Gardening in High Heels

I love watching videos on YouTube where you get a peek inside someone’s makeup collection: how they store it, what their must-have items are, etc.  I have amassed quite a collection, but there are some things that I use every day.  It is ridiculously hard not to go on and on about my most loved products.  Heads up guys, this one isn’t for you (sorry, Dad).

Because I do reach for a lot every day, so I thought I’d break it down by category.  Today is the base layer: skincare.  It’s gonna look like it’s sponsored by Philosophy, but it isn’t I promise.

Before we get in to it, let me tell y’all a little about my skin.  It’s pretty oily.  If diners run out of grease in the summer, they just come find me because I’m like a walking oil slick.  You may think that the winter is my skin’s time to shine, but no.  It gets patchy dryness, which I moisturize, and then break out because of the heavy moisturizer.  So I use drying treatments and we begin again.

I think I finally broke the cycle this year.  I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or I’m using better products or I’m eating right or…who knows.  Some of these skincare products I’ve used for a long time, others are recent discoveries, but all of them have done wonders for my skin right now.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple and Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

I use a combo of Philosophy Purity Made Simple and The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash.  Usually I’ll use the exfoliant in the shower in the morning and Purity at night, but I also will mix the two together if I need a little extra somethin’-somethin’.

I will use Purity Made Simple at night with my Clarisonic to really get everything off.

Philosophy The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel

I’ve talked about these before.  I’m so in love with them for a little extra oomph in my skincare routine.  I use them once a week to brighten and even my skin tone.  Used in conjunction with Yes To Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum, and the acne scars I always battle are fading away nicely.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer

I never tried this before I found a kit on QVC with this and some other products that I’ve wanted to try.  This moisturizer is light and has AHAs so you get a little exfoliation at night (when I use this).  A little goes a long way.

I’ve also used and loved Philosophy Take a Deep Breath moisturizer.  It’s a light-weight gel that is so soothing.  It feels like you’re splashing water on your skin.  Love it for the summer.

They have a version with SPF, but I have not tried that.  I was going to and then I discovered…..

Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer

Okay, I have to give it up to Jonathan for this one.  I’ve been mentioning skin troubles on and off and he’s always said that I should use what he does.  Well, I have a lifetime supply of Purity Made Simple (thanks QVC super size auto-delivery!) but I was getting towards the end of my supply of Hope in a Jar moisturizer.  So I tried this.

Even though it’s “formulated for a man’s skin,” my skin is in love.  It sinks in quickly, feels amazing, and the SPF in it doesn’t get greasy or heavy.  It also is unscented and doesn’t irritate my eyes if I get it too close.  All wins in my book.

 Acne treatments

I know that treatments don’t help hormonal acne very much, but I still like to try to prevent things that may be more environmental.  I used Clean and Clear Persa-gel 10 (among other high end and drugstore treatments) and then I discovered the Target generic knock-off and it does the same thing.  I use this all over, especially in the summer.

If I need to spot-treat, I reach for Origins Super Spot Remover.  This. is. amazing.  I picked this up in college after a friend recommended it to me and holy balls, is it good stuff.  Dab it on at night and wake up with a greatly-reduced (sometimes entirely gone) spot.

Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Regenerator Moisturizing Gel-Cream

This is a sample that I have rediscovered and loved.  I use it at night and I’m pretty sure this in tandem with the Jack Black moisturizer is how my skin has escaped dry patches during this recent cold streak.

This is totally different than any moisturizer I have used.  It says it’s a gel, but it has that “silicone” feel when you’re applying it.  Y’know, it gives your skin that slip that you typically get with primers.  I am really loving this sample, which is a shame because it’s expensive stuff!

Philosophy Hope in a Tube

Also in the Hope in a Jar line is Hope in a Tube.  It’s a great eye cream.  Very thick and heavy, though I wish it was as smoothing as they say.  I sleep with my face smushed into a pillow and I’m convinced that is why I need to use a heavy-duty eye cream. I also wear contacts so I’m tugging at delicate skin almost every day when I put them in.

I wish I had something that would stick with me more throughout the day.  I feel like by mid-morning, my under eye area looks dry and crepe-y.  Do you have any recommendations for good eye creams?

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment

I’ve mentioned this mask before, so I’ll try to keep this short.  I was so upset when I didn’t use this all up when I discovered it had dried out on me.  I ration this stuff because it’s expensive, but so worth it.  When you feel your skin needs a good deep clean, this is what you need to turn to.

I’ve also been loving Bliss Steep Clean mask for a once-a-week skin vacuuming, but it’s totally different than the GlamGlow mask.  The GG mask is a clay mask that you can see sucking out the gunk.  The Bliss mask is more of an enzyme peel.  Still good, but in a different way.

So those are the skincare products in my makeup bag that I reach for every day.  I know I seem super-high maintenance now, but a lot goes into looking this good (joke! That’s a joke guys).

What do you reach for on a daily basis when it comes to skincare?