Beauty habits I believe in

I never worried much about what products I used on my skin until recently… And by that, I mean until I started to notice that my so-called “happy eye wrinkles” are actual signs of aging – at the age of 24. On top of that, my dermatologist disclosed I am now undergoing “adult acne,” which further encouraged me to take skincare seriously and invest in quality products.

If you’re lucky enough to have no signs of aging yet, it’s never too early to start protecting your skin and maintaining a healthier lifestyle in general. This year, I started using a few products to help clean, moisturize and repair my skin. Read about my daily skincare routine below!

Mornings

To start off my day, I wipe my face with Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Toner, and apply Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask afterwards. Don’t let the “mask” part deter you from trying the product – I have found its lightweight, unscented formula is versatile and can be used as a moisturizer.

If you have sensitive skin like me, Summer Fridays is absolutely fabulous. It’s a clean product, meaning it is formulated without harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, and is enriched with vitamins, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients to combat puffy, overworked skin.

When I can, I do my best to limit the amount of makeup I wear. For example, when I get ready for work, I only use mascara and a little bit of blush. The more time I give my pores to breathe, the better!

Afternoons

My #1 healthy beauty tip for all women and men out there is to limit the amount of caffeine they consume and increase their water intake. For a couple months, I’ve been in a love-hate relationship with coffee, as I drink mine with lots of sweetener, making me break out like a jumbo-sized pepperoni pizza. Instead of pressing “order” on my Starbucks app when I am craving an afternoon treat, I opt in for a flavored sparkling water… Great taste with no calories!

Also, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. Since I am terrible at this, I bought a cute Kate Spade tumbler that is constantly refilled and lives at my desk. Having it sit and stare at me every day serves as an excellent reminder.

It’s also easy to snack at work, so I recommend eating foods that are good for your skin:

*strawberries decrease the appearance of dilated pores

*oats relieve dryness and restore moisture and help heal minor irritations

*chicken

*oysters

Two skincare products I use on a daily basis are Vaseline on my lips – your lips need hydration, too – and VIIcode’s Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray, which helps freshen up the eye area and can be used multiple times throughout the day. Perfect for when you have a big meeting coming up and need to look awake 

Evenings

My favorite part of the day is the 25 minutes of “me” time I set aside prior to going to bed. It starts off with cleansing my skin with Clean & Clear Oil-Free Astringent (if your face burns, it means it’s working)!

A huge fan of Summer Fridays, I also invested in their R+R or Overtime masks. Each is a 10-minute, exfoliating mask designed to give your face nutrients it deserves, leaving your skin glowing. I alternate between each one every other night. And, of course, I religiously use the Jet Lag mask as a moisturizer at nighttime, too.

Lastly, I finish off my #selfcare with Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum. Perfect for all skin types, the oil-based, natural serum balances, regenerates and protects your skin. Definitely pricey, but worth every penny.

As a treat, I also use the VIIcode Overnight Eye Mask to help eliminate dark circles and puffy eyes when I wake up. What’s neat about this eye mask is it’s a gel-like, 8-hour treatment, which differs from other sheet masks, doing the work for me as I soak in every hour of much-needed beauty rest.

I hope these products help you as much as they helped and continue to help me. Would love to hear your stories and recommendations, so comment below!