How To Get Healthy, Glowing Skin...Tips from a Skincare Junkie
I am a skincare snob. I love skin.
Not in a creepy “It rubs the lotion on its skin” kind of way but rather in a…”I am as vain as anybody else and I want my skin to glow like Bruno Mars” kind of way.
Don’t we all want glowing skin? Damn right we do.
We wear our skin EVERYDAY of our lives. So, I believe it to be something that we should INVEST in.
We want to feel great about our skin, and I am going to tell you how!
And just to establish myself as skincare junkie, you need to know that I was the 11 year old girl that walked herself up to the Clinique counter and asked for a skincare consultation. Thankfully, they were happy to oblige :)
Since then I have had a skincare routine and I have used a TON of skincare products over the last 22 years.
You could say I’m a bit obsessed with skincare.
In college, I worked for Estee Lauder, and found myself in a position to try all of the higher end brands: Estee Lauder, Chanel, La Prairie, Lancome…
Fortunately for you, I have tried everything from animal fat (tallow) to luxury products so I am your guinea pig! As my routine has evolved, so has what I want and expect from a product. Long gone are my days of using Clinique.
Why? Because of what is in them…chemical after chemical.
Your skin is your largest organ. Mama, anything that you put on your skin is going to impact your health. We must be mindful of what we put on our bodies just as much as we are about what we put in them.
We also need to consider what we expose our children to when we nuzzle cheek to cheek with them.
Let’s dive in:
Here are my time-tested ways to achieve glowing, healthy skin:
1.) STAY HYDRATED
I challenge you to drink your 8 glasses of water everyday for one week and see how your skin looks. Hydration is key. When your system is depleted of water, it shows in your skin.
Well guess what? Most people are slightly dehydrated RIGHT now. Right. Now. Our skin reflects this!
So, be diligent in your water consumption. It’s a pretty cheap way to make yourself look fresher.
In years past, I’ve used an app on my phone to remind me to drink water. Now, I have a huge water bottle that I lug around (it’s really not that obtrusive) and I ensure that I drink one of them a day. Whatever you need to do to maintain your hydration level, do it. Whether it’s an app, setting alarms on your phone, purchasing a big water bottle. Do. It. Your skin will thank you!
2.) EAT HEALTHY FOOD
Specifically….healthy fats. Think coconut oil, avocados, fresh fish. And, stay away from refined sugars and foods that dehydrate you.
Also, pay attention if you break out after eating certain foods.
I love ice cream and used to love milk (I grew up on a farm) but I learned about 12 years ago that the few pimples that popped up on my skin were due to a bit of a dairy intolerance. If I have a bowl of ice cream, I will have one or two pimples show up within 48 hours.
EVERY TIME.
I have many thoughts on dairy, but that’s for another post.
Anyway, just pay attention, you may see a pattern.
3.) Ditch your cleanser…and instead do OIL CLEANSING!
I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on makeup removers and cleansers over the years. Almay, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Chanel, Liz Earle…all of them have taken my money.
And ya know what is the BEST makeup remover and cleanser I have ever used?
So much so that I will NEVER buy another cleanser or makeup remover.
Scouts Honor…Avocado Oil.
The stuff is so legit. Changed my whole routine.
Go to your local grocery store or TJ Maxx and get a bottle. It will last you FOREVER because all you need is less than the size of a quarter to MELT off all the makeup on your face…even waterproof mascara. And, it makes your skin feel so soft.
I ONLY use this to “cleanse” my face. I do not use a face soap.
Oily skin Mamas…you can do this too! In fact, one of the common mistakes I saw in my years as a beauty advisor were oil-prone ladies using drying products. All this does is make your skin produce MORE moisture in the form of oil.
Oil-cleansing is a wonderful way to clean your skin and to put moisture back into your skin. There are many oils you can use: coconut, avocado, grapeseed, etc.
I prefer Avocado Oil.
This doubles as my makeup remover and cleanser.
