Taking good care of my skin is a basic necessity in my book and I love to pamper myself with some luxurious beauty products as well. However there are certain beauty products every woman needs to look good and I would like to share with you which ones they are.
Facial Oil or Serum
I see many people skipping this step, but using a facial serum or oil will work wonders for your skin. Most serums contain anti-oxidants and vitamins, so find a serum that works for your skin type.
A facial oil is perfect if you have a dry skin; the new formulations will nourish and illuminate without getting greasy.
You can buy facial serums and oils from $5 and upwards, so it’s very affordable and worth it!
A Facial Cream with SPF
Sure, the sun is good for making essential vitamin D, but most dermatologists agree the number 1 skin aging factor is the sun, so slather on a day cream with a decent SPF every day.
Use at least an SPF of 15, but if you’re using products containing AHA’s, Retinol/Retinoids etc. than aim for at least SPF 30.
Don’t rely on your foundation to protect your skin for the UV rays; it will not suffice.
Facial Cleanser
How many times have skipped cleansing your face before you rolled into bed at night? I can honestly say it hasn’t happened to me in years, because I hate waking up on a dirty pillow. Oh, and it’s bad for your skin as well!
If you’re pressed for time use facial wipes. It’s not the best you can do, but it’s always better than not cleansing at all!
However a good cleanser is a must to get and maintain beautiful skin. I like to use CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash in the morning to quickly cleanse my skin. It’s cheap and my skin feels soft afterwards.
At night I have a bit of a ritual, because I like to prepare my skin for whatever I use to treat it that night. I start with a micellar water to cleanse, which even takes of waterproof mascara. However, don’t rub it off, just press some pads with the product on your eyes and let the makeup dissolve.
Next, I use my Clarisonic with the same cleanser I use in the morning and my skin is ready for the goodness I will apply thereafter.
A Facial Brush
I have only been using my Clarisonic Aria for a couple of weeks, but I could not live without it anymore! The first 2 weeks my skin looked red and felt really dry, because I used it both mornings and nights.
When I checked some of my fave beauty gurus opinions I found out using a facial brush twice a day is not necessary and even harmful to skin.
I now use it at night only and my skin looks so much better. A facial brush really cleanses your skin better than anything else and increases the blood flow, so it gets that glowy look.
Like so many products facial brushes can be found in many price ranges, so if a Clarisonic is not within your budget have a look at the Olay Pro-X which retails for less than $30 and has many positive reviews. (7,500 and up)
Night cream
I use 3 different night creams during the week: one with retinol, one with AHA’s and one nourishing night cream.
Why? Because the cream containing AHA’s (2-3 times a week) are for exfoliating my skin, the retinol cream (2-3 times a week) is a good anti-ager and the nourishing cream is for when my skin get’s dry using the Retinol. This has been my regimen for the past 3 years and has greatly reduced the brown spots (sun damage) on my face.
As said before: when using Retinol and/or AHA’s make sure to wear a cream containing at least SPF 30 during the day.
Hand cream (with SPF)
You know that old saying: you can tell a person’s age by looking at their hands? Yeah, that one’s actually true.
Many women forget taking care of their hands, although we use them constantly and expose them to the elements (water, soap, cold weather anyone?).
Use a hand cream to nourish those hardworking hands and when you step out make sure you use a hand cream with SPF to protect your skin from those skin damaging rays.
Good Quality Shampoo and Conditioner
We all hate bad hair days, so next to a good hair dresser(!), a good quality shampoo and conditioner is essential for looking and feeling great.
Finding the shampoo/conditioner that’s perfect for your hair usually takes tome trial and error, so try out sample sizes first. My personal favorites are the L’oreal Ever Pure or OGX ranges.
A pair of Tweezers
Just a makeup bag essential: a pair of tweezers to pluck any stray hairs and keep your brows looking groomed.
A Glass Nail File
For years I used those carton emery boards and wondered why my nails were in a bad shape. They were always splitting and breaking until I came across a glass nail file. It costs around $10, which I found an investment back then, but I am still using that one today, so it’s actually a bargain! You can keep a glass nail file clean by rising them with water and pat them dry with a clean towel.
These are my essential beauty products. What are your essential beauty products?
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