Hi, friends! I’m back on the blog with a new post on one of my favorite topics: skincare! If you follow me on Instagram, or have read some of my previous posts on the topic, then you understand my obsession. Like anyone, my skin has changed a lot over the years, which has required me to alter my routine pretty frequently.
I wanted to take today’s post to share some of my favorite products and techniques used on those days when I’m trying to treat myself and my skin!
For me, self care days are usually synonymous with me doing some kind of elaborate skincare routine. It’s so much more than just slapping on a sheet mask and calling it a day. It’s a process. A process that I genuinely enjoy doing. My routine is excessive, yes, but it’s relaxing for me!
It might not appeal to you in the same way it does for me, and that’s okay! I’m merely offering suggestions based off the things I do during my ‘treat myself’ skincare routine.
Let’s begin!
Facial Steaming
Okay, so this is something I just recently started doing after reading what Lauryn Evarts Bosstick had to say about it on her blog, The Skinny Confidential. She has a separate Instagram account that she uses to recommend her favorite products, and this facial steamer was one of them.
I’m going to keep this quick and easy to read for ya by just giving you a list of the benefits for this technique!
Benefits of Facial Steaming
- Hormonal acne? Try facial steaming once a week to create a clean base for your products to really seep in.
- Helps get rid of current blackheads and prevent more from coming.
- Leaves your skin dewy after use. The day of and the day after I facial steam, my skin is always G L O W I N G.
- Basically like a 10-minute spa visit at home.
Is it a necessary step in a skincare routine? No. But does it make you feel fancy as hell while doing it? YES! I’m into it because I find it super relaxing, but to each their own! Click here for the facial steamer that I ordered from Amazon!
Shaving Your Face
Yes, you read that right. I guess you could consider this to be at-home dermaplaning, but when you get it done professionally, it’s an elaborate process. Before you decide to start shaving your face, do your research. I’m not a professional — I just know what works for my skin.
I shave my face once a week.
Benefits of At-Home Dermaplaning
- Save your money. Maybe one day I’ll get dermaplaning done professionally, but I have student loans to pay, so NO THANK YOU.
- Not only removes peach fuzz, but also helps slough away the dead skin that’s sitting on the surface. 🙂 🙂 🙂
- Leaves the skin feeling and looking smooth.
- Make-up application is a breeeeeeze and really looks so much better than before dermaplaning.
How you shave your face is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! I personally use a Tinkle because it makes it a lot easier, so it’s not like you’re just shaving your face with a normal razor. I either use a new Tinkle each time I shave my face, or I disinfect it in boiled water before use.
I shave from my forehead, down. I personally do this because I hate seeing peach fuzz on my face. It’s really simple to do yourself, but I suggest watching a few YouTube videos first so you get the hang of it.
Exfoliation
The OY-L Exfoliating Manuka Mask and Peach & Lily’s Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask are two of my absolute favorites. I obviously don’t use both masks in one self-care day, but I wanted to make sure to mention both. I don’t know if you already know this, but exfoliating is the most crucial step in your skincare routine — in my personal opinion and experience.
If you don’t exfoliate, you’re literally just piling your products on top of dead skin, which is yucky. Do your skin a favor by incorporating an exfoliating mask into your routine once or twice a week.
Benefits of an Exfoliating Mask
- Helps to prevent acne. Like I mentioned, you skin has LAYERS of dead skin cells on the surface — dead skin cells that eventually cause clogs, which leads to acne.
- Increases cell turnover. HELLO, anti-aging.
- Makes other skincare products work more effectively. Think of it this way — it’s kind of hard to paint on a canvas that already has paint on it. Same thing applies to your face. When you don’t exfoliate, your face is basically a painted canvas. Start fresh and clean, people!!!!
OY-L’s mask is super moisturizing and leaves the skin feeling UNREAL! This is one that I use pretty regularly.
Peach & Lily’s mask is a little bit tougher on the skin since it’s a resurfacing mask. I’ve got to be careful about how often I use this one. This mask is great for getting all the day’s gunk out of your pores, plus it leaves your face feeling firm and fresh.
Slather On Oils and Serums
I’ve shared Revival’s Goddess Facial Serum-Dream on the blog before, but I want to share it again because it’s literally that good. Honestly, I think it’s one of the best nightly oils I’ve ever used, and I’ve used a lot of random oils and serums.
My second favorite oil to lather on after a night of steaming and masking is Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I notice when I don’t use this serum — that’s how good it is. It literally transforms my skin by the morning. I always used to wake up with skin that just looked blah, but now my skin looks healthy and happy, and I credit the concentrate for that.
Sleep Masking
If you thought I was done, I’m not! One LAST step in this crazy skincare routine of mine. This sleeping mask is my absolute favorite. I found it on Soko Glam because it was recommended by their founder, Charlotte Cho. Let me tell you, you don’t even know moisturized skin until you try this mask — there, I said it.
Well, if you’ve made it this far — YAY! I hope you treat yourself to an elaborate skincare routine sometime soon, maybe tonight?! Too soon? Either way, don’t forget to treat yourself by doing whatever it is that makes you feel the most relaxed!
Until next time!
Alicia