Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
I’ve had redness on my skin that I thought I could heal with the Amino Acids + B5. While it helped reduce my breakouts, I still saw redness and decided to take a chance with the Alpha Arbutin. The description on the website states that it “reduces the looks of spots and hyper-pigmentation”. After using it for a month I noticed the redness healing and my skin tone is evening out. It may take a few months more before I get the results that I desire… But I have time to wait. I haven’t seen my skin glow so much before too so I’m happy to keep using this product.

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
First things first, this is an acid. Use it with caution and read the instructions well! I can’t use this if I have a break out because it’s acid. But let me say this. When I do use this, I wake up the next morning with amazing skin. Like skin from heaven. According to the item description, it provides “mild exfoliation for improved skin radiance and visible clarity”. Which I’ve seen in my skin. It’s smoother than I’ve ever seen it before! But this is a strong toning solution and should be used once a week to start with. I may use it up to 3 times a week but I’m not there yet.

Keeping my skin moisturized is the focus issue for me. My Autumn skincare routine has the same focus as my summer one. But the two new products I’ve added take it to the next level. Do keep in mind that my skincare journey is my own. Experiment to find what works best for you. And please always spot check because a tiny allergic reaction will always be better than a huge one.

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As I got older, I realized my body was trying to do its job and I had to help it along. My body works hard at what it does, but that doesn’t mean it does it well (according to my standards). For one thing I’ve learned that chocolate is terrible for my skin. Even a sliver of it can cause a breakout. So I’ve had to give that up. And I used to enjoy a chocolate dessert after dinner for over 20 years! But skincare is also a huge part of how I care for my skin, so let me share what products I’ve come to love.

I was browsing the Skincare subreddit and found that many users swore by the CeraVe line. I’d never heard of it before but I wanted to give it a try. With summer on the way, I wanted something with more SPF for those the one hour I spend outside with the dogs.

Cleanse
So I wash my face with cold water and the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. It’s got a thick and creamy consistency and my face doesn’t feel stripped from oils after it. I had been using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash but I wanted to dry something gentler. And then I dry my face on my towel. I read somewhere that drying your face after you wash it isn’t a good idea… That you should air dry it, but I haven’t been able to do that yet. The feel of a towel on my face is too good but I never rub. Dab your skin to dry it.

Moisturize
First I spray my face with the Tea Tree Water to give it some moisture and allow the following products to glide on. Next goes on a mix of CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25, Amino Acids + B5, and Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. If I have a particularly bad dark spot or scar I need to fade, I spot treat that area with the 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. These guys paired together have given me some soft, smooth, and supple skin for the summer.

I would like to rebuy the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for a little extra moisture. I want to see if it can give me a little bit of a dewy look because my skin has been pretty matte lately. If I do want a little bit of a glow I can place a little of the Rose Hip Oil on my cheeks for that look. It’s also worth noting that the Rose Hip has reduced my dark circles. Be careful and never use it too close to your eyes. My dark circles are genetic and will never go away but at least I look less undead and more “cute tired.”

Nighttime Routine
At night I cleanse the same way, a double cleanse this time, but I don’t moisturize the same. Instead I apply either the Rose Hip Oil or Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane. I used the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil when I lived in California but I don’t have the money to drop on such luxurious items. So far I’ve enjoyed The Ordinary one, but since it causes UV sensitivity, I don’t use it every night. It’s used to lessen signs of aging. When it comes to good skin care practices, it’s better late than never!

Extra
Every Sunday night I apply a thick layer of The Body Shop’s Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask and follow it with the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. I like to put these on before a shower so I can wash the Peeling Solution off. It’s a bit scary to use! Take caution, as once I didn’t wash it all off and I ended up burning myself… Lesson learned!

Please Note
What works for my skin may not work for yours. Also do a patch test on your skin before using any product. Skin care is a personal process. Make sure you see a dermatologist if your problems persist. It’s took me almost 20 years to feel comfortable in my own skin. But now when I wake up in the morning and see my face be beautiful without makeup… It makes me happy. If I can do it, so can you.

The post Summer Skin Care Routine appeared first on A Daily Lee.

Go Natural
Sometimes facemasks can be expensive. There are tons of tutorials for natural face masks out there. My mom used to put egg white on my face when I was young. A look in your pantry can open a new world of DIY facial masks! Bananas, yogurt, honey and even cinnamon can be used for a quick at home remedy. Be sure to look into what ingredient does what though! You wouldn’t want to apply something too harsh to your skin.

