My Nightly Skincare Routine

I have always been a girl who loves a product. From the magic scent of Love's Baby Soft to the perfect hot pink Mac Lip Glass and every must have magic cream all the editors of Vogue love, I am into it. I used to try it all (at the same time) and wait for the magic to happen like it does on the smooth skinned celeb that was raving about it. But my skin gave me a big wake up call a couple years ago by giving me something called Dermatitis (a lovely face rash that would not budge) and I had to do a clean sweep and reevaluate my beauty product obsession. 

My dermo put me on a skincare product diet, which I am not going to lie was painful. Nothing but the simplest of products and no make up for a month. And as I very slowly started adding in a product here or there I noticed my skin was MUCH better than when I was using the entire anti-aging section at Sephora. My A-ha Moment! I do not need all the things. I just need a few and my skin wants to be a minimalist. Lesson learned. 

The edited products I use now are my tried and true. I would give them all 5 star reviews and have bought them many times over. Some are pricey, but this is a high/low mixed list as I have found that a higher the price tag does not mean it is going to actually work. This is my nighttime routine and I will share my other product suggestions soon! And make sure to follow me on Instagram and LiketoKnow.it, I will keep posting videos and tips! 

Step 1: Cleanse

CeraVe is the brand my dermo recommends and I worship it. I use the foaming cleanser when I have worn make up and the hydrating if I have not. 

Step 2: Treat

I sometimes skip this step all together using one of these only 2-3 times a week.

 I use a retinol serum to combat fine lines. This is a MUST people! 

Or this SKii essence which is basically magic water that makes your skin glow. No really, it reverses all signs of aging. 

Or a spritz of refreshing rose water feels like heaven after a long day. 

Or I use this crazy good hydrating sleep mask. It is a K Beauty product with a mass following. You wake up with baby soft skin and calmed redness. 

Step 3: Hydrate

Forget all those $300 creams, ladies. This drugstore CeraVe lotion is chock full of peptides and hydrolaunic acid that plump up skin and keep it soft. 

Step 4: Do Not Forget the Neck

You can certainly just use what you are using on your face on your neck and chest, but I recommend a specialized one to really work on those lines and prevent as much jaw sagging as possible. Neck wrinkles are kind of my new obsession to combat, I know weird, but you will thank me later. 

Step 5: Eye Cream

If you do not use eye cream, you're nuts. The skin is so delicate and shows age so quickly. I swear by this one. Worth every single penny! One pump a night is all you need. Tap it all underneath, on the sides, and your lids. 

Step 6: Eye Mask

I live for my eye mask and weirdly cannot sleep without now. I like it because it blocks any light that may disturb my beauty rest. Including electronics or phones you might have in your room. It also helps prevent pillow lines on your face and this one has anti-aging properties that work on those eyes all night. 

Let me know any questions you have about these products or skin care in general! 

xo

Erin 

New Bedtime Routine

While Summer has been nothing but sweet, it has also been plenty of busy. By the end of the day there is nothing more that I would like than a great nights sleep so I can repeat all that sweetness. So in an effort to make bedtime a bit better, I made some upgrades. 

The sheets that I ordered from Brooklinen are divine. Cool and soft and just the right weight. Obsessed and worth every penny. 

I have always been an eye mask girl and ordered my third anti-aging set which always helps with that early morning light (now if only I can do something about the birds). 

My hands and feet have been ravaged by Summer and this Avene Hand cream is divine. 

Lastly, I splurged on some silk Pjs. But these are washed silk because I live in the real world. They are so light and airy, plus show just enough skin for your man but appropriate enough to be seen in by my kids. 

Do you have any bedtime routine loves right now? 

xo

Erin 

Current Skin Routine

Though I professed my problem with being a product junkie before, I have recently started simplifying my routine. While I used to dabble in dozens of products on a weekly basis, I am currently down to just a few. My skin has seen better results and I feel like I can really see the affects of each product much clearer. Here is my current day and night line up. 

Good Morning…

1. I worship this sunscreen. It packs a punch with plenty of protection, plus a wide range of anti-aging ingredients. It is insanely light and I let it soak in while I brush my teeth. If I only put one thing on, it is this. SuperGoop City Serum $20

2. Glossier is making some kick ass products. I actually love all of them, but this moisturizer is great for daytime. You can layer on based off how dry your skin may feel that morning and it helps with even skin tone. Priming Moisturizer $25

3. One of the best drugstore finds, this BB cream evens everything out without feeling like a heavy make up. The extra SPF is a great bonus. Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream Anti Aging $12

4. You have to find the right color that works for you, but this Bobbi Brown cheek and lip duo lasts and makes me look way more rested than I might be. And it lasts forever. $27

5. Though I am trying to go more fresh faced and make up free, mascara is essential. And Dior never fails. This DiorShow Iconic Overcurl makes you look awake and polished. $28 

6. I discovered this DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo when it was suggested by a lovely lady in this post (one of my favorites) and my old dry shampoo was ditched immediately. My hair can last well into the week with a few sprays each morning. $14

 Good Night…

1. I love a cleanser that is gentle, but can also take off make up and grossness from my day. This Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel does not dry out your skin, but gets the job done. $36

2. My dermo has me on a very strong hydroquinone and rentinol prescription for my melanoma and anti aging right now. Which my skin cannot take every day. On off days I either use no serum or this Algenist Retinol firming & lifting serum. I used it religiously before I was put on a Rx and the results were real. It is pricey, but you use just a tiny bit each night so it lasts. $98

3. And speaking of pricey, nothing make me happier than finding a drugstore gem that I love. Though I am not as good as I should be about natural products, I love this Neutrogena Natural moisturizer. It has tons of good for your skin ingredients and gives me that extra moisture I need at night. $11

4. I switch between the Neutrogena moisturizer and La Mer depending on my current skin condition. Talk about high low! But this one jar of La Mer has lasted a very long time and when my skin is extra dry it feels so great. There is a reason everyone swears by it, but it is really best for dry skin. $85

5. Eye cream can basically save your life. So if you are not patting on any at night, get with the program, lady. My current favorite, which I think does its job really well, is Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm. It combats dark circles, wrinkles, and puffiness. $65

6. My hands take a beating each day and regular manicures are just happening right now. I massage in this Glossier Balm Dotcom to my cuticles each night and it helps keep my hands in top shape minus the professionals. $12

Any products you are swearing by lately? You know I can't resist. 

xo

Erin 

3 Minute Make Up

Since having kids, taking my sweet time to get ready has disappeared. How I miss experimenting with make up, starting over if necessary, long showers, and trying all the products that I have. Now it is more of a race than an enjoyable past time. In the two years since my time was cut so short, I have gotten my make up routine down to three minutes. Mostly because I have found products that really work and that less is more for me make up wise. Here is my quick, but effective routine. 

1. Swipe on Garnier BB cream with my fingers. Make sure it is well blended. 

2. Cover any blemishes and those lovely dark under eye circles with Benefit Erase Paste with a small brush. 

3. Again with my fingers, rub some Bobbi Brown cream blush on my cheeks. 

4. Brush on Bobbi Brown bronzer. I like to use it on the places where the sun hits you: top of forehead, top of cheek bones, jawline, and just a touch on the nose. 

5. Anastasia Brow Gel. So necessary in my world. 

6. Curl Lashes with Shu Uemura curler. 

7. Swipe on a coat of super black mascara, like Dior. 

It is not like I come out looking perfect, but a slightly more put together version of myself. Which to me, is what any make up routine should entail. 

xo

Erin