My Daily Skincare Routine (and 3 tips from my Dermatologist)

When I turned 30 I decided it was time to get serious about my skincare regimen so I finally went to see a dermatologist.  I have a few issues (mainly persistent break outs and some dark spots) and wanted get it under control. My skincare regime is still a work in progress and I’m always up to try a new product, but i’ve noticed a BIG difference in my skin and wanted to share what has been working for me lately and how I’m transitioning into my winter regimen. PS these products are non sponsored or gifted and I have purchased all of them on my own.

Right now, my daytime skincare routine depends on what I’m doing that day, like when I have a shoot where I’m wearing lots of makeup or if it’s a work from home and kid drop off and pick up day. Either way it typically only takes me about ten minutes to go through the entire thing. So let’s dive in!

My Morning Routine

1.) First I Wash my face with Vivant Skincare BP 3% Acne Wash 

(just a heads up…you’ll be seeing this brand a lot throughout today’s post. It not sponsored or even gifted. I’ve purchased all these products myself and just really love the love the whole line)

2.) then I use a little  Vivant Skincare Wink Eye Rejuvenation Cream under and around my eyes. (great if you have sensitive skin like me)

3.) If it’s a shoot day and I know I’ll be applying a full face of makeup then I’ll apply

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer.  This seriously makes your face like a smooth canvas and prepares your skin for your foundation. I’ve raved about it before but it literally melts into my skin and I love that it has an SPF of 30 for some sun protection throughout the day. I’m always in a hurry so that fact that I don’t even really have to think about applying additional SPF is definitely a bonus. After using my protect primer I always use my Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation i’m OBSESSED with for shoot days. It has medium to full coverage that lasts all day and never makes my skin feel or look cakey or overdone. I’ll go into more detail on my makeup favorites on a post this Friday but am trying to keep today’s post to skincare.

If it’s a non-shoot day then I apply some Supergoop CC Cream. I had been wanting to try this for forever and am loving it so far. I’m definitely a “need a little coverage” kind of girl and this one has just the right amount. If you have a CC cream you swear by I’d love to hear yours too!

My Nighttime Routine

For nighttime I use my Burts Bee’s Makeup wipes to remove as much of my makeup as possible. I’ve been using the sensitive wipes for years and they’re the best if you have sensitive skin. After removing my makeup I use Vivant Skincare BP 3% Acne Wash (my dermatologist recommended this one)  As mentioned above, I truly love the whole line and have about 5 of their products! If you like a little more exfoliation their  exfoliating wash is another one I use and recently got my sister in law hooked on it.

To really remove all of my makeup I use Vivant Skincare Tonic afterwards. I was having really bad breakouts and couldn’t figure out why it was happening. I took off my makeup, washed my face religiously and couldn’t figure out why I was still breaking out. Turns out even after I used my makeup wipes and face wash in the shower, there were STILL traces of makeup on my face! The Toner was a crucial step I was missing in my cleansing process. So now after the shower I use that toner to make sure everything is removed and help balance out PH levels . Another the trick my dermatologist gave me is to use it with medical grade gauze pads, rather than the soft cotton rounds.  The texture of the gauze pads give a little extra exfoliation and really help remove the makeup. Ever since I started using them together, my skin has been so much better.

Next, I switch between Colleen Rothschild Retinol Oil and Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream.  I was totally skeptical of using an oil on my face because I felt like it would make me break out. But this Colleen Rothschild Retinol Night Oil came into my life and I am ALL FOR IT! The oil itself is plant based, and the retinol helps your skin replenish quickly, while the vitamin C brightens and evens out the skin tone. I use the oil every other day, and the days that I don’t, I use Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream, which is one of the most moisturizing creams I’ve ever used. Without getting all Phd on you, the hylaluronic acid retains up to 1,000 times its weight in water from atmospheric moisture, which in turn makes your skin appear more supple, smooth and full. There’s a whole science behind it, but trust me, it works! If you have super dry skin and prefer omething a bit thicker This One is what I break out in the dry winter months. Lastly I finish with This Eye Cream. If you’ve been reading The Honeybee for awhile now you girls know I have crazy sensitive eyes and have to be really careful on what I use. I’ve been using that eye cream for over a year now and love! 

