Showing posts with label Azure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Azure. Show all posts

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Simplifying My Daily Skincare Routine

Photo: Good Housekeeping

Every year I re-access to try to do SOMETHING better. Tweak a practice to (1) improve or (2) make life easier. What comes to mind this year is simplifying my daily skincare routine, as well as, finding cheaper, cleaner, yet effective anti-aging potions. Over time the savings can really add up! Not only do I wish to spend less money, but less time in the bathroom!

OMG, look at this YouTuber's daily routine and long list of beauty elixirs! I don't intend to be unkind because if we met, I'd like the Vlogger for her generous spirit in sharing what she does based upon her research. She genuinely means well. I decided not to subscribe to her channel or link her to THE SHAVVY SHOPPER's sidebar because at the end of the day, her routine is excessive according to my own research. It adds up to washing lots of  money and time down the drain. Time one can never get back!

Dermatologists agree: Only two skincare products make a difference: (a) Retin-A (by prescription) or Retinol (its over the counter derivative). Both work well when used consistently; and (b) Vitamin C.

For the care of my face, I've reduced the steps to 3 twice a day: Wash. Treat. Moisturize ... and my products to 3 for the day; and 3 at night. Here is my winter 2021 skincare regime:

I. For My Morning Face Routine, I use: 

1) SheaMoisture Soap - Since the shower water rinses my face so thoroughly I use this moisturizing soap from face to toe. It rinses clean and doesn't dry your skin.

2) Next apply Vitamin C Serum - In addition to ArtNaturals and Tree of Life, I'm also using up The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23%. All 3 brands are effective, so you can switch them, always buying the best priced one.

2-a) Peptide Serum - Right now I'm using up what I already own, alternating between Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, and The Ordinary Buffet. (I can stop step #2-a once I use up these serums. They add moisture and beneficial anti-oxidants to the skin, however Vitamin C (an antioxidant) and Retinol are the only serums dermatologists say are essential. There are no reasons based on science to layer other peptides with antioxidants over Vitamin C say the skin doctors. It's money washed down the drain. So until future research changes this advice ... you can skip layering additional skin treatments on and go directly to step #3
Reapply SPF 15 more often than SPF 30

3) Olay Complete Moisture with Sunscreen SPF 15/30 - In winter I need a light daytime moisturizer and use sun protection all year round. SPF 15/30 is the anti-aging elixir here! Olay is cheap, lightweight and non-greasy. Choose the sensitive skin formula that uses minerals, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, as sunscreen. Avoid the sunscreen chemicals like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene or ecamsule. Another good brand is CVS's Moisturizing Facial Lotion with SPF 15/30 so you can buy the cheaper one as they go on sale. But you must read the labels like a hawk as one formula of the 2 brands has the chemicals, while another formula uses the minerals as sun protection. -- yes, it's a pain! 
II. For My Nightime Face Routine, I use:

1) Noxema Cleansing Cream - Discovered at 14 years old, it cleans and moisturizes my face simultaneously.

2) Next apply Retinol Serum - Excellent low cost brands include Tree of LifeArtNaturals; and The Ordinary, with proven ingredients based on science and costing under $10. 

Great beauty brands, one American, one Korean.

3) Follow with Retinol Night Moisturizing Cream - I like the feel of a moisturizing night cream to prevent dry skin especially in winter, and my non-scientist mother says I must wear one to keep those wrinkles away! (They find us while we sleep, evil things!!) Right now I alternate between Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Cream and Azure Hemp & Retinol Sleep Mask. In fact, you can use the Neutrogena Repid Winkle Repair Night Cream solo without a Retinol serum underneath it. I can't verify how much Retinol the Azure night cream has, so I do use Retinol serum underneath it to be sure. Your skin knows, so if the combo seems too strong ... adjust.


III. My Morning Body Routine is reduced to one item: Cooking oil.

Immediately after my shower I slather coconut oil all over my skin to lock in the water from my shower. For simplicity I only buy one coconut oil that can be used for both cooking and  body oil. But as it turns out, I don't cook with coconut oil often, so I'm thinking of making life even easier by switching to Extra Virgin Olive Oil as my after bath moisturizer, which is equally beneficial. Saves time, space and money!

I keep a refillable container in my bathroom to pour cooking-turned-bath oil into it. Hey if I ever get locked in my bathroom, I'll have sustenance to keep me alive until I'm free. Just slide some eggs and bread under the door, please.😋

IV. Extras I need in winter: Body lotion which I use as hand/skin cream as needed. Petroleum jelly/lip balm.

At 1st glance it may still seem like lots of products, but look again, I reduced skincare to 3 steps: Wash, treat and moisturize - with a single product under each step. Giving you a few brands of equivalent quality and price lets you buy the better deals. 

We love old standbys; bargain beauty; and keeping it simple!


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Tuesday, October 20, 2020

What Beauty Buys Am I Using Right Now?


Over time I've tried to switch over to more natural or organic beauty products. I use the word "natural" skeptically. We must always read labels and research commodities carefully to make sure the word isn't just a marketing gimmack but truly reflects purer ingredients in the ointments we rub into our skin.

Another aim is to spend less money on the personal care items we use daily. If quality is nearly the same with similar results, cheaper is always better! Over time the savings really add up!  And it goes without saying, we want to focus on products that really work because they have the science behind them! Let's also strive to not layer on too many elixirs, another way of washing cash down the drain. The goal of keeping beauty routines simple to save time and get out of the bathroom faster is smart also!

Here are personal care items I'm using right now that meet the criteria: 

For the Face --

Day

1) The Ordinary Buffet - a mix of effective anti-aging peptides. 

2) The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% - a high potency antioxidant and skin brightener. 

3) Walgreens Baby Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen - the #1 preventer of aging skin you can buy.

Night

4) Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream With Retinol Fragrance-Free

5) Azure Hemp & Retinol Sleep Mask - This I alternate with #4 whenever my face feels dry.

For the Body --

1) BuyBuy Baby Powder with pure cornstarch - A generic bath powder from Bed, Bath & Beyond. The cornstarch replaces talc because in the USA, you can't buy talc anymore. Since the pandemic, I apply baby powder on my face under my mask because I'm not wearing makeup. (Tinted face powder tints my mask which looks ugly!)

2) Puritan's Pride Coconut Oil - I use it after a shower to lock in moisture! The company makes coconut oil for the body, but I buy the food-grade coconut oil -- one oil to use in both the kitchen and bathroom. Done!

3) Botanical + Herbal Help Body Lotion - Containing tea tree and verbena oils, I use it as a hand or body cream. It's from T.J. Maxx and I buy their ever-changing array of lotions from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Korea, and exotic California.🙂

For the Hair --

SheaMoisture and Renpure💕💥 all the way! I switch up the formulas regularly. Right now I'm using ...

1) Repure Extra Strength Coconut Cream Shampoo

2) SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Shampoo

3) SheaMoisture Kukui Nut & Grapeseed Oils Conditioner

4) SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Conditioner

Both brands are from long-time manufacturers of good, clean, organic ingredients for the hair at drugstore prices.

So these are the beauty buys in my bathroom right now. Simple, clean, inexpensive and they work! ✔✔✔✔