My Morning Skincare Routine – Beauty Week Part I

Happy Monday! I’m enjoying my final day in Florida with my parents. If the weather holds up, we’re playing golf today and then eating my final dose of fresh seafood. My parents will put me on a plane tomorrow and welcome in their next batch of guests. They spend the month of February here at St. Augustine Beach, and they enjoy time with friends who are also here, as well as inviting in other family members and friends. I’m very grateful that they have been blessed with a long and enjoyable retirement.

Today I’m kicking off what I think may become an annual week here at Dressed for My Day. It’s Beauty Week! While I don’t really consider myself a beauty blogger, I realize that beauty and fashion go hand in hand. So I’m taking this week simply to share my personal beauty routines.

So, yes, before we start let’s definitely come to a mutual understanding about my level of expertise. Plainly put, I don’t have any! Like many of you, I read a lot, watch a few YouTube videos and have had the occasional makeup application lesson. But I’m just a girl…doing her best to take care of her skin and put on a pretty face each day.

And all I’m sharing with you is what I do each day. Yes, I’ll have a few tips as we go, but mainly I’m just sharing what works for me.

My Morning Skincare Routine

My skin and coloring

I thought it might be wise to share a little about my skin and coloring before we start.

I’m 54 years old. (Actually, I’ll be 55 within a week!) I abused my skin in my youth, lying out in the sun with baby oil. I don’t have many regrets, but that definitely is one. Of course, I stopped that a long time ago, but the damage was done. I do wear sunscreen now.

I have fair to light skin coloring with neutral undertones. My skin is dry, probably due to my age and the fact that I live in arid Arizona at almost 5,000 feet elevation. I do have some sun spots and the normal wrinkles between my brows, around my eyes and at the corners of my mouth. I also have a lot of wrinkles on my neck. Ugh. Ah well. This is life.

Finally, I haven’t had any cosmetic surgeries or procedures. I don’t have any beef with those who do, by the way. But my skincare goals really just involve staying as youthful looking as possible with minimum effort and cost, while protecting my skin from carcinogens and other aging factors.

The Skincare Routine

Cleansing

Honestly, I only wash my face on the mornings that I exercise. If I don’t break a sweat, I don’t break out the cleanser! Instead I simply splash water on my face or maybe go over it with a damp washcloth while in the shower.

But if I do exercise in the mornings I do use the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Facial Cleanser to clean my face. I just apply a small puddle of the cleanser (usually two pumps) with my fingers directly to my face and and rub in gently all over, to my hair line and down onto my neck.

To rinse, I dampen and wring out a clean washcloth and use it to gently wipe away the cleanser and residue. I like this Cetaphil cleanser because it is gentle and simple, and it doesn’t leave a sticky residue like some cleansers do.

Next, whether I wash my face or just clean it with water, I go over the entire surface with Neutrogena Alcohol-free toner on a cotton pad. I’m always amazed how much grime and/or makeup comes off on the pad, even after thoroughly cleansing.

I use this particular toner because I just want something very gentle that will complete the cleansing process. That way I begin the moisturizing process with a completely clean face. This toner simply removes any lasting impurities and leaves my skin feeling clean, not dry.

Retinol

Next I use two different Retinol creams, one for my face and one for my neck, decolletage, arms and backs of hands.

Retinol is an over the counter version of tretinoin, a prescription vitamin A derivative that is highly effective in reversing sun damage and signs of aging. With continued and consistent use, it decreases fine lines, evens skin color, improves texture, tightens pores, and stimulates blood flow and collagen production. Dermatologist consider it the holy grail of noninvasive wrinkle prevention.

I apply Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream, which is rather thick, to my neck, decolletage, arms and the backs of my hands. A little later, I apply sunscreen to these areas. This Retinol cream has made a noticeable difference in the appearance of my neck and chest.

I prefer the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Moisturizer for my face. A pea size pump can be smoothed over my entire face for a light application. Plus, it contains SPF 30 sunscreen. This Retinol facial cream has also noticeably eliminated some of the wrinkles and redness on my face.

After applying the Retinol treatments, I do other things, like brush my teeth or get dressed. I need to let the Retinol and the sunscreen set before applying the other moisturizing products.

Moisturizers

When selecting a moisturizer I look for a cream that goes on smoothly and leaves my skin feeling hydrated, plumped, silky and soft. I want it to create a smooth surface for makeup application.

In the photo above you can see about how much of the product I use for my entire face. The Lancome moisturizer is fairly pricey, but this jar usually lasts me about 4 months, so that’s less than a 75¢ a day. And I always buy it when Lancome is offering a gift with purchase, stretching my dollar a little further.

I use the Lancome Visionnaire without sunscreen because my Retinol cream has sunscreen, and I think the moisturizer without SPF protection goes on smoother. But they do have a Lancome Visionnaire with SPF 20, too.

The final skincare product I use in the morning before applying my makeup is the IT Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream.

I carefully apply just a dab to the surface around each eye: on the eye lid and underneath the eye.

Tip: When applying product around the very delicate skin around the eyes, use the ring finger of your non-dominant hand for the lightest touch. Just pat the product on lightly.

Well that’s a wrap. At this point I’m either ready to run a comb through my hair and begin a day of working from home sans makeup or apply my makeup. Here’s what you can expect the rest of the week here at Dressed for My Day’s first annual Beauty Week:

Tuesday – My Makeup Foundations Routine – primer, foundation and under-eye concealer

Wednesday – My Eye Makeup Routine – eye shadow primer, eye shadow, liner, mascara and brows for a natural, everyday look

Thursday – My Lips & Cheeks Routine – lip balm, lip liner, lipstick, lip gloss, contouring blush, blush and highlighter for a natural, everyday look

Friday – My Evening Skincare Routine

Saturday – Home Manicure with OPI Spring Colors

Thanks so much for spending some time here today. You can shop all the products mentioned in this post in the widget below or through the links above. I’ve used affiliate links in this post, so if you buy anything through them I will earn a commission, but at absolutely no cost to you. Thank you for reading and for shopping through my links.

Have a blessed and beautiful day!

Blessed for My Day

When I think of the most beautiful women I’ve known in my life, I realize that their beauty had or has little to do with their skincare, makeup or clothing. While each of these women certainly did take care of themselves and present themselves beautifully with makeup, styled hair and well chosen clothing, their beauty really emanated from their eyes, their voices and their spirits. To a person, these were and are women clothed in the grace of Christ.

But more than just knowing Christ, these women carry Him with them and share His love and grace with others. They easily brag on His goodness, enthusiastically share about the prayers He has answered and speak confidently about His faithfulness and power in their lives. In other words, they reflect His character and shine with His glory…not so much their own. Just something to think about today.

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” ~ Romans 10:15