Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Beauty Update Part 1 – Skincare

October 2, 2023

So, it was a summer of a lot of trial and error and tossing out of products that did not work for me. And I want to emphasize those words “for me” because, as with most beauty and skincare products, your mileage will vary. What works for one does not work for all. And I’m 60 years old and not 20 so let that inform what you read here. With those caveats in place, let’s roll!

Cleanser – I found two Milk Makeup Vegan Cleanser minis at my local TJ Maxx, snapped them up and have used them since late July early August. I’ve used this cleanser before and really liked it so I decided to revisit it. It’s gentle, rinses clean, and takes off a good amount of makeup. That said, I’ve also been using the Garnier Micellar Water (regular formula) for a first cleanse at night when I wear makeup. Edit – my Garnier got used up and so I bought the Bioderma Micellar Water with the pink cap. I actually like it better – rinses cleaner.

Toner – Still using the new Alcohol Free Neutrogena Toner that I picked up earlier this year. It’s basic – finishes cleansing and doesn’t leave my skin dry or stripped. No alcohol, no actives, and no fragrance. I also have a mini Laneige Cream Skin Toner that I’ll use when it gets colder. It is pretty moisturizing and you can use too much so it’s a little trial and error there but overall it works well.

Moisturizer – I finally used up my Drunk Elephant La La Retro Moisturizer last month and I’ve bounced around with a couple of sample items that didn’t work, so I decided to crack out the Farmacy Honey Halo moisturizing cream that a daughter in law gave me. I used it a little earlier this year and figured it was time to actually use it on the daily to see how it works. I wasn’t sure at first that it moisturized enough but after two weeks of using it morning and night it was working okay. So will be using this until it’s finished. Edit – the Farmacy is now gone and after bouncing around again, I’m trying the Aveeno Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer.

Exfoliation – I found Pixi’s Clarity Tonic To Go wipes at TJ Maxx on clearance a few months ago and picked them up to try them out. The formula wasn’t harsh and I think they worked ok. I used them twice a week but they did make my skin sensitive the day after using them even when using sunscreen so I dropped them. I’d been hearing a lot about Aveeno’s Calm and Restore Nourishing PHA Facial Exfoliator and decided to try it since it has received very high marks. And it is really good! It uses very gentle chemical exfoliation – what is called PHA – and it’s really subtle but it does work. My skin is smoother and there is no irritation from this at all. I use it 2 to 3 times a week and will probably continue using it since my skin is tolerating it very well. This step is one I really need as my skin gets drier and sloughs less on its own now.

Sunscreen – I had been using a sample of Dr. Dennis Gross All Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen and went ahead and ordered the full size because I love it so much. A few years ago Sephora had a different version of this in a sun safety kit and I liked that one too so decided to get it again. This one is lightweight and it smooths into the skin very well. It plays well with my moisturizer and makeup as well which is a bonus. I will say I only use a small amount to cover my face which works for me. I tried using the 2 or 3 finger method for SPF with another product and dried the crap out of my skin. So, I’m going back to using the smallest amount that works for me and I’m fine with that. Oh, and it is a zinc oxide product with an SPF of 30. I will say that the zinc oxide seems to be more drying than titanium dioxide so I think I might test that theory out.

And so that is it – yep, those are the only skincare products I am using right now. Keeping it very simple and my skin is doing well with it. I am playing around with dropping my sunscreen and using my makeup with sunscreen to see what the differences are. And, as stated above, may play with zinc oxide vs titanium dioxide sunscreens as well to see if one is more drying than the other. Tomorrow I’ll post about what makeup products I am using but, again, I’m keeping it simple. It just makes life easier and keeps decision fatigue at bay when you have favorites you love and a simple routine. I enjoy wearing makeup, but I just don’t need a lot or desire a lot anymore.

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» Beauty Update Part 1 – Skincare » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Beauty Update Part 1 – Skincare

October 2, 2023

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