Game Changers: Skincare

What skin care or makeup products have come into your life and been complete game changers?
I seriously want to know, so leave a comment below and fill me in on these magical items!

I am very much skin care (which I feel like I say every time I do a beauty related post) so mine are mostly skin care items, but I do have a few makeup items too.
Let's just get into it.

1. Forever and always the Neutrogena Pore Refining face wash.  I can always tell when I've been neglecting this product and always end up back to it after trying out new things.

2. Foreo Luna Mini 2.  I just bought this 2 weeks ago.  I'm in love.  It feels so good and gentle on the skin plus my face is so soft after.  It just makes me feel like I'm doing something to my skin.

3. Another cleansers I've been trying out is the Kiehls Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and I really love this as just a gentle everyday cleanser.

4. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery oil.  I hate the smell of this but my skin thanks me in the morning which a beautiful glow.

5. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye is a great eye cream and I have noticed a difference around my eyes.  I wake up with brighter eyes in the morning and it hydrates pretty well too!

6. Kiehl's Hydro Plumping Re-texturizing Serum Concentrate.
I received a sample of this and fell in love, so of course I bought the full size.  It is super hydrating and I love the light feel of it on my skin.

7. A cream I've been using for a couple years now is the Origin's Ginseng Cream.  My skin likes this,  I like it.  It moisturizes but doesn't feel heavy.  Unfortunately I am getting bored and want to try something knew.

8. Fresh eye cream.  This stuff.  I didn't want to repurchase it (hello, poor) but the delicate skin around my eyes drink it up.

9. Caudalie Instant Detox mask.  I have tried quite a few face masks and have my handful that I love, but this one is my all time favorite.  When I first tried it a year ago, I broke out the next day and vowed to never use it again, but hello, $40 is a lot for a mask, so I read up on it and tried it again.  "Instant Detox" means it's going to draw the toxins out of your skin and bring them to the surface (pimples), so this made much more sense.  Now I use this mask about once a week and my skin thanks me.

10.  Paula's Choice Skin Perfect 2% BHA Liquid.  I feel lost without this stuff. I use it before I apply moisturizers and serums in the morning and I am almost positive this is what keeps my skin so clear.

11. Frank's coffee body scrub (not pictured) and lip scrub.  I like trying the different scents (coconut, mint, chocolate etc) but I can do with the original as I am a coffee fiend and love the smell!  Plus it makes my skin oh so soft.  The lip scrub smells soooo good and feels so good on the lips!


12. I have two favorites to go at thirteen and that is because they are so freaking expensive and I usually only get them as samples!  Sunday Riley Good Genes, my god I would buy this stuff all the time if I could.  I bought a full size once and I think it lasted 3 months?  My skin loved it, I loved it, everyone involved was happy with this product. . . and then the price went up because of our sucky dollar.  Lancome Genefique, I've had 3 samples of this.  This first time I received it I never bothered with it for months until a lady said it was the most amazing thing ever. Now I love it but can't swallow the price.

14. Lastly, two makeup removers! I have repurchased the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover countless times and it is just the best for getting rid of stubborn mascara or eyeliner.

15. A new favorite is the L'Occitane Cleansing Oil. I freaking love this stuff! It's so good at removing a full face of makeup without having to rub at the eyes, it literally melts off your face. I love it.

I hope you enjoyed this! And Please let me know your game changers in the comments.
Have a great week!

The Skincare Routine

Is anyone else obsessed with anti-aging products or skin care?

I'm trying to figure out when my obsession with skincare started and you know what? Possibly when I was eleven.

I remember using Noxema (I still have a tub of that stuff kicking around for my oily days) and my Mom telling me that all of my Dad's Aunts and Uncles used it and that they weren't wrinkly.
I used Noxema religiously after that.
I didn't use much for a moisturizer though, just whatever I had for body lotion at that time.

I must have used Noxema for seven or eight years.
Then when I neared twenty I decided to try Neutrogena.
I quickly fell in love with their grapefruit scrub and saw a massive change in my skin (for the better).
I used the same grapefruit range from Neutrogena for years, then one day I tried their Pore Refining Scrub and would alternate between the two.
This is around the time I started using a proper face moisturizer too.

So, my early twenties it was Neutrogena for face scrubs/washes and L'oreal for face cream.

2014 I began using higher end moisturizers and haven't looked back.

My current skincare routine is intense (in my opinion).

In the morning I will use either Origins Microdermabrasion Scrub or Neutrogena Pore Refining Scrub or Origins Frothy Face Wash (depends on my skin that morning).  After that I will go in with my Paula's Choice 2%BHA liquid, followed by Origins Ginseng Moisturizer and Fresh Youth eye cream.

This has been working rather well for me lately.

What I love most is my night routine, even though it can be a struggle to do it before I fall asleep.
First I will almost always use the Neutrogena Pore Refining Scrub , it's rare if I use anything else in the evening.  At the end of the day I feel like my skin is dirty and just needs a good cleanse, so this works for me.
Then I used my new favorites, Kiehls Midnight Recovery Eye Cream and Midnight Recovery Concentrate (which is an oil).
This combo is just my favorite.  My skin is soft and hydrated after this, but if I'm feeling like a bit more hydration/some retinol, I will use Neutrogena's Rapid Night Repair moisturizer (usually this happens 3x a week)

Lately this morning and night combo has been working amazingly for me.  I feel confident in my skin and while people usually think I look younger than I am, I have been getting compliments on my "nice skin".  The red wine could be helping too.

As for face masks? I have an addiction here.  I love the GlamGlow Youth Mud but rarely ever purchase it.  I like the Lush Cup O' Coffee mask, but the mask that seems to do the most for my skin is Caudalie's Instant Detox Mask.  I use this twice a week, three times if my skin is acting up.  The first time I ever used this I broke out like crazy and was hesitant to continue using it.  But I read up on the mask and found out it draws out the toxins in your skin, bringing them to the surface (pimples!) so I decided to continue using it and I'm so glad I did.

I love knowing people's skin routines so leave me yours in the comments below or sent me a link to your blog/youtube!

Thanks and here's to healthy, youthful, glowing skin :)