My Skincare Routine!

I was 11 years old when the awkward teenage acne stage took over. I was so embarrassed to go to class when all my friends had super smooth skin and I had huge red spots covering my chin and cheeks. I was young when my battle with acne began, and my doctor recommended chemically-enhanced products such as Proactive and Epiduo. These products are filled with powerful ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid that strip your skin of all its natural oils and goodness. They would temporarily help with my acne but then more spots would continue popping up and I developed dry flaky skin. This was not a good look.

Fast forward seven years and I can safely say that after trying and testing countless products that claim to help acne and moisturize your skin, I have finally found my ultimate skin care routine! My skin has never felt softer and my acne and scarring it left behind are virtually gone! And you know what the secret is to have flawless skin? Use all natural products with no added chemicals. My favorite brand is Saje Wellness. Saje is a Canadian company whose mission is to help you feel better, naturally. All of their ingredients are 100% natural, use real essential oils, and utilize only sustainable products. I recently found one of their stores near my house, and I find myself stopping in midday just to look at their products because the store is so relaxing. (Check out their cool store design!)

For my birthday this year, I'm hoping for Saje gift cards! That's how much I love it! :)

The skincare routine that I follow today is basically the complete opposite of my doctor's suggestions. I encourage you to avoid the prescribed acne medicine's doctors are recommending and make the switch to all natural products.

Today I am going to show you the products I use, how I use them, and how it has changed the game for beautiful skin!

Step 1: Remove ALL Your Makeup.

This is crucial. It is extremely important to remove all your makeup before you wash your face to prevent extensive damage that happens when you leave your makeup on. Even if I'm tired and don't want to wash my face after coming home from a late night out, I'll make sure at the very least I'll take my makeup off. And no one likes waking up with crusty foundation and raccoon eyes. That's not a cute look ladies.

To gently remove makeup in the evening, I use Saje Herbal Balm. It's a lash and nail salve that is designed to strengthen your lashes and nails, but it also gently removes eye makeup. I love this because it removes everything from your eyes (even waterproof mascara!) and it feels like a conditioner for my lashes. Whatever product I have left over, I rub onto my nails. I have noticed both my lashes and my nails getting stronger from using this product.

Step 2: Cleanse your Face.

A clean face is a happy face. For this step, I use two products. First, I start with Saje's Zen Cleanse, which is an invigorating facial cleanser that hydrates and refreshes your face and has a creamy consistency. It has ingredients such as avocado, comfrey, and grapefruit that really bring in a lot of moisture into the skin. I use one pump of this cleanser and rub it into my face in circular motions. Then, I bring out the bad boy. His name is Konjac, and he's a 100% plant-based vegetable fiber cleansing sponge enriched with aloe vera. I know what you're probably thinking... wtf is a veggie fiber sponge?? It's this natural plant from Japan and you massage the sponge on your face and neck to help the cleanser go deeper into your skin. Think of it as your skincare version of a beauty blender. You literally only use it for 20-30 seconds and after your skin will feel softer than a baby's bottom! I don't know exactly how it works, but it just does. And get this, this innovative sponge is only $9.95 and lasts up to three months! Step aside beauty blender, we got a new sponge in town!

Step 3: Toners & Serums.

Some people will say that toners and serums are unnecessary, but I believe that they really help keep my skin supple and radiant. I use two products that I alternate between. The first one is Saje's Rose Renewal skin toning lotion. The main ingredient is called rose otto that helps balance the red undertones that I have and neutralizes my skin. I massage it into my skin in a circular motion as my skin quickly absorbs all of its natural properties. The other serum I use is Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum from Dr. Andrew Weil's collection. The main ingredient is the reishi mushroom which comes from China and is called the "mushroom of immortality." We'll have to wait and see if I'm "immortal" but check back in 60 years and I'll let you know!

Step 4: Moisturize.

I have tried every moisturizer under the sun in search of a product that actually provides moisture to my skin. I have found two products, one for AM, and another for PM, that both work really well for me. In the morning I use Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream by Dr. Andrew Weil. It had drastically reduced my redness and sensitivity with its special reishi mushroom ingredient. It is on the pricier side, but one jar will last you around 6 months because you only need a tiny amount for big results. In the PM, I use rose hip oil, which you can find at any organic market such as Whole Foods or Sprouts. It's a pure essential oil that I pat onto my face and neck. I only use this in the evening's because it takes a long time to absorb into my skin. I love using rose hip oil because it corrects dark undereye circles, reduces acne scars, and hydrates dry skin... what's not to love!

Step 5: Sunscreen!

This final step is the most important step in any skincare routine. I plan on making a post in the future that details the importance of wearing sunscreen year-round, but for now I'll tell you about the face sunscreen I use. I'm sure you've all heard of this little company called Glossier, known for its miracle boy brow gel and simple beauty products. They recently launched their first water-gel sunscreen that is SPF 35 and doesn't leave a white cast or greasy residue on the skin. It's free of harmful chemicals and does not smell like traditional sunscreen. I use this sunscreen every morning to survive the California summer.

And there you have it, my all-natural skincare routine that is perfect for anyone who suffers from acne or dry skin. I am really passionate about skincare and using the right products on my face, which is why I wanted to share this post with you all. As college students, we need to take care of out skin now, while we are young.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I hope you have a fabulous Wednesday, and I'll see you this Sunday with another Back 2 School post.