Current Skin Care Routine

Do you switch up your skin care routine, or are you dedicated to the same products year after year? While I am pretty loyal to many products and keep my tried-and-true on hand, I enjoy trying new products and switching up my routine. Here's my current skin care routine:

1 // using this face wash every morning when I get up. I won it in an Instagram giveaway, and I'm so glad I did! It's all-natural (and handmade too!), and it feels so good. It's really moisturizing, so for the first time in my life I'm not having to wear any kind of day cream as a moisturizer!

2 // using this body butter for extra hydration all over. It's nothing special--I got it as a sample in the mail and you can find it at Walmart--but I love the coconut scent, and it's really hydrating.

3 // using this scrub to exfoliate my face every night in the shower. It's the one product that I've used every day for about 15 years, and I can't move away from it. My face feels so smooth afterwards!

4 // using this cleansing gel every night in the shower to cleanse after exfoliating. With the humidity of summer I can actually use a gel face wash rather than a creamy one, something I can never do in the winter. This is really cleansing, and I'm a big fan of the anti-aging element.

5 // using this face cream before bed. It's a bit of a thicker cream which helps holds in moisture on my face all night long.

6 // using this body cream on my hands every night when I get in bed. The eucalyptus scent is supposed to be calming, and I've found that it is! I've been using this every night when I get in bed since Madeleine was born, and it's definitely become part of my nighttime routine.

Skin care routine

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Do you switch up your skin care routine frequently? I tend to stick to my tried and true favorites but find that new products often end up in the routine and stay for several months. This is what I'm currently doing:

I wake myself up in the mornings with Origins GinZing scrub cleanser. The citrus-y scent perks me up (and the caffeine helps too!), and I like using a gel that exfoliates for the mornings. Afterwards I apply a little bit of Origins Plantscription anti-aging serum. It's never too early to start fighting those wrinkles that are bound to appear at some point! I finish the morning with Origins GinZing moisturizer. Again, I love the GinZing line, and this moisturizer offers good coverage without feeling greasy.

I shower in the evening to save time in the morning (sleep is too precious to me!), and I use Origins A Perfect World cleanser after shampooing and conditioning my hair. My skin has been insanely dry this pregnancy, so before bed I apply a little Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask to replenish my skin and keep it from being so flaky.

Disclosure: Origins has no idea who I am, and I was not asked to write this or compensated in any way. I just love Origins products!

My Favorite Moisturizers

If I had to pick only one makeup/skincare product to use for the rest of my life, I would be super stressed out at the thought but moisturizer would be high on the list of possibilities. I have really dry skin, so I am very faithful at cleansing and moisturizing my face morning and evening--no matter what.  I've tried lots of different kinds*, but these are the four that I've been the most pleased with. They don't go on too thick and they make my skin feel soft and fresh. They also don't have a strong scent, they just smell clean, except for #3 which smells like cucumbers (and I love it!). If you're looking to try a new moisturizer, here are my recommendations, in a range of prices:

1) Origins Starting Over Age Erasing Moisturizer with Mimoa ($47.50)

2) Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer ($22)

3) Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Daily Calming Moisturizer ($14.99)

4) Simple Light Hydrating Moisturizer ($10-$12)

What is your go-to moisturizer?

*Note: When trying new skincare or makeup products, be sure to add only one new product at a time. After trying it for a couple of weeks, add one more new product. This way you will know which products you may have an adverse reaction to.

Daily Skin Care Routine

Over the weekend I had several people comment on my face.  I think the word was "glowing" and they were convinced I was pregnant (I'm not).  I thought it was so funny because in the past month or so I've really noticed that I'm finally happy with my skin!  I'm not acne prone, but I had never liked my skin texture or the occasional red splotch I would get.  After getting questions about what I'm using on my face, I thought I'd share with you the daily skin care routine that I've found to be the best for my skin.

I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub every morning when I first get in the shower.

Every morning I cleanse my face with Origins A Perfect World cleanser.

I make sure to cleanse my face after I shampoo and condition my hair

to prevent hairline breakouts.  Also I leave my

cleanser on my face for 30-45 seconds.

After moisturizing I lightly brush on Mary Kay Mineral Powder. 

Then I use a little bit of Mary Kay Mineral Bronzing Powder in Sandstone.

Before bed I remove my makeup with these and cleanse my face 

with Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser.

Even when I'm really tired I never let myself go to bed

without taking off all my makeup and washing my face.

Again, this is what I've found to be the best for my skin.  It takes a while of trying different products and routines to figure out what works best for you.  For other skin care products that I like and use, see this post.  Also check out Lindsay's blog!  She gives amazing skin care tips that I have found really helpful!

What is your daily skin care routine?