Also, I only wash my face at night. Don’t over wash your face by washing in the morning if your face was cleaned the night before. This also can cause dryness and irritation.
This is how you oil-cleanse:
- Use a quarter size amount of oil and gently massage in circular motions on your face, take your time to massage the oil into the skin. I usually massage mine in for 45 seconds or so, dissolving all makeup (eye makeup, too).
- Next, turn on the hot water and soak a muslin wash cloth in hot water. Apply this to your face and let it rest until the cloth begins to cool. Simply wipe off the oil with the cloth. Resist the urge to scrub. You really don’t have to work hard to remove the oil. Just wipe it off gently.
4.) PRODUCTS I LOVE
I try to be very conscious of what I eat and I also try to be very conscious of what I put on my skin.
My love for skincare has remained steadfast over the years, but the products I now love and use have evolved to fit my “crunchy mom” life.
Granted, there are still some cult favorite mascaras and lipsticks that I use. But as far as the lotion and such that are applied to my skin, I have embraced much healthier product lines that deliver AMAZING results.
For The Body:
I only use Soap Of The Earth soaps. These are all natural soaps made with the best ingredients. Their soaps are non-drying and ALL of them smell DELICIOUS.
I love their Salt of the Earth, Lavender Goatmilk, Cocoa Butter and Rosemary Mint. My husband loves their Tea Tree soap.
I once got into a heated argument with a friend because we both insisted that the soap we used was the best. After arguing for a good five minutes, we realized we were both using Soap of the Earth :)
Right now, if you order online using the code MAMASROOTS at checkout, you can receive 20% OFF!!! And, you can choose their $5 flat shipping rate.
After I get out of the shower, I immediately put on Olivu426’s Emu Oil (unscented) all over my body.
Emu Oil is the elixir of the gods. It helps with so many dry skin conditions while leaving your skin feeling moisturized-never greasy. It absorbs quickly so you don’t have to sit around for 10 minutes after you apply it waiting to get dressed. Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!
Olivu426’s Emu Oil is the best I’ve ever used and the best priced.
If you use the code MAMASROOTS at checkout, you can get 10% off your entire order! But before you go buy that, keep scrolling cause you may want to add some more stuff to your cart after reading this further…
For The Face
I like a simple routine that I can feel good about. I use one serum and one moisturizer. Done.
Now, I do use LaMer when my skin is feeling super dry. But that stuff is EXPENSIVE! A one ounce bottle is $175. YIKES! And…the ingredients aren’t the best.
However, Olivu426 has this FANTASTIC cream called Beauty Cream…an 8 ounce jar is $30!!! And, the ingredients are so simple: olive oil, purified water, beeswax. Boom.
Before I put on their beauty cream, I put their cult favorite Anti-Aging Serum all over. This serum is only made with nutrient-rich oils that benefit the skin. The serum is so rich and putting their Beauty Cream over the top of it seals in the moisture.
My skin feels like BUTTER after applying these two simple products :)
I love Olivu426’s products. I love their Avocado Oil Cream, their Beauty Water, their Lip Balm is the best Lip Balm I’ve ever used and I love that their company uses simple ingredients.
Most of their stuff comes in different sizes so that you can try something out to see if you like it. Also, you can add a sunscreen or fragrance to just about anything. I always opt out of this, but if you so choose, you can customize them to your liking.
And their prices are just ridiculously affordable.
I can’t be without Olivu426 and Soap of the Earth. And, I sincerely hope that you use the discount codes provided to try their products for yourself.
I would recommend the Salt of the Earth, Lavender Goatmilk, Cocoa Butter, Oatmeal and Rosemary Mint soaps from Soap of the Earth.
From Olivu426, I would recommend the Beauty Cream as a face moisturizer, the Anti-Aging Face Serum, grab yourself a few lip balms while you are there and try some Emu Oil for your entire body.
You can thank me later :)
What are your favorite skincare products and tips? Are you moving toward healthier options?