Treat yourself
Many facial masks can be used once or twice a week so put a reminder in your calendar for a treatment day. Taking care of yourself is a huge way to boost confidence and self esteem. By nurturing your skin and your body you’re nurturing your soul as well! We all have this one life to live, so live it up!

Layer it on
I love to spend late evenings in a few different types of masks. First I cleanse my skin and put down a clarifying mask to pull out the dirt from my pores. After that I’ll use an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and expose the fresh ones under that. Then I slather on a layer of Aloe to calm down any irritated areas. Don’t be afraid to put on a good movie and pause it for a few different mask treatments. Sometimes the best things in life are just being at rest and mindful of what your body needs.

Spot treatments
It’s normal to have patches of skin that have different issues. I have some areas that are dry while others are prone to breakouts. Using several different masks as a spot treatment can have many benefits. You’re able to target the needs of your skin and save more product by using less. In this way you can get more bang for your buck because you’ll have to buy less of what you love!

Don’t forget to moisturize!
After you’ve put your face through an intense workout, don’t forget to protect it! If you strip your face from the oils and the moisture that it needs, then it will produce more. For years I thought I had to keep my face oil free but boy was I wrong! My skincare routine has changed so much! I now put in a few drops of Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil in with my Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre so that my face is hydrated and plump.

Note this post was not sponsored by Lush! I thought it would just be something to talk about. Happy National Face Mask Day!

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I’ve always been curious about Korean skincare especially since it’s been so popular in recent years. Luckily for me there’s the Ichigo Shop. They have a huge online store and sometimes visit local conventions. I’ve seen them plenty of times but I didn’t want to buy something I wouldn’t use. This time I did a bit of research and made a few purchases.

O.2 Therapy Air mask in Ceramide
I had not heard about ceramide before this but after I did a bit of reading on it I wanted to give it a try. It’s can quench dry skin and gives it rich a deep moisturizing. Ceramide can help strengthen skin and help it keep moisture. I plan on using this for when I want a pick me up. These were cheap and I don’t use sheet masks often so I’m not sure they’ll help my skin. But there’s nothing like a night in with a good movie and a face mask on!

Jeju Volcanic Color Clay Mask in black clay
My skin has always been a bit bad around certain times of the month and I’ve been looking for a new purifying mask. This way I can pull out dirt and grime to help my skin stay clear. The Jeju mask turns into a milky cleanser that leaves skin feeling clear and cleansed. I’ve already used it once and love the way it feels both with it on and taking it off.

Blossom Picnic Glow On Hydra Base
I discovered this from Haley Kim’s video about her glass skin routine. Glass skin has become a super popular trend that’s grown to a global phenomenon. It gives skin the appearance of being clear, smooth like glass and lit from within. This is one of the moisturizers she uses to prime for her make up. While my skin is far from amazing, I wanted to give this a try. It’s smooth and has a beautiful glow to it. I love how it applies but I haven’t used it enough for me to say that I’m in love with it.

Iceland Micro Hydrating Eye Stick
This is a cooling eye stick that should moisturize, improve wrinkles and whiten the under eye area. While I can’t vouch for the last two claims, I can promise this feels amazing to put on. The cooling sensation feels amazing before bed and my under eyes are soft and moisturized well enough that I want to use this every day. I recommend this if it’s the only eye cream you’re using because it does apply thickly and might cause creasing under makeup.

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Not everyone needs toner in their life but I do. The first step of my Autumn skin routine beings with the cleanse. I use The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash. It’s gentle and smells fresh but not overwhelming. After my face is clean and dry I spritz with the Lush Tea Tree Water. I have sensitive and acne prone skin so the tea tree helps to soothe any irritations and redness. It also helps to tighten my pores which is helpful for makeup application. I’ll be doing an updated makeup routine soon so keep an eye out! After the toner dries down I apply Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré. This is a beautiful and thick cream that’s a dream to apply. My skin used to be oily but the Autumn weather makes my skin so dry. This helps to moisturize evenly without being heavy on my skin.

I then use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% which helps to bring just a little bit more hydration to my skin. It also sets the base for makeup primer. It also contains Vitamin B5 to help keep that moisture boost. This insures that my skin doesn’t dry out throughout the day. There’s nothing more annoying than having a dry patch on your face!

