SKINCARE ROUTINE + UPDATES

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 

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!! 

-SHOP THE POST-

What are your skincare must-haves?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

CURRENT SKINCARE LINEUP

I’ve completely revamped my skincare routine this year with new, (mostly) clean products. The results I've seen have been incredible- my skin feels amazingly smooth and looks bright and glowy. It also feels great knowing that I've eliminated a lot of harmful and toxic ingredients. Would you be interested in my day/nighttime routines with these? I can share that in some future posts if you want to see how I use them. Let’s get into the lineup! 

CURRENT SKINCARE LINEUP 

+ MAKEUP REMOVAL - The one product in the lineup that I’ve been using for years is the Boscia Make-Up Break-Up Cleansing Oil. This product is one of the best makeup removers I’ve used. It’s an oil so it emulsifies with water to break everything down, even stubborn eye makeup. It’s also very gentle and cleans without stripping the skin.

+ CLEANSER - During a recent Dermstore sale, I purchased the Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash. I was curious to try this out because vitamin c has a ton of great benefits for the skin. That combined with lots of other antioxidants and hyaluronic acid make this cleanser great for cleaning, brightening and plumping the skin. So far, I love the results. It leaves my skin feeling fresh without being too harsh or drying. It also smells yummy and has beautiful, sleek packaging. 

+ ESSENCE - Before purchasing the Agent Nateur Holi (Water), I had never used an essence. If you're unfamiliar, it's essentially a "water like" product that you use before any other products. It helps to prep your clean, dry skin to better absorb your skincare regiment. The Holi (Water) Essence is made with Rose, Pearl and Hyaluronic Acid to help with skin texture and tone, target fine lines and wrinkles, combat dryness and so much more. After applying, I immediately notice a tightening sensation on my skin. It's also a great universal product that can be mixed with oils, moisturizers, etc. 

+ VITAMIN C - Vitamin C has a plethora of positive benefits for the skin, especially when it comes to anti-aging. I've been using the Agent Nateur Holi (C) Duo. It's a unique vitamin c formula that is powder based. To activate the product, it must be mixed with a liquid. I mix with Holi (Water) but regular distilled water can also be used. 

+ MOISTURIZER - My skin gets dry very easily so a great moisturizer is a must. The TATCHA Dewy Skin Cream is my new favorite. It feels very rich and thick which leaves my skin feeling hydrated and silky smooth. 

+ FACE OIL - I love using face oils on their own and to seal in other products. My current go-to is another Agent Nateur product, their Holi (Oil). They classify it as an oil/face serum because it contains lots of amazing ingredients + different oils to benefit the skin. I've found it to give a fresh, radiant glow to my skin. 

+ SPF - Okay, I lied. I've also been using the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield for a few years now too. It's amazing! What I love is that it has SPF 50+, it's a physical sunscreen (it physically blocks and reflects the sun versus chemically absorbing it) and it has a slight tint that blends in seamlessly. This prevents any sort of white cast that often results from physical sunscreen ingredients (titanium dioxide + zinc oxide). I've also noticed that it absorbs well and doesn't leave my skin looking or feeling greasy. I hate the look + feel of a shiny, greasy complexion that a lot of regular sunscreens can give. If you're looking for a good face sunscreen, this one is very light and dries down well to a beautiful finish. 

If you could only keep one skincare product, what would it be? I want to know your best of the best! 

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)