Hear me out....it's a process. :-)
It's been a long while since I've posted anything about facial products and makeup. My cosmetic tray and bath countertop has been a revolving door for facial products for about 6 months now.
For long before and during my pregnancy with H.G., I was a wonderfully loyal Bare Minerals fan for two, maybe three years. I mean, I had the stuff on auto-ship every two months. I loved their mineral powder and still do love a couple of their products. But after H.G. was born and of course, the resulting extreme change in hormones, my process from cleansing to making up was just not working anymore. I found that the Bare Minerals in combination with my cleansing regime was not holding up to my standards and my skin just wasn't looking as bright, clear and clean as it used to. I was looking like.....well, I just had a baby and having a hard time recovering.
After some trial and error, I recently found that "sweet spot" of cleansing steps which changed the chemistry of my face even further (before makeup). I loved how my skin was looking and feeling and that South Florida, always sweating and making my face shiny and break out feel.....was gone. So quite obviously, I wasn't willing to change that step.
Now my new cleansing and moisturizing regimen is not cheap (at least for any normal non-celebrity person). I thought Husband would flip when I told him how much I wanted to spend. But he surprisingly responded that I need to take care of my skin for the long term as we do live in South Florida and he "doesn't want to have me aging prematurely and looking old at the age of 50." Hey, he was telling me his honest to goodness thoughts. Most women, would happen to agree. So, if it weren't for the fact that this stuff is like magic for my face and if I had a single doubt, I would not be purchasing it.
So, since I'm spending a fortune on the cleaning regime, I wasn't willing to spend a fortune on makeup. I cancelled my Bare Minerals order, have run through a few over-the-counter products and have found my sweet spot of makeup. Keep in mind that I wear very little makeup. Primer, foundation, mascara and blush.
So, anyways here's a run down of what I'm currently using (and loving!)
I LOVE my Clarisonic. I want to say I've been using this product for about 4 years now. Regardless of the products, I can tell a very NOTICEABLE difference when I'm using it. If I go for a few weeks without and then jump back in, the difference really is amazing.
Now here's the crazy expensive cleansing and moisturizing regime. Rodan and Fields Reverse.
I LOVE THIS STUFF. Within just a few days, I noticed a difference. My face is smoother, cleaner, brighter and I can really tell a difference in the sun and age spots. It's good stuff. Like I said, if I wasn't just in love with this product and had a single doubt, I would not be using it. I use the face scrub with my Clarisonic, smooth on the toner (letting it dry completely) and then I use the Dual Active Brightening Complex. During the day I follow with the broad spectrum sunscreen.
Ashleigh LOVES Smashbox products. So I took a stab. I purchased the Photo Finish Foundation Primer. It truly helps keep my makeup in place. I forgot it one day and I could tell a difference. And it's so light I can barely tell I'm wearing it.
Here's the one Bare Minerals product I'm still using. Well Rested. I love how it completely wipes away the dark circles under my eyes and truly makes my skin looks well rested without giving a sheen or shine. It certainly lives up to its name.
You're going to laugh at this next one. It was a total shot in the dark "this looks like it might kind of work" last second Wal-Mart purchase while I was picking up some craft supplies....total impulse buy. I absolutely LOVE it! L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder. It truly is a liquid powder. It feels like a powder but covers so well and you can barely tell you're wearing it. It is not a thick foundation by any means but it covers well. It has that Bare Minerals feel that I grew to love, but works with my current face chemistry. I've never used L'Oreal, ever. So I'm very pleasantly surprised.
I tried lots of blushes and finally decided a blend would likely be best. My cheek on the left side of my face seems to have just a very slight divot under my cheekbone making it difficult to smooth on blush. Sometimes it looks like a line that I can't get rid of no matter how much smoothing I try. I picked up Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Blends and I really like this blush. It blends very well and I don't find myself wiping excess off because I over applied. The other night we had a formal gala event and I actually found myself trying to add more blush rather than take away.
For mascara, I've been using Cover Girl's Bombshell Curvaceous Mascara. I use the #1 side for daily wear and then I use both #1 and then #2 for a night out and special events. I have very few eyelashes, so they could use all the help I can get!
So there you have it. My current regimen. So, how long do you think this run-down will last?
Happy Friday Y'all!
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