Clean Skin!

Attaining beautiful, flawless skin is something every woman hopes to achieve.  Around this time of the year your skin is yearning for the right products to use.  Think about it you're literally putting your skin through hell : it’s exposed to the freezing cold, wind, snow etc then gets blasted with the heat the second you walk in the door.  A combination of these factors equals dry, flaky, irritated skin that looks bad, but also prevents makeup from going on smoothly.  Here are some tips I can share with you as to how I keep my skin looking amazing even during these upcoming winter months!

Face wash – Choosing the right face wash is crucial to keeping healthy looking skin.  First diagnose what problems your face has.  My face tends to get pimples and be oily on my forehead, down my nose, and around my chin, while also having patches of dryness.  Looking for the correct face wash was not hard at all especially at the Clinique counter.  The people that work there are professionals, and well versed in their products.  All you do is fill out a short survey about your skin, and right after they can tell you what kind of products you need, and even go a step further by helping you with all of the products you need like face wash, toner and a moisturizer.  I was told that I should use their liquid facial soap in mild as my daily cleanser.   This stuff is amazing, and really leaves my face feeling fresh and clean and helps with my problem areas!  They sell this product at any Clinique counter and comes in 3 different variations :

Extra Mild- Very Dry to Dry skin types

Mild- Dry Combination

Oily Skin Formula- Combination Oily to Oily Skin

They cost $16, but remember to consult with a professional first to know exactly which one you should use

Toner- Many people don’t use a toner after they wash their face, but what they realize is that this is just another step that should be included in your face washing regimen.  I use Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion in 2.  This stuff helps to dull flakes on your skin, and clear away pollution that can build up, leaving you with glowing skin.  It helps to make pores look much smaller, and allows for skin to accept and retain moisture better.  Over time your skin will become more resistant to impurities while making it look healthier and younger.  After drying my skin I apply this with a small make up pad or cotton ball to my face and neck.  Right after using it my face feels way more clean than it ever does with just a face wash.  It leaves my skin feeling cool, tingly, and refreshed!  Like my face wash, this toner was chosen by a professional who works at Clinique, so make sure you ask for help before just picking out which toner to get.  This one comes in a couple different formulas:

Mild Clarifying Lotion – for Very Dry to Dry skin

Clarifying Lotion 1- Very Dry to Dry skin

Clarifying Lotion 2- for Dry Combination skin

Clarifying Lotion 3- for Oily Skin

Clarifying Lotion 4 – for Very Oily Skin

These all range in prices due to their sizes.  The smaller size is $12.50 while the larger size is $21.  Although they seem a little pricey they are worth every penny, and last a really long time if you follow the directions.

Moisturizer – After using the above 2 steps it is crucial to use a moisturizer.  I use Clinque’s Dramatically Different Moisturizer.  This has been called the “moisture drink” and was developed to maintain optimal moisture balance for very dry skins, or skins dry in the cheeks, and comfortable to oily in the T-zone.  It’s meant to “soften, smooth and improve”.  This stuff makes my face feel amazing!  It gives my skin enough moisture without feeling oily.  All of these products can be purchased as a set of 3, and should be used together for optimal results.  When using these 3 steps together my face feels clean, reinvigorated  and restored!  You can buy this at any Clinque counter for $13. 

Brush – I only wash my face with a Face Complexion Brush from Sephora.  This little brush not only conserves my face wash, but also gently exfoliates my skin leaving my face feeling cleaner than ever.  What I love about this brush is that I only need one pump of my face wash to get a good lather, instead of my usual 2 pumps without the brush.  It leaves my skin feeling invigorating and extremely smooth.  If you have never tried a face washing brush you have to.  At $5 it’s worth a try!

Those are some of the steps I take to keep my skin looking great.  What are the steps you take?

- Kristen