Preventive + Self Care

I have a couple other tricks up my sleeve that I use a couple times a week. First is the Glo Pro Microneedling Tool (money well spent!) which is basically hundreds of tiny needles that poke your skin. Your skin then begins to miraculously repair itself by producing collagen and plumping itself up. Plus it creates passages through your skin so your products can penetrate better. I’ve actually done microneedling in the dermatologists office as well (which is much more expensive) but this a great option you can do regular at home! Another product in my arsenal is one I’ve told you about plenty of times before, Peter Thomas Roth Un-wrinkle Peel Pads. They are basically like a facial peel in a pad. So good! You get so much bang for your buck with these and notice a difference in your pores immediately!  And finally a new product I’m using is the Summer Fridays Overtime Mask. I’ve been seeing it everywhere lately and figured I would give it a go.Every girl needs to use a weekly mask, right? This one is good for when my skin just feels dull, blah and needs a pick me up.

I’ve made Hydra Facials a mandatory monthly priority on my to do (for me) list

Last but not least I started getting Hydra facials about a year ago and i’m OBSESSED. I feel like out of all the little splurges we make in life, self care should be at the top of our list. I’ve made it a priority to go about once a month (sometime every 6 weeks or so) but they just feel amazing. It’s not like your regular spa like facial with all the fluff. It’s pretty much all business (which I like). It’s about a 3o minute  hydradermabrasion procedure that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection simultaneously, resulting in clearer skin with no discomfort or downtime. The treatment is soothing, moisturizing, non-invasive and non-irritating and my skin just always feels so cleansed and bright after I get one. If you’ve been thinking about trying one I HIGHLY recommend them! 

Use an Ice Roller

These $11 products are definitely worth the hype. I’d been hearing about these and finally ordered on of these Ice Rollers and am so glad I did! You just pop them in your freezer and roll across your face whenever you want to reduce puffiness (aka morning face ;), calm redness or firm your skin. You really can’t go wrong for $11.

Recommendations from my Dermatologist

Okay let’s talk rec’s from my dermatologist. I will start by saying do your research and get recommendations to find a derm you love and more importantly trust! Also note everyones skin care needs are different so definitely talk to your derm for what’s right for your skin. Here are some of the issues I was having with my skin and what she recommended for me…..

It’s time for Retinoids

If you’re in your thirties like me…it’s time to go to your derm and talk Retinoids. You can get a lot of over the counter products (mentioned above) but if you’re looking something stronger I definitely recommend going to visit your dermatologist. These A vitamins are proven to boost collagen production (reducing wrinkles and preventing fine lines) speeding cell turnover and unclogging pores. My derm recommended Tretinoin Lotion and i’ve been using it a few times a week for the past 7 months. I started out with the lowest grade they offer and have slowly worked my way up. I know some girls that use it everyday but I use mine probably three times a week.

For those pesky Dark Spots

Whether it’s  from pregnancy, sun damage or just age spots – pesky dark spots are no fun. I started noticing a few dark spots on my face and my dermatologist also perscribed a Hydroquinone cream. I place a small amount on the dark areas and have definitely noticed a difference. If you use hydroquinone cream make sure you’re also using proper sun protection too as you’re supposed to stay out of the sun while using it.

Vitamin C Serum

and lastly a Vitamin C serum is a skincare essential! It’s a no brainer and lather it on the daily! Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals in the skin (caused from pollution), boosts collagen production and reverses cell damage, which helps keep the skin firmer and younger, and even helps fade and prevent brown spots and pigmentation. There are several on the market so here’s what to look for.

The concentration is important, but the best vitamin C serums combine other antioxidants and boosters like vitamin E and ferulic acid, which probably adds more value than just increasing the concentration alone. Also make sure you are storing you bottles in a cool dark place to ensure potency. I would opt for choosing one that comes in a brown or amber colored bottle. This one by SkinCeuticals has 15%  L-ascorbic acid and also has vitamin E! This One by Peter Roth Thomas is AMAZING at 20% L-ascorbic acid and under $100! I use it every other night (alternating with my Retinol Night Oil mentioned above).

Okay and there’s my  current skincare regimen!  I know this was a little in depth but hope this answered some of your questions and as always I love to hear what products you girls love too!