I'm often told two
things by strangers:
“Your skin is so clear!”
and
“...You look WAY younger
than you are.”
These compliments, while
flattering (or skeptical), are two things that I hear all too often.
Don't get me
wrong, I'm grateful for my skin and youthful appearance!
Yes, I get
mistaken for being a decade younger than I actually am, and while
that can be awesome... This decade of maturity that I've cultivated
can easily be thrown out the window when I look so much younger. Something about “idiotic youth”, "judging a book by their cover", yadda yadda. (Which, for the
record, I don't buy. Some of the coolest folks I've worked
with are a decade younger than myself.)
While genetics may play a
factor in my youthful glow (thank you, Nordic ancestors), I do have
a super easy skincare routine... and let me tell you, when I say
easy, I mean LAZY.
So, if you're like me, and
you're not into having an entire step-by-step routine (because let's
be honest, who has the time?!) then follow along, because I'm about
to spell out some tips and tricks for you that have worked for me
over the years.
Tip Number One:
Hydration.
Water, water, water.
Start
from the inside-out, and get yourself hydrated! Your skin is thirsty,
and you need to make sure the largest organ in your body is taken
care of. Your skin will thank you.
If you don't know what water is, here's a link: H2O.
Tip Number Two:
Toners and
Serums.
One year ago, I wouldn't have had this on my list of must-do's. However, when I ran into Dazey LA, I found their apothecary items in collaboration with Nesting Zone, and I've never looked back.
Toner is important because it balances our skin. Whether you're prone to being more oily or more dry, it'll moisturize and tighten your pores - which prevents acne as well as oiliness.
Serum keeps your skin youthful by addressing wrinkles, dark spots, and large pores.
My favorite combo is the
Better Daze Balancing Mist (a cucumber and rose facial toner) that
will moisturize and balance your skin. Directly after using this
toner, I apply the Lunaris Facial Serum (aloe vera liquid, cucumber
water, rose water, glycerin, and witch hazel).
These two are my go-to
right out of the shower - or, even if it's not a shower day, but I still feel
like my face has dried out due to the thin Colorado air. If you're
curious, go to the Dazey website and order their Glow Kit
– it's also perfect for travel and keeping your beauty items minimized.
Tip Number Three:
Make-Up
Choices Matter.
Listen up, theatre fam!
Maybe when you were in
high school, any old thing would do. But then and now, your body can
tell when you're using the cheap stuff. Trust me. I would try to use
basic mascara by one of those gross big brand names, and my eyelashes
would literally fall out – not to mention, burn or itch like crazy.
It wasn't until I switched to a not-laced-with-weird-shit mascara that my lashes were
finally forgiving. (Did you know that most mainstream mascara has
fish scales in the ingredients? No wonder my body was like “GIRL...?!”)
(FYI: This is my favorite mascara. VA-VA-VOOM.)
Now, "cheap" is not synonymous with cheap. I'm not saying DON'T
shop at the drugstore. In fact, there are a plethora of amazing
drugstore brands sold that will be gentle on your skin! (And
cruelty-free, to boot.)
My recommendation? Know
your skin, and research. Well, doing research can take some time...
but I've put in a good amount of that time for you. Some of my favorites affordable brands are:
Arbonne.
Pacifica. Wet 'n Wild. Elf. NYX.
PETA also has a helpful list of 22 Cruelty-Free, Vegan Beauty Brands to Support.
Now, I know I just said all of these are vegan brands.
DISCLAIMER:
There may be some items
on the shelf that were apart of the line before they went 100%
cruelty-free, or for some reason, they'll be listed as such when
there is actually honey or beeswax in a product.
Continue to do your research. You're the only one who can say if you will or will not tolerate certain chemicals or ingredients on your skin.
Whatever you put on your skin goes into your skin.
In this day and age, you're the only one lookin' out for you. A lot of these companies will slap a label on something and expect you to never know the difference, in hopes that they'll make a profit. A little research goes a long way.
Tip Number Four:
Avoid Alcohol.
This is meant more for products used directly on your skin, but it goes for ingestion, as well... the fact is, the less alcohol you drink, the more hydration your skin will retain.
And as for alcohol as an ingredient in skincare products:
Those facial wipes may be
tempting, but first of all they're a one-time use and toss, which is
pretty wasteful. Second, they're prone to have alcohol in the
ingredients, which dries out your skin.
And what does she (your skin) want? See
Number One.
The best success I've had
with make-up removal is oil.
But plenty of oils work: almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil,
hell, even canola oil works if you're desperate. So grab yourself a soft washcloth, pour
a little oil of your choice on it, and go to town. Then you can just
wash the cloth when you're done. Ta-Da.
If you are on a budget, or you're traveling and forget your oil, and you must go with face wipes... I highly recommend Equate Baby Wipes that you can buy at Walmart, Target, on or Amazon. Yes, I said baby wipes. They're essentially the same as the makeup wipes, and this particular brand is paraben free, alcohol free, and fragrance free - plus, they have aloe and vitamin E.
So, there ya go. No alcohol. But, if you must... Everything in moderation, right?
Tip Number Five:
Avoid Dairy
like the Plague.
I'll say this once: Cow's
milk is meant for baby cows.
Give it up.
In fact, if you have the stomach and
the bravery, please go to YouTube right now and watch “Dairy is Scary”. It'll take five minutes of your life and give you some things to ponder.
Dairy is known to give
people skin irritations, digestive issues, and excess mucus. Gross.
Don't believe me? Check out this article.
If you're a milk martyr,
please consider substituting dairy milk for non-dairy milk. There are
SO MANY OPTIONS. Almond, Soy, Rice, Oat, Hazelnut, Hemp, Flax, Coconut, etc. I can't tell you how many friends have told me their skin cleared up once they cut out the dairy.
Also, last time I checked, you're not a baby cow. So, there's that.
Tip Number Six:
Take a Break Before You Break Out.
Of course, the big final tip... mess with your face as minimally as possible. Sometimes the best thing for your skin is to leave it the heck alone. Let it breathe, replenish, renew, and get its glow on.
Are you a skincare guru?
Do you have some tips and tricks of your own? Comment below!
One thing I've been curious about is dry brushing... has anyone tried this? I'd love to learn more about it and eventually invest in this technique, myself.
And if you're suffering from severe acne and have tried everything... I really recommend watching Brian Turner's YouTube channel. He has overcome some serious acne just from turning his health around and also discusses how you're beautiful just the way you are... acne or not.
Thanks for reading!
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| Photo Courtesy of DazeyLA Website |
I am not sponsored or endorsed by any of the products mentioned in this listing. However, I may receive a small commission from any Amazon links in this post, should you purchase an item. Thank you for supporting Uprooted Foodie!
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