Finding a good moisturizer, to me, seems to be a parallel of finding the perfect person to spend the rest of your life with. You’ll encounter some that are good for the moment, but not long term…. Some that only work out if you keep them around for a long time, and some that have a really glittery, attractive package (heyoooo!), but are just completely wrong, wrong, wrong.
Fortunately, and this applies to each situation as well, I have a wonderful mother who has done the majority of the lesson-learning for me. I’m pretty sure that she’d assassinate me if I unleashed the secret that is her age in this public forum, but let’s just say she easily looks 15 years younger than her driver’s license “claims” she is.
When it came time for me to venture into the world of skincare, not only did she advise me, but she put together a sample pack of her beloved secret weapons that she’s been using since she was 20 – Clinique products.
Totally! Clinique! Something completely readily available and not horrifyingly expensive (considering the quality of this stuff is worthy of life-long use). Once she got me hooked, I noticed an extreme difference in my skin’s clarity, softness, and overall health.
Here are the products I’d sell one of my kidneys for:
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
$22.50
This stuff works miracles. As I sit here in bed (the same place I’ve been hiding for the last 3 days – being sick sucks!) with a box of kleenex and a bag of Halls, I have the smaller version ($12.50) of this bottle constantly on hand to help heal my completely dry, chapped nosey (too many nose-blowing sessions with low quality TP!) and it’s keeping me alive, I swear. The best part is that you only need a tiny bit in order to cover your entire face, and it absorbs beautifully. I put it on before my i.d. bareMinerals in the morning.
Take The Day Off Makeup Remover
$17.50
This is another product that I use absolutely every day. Mom always told me to never sleep with makeup on and, damnit, you do what Mommy tells you! So this is my go-to for proper removal. Just put a little bit on a cotton ball and you can easily do half of your face with a quick tip o’ the bottle. The only potential setback (for lazy ladies) is that you’ll want to wash your face afterwards, because it is oil based, but as long as you don’t leave the oil on your face, you should be fine.
However, if you have sensitive skin, I recommend…
Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
$16.50
Since this is more of a cream product, it’s a little bit softer on the skin. Unfortunately, it’s only for eye makeup, but it does a hell of a job with mascara!
Last, but not least…
The most deceptively named product of them all. Not only is this called a lotion, but it looks like a toner… and actually is an EXFOLIATOR! It gets rid of all the dead skin flakes while leaving your post-washed face really, really smooth and fresh feeling. It gives you the same tingly effect that any astringent or toner would leave you with, which I absolutely love. I use it after washing, but before moisturizing.
Taking care of your skin becomes increasingly important as we approach the literal depths of winter, which dries out once beautiful skin and sucks the life out of vibrant complexions.
What are your go-to skincare products? Why do you love them?
xoxo.
View Comments (8)
I have perfect skin and I owe it to the following things:
1) Messing with it as little as possible. This means not touching my skin a lot, not picking at it, using gentle face wash and moisturizer and not wearing any powder or foundation.
2) Aspirin mask (miracle mask!) once every 2 weeks. Shrinks pores, clears blemishes, evens complexion and makes skin GLOW. Only cost $1!
3) This product right here (Ole Henrickson Nurture Me Creme):
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P42335&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5674
Grace´s last blog post was The Recessionista's Ultimate Guide to Finances!
OOOUUUUUU Clinique.
I love the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - on my skin, it seems to become less oily throughout the day (though I do love the actual lotion for when I'm sick - it DOES work wonders on chapped noses!)
I LOVE some All About Eyes as well for those mornings where you drag yourself out of bed because you stayed up too late or had one too many the night before. Helps reduce the dark circles and puffiness, and apparently helps keep your eye make up in place!
And finally, the Clinique counter girl got me hooked on their Turnaround Concentrate (because I've got the freckles, so my skin looks uneven sometimes). This stuff is velvety awesome all over your face, and helps control breakouts.
Birdie´s last blog post was Quote!
Like Birdie, I also love the D.D.M. Gel. I have rosacea, and it's the only thing (combined with Clinique's Moisture Sheer Tint SPF15 for light, natural coverage and a dose of sunscreen) that keeps me from getting blotchy, red, and broken-out. (It's also great for perking up your eyes first thing in the morning.)
My go-to for body lotion is simple and inexpensive, too: Cetaphil. My dermatologist recommended it for the "changover months" - from fall to winter and spring to summer - when my skin gets super dry from the change in temperature. He was right on the money: it's the only thing keeping my hands and feet silky.
I am going to switch to clinique after I am done with my stuff. I've heard so much about them!
Fabulously Broke´s last blog post was Total Spend for Second Weekend November 22nd to November 24th!
Jen's definitely right on Cetaphil products - my old roommate's mom was a dermatologist and they both swear by the ultra gentle lotions and cleansers.
Birdie´s last blog post was Quote!
Clinique gel moisturizer is the best!!!!!!!
Like you, I got hooked on Clinique because my mother has been using it forever. She also looks way younger than her age! We always get the Clinique bonuses and trade each other for our fave items. It's a family tradition at this point :)
I found a better product that actually cheaper for both sensitive skin and normal skin. And they have a normal moisturizing makeup remover for your face and a new eye makeup remover and you can get both of them for only 20 dollars. The eye makeup removes waterproof mascara, it's paraben free, and conditions his eyelashes and eyelids. The makeup cream remover works for the entire face to remove industrial and board-way makeup. works as a moisturizer, and melts off any makeup you though its way. It's been around forever and still works for any girl who is ballin on a budget. I use both products everyday and in most cases replaced my soap and water with the original Albolene product. Go to https://www.albolene.com/eye-makeup-remover/ to see the new product that they just came out with and the old one that has been used for decades.