With 227 days until my wedding (yeah I am counting) I am trying to start getting into a body and skin routine that will get me to a place I am happy with for the big day. In terms of body, I am eating a lot of pizza and pasta and am pretty happy about it. But for my skin, I’d love some tips.
Here is my current process.
Remove all make up with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes
Cetaphil Face Wash with my Clarisonic.
Then I moisturize with Cetaphil face lotion.
If I am really feeling like putting in some effort, I will use this Mario Badescu face mask.
So this is were you come in, what products or procedures (non-surgical obviously) do you swear by to brighten your skin, give you a nice fake tan, soften your cheeks? Anything really. I have a very simple routine right now so I am not looking to get into 10 new products a day, but I would love some recommendations. So lets hear it!
Oh and today, I am at A New Found Treasure sharing two things I love in fashion and design and also at Confessions of a Professional Bridesmaid sharing how we chose our unique wedding venue!
For an amazingly natural-looking spray tan, I’d recommend the airbrush spray tan at Benefit. It’s about $40 and lasts at least a few days. You just can’t be too modest since it’s a live person spraying you down!
I don’t think my makeup would come off without those wipes either. I wouldst add Josie Maran Argan oil to the mix. It is a wonder, I put a few drops on my face before my moisturizer. I also put it on my hair for shine! And I am loving the SPF moisturizer by Malin + Goetz for day or night, it is light weight. In terms of eating, don”t worry about it so much, you will drop 10 lbs in the last 2 months before the wedding without even trying, believe me. You don’t know stress until the month before your wedding!
This is a great regimen! If you want a little extra glow, you can always incorporate an AHA product or even a light retinol a few nights a week just to help speed up cell turnover. (You definitely don’t want to Clarisonic the night after you’ve used an exfoliant. Some products can be harsh if you overuse them, but most are moisturizing these days and you should discontinue a few weeks before your wedding anyway.)
I don’t know if you have a juicer but just 3-4 cucumbers each day with the skin on and it seriously works so well to make you glow. Oh and tastes great.
Email me for questions or juicer recs.
Nice! I love the seaweed cleansing lotion from MB, too! Very soothing and gentle- non foamy though. XO
I think you have a great routine going now. One tip- don’t use your Clarisonic every day. Try to do it about 3 times a week or so. Skin Ceuticals are wonderful skin care products and can be found at most dermatologist offices and spas. Also, getting a facial every so often with extractions will help prepare your skin, too!
I love to use Kiehl’s re-texturizing micro-dermabrasion once a week. It gets rid of any dead skin and makes my skin super soft. And gives it a nice glow. Sounds like we are getting married right around the same time – my wedding is in 213 days!
Your wedding will be here before you know it! Your routine sounds perfect — Clarasonics fix everything.
I love cetaphil! It’s so nice and gentle and really does a great job of moisturizing. I also love complex 15 + nutrogena for moisturizers. The ONE must have for me is Aveno gentle foaming facewash – bye bye blemishes!
I don’t know if you’ve ever had problems with acne, but I have (and still do), and Clinique’s “Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector” was a Godsend for me in the months leading up to my wedding just this past fall. I’m super cheap when it comes to products but I splurged on this one and loved it so much that I have continued to buy it and use it. It made a HUGE difference for me in toning down and even getting rid of some of the dark spots I had!
I need to get the Cetaphil lotion! And the Clarisonic!
The clarisonic is my favorite, I’m also addicted to Philosophy Purity- this face wash takes everything off your face including eye make up and it’s really gentle. I also love Orgins Ginzing eye cream- it does wonders on dark circles and puffy eyes.
Cetaphil face wash is my life saver! And then I use the Shiseido moisturizer with SPF 15. I’m dying to get on the Clarisonic boat!
oh man, i am impressed by all of these routines! all i do is rinse with water and follow up with cetaphil lotion (and exfoliate with good ol’ st ive’s apricot scrub once a week or so–love the stuff).
I really want to try a clarsonic – I need to get one. I did a light at home chemical peel I got from my derm last week and I really liked it. My pors are smaller and any imperfections (clogged pores) didnt stand a chance. I think it was a glycolic acid 10%
I recently started using Olay’s 7 effects moisturizer (unscented) and I’ve noticed such a difference with how soft my skin is and how small my pores are. I find I also wear less make-up now. But the best thing you can do is slather on the sunscreen.
Be careful with the clarisonic only use it a few times a week once a day. When I first got it I was so excited and loved how clean I felt after so I was using it morning and night. I ended up in the doctors office with the worst breakout/rash ever! Now I use it a few times a week and it works great.
