Daily Moisturizer Guide

My Guide to Your Daily Moisturizers

Taking care of your skin is one of the most important things you can do in your beauty routine, and equally as important is adding a great moisturizer to your skincare routine. Some people are hesitant to adding a moisturizer to their regiment because they have oily skin or they don't like the feeling of a thick moisturizer on their skin, etc. However, in the beauty industry today, there are moisturizers for everyone with every different skin type and skin concerns. You just have to find the one that works best for you!

Winter/Heavy Moisturizers

Depending on where you live or what climate you are in, the cold or dry weather can take a big toll on your skin. The cold and dry weather can really strip your skin of its natural oils or dehydrate  it to the point of making it look dull and unhealthy. When this happens (or more importantly before this happens), you want to make sure that you add a moisturizer that can combat the effects of your environment. When it comes to a more harsh climate, you want to add a moisturizer that is going to pack more of a punch when it comes to the hydration department regardless of your skin type.

For people with normal to dry skin, it is a great option to go with a moisturizer that is on the thicker side of the spectrum but still soaks into your skin quickly so that you can apply a flawless makeup application without causing any disruption. This is an awesome combination because you would be getting the hydration that you need yet it wouldn't sit on top of the skin which I know some people hate the feeling of.

When it comes to people with oily to combination skin, a great option to go with is a moisturizer that is a little heavier than a light weight moisturizer but doesn't create any oily residue that is left on the skin. A huge misconception regarding people with oily to combination skin is that they shouldn't use a moisturizer because that it going to make them more oily or that it's going to make them look more oily. However, it's actually the opposite that ends up happening. When someone who's skin overproduces oil puts a moisturizer on their skin, it reduces the amount of oil that the skin is going to naturally produce. This happens because the skin does not have to overcompensate when producing oil because you are adding hydration to the skin. Even if your skin tends to be oily, it can still become dehydrated in the dry or cold weather so by using a moisturizer that adds more moisture than usual, you can reverse the effects of your skin producing too much oil.

First Aid Beauty Ulta Repair Cream
Price: $30.00
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Ulta, firstaidbeauty.com

Summer/Light Moisturizers

When it comes to the summer months or just plain hot and humid weather, it's a good idea to lighten up on the thickness of the moisturizer that you are using. Regardless on whether you have dry, normal, oily, or combination skin, you can find a moisturizer that is light weight yet hydrating at the same time. When the weather is hot and sticky the last thing that you want is for your moisturizer to be heavy and make  you feel even more hot than you already are. A great alternative in this situation is to use a gel (or light weight) moisturize. Gel moisturizers are an awesome option because they can still be very moisturizing but they absorb into the skin very quickly. Even better, gel moisturizers are almost undetectable on the skin when it comes to how heavy they feel. This is great for people who hate the feeling of moisturizer just sitting on their face like an extra layer since you can barely feel it after it has absorbs. The gel formula is good for all skin types during the day even if you have dry skin because you can add your extra moisture with a night cream.

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer
Price: $27.50
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom

Overnight/Night Creams

Your overnight moisturizer or night cream is probably the most important moisturizer that you use in your skincare routine. Why? It's so important because when you are sleeping your skin is restoring and rejuvenating itself like the rest of your body. This is why picking an amazing night cream should be a top priority. There are a ton of great overnight moisturizers that can work for all skin types. When looking for a night cream, you want to make sure that it has repairing or rejuvenating ingredients in it. Like I said before since the nighttime is the time of day that your skin is restoring itself, you want your moisturizer to work the best it can for you while you are catching some zzz's. Usually repairing or restoring overnight creams are going to be on the thicker side of the spectrum but that's okay because no matter your skin type, this is the time to pack on the hydration since you will be waking up and washing your face in the morning anyway. You don't have to worry about looking a little dewy when you are sleeping.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins
Price: $43.00
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom

Remember that moisturizing your skin (no matter what your skin type) is very important! Feel free to ask from samples of moisturizers at beauty counters at your local department stores. There is no harm in testing out and sampling skincare products.

All photos are by Becky Schutten.

Skincare Products for Dry Skin

Skincare Products for Dry Skin

Finding the perfect skincare products for your skin type can be difficult, and experimenting with the trial and error method can get quite expensive after a while. The first step you will want to take in finding the skincare that works the best for you is to figure out what kind of skin you have. Do you have dry, oily, normal, or combination skin? Once you have figured that out, you will want to determine what you want your skin to look like. Do you want it to be luminous, more matte, dewy, more even, etc.? After figuring out your skin type and what you want it to look like, you can start searching for skincare products that best fit your needs. The best way to find ideal products to implement into your skincare routine is to research.. research.. research. Having used the trial and error method myself and spending more money than I would like to admit finding the perfect skincare, I feel that I have found the jackpot when it comes to skincare for people with dry skin. In the future, I will be posting about skincare products for other skin types but today I am going to focus on products that are best for people who have dry skin or want their skin to be dewy and luminous.

