How to Get Your Best Skin Yet!
Because you deserve to feel confident in your skin!
Since many beauty or skincare companies won’t do this, I find it important to be completely transparent: This image has not been retouched nor am I wearing any complexion makeup (only a tiny bit of brow product & mascara). There is only skincare on my face!
On one ordinary day in 2015, I remember thinking…
“I hope one day I will feel confident enough to walk out of the house without wearing makeup.”
I’m happy and thankful to say that I finally got there!
As someone who has struggled with problematic skin for many years, I’ve tried so many different skincare products and been on various kinds of birth control, antibiotics, topicals, and even on the harshest skincare prescription of them all—Accutane—all to get my skin under control.
As a 32 year old, I’ve also experienced how my skincare needs have changed over time, especially in the last 5 years or so. Whereas my skin used to be very oily and acne-prone, it is now drier and more wrinkle-prone.
Also 6 years ago, I married the love of my life, Austin, who has some different skincare needs to mine, which we’ve honed in on too, including his occasional eczema flare-ups.
When I started really prioritizing my skincare regimen several years ago, I discovered several key ingredients that have truly transformed my skin, and I’m overjoyed to say that my skin has never looked better!
Between both of our changing skincare needs, my plethora of personal experience with prescription and OTC skincare products, and my pharmacy school education, I hope I can save you some hassle in your skincare product search and equip you, too, to have your best skin yet!
Click the buttons below to jump to a specific skin concern!
First things first:
What is the proper order of using skincare products?
Using the products in the right order is important for proper absorption and therefore getting the most out of each product. Are you following this order?
Image credit: Cosmopolitan
If you are looking at the above chart and feeling overwhelmed at having an 8-step routine, don’t worry! If you are going from using regular soap and water every once in a while to even just a twice daily 2-step routine of cleanser and moisturizer, that is HUGE progress and will likely make a dramatic difference in your skin! You can always add more steps down the road as necessary ;)
The Basics: Cleanser & Moisturizer
Austin & I have been faithfully using both of these Fresh products for YEARS! They are so, so good. If you had to start with just two products, these would be the ones to get!
I actually switched from my another cleanser to this one after receiving a sample of it and discovering it was better than what I was using. It thoroughly cleans the skin without stripping it of hydration like other cleansers, while also providing yummy ingredients like soy proteins, cucumber extract, and aloe vera which are helpful for soothing, tightening and reducing the appearance of aging skin from sun exposure (yes this is even great for sunburns)!
This is Austin’s and my go-to moisturizer. It’s a daily lightweight moisturizer for all skin types that’s hydrating without giving an oily appearance and improves the look of texture and fine lines. Hydrating and anti-aging? Sign me up!
Although not 100% necessary, I feel it important to note that I have experienced a significant change in my skin by using a clean towel every time I wash my face. It helps to remove any makeup, dirt and oil buildup off the face, without leaving behind any nasty bacteria that may be living on your typical washcloth. Since noticing how fewer breakouts I get because of these towels, I won’t travel without them! Plus, they’re dermatologist tested and approved.
*This image has not been retouched.
Acne
Unlike some other medical conditions, acne is a complicated topic because it can be caused by four different mechanisms: excess oil production, bacteria, inflammation, and hyperkeratinization (excess skin cell & keratin production leading to clogged pores). Many times, you don’t know which are your causes until you try various medicines. For example, if your dermatologist suspects your acne may be bacterial in nature but in reality it is not, an antibiotic won’t help you. That’s why Accutane, despite its severe side effects, is effective at treating acne: It works against all four major causes of acne.
Plus, there are a myriad of acne triggers: hormonal changes (which is why birth control is sometimes prescribed), stress, diet, even medications. This is why having conversations with your healthcare provider(s) (dermatologist, pharmacist, OBGYN) can be helpful. Click here for more information.
That being said, having a consistent skincare regimen is crucial for maintenance and prevention of breakouts. The standard twice daily skincare regimen—once in the morning and again before bedtime—is an absolute must. You may need to wash your face more frequently if it’s gotten sweaty or dirty after going to the gym or being outside in the heat. The more prompt you can be with this, the better.
If you have the foundational 2-step skincare routine down pat (cleanser & moisturizer) and are still experiencing acne breakouts, it’s time to add toner and/or spot treatments into your regimen!
Toner
Toners help to cleanse the skin further by unclogging pores of any excess oil, dirt, and makeup and removing dead skin cells.
Scientific Pearl: Salicylic Acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and fights hyperkeratinization.