Thanks again for guest posting today:)
I just bought Boscia Luminizing Black Mask and am OBSESSED. Not only is it fun to apply and remove (you peel it off when it dries), but it also makes my skin look amazing!
Uh oh, I’m nervous about all these girls saying to not use the Clarisonic everyday. I’ve been using it everyday for the last month and a half and not only has everything been fine, but my skin looks more even, feels softer, and any breakouts I have clear up much faster. I guess everyone’s skin is a little bit different? I’m wondering though what type of side effects people have had using the Clarisonic everyday???
Other than that, your beauty routine is very similar to mine. I use Cetaphil as well as Cerave (what my dermatologist suggested). I use both cleansers interchangeably, the Cerave light moisturizer, and some Nars ProPrimer with SPF or a light SPF separately. I use the Elta MD SPF 46 if I’m going to be out in the sun all day — it feels SO light and has no scent which is awesome. It costs a good bit, but I think its worth it and a little bit goes a long way. http://www.amazon.com/Eltamd-Clear-SPF-48-Gram-1-7/dp/B002MSN3QQ
Hope this helps!
I love the clarisonic and I also have the one for the eyes, which I really recommend – it brightens you up!
-dw
So happy you posted this as this is something I’m pretty clueless about. I do use Jergen’s Natural Glow to help give my face some color. Sometimes I mix it with a moisturizer.
Hi Al! I have thinking about this a TON too. i went to Nordys and met this amazing girl who does makeup for weddings. She does a very natural look and introduced me to Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer!! It is THE best. It gives you the best glow and looks so natural – It blends in so well unlike some bronzers and stays on all day. Highly recommend all LM products especially for everyday and wedding day makeup and routines! xoxo
Go visit Rosemary Shugar in Winnetka. She has the most amazing skin, and a facial every 6 weeks in addition to what you’re already doing will ensure your skin is ready for primetime. I don’t even live there anymore, but I drop in every time I’m in Chicago. Sooo worth it.
I just got the Clarisonic and I LOVE it!! Cetaphil is a stand by too. All great recs!
I’m obsessed with Juice Beauty’s antioxidant serum. I swear it makes your skin soooo smooth, taut and bright. It’s pricey, but worth it!
I work at a plastic surgeon’s office and the best beauty bet for skin transofrmation is Retina. It strips your first few layers, brings everything to the top, and can really give lasting changes after weeks of use (though slightly uncomfortable). As for giving a healthy glow, we have this great stuff called C-Serum in our skin care line. If you are interested, email me and I’ll see if I can’t get you some samples shipped your way. The vitamin C in it gives this gorgeous glow!
love my clarisonic! I switch eye and face creams every few months because I always end up thinking the next thing is better than what I have so I have seriously tried almost everything. Love Kiehls products prob the best!
I would suggest going to an SK-11 counter at neimans or saks and getting samples and talking to someone who works for them.. their whitening mask makes your skin look brighter and glow so much. I have to say since I started using their products my skin did a total transformation and looks beautiful.
Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple face wash and Hope in a Jar moisturizer are my absolutely FAVORITES. Especially the moisturizer. My skin has never looked better! I tried to give up the Hope in a Jar to save money, and I eventually had to go back. It’s amazing. I use the Clarisonic, too — the Purity Made Simple is great for it, because it’s very gentle.
I use Shiseido everything. They have several lines that specialize in different things and I mix and match them. It is such a good line and it smells so good! They are really great about giving out samples, big ones! I use one of the day creams with SPF and the night cream which is very thin and many of their other products including toner, and their face masks that are amazing. My best skin care life savor is my fango mud mask by Borghese. My boyfriend even uses it now!
Also, I use shiseido soother anti/puff and dark circles eye cream and keep it in the refrigerator! It’s great. Even if you use different eye cream, keep it in the refrigerator. It’s one of the best tips anyone’s ever given me. In the morning, it is refreshing and wakes me up and by the time I get to my destination, my eyes are not puffy anymore!
I use a bit of serum before applying my moisturizer. Olay’s Daily Regenerating Serum works really well to soften my skin. The air in London is dry and dusty, and this is the only product that keeps my skin hydrated and soft. Nothing fancy, and you can get it at most drugstores.
Do you use an eye cream at all? I think the Mario Badescu eye cream is great, and a good proactive way to prevent crowsfeet
Try and use a serum with antioxidants in it, vitamin c is a good one.