SKINCARE JOURNEY AND PRODUCTS.

SKIN CARE. SKIN CARE. SKIN CARE. I cannot reiterate enough how important it is to have a skin care routine that is beneficial to your skin type. When I talk to someone and they tell me they don’t wash and moisturize their face daily, it makes me cringe. Literally, I can feel my skin crawling. Okay, that was a little dramatic, but you catch my drift, right? Just think about all of the nasty debris that floats around. We shed skin cells throughout the day, so it is important to have a solid skincare routine to keep your skin healthy and glowing. You don’t need to have an extravagant or expensive routine. Simply using face wash and moisturizer daily is effective enough. Be sure to wash your face TWICE A DAY, in the morning and at night. You don’t have to use a face cleanser in the morning. Washing your face with warm water and a rag is good enough. I do suggest you wash your face with a physical cleanser (gentle if possible) at night. Remember to follow up with moisturizer after. This is a step you should not skip.

Always remember less is more when it comes to skincare. Again, LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO SKINCARE. Last year, I had a horrible breakout. My skin was extremely dry and irritated. My hormonal acne was so inflamed and I would constantly breakout throughout the year. From January 2019-July 2019, I put my poor face through so much. My skincare routine, I was so familiar with, stopped working after 13 years. I used that good ol’ Noxzema and Palmers Coco Butter in the jar. I didn’t understand why my face was tight and dry even after I moisturized. I started doing research and learned that Unliever bought out Noxzema and changed the formula to my beloved, holy grail face cleanser. If you are unfamiliar with this company, please do you research on them. They own several of our trusted brands and have been changing the formula to products. They will substitute expensive ingredients for cheaper alternatives.

My heart was so broken, I had to breakup with my beloved skincare routine because Unliever betrayed me. So of course, I was on the hunt for something that would treat my skin right. I tried using African black soap and Shea butter, that was a disaster. I tried different exfoliates that left my skin as dry as the Sahara Desert. I tried different face oils and lotions, DISASTERS. My poor skin was going through it. Little did I know, I was compromising my skin barrier. Once you damage your skin barrier, it takes several weeks or months to repair it. My skin was not retaining moisture at all. During this, I tried out a new foundation that completely burned certain parts of my face. I could not wear any makeup for 1.5 months. I did not wash my face with any skin cleanser for 3 weeks. I washed my face with warm water and moisturized with Aura Cacia Sweet Almond and Jason Vitamin E 5000 I.U. Oil. Those face oils were my two saving graces during that torturous time. Yes, I know, I am being dramatic, but I have never felt such an uncomfortable pain like that ever. I then discovered Simple Waterboost Micellar Water and that easily became a hard staple in my skincare routine.

Before I talk about the two face cleansers I use regularly, I want to remind you my skin type. I have dry & sensitive skin.

My holy-grail cleansers at the moment: Simple Water Boost Micellar Facial Gel Wash & Simple Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water. These babies have been serving me so well, my skin couldn’t be happier. Simple is known to be a gentle skin care brand that caters to sensitive skin at an affordable price. They have several other skincare products as well.

UPDATE: Unilever bought out SIMPLE Skincare and I no longer use their products. They no longer sell the Water boost skincare line. It is so unfortunate because this was such a great affordable skincare line that catered to sensitive skin. I have also read that they changed the ingredients in their other products they sell. People are experiencing irritation, burning, and inflammation when applied to the skin.

• Simple Water Boost Micellar Facial Gel Wash ($7.00)
• Easy to use
• Thick gel consistency
• Doesn’t strip the skin
• Gentle yet effective
• Face feels extremely clean and fresh without feeling tight after I wash and dry (your skin should never feel tight after you wash it)
• Has not caused any new breakouts
• Evens out skin tone
• Skins looks fresh and bright after washing
• Infused with rich and healthy ingredients
• Best for skin types who are: sensitive, normal, dry, and combination

• Simple Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water ($7.00)
• Easy to use
• Gentle yet effective
• Cleans extra debris off the face
• Doesn’t cause irritation to the skin (usually)
• Hasn’t caused any new breakouts
• Hydrating but not oily
• Infused with rich and healthy ingredients
• Removes makeup
• Best for skin types who are: sensitive, normal, dry, and combination

My Routine:

• Wash with Micellar Water first
• Soak cotton pad with micellar water
• Wipe the cotton pad all over face
• Let micellar water sit for about 1 to 2 minutes to active on the skin
• Rinse face off with WARM water
• Apply micellar gel face wash in circular motion (up & down motion)
• Rub face wash onto skin for about 1 to 2 minutes (however long you desire is fine)
• Rinse face off with WARM water
• Pat dry
• Moisturize your face to glowing skin (DO NOT EVER SKIP THIS STEP)