The ONLY Skincare Routine You'll EVER Need!

It's not a brand name or magical serum- follow this basic structure to find the perfect skincare routine for YOU.  Only 3 steps!  It's similar to the Proactive System, except cheaper and customizable to YOUR skin!

1. Cleanse
Use a gentle cleanser in the morning and and exfoliate at night.  (If your skin is super-sensitive, only rinse it in the mornings).  Exfoliating cleansers contain microbeads that slough off a layer of dead skin cells on your face.  (Avoid apricot shards, they tear the skin and you'll pay for it w/ breakouts later). Or just use a washcloth/ facial brush with your gentle cleanser!

Sometimes, exfoliating oily skin too often can cause it to kick into high gear and produce even more oils to replace the loss of moisture.  Moisturizing properly can prevent that.  Or you may only want to exfoliate every other day or less.  Older individuals with drier skin may need to exfoliate twice a day to stimulate cell turnover.  Either way, make sure you cleanse your skin every morning and evening!

2. Astringent/ Toner (at night only)
Now that you've removed that layer of dead skin cells, this wonderful liquid can go into your pores and clean them!  (The active ingredient is salicylic acid).  Bye-bye blackheads! The terms astringent & toner are interchangeable, but astringents tend to be stronger.  They usually look like colored liquids in a bottle and you find them in the skincare section of the store (even grocery stores).  You pour a little on a cotton round or tissue and put it all over your face.

If you're not used to it, it can sting!  Stronger formulas are better for oily skin, and gentle toners are best for drier skin.  A super-gentle toner for very sensitive skin is witch hazel.  You may even want to do this every other day or less (after you exfoliate); it depends on you.

By the way, the best pore-clearing product I've found is Epionce's Lytic Cream. This line is usually only sold in doctor's offices- it's better than something you'd find in a beauty-based establishment.

3. Moisturize
Use a moisturizer containing sunscreen in the morning, and an anti-aging cream at night.  Use a special eye-cream around the eyes.  But this step is extremely versatile.  The moisturizer you use is ultimately up to you, as long as you moisturize!  By the way, it can take a while for really rich moisturizers to absorb (Up to 25 minutes), but don't skimp on it- just be patient.

*Optional: Acne Medicine
Use a cream and rub into your problem areas only.  Find one with benzoyl peroxide for the most effectiveness, or one with salicylic acid if your skin is more sensitive.

And that's it!  It's super-easy and it feels so luxurious to go to bed at night with clean pores absorbing my night cream :)  I hope you can use this foundational skincare routine to find what's perfect for you, and have your skin be the best it can be. :)

God gave us beautiful temples, it's our job to care for them and make them glow!

10 Easily Overlooked Breakout Triggers!

Ever had an unexpected breakout?  I know I have, and it can be mind-boggling where those pesky blemishes are coming from.  Who knows, maybe there's something you've overlooked that can be fixed- and thus solve your breakout problem in a jiffy!

1. Hair Products Around Your Hairline
Especially leave-in conditioner after a shower.  Or hair gel.  If you tend to break out on the perimeters of your face, hair products could easily be the culprit.  Always wipe your skin clean all the way to the hairline after you wash or style your hair.

2. Your Hair Itself
Be it bangs or long locks, oily hair especially can transfer residue onto our face which can seep into your pores.  Keep your hair clean and off your face if possible.  Powder your face to protect your skin against the oil in your hair.  And if oily hair is an extreme problem, carry a small bottle of dry shampoo to comb through the front locks in the middle of your day.

3. Your Cellphone
Cell phone screens tend to be sticky and dirt and oils will cling to them.  Try not to press your cell phone against your face when you use it.  A quick tip is to use the hand sanitizer in your purse to carefully wipe it clean.

4. A Dirty Pillow
How often do you wash your pillowcase?  Once a week is ideal.  Oil from our skin can build up in our pillowcases over-night and become a breeding ground for bacteria.  Not grossed-out yet?  Go smell your pillow.  If you must have that "familiar scent" to lull you to sleep, hold another pillow (or stuffed animal I suppose) near you- but not against your face.

5. Cuddle Buddies
Any other person's face or skin touching yours will deposit foreign oils onto your skin.  And sometimes rub them into your pores... Their hair can also be a culprit.  As a makeup artist, I need to very careful about touching people's faces.  It's not too big of a deal, but if little Sally has a nightmare and insists on holding you tight all night, just make sure you cleanse your face in the morning. :)

6. Mindless Touching of Your Own Face
Not only your hands carry their own oils, but a lot of other dirt from the things you've touched as well.  If you have a habit of leaning your face into your hand, try leaning your neck onto your hand instead.  You'll feel your weight right below your ear.

7. Sweat
After a workout, always take a quick minute to wipe your face, chest, back and any other acne-prone areas.  Just take a washcloth and run it under some hot/ cold water in the restroom.  It feels great to let your face air dry as you stretch and cool down.

8. Contaminated Lotions
This one is a biggie.  If you have any facial products in a jar or pot, and your using your finger to scoop it out, it's probably contaminated.  Our fingernails carry a lot of germs, and lotions are wonderful places for them to grow and multiply.
I once had mysterious breakout all over my face soon after I started using a night cream in a jar.  I tossed it and bought a new one that I only use sanitized scoopers with.  All my acne cleared up within a couple days. 
This can be anything- a small plastic spoon, metal teaspoon, even that red stick you find in a handy snacks package.  Keep a small spray bottle of alcohol handy to give it a split-second spritz before scooping out product.

9. Picking at Your Face
Using your fingernails is a huge no-no.  It's like asking for acne.  They're filled with germs and you're basically scraping your skin open and rubbing germs in.  If you must extract, use a blemish extracting tool sanitized with a spritz of alcohol.  Or cover each finger with a clean tissue.  But even then, irritating an area that does not need to be extracted can cause a blemish to appear.  This has happened to me many times.  If it is a bad habit, try promising yourself not to pick at your face for three days.

10. Diet
Eating greasy, fried or just plain unhealthy food can make you more prone to breakouts.  Or you may have a mild allergy to something.  If this is a concern for you, try keeping a food diary and see if there are any connections to what you eat and any breakouts.

Hope this helped you to see if you have any hidden breakout triggers!  Now you can feel more confident that you taking good care of the beautiful face God gave you. <3