My Favorite Form of Self-Care: Skincare

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I’ve always loved skincare products and routines. The esthetics section of beauty school thrilled me and doing facials was one of my very favorite parts of the process!

In this season of staying in, and hopefully being able to take a moment or two out from your day for self-care, I’d recommend taking a look at what your skincare routine has been and perhaps how you can adjust it (if necessary). I have a daily, “quick and easy” skincare routine and then one that takes a bit more time on those days I have or want to spend more time on my routine. Evenings, though, are some of my favorite times to do a face mask or go extra heavy on my moisturizer.

If you are new to setting up a skincare regimen, a few great products to start with are a moisturizer, exfoliator, and eye cream. From there you can add in any serums, toners, face masks, or extra solutions that you want based on your skin goals.

Of course, Sephora is my go-to place to stock up on my favorite skincare products, or discover brand new ones. You can find all the products I mention in today’s post at Sephora.com.

Here is a peek at my morning skincare line up:

I use the clips to hold my hair back without leaving creases, and the small rollers are a new + fun extra that I’ve started to use more often. I apply my OLEHENRICKSEN Truth Serum first, then follow that with Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream (there is also one with SPF called the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm SPF 25. Afterward, I’ll apply some of the Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate and use a roller around my eye area. The coolness of the roller helps depuff and soothe when my face feels puffy in the morning.

One tip I learned from a makeup artist is to apply your makeup primer as the last step of your skincare. Doing so helps give the primer time to settle into the skin before you apply foundation on top of it, and also makes sure this step isn’t forgotten! I cannot tell you how many times I forget to apply my primer when I sit down to do my makeup.

The SuperGoop! Glowscreen is a beautiful sheer primer with 40 SPF that leaves your skin looking dewy and fresh. If you like to use a primer without SPF, try the Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas. It smooths on so nicely and really helps the longevity of your makeup.

And this is what I like to use in the evening if I’m doing an “at home facial” experience with a mask:

I like to exfoliate first, to get all the dry skin off so my mask can penetrate deeply. The OLEHENRICKSEN Transforming Walnut Scrub is one of my most used exfoliators. I love the Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask for any time my skin feels sensitive and fragile. It restores moisture nicely and makes my skin feel brand new the next morning. If I’m using this mask I’ll usually leave a little behind as “moisturizer” overnight, but in the case that I’m not using this mask, I’ll apply a healthy amount of Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream. This product is so deeply hydrating, and my skin feels wonderful in the morning. And finally, I cannot go to sleep without slathering the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask all over my lips!

A few tips for your self-care skincare routine:

One. If I have extra time, do a facial massage. I just use whatever moisturizer I have and even 20 seconds of rubbing your serum or moisturizer in will help you relax, and hopefully, leave you feeling a little bit more refreshed and recharged.

When you are giving yourself a facial massage, only use the pads of your fingers. Direct the product in toward the center of your face instead of pulling out or down. Spend time drawing big circles around your eyes, pressing a little deeper on the start, middle, and end of your brow bone. Bring the product down onto your neck, and also up to your temples, rubbing small circles around your temples too! There isn’t much to it, but I promise it’ll feel really nice!

Two. A face mask forces you to slow down a little bit and hopefully sit still to rest. If you aren’t sure what to choose, opt for a hydrating and restoring mask if you are doing it in the evening, and choose a glowy or oil-absorbing mask if you are doing it in the morning!

Three. Try to set up a schedule or skincare routine for the week. If you don’t have a plan to stick to, you may forget to use a product that you have! In general, exfoliating once or twice a week is a good place to start, and try doing a face mask once a week. Maybe make it a Wednesday night thing do you have something to look forward to during the mid-week slump. Don’t forget about the rest of your body either! I used to do a “Saturday morning body scrub” routine every Saturday but I’ve fallen out of that habit. I need to find a night of the week to get that going again!

This post was sponsored by Sephora.

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KIM FORBES says · 04.10.20

You are so awesome and I love your blog!! So would you recommend this as the best eye cream you have tried? I am looking for a new eye cream but there are SO many! Also, could you do a sunkissed brightening makeup look. I’m feeling very blah and sallow these days. Thanks so much!!

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KIM FORBES says · 04.10.20

Also, could you please note what makeup products you are wearing in this video looks great!

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Sabina Whittall-Thoreau says · 04.10.20

I love to do my masks and then go sit in the hot tub for 20 minutes

The extra heat from the hot tub opens up the pores while my mask does its magic

I also use my mask time while doing my weekly mani/pedi’s

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tiflis gezilecek yerler says · 04.11.20

Great tips! Will definitely some of these for our home. Enjoy reading your posts!

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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says · 04.11.20

Thanks for the product recs! Love the packaging! ❤️✨

Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com

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Angela says · 04.11.20

I love your skin care picks! The Supergoop sunscreen is on my wishlist as well as the Bobbi Brown repair cream.
https://BlushandPearls.com

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Karin says · 04.11.20

Thanks for sharing! What about a cleanser? Whats your skin type? Would you recommend these products for sensitive skin?

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Natalie says · 04.13.20

Yes I was wondering about a daily cleanser also!

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Hollie says · 04.14.20

I also would like to know what your favorite cleanser is! I’ve been using Philosophy’s Purity for a while but it just ins’t the same as it used to be.

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Kate says · 04.15.20

I used this in this demo! But I also like an antioxidant cleanser from Origins too!

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Allison Applegate says · 04.12.20

I tend to always get break outs only on my chin? I noticed you get breakouts there too! What do you recommend? Do you a spot treatment?

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Alissa Leavitt says · 04.29.20

I love all your recommendations, you’ve been my go-to for yeeeeaaars. Can you please do an updated (maybe more in depth) post and or IG story about your SPF routine?

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Kirsten says · 07.07.20

Do you not use a cleanser in the morning before the Vitamin C serum? Thanks!!

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Melissa Steinagel says · 08.20.20

Hello! Wondering what your thoughts are with the agents Beauty contour stick. Also what shade did you order? Thanks!

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Sahil Dhawan says · 07.08.21

Same here, I also care for my skin especially for my facial care. So I realized one thing the face moisturizer is a must for everyone who loves being young and beautiful. As you shared your stuff I will also share my stuff later o because I have a big list. Right now I want to share my moisturizer which I use is from Kiehl’s.
Thanks for sharing your views.

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Emily Quan says · 11.09.21

Hi… This blog is amazing and informative. These skincare products are so good. I also use some of them and go to the spa regularly for my skincare. I recommend EM’s Esthetics in Vancouver for skin treatment. Thanks for sharing information about skincare products.

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Skincare Clinic says · 12.24.21

Hi… I love your blog because I’m crazy about makeup products and skincare treatment. I live in New Jersey and prefer Anaramedspa in NJ for my skincare treatment. Thank you for sharing this information.

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