Beauty Routine.

I wrote awhile ago about the stress-induced chaos my skin was enduring, which was so annoying to me.  I mean, hello, I’m in my 30s, aren’t I supposed to be enjoying solid, blemish-free skin for a few years before I get into serious wrinkle territory?  I’m SO freaking excited that I’ve gotten my skin under control and it’s now better than ever.  Now I look like this:

LOLOLOL.  J/k.  I look like that plus the darkest black circles under my eyes and actually nothing like her at all.  But, #goalz.  I thought I’d share what works for me after a ton of frustration and trial and error.  (I tried errrrything.  I was even close to trying some intimidating Korean skincare with snail droppings in it.  No joke.  Look it up, it’s a thing.)  Here’s my beauty regimen:

+Every morning, wash with Proactiv ($33).

+Tone with SKII facial toner ($76).  This stuff is $$$ and I feel like I go through a lot of it.  But I think it might be the secret weapon.  It doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry like some toners — but it really balances things out.

+Slather on La Mer soft cream ($170).  I know this stuff is wicked pricey but I swear to God, it’s the best thing ever.  It moisturizes SO well, it’s not greasy, and a little bit goes a long way.  I had been trying to get by with less expensive moisturizers for years, but this stuff is the best.  My skin has never ever looked better.

+Apply undereye cream.  I am using La Mer eye balm intense ($200) and I’m a huge believer.  I think you could probably get by with something less pricey (I also like Shiseido’s White Lucent brightening eye cream, $55), but this stuff is no joke.  They give you a funny looking little applicator that not only feels great (cooling!) but also prevents you from using too much (or letting some of it absorb into your fingers!)  So it lasts a long time.

GUYS.  This combo has totally changed my life.  I realize it’s a very pricey regimen but I was at my wit’s end!  And I am so happy every time I look in the mirror.  #WorthIt

Then I apply makeup for the day.  I’m not one of those lucky people who just “throws on some mascara and heads out the door” — one of my sisters follows this regime and I’m very envious.  She’s a badass.  But, I love makeup and, why not look a little better if I can?  My roundup:

+Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer ($44)

+Nars radiant creamy concealer ($29) — this stuff is pretty good; I like that it sort of doubles as a highlighter and goes on smoothly, but I will admit it can look a little cakey if you’re not careful.  Sometimes I dab it on with a moistened BeautyBlender ($20) so that it reduces the potential for cakiness and goes on a little lighter.  If I am really looking tired, or need my makeup to stay put for like 12 hours, I use Kevyn Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer ($48).  This stuff is like stage paint.  You can thin it out with a beauty blender, but it covers a whole manner of sins.  I’ve heard people use it over scars and stuff.  #PowerProduct.

+Hourglass ambiant lighting powder ($46) — I put a light coat of this in the ethereal light color on some days to set my tinted moisturizer/concealer.  It’s super light and looks really natural.

+Guerlain bronzing powder ($53).  I wore Nars for like centuries but found I was having to re-buy/re-stock all the time because the palette would break/crumble and I’d go through a bronzer in like a month.  This Guerlain stuff lasts like 4x as long.

+Bobbi Brown’s blush in Pale Pink ($28).  I’ve worn this shade of blush for like a decade.  It’s a great, poppy pink and I swear that my blush has lasted me a few years.  It’s probably time to pitch it and get a new one but a dab’ll do ya.  I layer a little swipe of this over my bronzer every day for a sunkissed-but-flushed look.

+See yesterday’s post for all the details about my mascara situation.  Short answer: DiorShow.  If I’m heading out for the night, I’ll wear Stila eyeliner ($22).  I LOVE the applicator — it’s really easy to use and it doesn’t dribble everywhere.  I’m prone to skip eyeshadow on most days, but if I need something, I like these cream eyeshadows from Bobbi Brown ($29).  Really good colors and I like that you can adjust the intensity easily without powder shadow getting all over your cheeks.

+I’ve been applying RMSBeauty luminizer ($38) to my cheekbones, browbone, and nose as a last step.  It kind of gives you a dewy finish.

+Glossier’s Boy Brow eyebrow gel/color.  This stuff is great.  It comes in a small tube that almost looks like a sample size, but it does last a decent amount of time, to my astonishment!

+LIPSTICK.  I’m a huge fan of Nars’ colors.  Lately I’ve been wearing their dark pink Angela color ($28) in their Audacious Lip formula.  It’s such a fun pop of color but not neon or anything so I feel I can wear it during the work week without looking like a clown.  I also like Nars’ Roman Holiday or Brigitte as everyday colors.

So that’s that.  At night, I remove all makeup with these Neutrogena wipes ($6) and use Almay makeup remover pads for my eye area (the Neutrogena ones have some sort of astringent that will burn your eyes!).  Then I apply Korres’ Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($48).  This stuff smells SO good.  Sort of like clean laundry and roses.  If you’re sensitive to scents, though, I wouldn’t recommend it — it’s a pretty strong, lingering scent that I now love and associate with bedtime.  I wake up every morning feeling so moisturized and bright.  I also put on more eye cream.

Finally, at least once a week, I either put on a mask (I’m obsessed with this $26 rose clay mask from Origins) or use a scrub (I like Kate Somerville’s 2 Minute Facial, $24+).

So that’s that.  What other suggestions do you have???