I then pull out my Embryolisse Protective repair-stick to keep my lips from cracking. I was never a lip balm girl but this was before I moved to a colder climate. This one feels weightless. It’s ultra hydrating and also creates a good base for other lip products. I’m living for the matte lipstick trend (because it’s often windy outside) and the repair-stick is perfect.

At night I add a generous layer of The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. It’s help to soften my acne scarring and reduce redness at night. In the morning my skin looks clear and I’ve noticed my dark spots have begun to fade too. A big part of recovering from acne is helping to heal current blemishes and fading old scars. I’ve been seeing a lot of improvements in my skin since using this routine. I break out a lot less and since I have less to hide, I wear less makeup.

At the end of the day I take it all off with the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash and I cleanse twice. The first is to take off the makeup and the 2nd time is just for good measure! I feel a real difference in my skin and I don’t break out as much as I used to.

As I said before I need to post an update to my makeup routine. You’ll be able to see all my favorites from this year and what I’ve been wearing this season.

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I know that the change of the seasons has a huge impact on my skin. It’s a new sensation since I never had issues when I lived in America. Now I need to change my skincare with the change of the seasons. I need something light and moisturizing for my dry patches and something naturally oily to help my skin produce less.

Insert The Ordinary. With a large variety of items to choose from, it’s easy to create a skincare plan that caters to what you need most. I’ve decided to talk about what I got and my first impressions on them. In a few months I’ll check back in and update my thoughts.

The Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid Primer
This feels very similar to other silicone primes I’ve used in the past. It goes on smooth and there’s no fuss when it comes to coverage. So far I’ve gotten my whole face down with three drops. It smooths pores and can be worn without makeup, which is so nice! It’s lightweight and allows for me to use my foundation with ease.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
I pair this with my face cream before I add my foundation. It’s great for bringing in some moisture to my skin. Hyaluronic Acid supposed to boast that it makes skin look plumper and healthier and I’m all for that! It’s also one of The Ordinary products that is said to offer vitamin B5 so that skin can be rejuvenated. So far I’ve liked the addition of this to my morning routine. I’ll have to use it for a few months before I can really notice a difference.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
This solution is going to replace my weekly peel (if it works well and doesn’t work against me). Since it’s a once a week deal, it might be a little harder to judge within a months time. While it does look a bit scary in bottle, it goes on clear. There’s no burning sensation and it feels so wonderful coming off. My skin feels brand new! I recommend reading and using the peel as advised to prevent any injuries. I’ve known some peels that can burn quite badly.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
This is what I use before bed. I’ve read that if you have oily skin, you should use an oil based moisturizer so that your skin will produce less. I used to use one by Tarte but that company is a bit hard to find in The Netherlands. Instead I decided to opt for The Ordinary’s Rose Hip Seed Oil. First of all, there’s no scent which makes me so happy. Using 3 drops is more than enough. It’s important to avoid the eye area otherwise you risk it burning! This oil is said to target aging and now that I’m 30 I do want to keep my skin looking young. It also corrects dark spots, and reduces scarring. It’s that last bit that really sold me. Since I don’t break out as much as I used to, I want the scars to heal and fade away into the past!

This new routine could either be a wonder for my skin or it could be the opposite. Only time will tell. It takes one month or so for your skin to do a whole rotation. This means it will take that same amount of time before I see the true results of using these products. I hope it goes well! The Ordinary is cheap and easy for me to get a hold of. Using it daily may make my life so much easier and kinder on my wallet!

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Lemony Flutter or Avoplex Nail Oil are the best at cuticle rescue. It’s hard to run out of either of these two because a little goes a long way. I use them when I really need a long and strong fix for dry skin because they can also be used on the skin and not just the cuticles. They take a bit longer to penetrate the skin but linger much longer than lotion does. Once they’ve been absorbed I’ve been able to wash my hands three or four times and still have a decent layer left on my skin. I love to pair them with Charity Pot too since it’s also resilient against soap and water.

Sleepy is the perfect way to end the day. The soft scent of lavender is just right for drifting off to sleep. I’ve stated time and time again that I have problems sleeping. This quickly gets me to unwind after the day so that I can close my eyes and sleep.

What are your favorite moisturizing products? I’m always open for trying something new!

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