Nighttime Skincare Routine
So by now you guys know that I think I am actually partially a nocturnal vampire, who absolutely HATES the mornings! Cue the horror movie, where the vampire melts into a pool of nothingness as the first ray of sunshine beams through the sky...YAAAA, that's how I feel at 6 a.m. A couple of weeks ago, I posted my morning skincare tips, and I mentioned how I am seriously just NOT a morning person- never have been. (Thank God for really great skincare products that help freshen me up in the morning!!) I also mentioned that when summer rolls around, and I have three months off of work, my natural rhythm is to stay up until 2 a.m. and then get up at 11 a.m. WELLLL, that routine is in full swing here, and I am loving letting my body rock the late night hours! OH, and I am loving sleeping in too. SIGH!
One thing that I have to remind myself to stay very disciplined with though during the summer months is my skincare routine. During the school year, I literally have almost every part of my daily schedule down to a five minute range of time based on when things need to be accomplished. (YES, I am a little anal, but having a pretty strict routine curbs my anxiety about completing all of my daily tasks- don't knock it, 'til you try it!) I know that I have to start washing my face and getting ready for bed by around 10:00, so that I can start winding down in my bed around 10:15. UGHHH-that is SO early for this body of mine! In summer, my body is just revving up at 10:00 at night, LOL! BUT, hey, if I want to be a productive part of society and be a good teacher, I have to put myself to bed like I am a little kid again for those nine months, HAH. I always allow myself to chill out on my strict schedule obviously in summer, BUT I do still complete the important tasks of my day at my leisure. SOOOO- that means I am usually washing my face around 1:30 a.m. to start getting ready for bed. It would be so easy for me to say, MEH, let's just skip it at that hour of the night...BUT, that will never happen!
So what is my nighttime skincare routine, you might be wondering- check out the products below. I am OBSESSED with all of these, ladies, which is why I will never skip using them, even in the middle of the night. These nighttime products, combined with my morning skincare products, have seriously made such a difference in the health and appearance of my skin and face the last few years! After you turn 30, you start to realize a really good moisturizer is just ONE mere part of a good skincare routine...you start to realize at 30 you need so much more help with your skin, HAH! No joke, I would recommend these products to everyone!
1.Lancome Creme Radiance Clarifying Cream-To-Foam Cleanser
I always start my nightly routine by, of course, washing my face. This face wash right here is so gentle on your skin, and leaves your skin still feeling soft. There are some cleansers that seem to immediately suck the moisture right out of your face, BUT not this one! I actually use this in the shower in the morning before my morning routine, and at night as well. PLUS, you seriously need the smallest little drop of this stuff because it goes a long way! I usually buy the 6.7 oz bottle, and it lasts me at least six months or more! So worth the price, my friends! I also feel like this would be a gentle enough cleanser for those of you who might have sensitive skin. My skin can be sensitive at times too, but I have had NO problems with this product at all!
2.Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Serum
I already shared this product in my morning skincare post, where I wrote the following...
This stuff right here is a Godsend! Since I started using this product, my skin has definitely had a more vibrant, healthy look, even on my SLEEPIEST of mornings. About six months ago, I really was on a rampage to make a change in my skincare routine, and this statement on the Lancome site caught my eye-This powerful anti-aging serum works to improve skin's key signs of youth: radiance, elasticity, firmness, skin tone, and smoothness. I remember thinking to myself, UMMM, this sounds too good to be true. BUT, I went to my local Lancome counter anyway to ask for a sample of this serum (you will come to find I am obsessed with all things Lancome). MAN, did I run back to the Lancome counter when I was out of my little sample. I honestly could see a difference in my skin after only a couple weeks of use. This is the first thing I put on my face after I get out of the shower, AND, ladies it's definitely worth the price!
So as you can see, I use this product first thing in the morning, but I also use it first thing after cleansing at night. I LOVE this stuff so much! Like I mentioned above, it is a bit pricey, BUT you only need a small amount with each use on this product as well. I bought the 3.4 oz bottle over six months ago, and I still have a lot left to use! That's definitely a plus in my eyes.
3.Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Multi-Function Eye Cream
After my Lancome serum has set in, I put on this Rodan + Fields eye cream. Last year, after looking at a VERY unflattering close up pic of myself, I decided I really needed to get the little fine lines under and around my eyes under control before they became more noticeable to the outside world, HAH. Of course, we have all seen the plethora of Rodan + Fields posts on social media, so I decided WHAT THE HECK- Let's give this stuff a whirl, and see if it lives up to all the hype! AND, let me tell you, so far it has! I seriously love this cream. I even put this on my forehead to help with the little fine lines there as well. I have seen a noticeable change in my under eye area since I started using this product, and I am NEVER going back. I feel like a broken record here, gals, but this cream is a bit pricey as well...BUT, again, you need the smallest little dollop which goes a very long way. This little jar probably lasts me about five to six months. I hope you are seeing the pattern here- quality products might cost a bit more upfront, BUT since you don't have to slather so much of it on your face at once, you don't need to buy them as often!!
4.Shea Moisture 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
So I obviously have my under eyes moisturized, and actually my forehead too after using the Rodan + Fields product I mentioned above. BUT, to moisturize the rest of my face and neck, (don't neglect your neck, ladies, or you end up with a rough, wrinkly looking neck as you age. START TAKING CARE OF YOUR NECK NOW!!) I use this coconut oil right here. I buy this HUGE jar at Target for $11- HELLO, the price is right!! After doing a lot of research on how to diminish the appearance of fine lines, I decided to give the whole coconut oil thing a try (read the link which contains a super short little article explaining the benefits of coconut oil). This seemed like the easiest and least wacky home remedy for fine lines (some of the things people suggest you put on your face make me cringe, LOL...coconut oil, I can handle!) My only disclaimer with this product is if you have oily skin already, this might not be the best product for you. But otherwise, give it a try!
5.Eucerin Skin Calming Lotion
Don't neglect the rest of the skin on your body either, my friends. The last step in my nighttime skincare routine is to moisturize the rest of my body, especially my arms and legs. I inherited keratosis pilaris from my mom, which is what some people call chicken skin. This is a very common, harmless, skin condition that leaves you with very annoying red bumps or patches on your skin. Luckily, these red bumps are only noticeable on the backs of my arms when my skin is really dry. SO, to help combat dry skin and decrease the likelihood that people notice this annoying chicken skin, I have been using this Eucerin lotion for years now, and I SWEAR by it! Awesome drugstore find, trust me!
Ladies, as you can see, I really put a lot of effort and value into taking care of my skin. I don't do this because I care what other people think when they see me, BUT, I do it more to maintain the health of my skin and body. Just as we work out and eat healthy foods to keep ourselves healthy on the inside (and out), we need to take care of every part of our bodies and preserve this precious vessel that we have been given to travel through this life with. My body, my temple, I will take care of this exceptional gift to the best of my ability. Along with the above mentioned products, I have already posted about Origins products and GlamGlow products as well that I also throw into my nighttime rotation- so if you haven't checked out those posts yet, hit the links here! I hope you find some of this info helpful! Have a great Tuesday!