The first step I like to take when starting my skincare routine is using a makeup removing wipe to take any makeup, dirt, or bacteria off of my face. Just because you are not wearing makeup does not mean you can't use a makeup wipe to clean your face prior to using a facial cleanser. Even when I have a bare face, I like to use a makeup wipe to take off any dirt or bacteria so my cleaner can really get in and clean my skin. The best makeup removal wipes I have found are the Neutrogena Cleansing Towelettes. These towelettes are soft clothes made with a makeup removing cleanser. You can use them straight from the packaging and do not have to add water which makes them great for travel and on-the-go. The Neutrogena Cleansing Towelettes removes all traces of makeup and dirt including eye
makeup without burning or irritating the skin or eyes. This is very important because a lot of makeup removing clothes can burn the eyes which is never a good experience when you want to quickly remove your makeup or prep your face for cleansing.

Price: $4.99
You can buy this at: Target, Walmart, and Ulta
http://www.target.com/p/neutrogena-makeup-remover-cleansing-towelettes-refill-pack-25-count/-/A-11536492?ci_src=328768002&ci_sku=11536492&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=bing_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health%2BBeauty%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Health%2BBeauty&LID=700000001230728pbs&gclid=%5B*GCLID*%5D&network=s&device=c&querystring=eutrogena%20cleansing%20wipes&gclid=[*GCLID*]&gclsrc=ds

Just using a makeup removing towelette to clean your skin can cause it to become more dry by leaving a film on the skin from the cleanser. This is why it is important to use some kind of liquid or solid facial cleanser to clean the skin and pores on your face. I have found that the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser is a great cleanser to deep clean and remove any dirt and bacteria that the makeup wipes missed. The Cetaphil cleanser comes in a few different formulas such as Normal to Oily, Dry, Sensitive, etc. I have personally tried many of the different formulas and have found that they pretty much do the same thing to my skin. They all cleaned my skin so it felt refeshed, and I haven't noticed that any of them have dried out or stripped my skin of its natural oils. The way I have found this facial cleanser to work best is to put a dime to quater size amount on my Clarisonic Mia 2 and work it gently into the skin. The Clarisonic Mia 2 is a cleansing brush that has a rotating brush head with four settings to clean your face. You can purchase different brush heads for the Clarisonic to fit your needs such as the sensitive brush, the deep cleasning brush, etc. The Clarisonic brushes are water proof so you can use them in the shower and can be cleaned by running the brush head under the water until you feel that all of the product or dirt is washed away. When you first use the Clarisonic, you may notice that you break out more than usual. This is because the brush is deep cleaning our pores and after about a month or two, the Clarisonic will have pulled out all of the imperfections in your skin and the break outs will subside. When you finish cleansing the face, you will want to towel dry your skin using a patting motion to soak up the water. By patting the face dry with a towel, you can help prevent premature wrinkles and fine lines because you are not pulling on your skin.

Price: $6.59 to $10.39
You can buy this at: Target, Walmart, and Ulta
http://www.target.com/p/cetaphil-normal-to-oily-skin-daily-facial-cleanser-16-oz/-/A-13376543#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=cetaphil+cleanser

Price: $149.00
You can buy this at: Macy's, Nordstrom, or Clarisonic.com
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/clarisonic-mia-2-pink-zebra-floral-print-cleansing-device-a-macys-exclusive?ID=2508734&CategoryID=51752#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D81%26ruleId%3D%26slotId%3D7

After cleansing and towel drying your face, you will want to put on a moisturizer. People who have dry skin usually tend to have some type of irritation or sensitivity when it comes to the skin on their face. Personally, I have extemely dry patches and my skin tends to be sensitive and get irritated very easily. I have tried so many different moisturizers ranging from low-end drugstore lotions that were only a couple bucks to expensive high-end moisturizers that cost over $100. Thankfully, the one I found that works best for dry skin is a mid-range priced moistuizer called First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: Intense Hydration. This facial moisturizer is a heavier cream that gives the skin amazing hydration without making it feel or look greasy or oily. The Ultra Repair Cream allows the skin to breathe while giving it a luminious glow. Since I am pretty dry, I use this moisturizer both day and night, but if you have normal, slightly dry skin you can use this at night only for intense hydration. A good morning moisturize for slightly dry skin is the Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer which you can find at Sephora or Macy's.

