Skin Care Routine...

Obviously, one of the most important morning and nightly tasks for us girls (and some boys) is the repetitive, routinely and ever so frequently forgotten skin care regime. We all have to do it, we all sometimes (mostly) forget to do it but it's something we (and I) should start getting used to. Over the last six months I would say that I have gotten a lot better at reminding myself to complete my facial-care routine every night. This is sometimes annoying because after a long day, all you want to do is brush your teeth, splash some water over your face, run a brush through your hair and call it a night. But, I've now worked it into my nightly routine because let's face it, (pun intended) your skin is extremely important. Here is my nightly skin care routine and some of the products that I use...

 
The first step in my skin care routine is cleansing. Cleansing is extremely important because it helps remove left over make-up that your make-up remover didn't get off, dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells and excess oil. When cleansing, it's important to wet your face with warm water - not too hot in order to avoid irritating or shocking your skin, take a dime size amount of cleanser and use your fingers to gently massage the cleanser into your skin in circular motions. The type of cleanser you decide to use is completely up to personal preference and whatever works best for your skin. What works for my face might not work for yours. You may have to test and experiment with a few different kinds until you find what works best for your skin. Some make-up stores like Sephora will give you samples of products if you ask.
The cleanser I use is called Spectro which comes in four different types: Blemish-Prone Skin - fragrance-free, Blemish-Prone Skin - lightly scented, Combination Skin - fragrance-free and Dry Skin - fragrance-free. Going with a fragrance-free cleanser is my choice because fragrances can sometimes irritate your skin. I use the combination skin Spectro cleanser. I really like this cleanser because it kind of feels like a gel which is very gentle on the skin and doesn't dry my skin out. You can visit the Spectro website for more product information, skin care advice and finding the perfect product for your skin.

The next step in my skin care routine is toning. Toning is important because it's basically a completion of the cleansing step - removing any dirt or bacteria that the cleanser left behind. It also hydrates and nourishes your skin and most importantly restores your skin's pH balance. (Your skin's pH balance basically refers to the acidity of your skin. Too high is no good.) Some toners come in liquid form in which you can use a small amount on a cotton ball or pad and gently rub it into your skin. The product that I use, Clearskin Proffesional, comes in pre-soaked toner pads that I run all around my face.

The third step in my skin care routine is moisturizing. Your skin rejuvenates itself during the night and moisturizing your skin before bed has actually been proven to be beneficial to your skin. Moisturizing hydrates your skin and keeps it from becoming dehydrated. My own personal advice with moisturizing is to use a face cream that is not scented and doesn't contain perfumes - because your skin could potentially be sensitive to these. I use the cream Avon Care Moisturizer Replenish which contains sunflower seed oil. I find this cream to be extremely hydrating and it makes my skin feel nice and soft. You can also use this cream as a daytime moisturizer (added bonus: it contains SPF 15.)

The last step in my skin care routine is what I call De-Pimping. This is when you've finished your three step system, have a cleaned, toned and moisturized face and now have a perfect view of those pesky little blemishes you covered up during the day. What I like to do is use a blemish treatment on my "pimps" and leave it over night. I usually find that by the morning, the treatment gets rid of redness and sometimes even reduces the size of them - until they officially disappear. The product I use is called Clean and Clear Invisible Blemish Treatment. This is a clear gel medicine that penetrates all the way to your pores and treats pimples. It can be applied during the daytime as well or even under make-up. I've also found that a homemade remedy version of blemish treatments is to apply a small amount of toothpaste over your pimples and leave it on over night. This has a good result as well.

Above are all of the products that I use nightly. You can find them at Walmart, Target, Shoppers Drug Mart or through Avon. The first product in the black container is something that I didn't mention in my skin care routine because this skin product is something that I use when I'm in the shower. It's called Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub which you can pick up at the store Lush. This product scrubs away all dirt, dead skin and blockage. It's great as an exfoliator, especially in the shower when your pores are open. It also hydrates your skin and leaves it feeling very soft. I really recommend this product to all skin types.

So that is my nightly skin-care routine. I hope that I provided you with some good advice, tips or product ideas!