This toner is one of my staples because it has salicylic acid to treat & prevent acne, acetyl glucosamine to clear dead skin cells and silica to absorb any excess oil. That means this toner combats all four major causes of acne!
To apply the toner, I usually apply one to two swishes of it on a new cotton round and swipe away any remaining grime from the face. It’s always so satisfying to see how much dirt you have cleaned off after toner!
Spot Treatments
There are two types of spot treatments I like to have at all times- one for day and one for night!
Day
As a model, the moment a blemish pops up- I’M ON IT! I’m ready to get it gone which is why I love using this Perricone MD Salicylic Acid Spot Gel when I do my skincare routine in the morning. I also love applying it to those smaller blemishes that don’t necessarily need an acne dot, whether on my face or my body (apply after showering). Plus, it doesn’t dry out the skin or make your skin flake like other acne treatments do.
Night
These acne dots are such a LIFESAVER! Just apply them to a breakout after toner, keep them on overnight for at least 6 hours and VOILÀ! You can say peace out to that nasty pimple (or at the very least, start the process of kicking it out the door)!
Scientific Pearl: It contains salicylic acid (anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and fights hyperkeratinization- that’s 3 of the 4 major causes of acne), retinol (fights hyperkeratinization and hyperpigmentation), and aloe vera (promotes skin healing and has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties).
Scientific Pearl: Niacinamide is also a golden ingredient for acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Click here to jump to an amazing niacinamide serum which can be used day or night!
Scientific Pearl: Mentioned earlier with the acne dots, retinol can be a great ingredient to add into your regular skincare regimen for acne prevention for its ability to unclog pores. Click here to jump to an affordable retinol serum which can be used only for nighttime!
Still dealing with the post-acne aftermath?
If dealing with any discolorations or hyperpigmentation, jump to the dark spot section here!
Fine Lines & Wrinkles
As you get older, signs of aging are inevitable and so many people look to fillers and botox injections without really taking advantage of all skincare has to offer first. Since it’s such a hot topic, I did a whole blog post on botox/fillers if you’d like to read it here.
It’s important to note that hydration and sun protection play key roles in giving your skin its most youthful appearance. So with that, adding a facial oil, serum, neck cream, eye cream, and/or sunscreen to your skincare regimen will all help in this age-defying quest.
*This image has not been retouched.
When I hit my mid-twenties, I started noticing the wrinkles start to come in and I’ve discovered some ingredients that are key to reducing their appearance: Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol.
Hyaluronic Acid binds to and retains water, making it perfect skincare ingredient for hydrating and plumping the skin, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a substance that naturally occurs in the body but depletes as we age, so it makes it all the more vital to include it in your skincare regimen!
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that increases skin cell production, exfoliates the skin, unclogs pores, and promotes collagen and elastin production, making it a key anti-aging ingredient while also reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
This powerful serum contains 5 different weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and visibly plump the skin.
Scientific Pearl: The lighter the weight of hyaluronic acid, the deeper into the skin tissue it is able to go. Having different weights of this ingredient ensures it will be its most effective, hydrating each skin layer.
This cost-effective retinol serum is an Allure Best of Beauty award winner that targets premature signs of aging and uneven texture and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Scientific Pearl: Retinol can make you more prone to sunburns so use it only at night. If new to retinol, start off by applying only 1 to 2 nights per week. Increase gradually as tolerated.
This incredible eye cream contains BT Matrix™ which has retinol-like strength in diminishing signs of aging. It also boosts collagen production, visibly diminishing wrinkles while its unique blend of black tea extract also lightens dark circles. If you struggle with crow’s feet, this is the eye cream to get!
This sea-worthy formula of seaweed amino acids, copper peptides, hyaluronic acid and bounty of botanical actives revitalizes damaged skin, hydrates, improves texture, and plumps fine lines and wrinkles.
Scientific Pearl: An esthetician once told me that your neck is often the first place to show signs of aging, so make sure to use all those other skincare products (cleanser, toner, serum, oil, sunscreen) on your neck too, applying in an upwards motion against gravity!
Having sunscreen in your skincare routine is vital in prevention of premature aging from harmful UV rays. I love these SPF drops for the face because it has an oil-like consistency, so it absorbs into the skin beautifully (and therefore doesn’t easily get into the eyes like other sunscreens- my husband loves it!) and as makeup brand, it also blends with makeup well!
This gentle oil contains retinoid ester which improves the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles, supports skin elasticity and evens out redness (it’s as effective as retinol while being gentler on the skin, making it great for sensitive skin or new users of retinol), botanical complex for reducing redness, and avocado seed oil for plumping fine lines and delivering rich age-defying vitamins.
