest in, unfortunately it is one thing that you get what you pay for. Facials and other skin treatments are also something I wish I’d started doing earlier in life – so if you’re in your 20’s and reading this – START NOW!
As we get older, our skin becomes more dry, it’s like life is literally sucking the hydration out of your face. Because of this I’m always on the hunt for products that bring back the hydration, the glow, the youthful look – nothing that has the phrase “matte finish” on it’s label lives in my makeup bag.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my skincare routine so here’s the short list – why I love them and where you can get them for yourself. If I come across something new I promise to update this list and share with you!
1. THE CLARISONIC
If you have never used one of these to wash your face you are short changing yourself on what could be, what lies beneath the surface! You can use this with any face wash you want, it takes 2 minutes, once or twice a day. Your skin will absolutely glow after you finish, it’s like waxing your car – you will shine! The cleaning brushes need to be replaced but I have had my actual clarisonic for years and it’s still going strong. Use it once and you will never live without it!
2. RODAN & FIELDS REVERSE EXFOLIATING FACE WASH
I fell in love with this line of skin care a couple of years ago after using this face wash. Use it alone or with the Clarisonic for an extra boost. Its fine granules are massaged around while you are rubbing it in and when you rinse it off your face really does shine! I don’t use it everyday but 3-4 times a week at night gives you amazing results!
3. LANCOME GEL RADIANCE CLEANSER
This is my day to day, twice a day go to face wash! I have used it for years, tried other brands and always come back to it. It’s just a very purifying cleanser that leaves your face feeing rejuvenated and fresh. I also use this with my Clarisonic.
4. RODAN & FIELDS INTENSIVE BRIGHTENING TONER
Possibly my favorite skin care product of all time! To be applied with a cotton ball after you have washed your face, twice a day. For real, as it’s drying on your face you can see your skin changing in the mirror – it’s instantly brighter and tighter. Sometimes I don’t even want to put lotion on because I don’t want to cover up what the toner has done! This is for sure the one product I cannot live without!
5. RODAN & FIELDS DUAL ACTIVE BRIGHTENING COMPLEX
Okay, probably my second favorite skin care product! This is actually comprised of 2 tubes (not sure why they can’t make it one). One is vitamin C and the other is Retinol – you squeeze a pea size amount from the tube in your hand and mix together and then apply. Vitamin C, I have come to learn, is like a little skin miracle and will have you glowing in no time!
6. No7 YOUTHFUL REPLENISHING FACIAL OIL
Ahhhhh my new found love of oils for my face – my entire body for that matter. I used to dread being oily but the truth is that oil is what keeps our skin from looking and feeling dry. Maybe if I was a teenager battling acne I would stay clear from this but now it has become my best friend! I either drop a few drops on my fingertips and apply directly to my face or I will add a few drops to my moisturizer in my hand before applying.
7. MANUKA DOCTOR REPLENISHING FACIAL OIL
Another great facial oil that I love! This one is promoted by the Kardashians and if it’ll give me skin like them well then I’m sold. Okay not really but I really do love it and it’s a great choice for a oil.
8. RODAN & FIELDS EYE CREAM
I switch my eye creams A LOT! This one has kind of been a constant for me for the past year. I’m all about using Retin A in products but a lot of eye creams contain it which can be great for wrinkles but you shouldn’t put Retin A on your eye lid. I need a eye cream that I can put all around my eye! Don’t neglect your lids!
9. LANCOME HIGH RESOLUTION REFILL – 3X EYE CREAM
This in another great choice for a eye cream, I would say I like it as much as the Rodan & Fields one. It’s light and airy but dewy and smooth at the same time. It’s also more convenient to be able to get it at the mall than to order by mail – either is a great choice!
10. LANCOME HIGH RESOLUTION REFILL – 3X DAY CREAM
This is it, like whipped butter in a jar! Not the kind of butter that sits on top of your face though, the kind that soaks in and leaves your skin smooth and glowing. It has been my go to daytime face moisturizer for years. When Lancome first introduced this cream they marketed it as “botox in a jar” which was enough to make me try it, I have been hooked ever since. Let’s be clear, it isn’t really botox in a jar, but it’s a close attempt and I have never heard anyone I’ve recommended it to say anything but positive things about it after trying it!
– THIS WOULD END YOUR MORNING ROUTINE – Again, you don’t need to use all these products but in a ideal world these would all be on my face before walking out the door!
– FOR NIGHT TIME ROUTINE, I WOULD REPEAT ALL THE PRODUCTS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED AND CHANGE OUT MY MOISTURIZER TO A NIGHT CREAM –
11. LANCOME HIGH RESOLUTION REFILL – 3X NIGHT CREAM
Basically everything I said about the day cream but this consistency is heavier in the night cream. It’s like a overnight mini-facial, you can feel that it’s still on in the morning when you wash your face again!
