It’s been awhile since we've chatted about skincare + I feel like I’m entering into a new life phase. I just turned 29 which is making the 30-is-up-next alarm louder than ever. People always comment that I look much younger for my age which I LOVE and will never complain about, however I've noticed a few fine lines have started popping up on my face over these last few years.
I hate to say this but it’s a mental struggle for me when it comes to embracing aging and wanting to maintain a youthful appearance. The vanity trait in me hates the wrinkles, in particular those pesky 11 and forehead lines. I’ve contemplated starting preventative botox but I also have my reservations on it. Before I jump into that, I’ve decided to first prioritize my skincare and what I can do at home. If all else fails, botox isn't going anywhere!
Reading this article from The Vanilla Plum gave me a little hope! Everyone says nothing compares to cosmetic procedures and that you can’t really reverse aging without them, however she shares some great options that I'm interested in exploring.
Before I resort to botox, here’s what I’m starting:
+ CONSISTENT SKINCARE ROUTINES
I struggle with staying consistent on the skincare, ya'll. I'm the problem, it's me. Because I definitely haven't been doing my skincare religiously, I’m challenging myself to start doing that now. We've been going strong for about a week now which I'm calling a win.
In the morning I keep things simple and just use the holi(trinity) from Agent Nateur which I love. It’s a 3-step process with their holi(water) Toner, holi(c) Vitamin C and holi(oil) Face Oil. Vitamin C has amazing anti-aging benefits so I’m making sure I apply the vitamin C everyday. Sometimes I also add in a moisturizer too if my skin is feeling more dry.
At nighttime, I always cleanse my skin with Bioderma. It’s great for removing makeup, dirt + refreshing the skin. I love using the Shiseido cotton pads for this. Most nights I let my skin breathe but occasionally I’ll also moisturize with the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream or holi(oil).
Whenever I wear makeup, I always double cleanse. The holi(cleanse) from Agent is another great product for removing makeup— it’s an oil based cleanser that really breaks everything down. I also love the Lactic Acid Cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and it also tightens and brightens the skin.
+ ADDING IN RETINOL
Whenever I wear makeup, I always double cleanse. The holi(cleanse) from Agent is another great product for removing makeup— it’s an oil based cleanser that really breaks everything down. I also love the Lactic Acid Cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and it also tightens and brightens the skin.
+ ADDING IN RETINOL
I’ve always been a little scared of using retinol but my time has come. I have very sensitive skin and historically it's known to be harsh and drying. The benefits are amazing for anti-aging, though and it helps exfoliate, boost collagen production in the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I've also heard prescription retinol like Tretinoin works the best, however I did a little research and decided to try this one from Skinmedica. They offer several different strengths depending on your experience/skin. I went for one that's more of an “introductory” product that isn’t suppose to irritate the skin.
They recommend starting out using the product twice a week and then building up to every other day.
+ WEARING SPF DAILY
Sunscreen is another no-brainer area that ya girl has been slacking on. I'm ashamed to admit I've been skipping out on this-- I use to be so adamant about wearing SPF everyday. I definitely need to get back into the habit of it, especially now that I've started the retinol. My favorite product is still the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Sun Protection tinted sunscreen. It’s a mineral based formula that’s tinted and it blends like a dream. Highly recommend!
+ MICRONEEDLING
The last new thing I'm adding into my routine is micro-needling. I have a GloPro which is an at-home microneedling device with a red light. I've used a handful of times, however also not enough to really see results. I'm not sure how it compares to profession microneedling, however it has a lot of great benefits to improve skin texture, minimize lines/wrinkles, shrink pores, etc. I've also heard it works well when combined with retinol to help boost collagen production.
I'll keep you posted with how everything goes! Tell me all of your skincare secrets!!
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