Note: If you are planning on spending time outside, you will want to add a SPF to your skincare routine. You want to use a SPF that is at least SPF 15, whether it is a SPF for your face (make sure to get one that is made for the face otherwise it can cause you to break out), or a foundation that has SPF in it already. If anyone would like me to go over SPF's for your face or how to know if you are using SPF the correct way (yes there is a correct way), comment below or message me and I will
explain this in a future blog post.

Price: $30.00
You can buy this at: Sepora or firstaidbeauty.com
http://www.sephora.com/ultra-repair-cream-intense-hydration-P248407?skuId=1217744&om_mmc=ppc-MSN&mkwid=cc5pf9hc&pcrid=4350365276&pdv=c&site=us_search&country_switch=us&lang=en

Following moisturizing your face, it is important to add extra moisture around your eye area to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. The eye area can be one of the most sensitive areas on the face because the skin is so thin and if a product gets into the eye that is not meant for that area, it can burn and irriate them which can cause redness and discomfort. This is why you will want to use a cream that is made for the eye area instead of using the moisturizer you put on your face. I like to use two different eye creams, one for the daytime and one for the nighttime. You don't have to use two eye creams if you dont want to, I just find that they do different things for me depending on the time of day. For instance, I like to use the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream during the day because it is a lighter cream. A lighter consistency eye cream is good for daytime use because it hydrates the eye area without disturbing any makeup you apply afterwards. I love using the Origins QinZing Eye Cream because it is also made to depuff and brighten the under eye area which is great for pre-makeup application or even going bare faced. The eye cream I would recommend for nighttime use is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream. This eye cream is a little bit thicker than the Origins GinZing so it is better for a nighttime application. The Advanced Night Repair is a thicker cream that is highly moisturizing and is great for nighttime use because of its repairing properties. When using a more repairing eye cream, it is good to stay makeup free so the cream can work to its full potential without being disturbed with other products being layered on top.

Price: Daytime: $30.00 http://www.sephora.com/ginzing-refreshing-eye-cream-P297511?keyword=ORIGINS%20GinZing%E2%84%A2%20Refreshing%20Eye%20Cream%20P297511&skuId=1375625&_requestid=371829

Nighttime: $58.00 http://www.sephora.com/advanced-night-repair-eye-synchronized-complex-ii-P380023?skuId=1632181
You can buy these from: Macy's, Sephora, and Nordstrom

If you want to add extra moisture to you skin, I would suggest using a beauty oil. A beauty oil is an oil that can be used directly on the skin, hair, and nails to improve hydration, radiance, and balance. I love the Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil Light. This oil is a lightweight oil that helps provide you with hyrdation without making your skin feel continuosly oil. You will look like you have an oil on your skin, hair, and nails at first, but the oil quickly absorbs while leaving you feeling extra moisturized. Using one to two drops is enough for one whole area such as the face, your hair, or all of your nails. Any more than one or two drops is a waste of the oil. Another great use for a beauty oil is to add one or two drops in your foundation. If you ever find that your foundation is too drying or too heavy, by adding the oil, you can sheer out the foundation and add a bit of hydration back into it.

Price: $48.00
You can buy this at: Sephora or josiemarancosmetics.com
http://www.sephora.com/100-pure-argan-oil-light-P380805?keyword=JOSIE%20MARAN%20100%20percent%20Pure%20Argan%20Oil%20Light%20%20P380805&skuId=1548270&_requestid=373491

Once a week it is always a great idea to use a face mask on your skin. There are so many great face masks out there that you can find to suit the needs you have for your skin. I love GlamGlow masks! I have tried most of them, and they are all amazing. When I am feeling extra dry, I like to use the GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment to give me that extra boost of moisture. This is a semi-clear mask that you leave on your skin for 5 to 30 minutes depending on how much moisture you think you need. I wouldn't leave every face mask on for 30 minutes but since this is a soothing, hydrating mask, it is okay to leave it on longer than other masks. To remove the Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment, you want to take a warm clothe and gently wipe off the mask (trying not to rub your skin too hard.) This GlamGlow mask will make your skin feel super hydrated and refreshed afterward. You only need to use a nickel to quater size once a week for an extra boost in hydration.

Price: $69.00
You can find this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and glamglowmud.com
http://www.sephora.com/thirstymud-tm-hydrating-treatment-P384782?keyword=GLAMGLOW%20THIRSTYMUD%E2%84%A2%20Hydrating%20Treatment%20P384782&skuId=1582725&_requestid=373883

Photo Credit: Becky Schutten