12. RODAN & FIELDS Redefine OVERNIGHT RESTORATIVE CREAM
This is another favorite of mine from this line. If I were using the R&F night cream I would use it with the R&F eye cream, just a preference. The Redefine line is their anti aging / wrinkle line and I really noticed a difference after using it. This or the Lancome would be a great choice for a night time moisturizer!
* I do not sell Rodan & Fields, nor do I profit from you buying it – I just really love it! I wish they sold it in stores but you have to get it through their website. If someone you know already sells it you can purchase it though them, otherwise it will prompt you upon checkout to find a consultant or you can checkout without using one.
DON’T FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN!!!
For me, the issue I have with a lot of daytime moisturizers that contain sunscreen is that I am WELL AWARE that I have sunscreen on my face. They feel sticky and thick and I end up regretting I put them on. I usually will add a sunscreen separately if I know I’m going to be outside all day but for those of you who MUST have a sunscreen in your moisturizer here are some good options to use alone or on top of your moisturizer.
CLICK BELOW TO SHOP SUNSCREEN:
CHEST WRINKLE PREVENTION!
As hard as I try to sleep on my back, I am a side sleeper for life! A good night sleep I always get but with that also comes chest wrinkles that are there staring back at me in the mirror every morning! These silicone pads are like miracle workers and like a face lift for your chest! I swear if they ever make a body suit I will be first in line! They gently stick to your chest while you sleep and you then peel it off in the morning, your chest looks smoother than when you went to bed – for real! It may not be the most attractive thing in the world but if you are someone who is conscious of aging in this area, this product is amazing! After each use, just rinse lightly with water and you can use again that night.
ACNE
Oh how I wish this product had been around when I was a pre-teen / teen! Maybe you are lucky enough to have outgrown that stage in your life where pimples and acne were an everyday battle, maybe you never outgrew it and you still struggle with it as an adult?
Maybe you are the parent of a child entering (gasp!) puberty and hate to see them battle with acne on top of everything else that comes along with this awkward stage?
If you fall into any of the above than look no further – this is a game changer! X OUT is the baby of ProActive – it’s purpose is the same but it’s marketed for teens because of it’s one step process AND we all know that if you’re trying to get your child to do something that involves more than one step, well….. it’s a challenge. It is sold in a face wash, body wash and spot treatment. I can testify that I have seen faces change drastically in a matter of days, acne gone and skin smooth – it really is amazing and I have recommended it to so many other parents. Believe the Infomercial!
I hope you have found this post helpful, I’d love to hear your feedback if you do decide to give any of these products a try!
xoxo
Another great blog Jen! I too have stared paying more attention to my skin as I age, and use a lot of the same kinds of products. ( By the way, only a few of the links would work for me… starting with the sunscreen )
Thanks Jen. Been waiting for this. So informative! However the click to shop is not opening for me! Will keep trying!
Hi Jennifer
Thank you so much for this. I am always on the look out for a good cleanser and moisturizer. I especially at 57 need a good night cream. I love the recommendations. Awesome blog . just what i wanted to know. Thank you thank you. I will check a few of these out. You are amazing. Thanks so much again. Keep up the great blogs.
Would Love To Try This
Thank You JENNIFER
Thanks for sharing this, there are just so many products out there it is nice to hear from someone who has actually tried them. I always look forward to your new blog????
Hi Jennifer. Thank you for this amazing information. Just double checking about the eye cream posted? You do put on the eyelid? Thanks in advance❌⭕
Hi Jennifer
Thank for sharing. Like yourself wat to many trip to the tanning salon and tanning outside with baby oil has taken a toll on my skin. I’ve used Lancome for years and live it. Was goin to try shisedo white lucent but think I will give Rodan&fields a try first. Hope my results are as good as yours??
Hello- So happy to hear you love Rodan and Fields! I too love R+F (that’s why I chose to become a consultant)! I wanted to explain why the REVERSE Dual Active Brightening Complex have two different tubes: vitamin C and retinol Formula. The products actually loose efficacy if mixed early….something to remember when you see a product with vitamin C and retinal together….”Pure vitamin C and retinol are highly effective brightening ingredients. However, their activity makes each ingredient tricky to work with on its own, and virtually impossible to incorporate them together into the same formulation. We created REVERSE Dual Active Brightening Complex featuring a vitamin C formula in one tube and a stable retinol formula in a separate tube. Mixing these two formulations together immediately before application ensures skin brightening activity. The results are well worth removing the extra cap as retinol also helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles”(rodanandfields.com). Hope this helps!
Best,
Andrea
https://andreacronin.myrandf.com/
Hi Jennifer, I have used many different products for my face and not cheap ones. The best I have ever used is Rodan and Fields….so I just ordered again….Redefine for my age73