Skincare While Traveling

 You know the power players on your vanity when you have to decide what to bring with you when you travel. I had limited time to make the decisions, but I know that hydration and protection were at the top of my list. My skin always gets ravaged after being on planes and any change in climate is immediately shown all over my face. Here are the all star products that were worth hauling around with me and I used each and every day. 

From Left: 

Biologique Recherche Eye & Lip Cream 

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 

Biologique Recherche Creme Masque Vernix

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum

Elta MD UV Clear Sunscreen (tinted too)

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum

I would slather on the the Vintner's Daughter every morning and let sink in. It really helps with inflammation and redness and provides additional moisture in the AM (ps: that bottle lasts a long time). Then I would slather on the SPF and enjoy the day. 

At night after cleansing, I would dab on the Lotion P50 (Glossier makes a great similar product) to tone and balance, then smooth on some the Ordinary Serum for extra plump/moisture. My favorite is slathering on a good amount of the Creme Masque Vernix that has honestly changed the tone of my skin. Then a little mini eye massage with the eye cream and dab on lips. 

Locals, if you are interested in the Biologique Recherche products, I highly recommend going to Wellness for Eternity for a consult and purchasing there. 

xo

Erin 

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 

Spring Break Skincare

Are you headed out soon? Whether to the snow or to the sun, skin always need some extra love when you travel. Mine tends to freak out upon arrival, then never really figures itself out again until well after being home. I will bring my usual regime, plus some other products to help me out. Mostly my travel staples revolves around how to avoid a sun burn/aging myself anymore and faking it in the most natural looking way. So besides my trusty (old lady?) hat and shades, these are what I am packing. 

1. I think I write about this sunscreen powder every year. It is THE BEST face sunscreen you will ever use and so long lasting. I wear it everywhere and it stays on while playing outdoors. 

2. These face pads are great for exfoliating and take you from pale af to bronzed up in a matter of hours. Totally natural looking too. 

3. When you want to wear make up, but do not want to wear sunscreen this setting mist is AMAZING. Just spritz after applying your make up and you are covered. 

4. The perfect balm that smells like vacation. 

5. Not organic or fancy, but this face stick is the best for kids. Stays on forever. 

6. Nothing feel fancier  and more soothing than a face mist. 

7. I am getting that brown lip line action from the sun now, so this lip screen has become a staple. 

8. I know it is probably filled with terrible things for me, but I never streak with Jergens and think the firming actually works a bit. 

9. The reviews for this Jet Lag Mask are raving. and I love the name of the brand, Summer Fridays. 

10. If you have not tried any Ouai hair products, do it! They smell like heaven and work amazingly. Love this travel kit with dry shampoo, wave spray, and hair/body oil. 

11. I wear this absolutely every day. It soothes, has just a hint of tint, and has real protection. 

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 

Retinol Remedy

As someone who is over 30 and well on her way to regretting every minute I spent in the sun (and tanning bed! yuck), I am always searching for the best ways to reverse all the bad I did. Serums and potions line my bathroom counter like soldiers fighting a war on the front line. Or at least my forehead lines. And though I do not know the secret to erasing anything, I have been following the simple advice of sunscreen all day, retinol at night. Have you tried retinol yet? 

I was prescribed it in the form of Ziana for my acne (is there anything worse than trying to fight wrinkles and acne? Somehow it feels super unfair), but have been trying other over the counter formulas. Retinol is a form of Vitamin A that has shown to regenerate cells, smooth lines, fade dark marks, and prevent new ones. 

And because I am such a sucker for a celebrity endorsement, my latest retinol experiment comes straight from the recommendation of Miss Jessica Alba.  Her favorite facialist, Shani Darden, has developed a retinol serum to wear at night. Resurface by Shani Darden. After stalking Alba's perfect skin, I had to try it. 

This product contains lactic acid as well, which helps keep your skin moisturized and makes it more possible for people with sensitive skin to use it. Retinol can be hard on your skin, many experience redness, so you should start using any retinol sparingly and work up to every night. I do not even use it every night, giving my skin a break a couple times a week. 

I highly recommend this retinol. It is pricey, not going to lie, but worth it for the punch it packs. The day after using it things always look a bit better and brighter. 

If you are looking for something from the drugstore, try Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Night Moisturizer. Really fantastic, has retinol in it, and works on all your skin problems all at once. 

What retinol products have you used that you love? You know I will go out and buy it immediately. ha

xo

Erin 

Super Sunscreen

As a former (sometimes current) sun worshiper, I know that I have a lot of reversing to do. The hours and hours I spent laying in the sun over my life are for sure going to kick me in the face sometime soon. I have been searching for the perfect sunscreen for some time. I have tried pretty much all the major brands, sampled everything from the cheapie bottles at the drugstore to the uber-expensive brands that supposedly keep JLo forever young. For me it is especially hard since my skin is combination and tends to get oily with every sunscreen. You know what I am talking about, that shininess you have after applying that is less "runway-ready dewy" and more "pass the powder." When the man at the Kiehl's counter told me try some of this Super Fluid, I was already writing it off since I was pretty sure the perfect sunscreen did not exist. I shook the bottle, dabbed a few drops on my hand and then the miracle happened. The fluid soaked in quickly, left no residue and had a matte finish that no other brand has been able to do. Best part is that you apply right over your favorite moisturizer and you don't feel the heft of any sunscreen. Thank you Kiehl's for protecting me from the sun and a lifetime of a not so cute shiny face.

xo
Erin