Current Morning Routine (Products Only)

For Valentine's day I figure I'd make a post about brands I LOVE and highly recomend! Paula’s choice I know I do not own many of her products and I think it’s because I want to try other brands as I explore the vast skincare world. I already know this one is trustworthy in my book. They not only have a great resource with their ingredient dictionary, but they use that knowledge and transparency to formulate great products. Even the negative reviews on this brand that I've seen still say they formulate very well. They are slightly on the pricey side (expect about $40 or more), but you cannot go wrong. I love their PAULA'S CHOICE - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliator especially and have used their PAULA'S CHOICE - Defense Nightly Reconditioning Moisturizer Krave Beauty They don’t carry a lot of products in their brand, but like a fine dining restaurant with a small menu, what they make is their specialty. Their products are reasonably priced and they focus on non-irritating effective ingredients to help your skin barrier. I currently have their Krave - Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser and their Krave - Great Barrier Relief Inkey List I love this brand and that they are making simple products with usually only once active and that allows people to try them to see how it effects their skin for a reasonable price. I currently have their rosehip oil because I didn’t know how my skin would react to it, but it’s known for hydrating and evening skin tone. I currently use their THE inkey LIST - Rosehip Oil Cosrx Another good brand that formulates well while still being very reasonably priced. I love their COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and COSRX - Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence CeraVe A tried and true brand. There is a reason why dermatologists recommend this. CeraVe is formulated with non irritating ingredients, that may make them seem “boring” by not being packed with actives, but effective. I have a few of their products. CeraVe - CeraVe Moisturising Cream CeraVe - Skin Renewing Night Cream and CeraVe - Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum

What does that look like? It can be excess drying. During the day are you ask yourself if you even put on moisturizer on in the morning because it's feeling like your going to crack throughout the day? This could be your skin's way of telling you that it's barrier is starting to weaken It can be peeling. Is your skin starting to peel either right when you wake up or throughout the day? It can be unexplained zits that appear. Are you wondering why after you just went out and spent a bunch of money on products that your zits are worse? It can be red and sensitive. Does it hurt when you put on certain products that didn't hurt before? Does even putting water on your skin hurt? All of these are signs of a damaged skin barrier. So what can cause this? Using too many actives is a big one. Sometimes we don't even know it either since some products don't always label their active ingredients on their packaging. Best way to know is to read the ingredients list and be able to pinpoint them (don't worry there are several websites and apps that can help break down ingredients to help you understand what they do) This really plays along with the first one, but over exfolianting. How often are you exfolianting? Do you know all the products in your routine that have exfoliantinf ingredients? Combining too many irritating ingredients. For example exfolianting the same night as using a retinol or using either of them too much. Using vitamin A (retinol or tretinoin) can be irritating if you go straight into it. You have to work it slowly into your routine and can't just start using it every day or even every other day. Alright, What do we do now that we know what it is and what might have caused it? Go see your dermatologist if possible. If you can't, don't worry. There are other things you can do Take out actives (especially exfoliants and retinol) Keep your skincare simple with as little irritants in your skin care routine as possible (if you know me, you know I don't like fragrance in my skincare, and this is why. Fragrence is one of those ingredients to steer clear of especially during this time) It mean real simple and "boring" products. Think CeraVe or Cetaphil. Skin-fix is another good one or some products from first aid beauty. Krave also has a good focus on the skin barrier and has a product out Use only your cleansers, maybe a simple HA serum, your moisturizer, and in the AM your spf (use a mineral spf during this time, not a chemical) Need examples of product? For me when I run into this problem, I use..... LA ROCHE-POSAY - Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser CeraVe - Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum Krave - Barrier Relief CeraVe - CeraVe Moisturising Cream BARE REPUBLIC - Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70

So I’ve been hearing so much positivity around the neutrogena hydro boost skincare line, I decided to try their SPF sunscreen. I put it on and day 1 I noticed my nose was running throughout the day and I couldn’t figure out why, day two I applied it my eyelids started swelling and my nose was running severely my skin also started to sting around my eyes. I knew immediately it must be the sunscreen as it was the only thing new in my skincare line. I washed my face off with both oil and gel cleansers and I left my face bare for the rest of the day, after a couple hours my eyes settled down but my nose ran for the rest of the day. Determined to figure out what happened I started looking into the products in the sunscreen. I noticed OxyBenzone and googled it. I found out Oxybenzone can be responsible for a lot of different things when applied on the skin such as; 👉🏻Acne 👉🏻Skin Rash 👉🏻Contact Dermatitis 👉🏻Inflammation of hair follicle 👉🏻 Skin Irritation Not only that but it can disrupt your hormones: estrogen in women and testosterone in males. So why do they use it? Because it’s a cheap way to protect against UV rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and skin Cancer (UVA) 😠Oxybenzone Is actually under FDA investigation. So make sure you know what’s in your sunscreen before you put it on. ☀️Stay safe my lovelies☀️ Remember don’t forget to hit that 🥂 cheers 🥂 button and I look forward to seeing your posts!

