By now, most of you have set New Year resolutions, and already ditched them. I am here to get you back on track for fresh skin with my personal skincare favorites. The new year brings an opportunity to start a new habit with a clean slate and a perfect record, the month isn’t over yet and you can still get on board. What better way to celebrate this chance than with a fresh new love of caring for your skin?
Setting the foundation for a perfect makeup application (see what I did there?) begins with proper skincare. There’s a million face washes on the market, right? How do you know which one is for you? Rule of thumb: Oily skin- use clear cleansers (gels). Dry skin- use cream cleansers that do not lather.
My personal favorites, you ask?
Aveda Purifying Gel Cleanser is my go to for all the oily girls of the world, including myself. This plant based face cleanser is pretty price friendly at $23 for the regular size. It is very concentrated so one pump does the trick and I find I only need a replacement every 6-8 months. You can purchase a handy starter pack of their entire line of Botanical Kinetics for normal/oily skin. This way you get to try a very generous sampling of the whole line without coming out of pocket too hard.
Liz 
Earl Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is the best around for my dry and flaky ladies and for $25, you just can’t complain. This botanical cleansing cream is unique in its powers. It is perfect for a one step removal of makeup, cleansing and a gentle exfoliation from the muslin cloth. I am rarely impressed by ‘do all’ products, but this one lives up to the hype. One pump onto your fingertips, massage your face in gentle circular motions for at least one minute. Then, run the muslin cloth under hot water, wring it out and wipe away your makeup, daily grit and dead skin cells to reveal delightfully soft and not over-dried skin.
One really important thing to know when it comes to washing your face is use room temperature water. Hot water irritates your skin and makes oily skin more oily and dry skin more dry.
It should take at least one solid minute to wash your face and neck. Cleanse twice if you feel like it, and then gently pat your skin dry with a very clean cloth.
There are all sort of little fun gadgets to aid in washing your face and getting fresh skin, none of them are absolutely necessary, your hands are perfect for the job.
What Not To Use:
Notice I didn’t suggest anyone use bar soap? Because although in all my years I haven’t escaped hearing ‘oh but such and such dermatologists says use Dove” it cannot be disputed that bar soap leaves a residue on your skin. Usually Derms recommend it because they know for sure it won’t interfere with a prescribed treatment. Unless you have specific instructions, keep that bar soap off your face.
And please let me be clear that St. Ive’s apricot scrub- IT IS NOT A FACEWASH. Why am I hating on St.Ives? Because women somewhere along the line see the commercial and fall for the yummy smell and the appeal of the ‘natural ingredients’. I can’t blame them, but I can show them better. Scrubs are a treatment. Your skin is not made to be scrubbed every single time you cleanse it.
A light exfoliating wash can be used up to three times a week. Something that in my opinion is best saved for your feet shouldn’t touch your face ever (ok, I’m being a hater) but not more than once a week if you can’t give up the crack. And you most certainly do not want to scrub your skin when it hasn’t been cleansed first. An abrasive scrub causes tiny little tears in your skin and you don’t want to jam those full of dead skin cells and old makeup. Interestingly enough, there is actually a lawsuit that has surfaced against St.Ives recently.
General rule-if budget allows, avoid buying your skincare products at the supermarket. I am an avid AVEDA fan, but to each their own. Otherwise, look for simple ingredients and no fragrance or artificial colors.