Scientific Pearl: Retinol products can make you more sensitive to the sun so only use at night.
I personally used to be very scared of applying oil to my face. Won’t it break me out?! I’m happy to say- it didn’t. If apprehensive, start with using only a couple drops of a retinol oil at night. If you need more hydration, introduce a vitamin C oil for the day.
Redness
Being a fair-skinned woman, I am definitely prone to redness, especially as I’ve gotten older. Gosh, I even have rosacea in my family. But then I discovered the golden ingredient: Niacinamide! It reduces inflammation, thereby calming redness (from eczema, acne, or other skin conditions) and evening skin tone and improving texture! Oh and did I mention that this powerful ingredient also hydrates, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and tightens pores?!
This hydrating serum is a staple in my collection! It gives my skin the most beautiful, youthful glow while also evening my skin tone and visibly reducing any hyperpigmentation.
Oh and you can also mix it with your foundation to give it a dewy finish. Who knew?!
Dark Spots & Hyperpigmentation
Dark spots on the skin, or hyperpigmentation, occur due to an overproduction of melanin and can affect any race or ethnicity. It can be caused by a variety of factors including (but not limited to) acne, sun damage, and injury (cuts, burns). Although dark spots can take a longer time to heal, some key ingredients to speed up the process include azelaic acid (possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, exfoliating, and skin lightening properties), tranexamic acid (reduces excessive pigmentation by inhibiting melanocyte activation), and mandelic acid (an exfoliant that regulates oil production, unclogs pores, reduces inflammation, and lightens dark spots). Niacinamide (mentioned above- it also limits the transfer of melanosomes which synthesize and transport melanin), retinol (mentioned above with its skin renewal benefits) and vitamin C (mentioned later- it has skin-brightening properties) can also help!
This incredible spot treatment fades stubborn dark spots (sun spots, age spots, post-acne scars, melasma) and contains azelaic acid derivative for skin brightening, tranexamic acid for preventing discoloration, and phytic acid for exfoliation.
This cost-effective spot treatment contains mandelic acid to reduce the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation and post-blemish marks, glycerin for hydration, and encapsulated retinol to fade discoloration and dark spots. Use only at night.
Dryness & Dullness
When it comes to dryness and dullness, hydration is key! Adding a hydrating serum and/or face oil to your skincare regimen will likely make a huge difference in this area. Additionally, vitamin C is an important ingredient to consider since it is powerful brightening and firming antioxidant that improves the look of dark spots and dullness, protects against sun damage, and promotes collagen and elastin production, giving it anti-aging and texture benefits.
With dryness being very common around the eyes, don’t forget to give your eyelids some love too!
This clinical strength serum contains vitamin C for improving tone and discoloration, glutathione to recharge vitamin C, and ergothioneine to support the skin’s natural antioxidants.
This Allure Best of Beauty award-winning facial oil contains vitamin C to visibly brighten the skin, squalane to lock in moisture, chios crystal oil to revitalize and firm the skin and rose extract to boost radiance.
This lightweight, depuffing eye cream contains super lotus to visibly smooth lines and boost radiance, horse chestnut flower extract to target crow’s feet, and vitamin E to protect and sooth the delicate eye area.
Texture & Pore Reduction
To smooth uneven texture of the skin, BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids) and AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) are key ingredients in the conversation because they exfoliate dead skin cells. AHAs minimize the appearance of skin aging, whether from fine lines, sun damage, or discolorations. BHAs (like salicylic acid) have far-reaching exfoliation benefits from acne to psoriasis to rough, bumpy skin and enlarged pores.
This gentle exfoliant has papaya fruit extract to smooth skin and increase clarity for a radiant glow and pineapple fruit extract, BHA and AHA to exfoliate, reduce the look of dark spots and smooth skin texture. Use it after your cleanser on dry skin!
This wonderful facial mask contains whipped non-drying clay infused with hyaluronic acid to clear pores and hydrate the skin, watermelon enzymes to visibly brighten, and BHA and PHA to clear pores and gently exfoliate.
This concentrated serum of BHAs, AHAs, mandelic acid, and willow bark extract works by utilizing anti-bacterial properties, exfoliating skin's surface, accelerating cell turnover, and unclogging pores.
Are You Ready?!
*This image has not been retouched.
No matter your gender, race, or ethnicity, you deserve to feel comfortable and confident in your skin! Many of these products have worked wonders on my and my husband’s skin, and I believe they will work great for you, too!
All I gotta say is… are you ready for your best skin yet?!
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