Everyone should by now know my love for sunscreen. Every chance I get, I spread the word of that POC need sunscreen too. I always recommend two sunscreens - BLACK GIRL SUNSCREEN - Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 and Neutrogena - Hydro Boost Sunscreen SPF 50 . I saw this product ( Neutrogena - Hydro Boost Water Gel with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15) and I immediately wanted to try it. It’s a lower SPF than I’m used to but I still wanted to try it due to the fact that it acts as a moisturizer and an sunscreen! That’s huge! Also, I can’t ignore the fact that it is non-comedogenic (doesn’t block pores) and that it is so light weight compared to most creams out there. Maybe it’s because it’s not a cream! It’s gel and I’m loving it (patch test approved!). It’s also long lasting and absorbs quickly into the skin. I can’t wait to try this amazing product. #cheriecreator

I don’t believe in eye creams. I don’t think they work too well. They are usually thick and annoying. I don’t usually use too many creams for my eyes. This made me a believer! 🤩 I always look tired. My eyes are dark due to hyperpigmentation and lack of sleep. I have tried everything to reverse that tired dull feeling when it comes to my eyes. This is calming, soothing and hydrating. It actually makes me look awake and alive. I use The Ordinary - Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG and this to help brighten as well as hydrate my stressed eyes. It has changed my life and I really love this stuff so very much. I will say I am not happy with the price! It is $16 at Walgreens and I’m not gonna lie - I didn’t buy it until I had a coupon. I heard it’s cheaper other places but only by a few bucks. With there being so little in the jar and the price being sooooo high, I gave the SOAP & GLORY - Puffy Eye Attack Turbo-Boost Hydragel a lower score than it should have been and that’s so sad because it’s an amazing product.

I’ve been looking for eye creams for awhile now and most times they seem like a ridiculous price. This little gem was 13.99 at target and I jumped! My expectations weren’t high because of the price but after 1-2 weeks of continued use I was thrilled!! It has an ultra calming and cooling affect on the eye and instantly makes them feel more awake. It’s creamy, silky and glides on the skin so smooth with no weird after feeling. After daily uses I noticed my dark circles to diminish and the baggage my eyes were carrying is gone. I can also see a slight improvement on the wrinkles around my eye as well. After the 1-2 weeks I noticed I didn’t have to use it as often and could use it just when needed. You need little product so this tiny jar will last you for some time. Currently I still have mine and am on the third month. This is safe and gentle to use twice daily. I am now only using in the morning or just the days were I need a pop! SOAP & GLORY - Puffy Eye Attack Turbo-Boost Hydragel

I have NEIBOURHOOD BOTANICALS - The Daily Glow Facial Oil but I forgot to mention I also got NEIBOURHOOD BOTANICALS - Dream Dream Dream Night Facial Oil. Of course I had to get both! They both have different things that are best used at different times of the day but both have one thing in common- Vitamin C. The real difference is that it also contains other vitamins and fatty acids that are meant to heal and “replump” the skin overnight. While doing my research, it is also said to regenerate skin cells but that’s a bit harder to believe. That is something that properly applied acids in a skincare regimen are used to do - not oils but maybe I’m wrong. We shall see! Today is my first day using The Daily Glow and I’m impressed. I’m hoping to have the same reaction with the night oil!

NEIBOURHOOD BOTANICALS - The Daily Glow Facial Oilhas been on my radar after a friend raved about it during a exceptionally long FaceTime call. I saw it on sale and decided to purchase it. I was running out of my two facial oils -The Ordinary - 100% Cold Pressed Virgin Marula Oil and The Ordinary - 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil - and maybe I need to try something new. I’m hoping it lives up to the hype!

I’m used to toners like bliss - What A Melon Replenishing Watermelon Toner , Bioré - Witch Hazel Toner and bliss - Clear Genius Clarifying Toner + Serum which aren’t bad but this one changed my perspective on what toners are supposed to be. LANCÔME - Tonique Confort Comforting Rehydrating Toner w/Hyaluronic Acid, Acacia Honey & Sweet almond Oil is hydrating, alcohol-free and soothing. It doesn’t have that harsh tingling sensation that toners usual give. Instead, it feels more like a serum and its milk-like texture is absorbed by the skin very quickly. I love the way it feels and it calms down any irritation I have on my face. My skin feels softer tbh and I really like it. 🥰

I never thought LANCÔME - Tonique Confort Comforting Rehydrating Toner would work the way it did. I have known about this product for a very long time but never thought about trying despite all the five stars until the day I got the deal of 50% off somewhere sorry I forgot where :( It comes out like silk but with somewhat thick consistency. I always use my palms to apply everything. I rubbed my palms and pat on my face. Here comes the magic, it’s absorbed by my skin beautifully with zero irritation. I sometimes even do a second layer just to experience the comfort feeling. Love it 😍