My Current Skincare Favorites

As I might have mentioned before, Winter isn't exactly my best friend. I mean I appreciate the snow and think it looks lovely but the brutal low temperatures and wind hurt my skin terribly. As a child I had eczema and many allergies so I was used to having sensitive skin. I often used cortisone creams to help combat my patchy dry skin without much success. As an adult I've outgrown the eczema and allergies but my skin is still tremendously sensitive, especially in the winter.

I've tried many lotions, creams, and serums for my "combination" skin (a mix of oily/dry) and had not found my perfect combination until recently! So far this winter, my odd combination of higher end and drug store (really it's mainly drug store) have really helped me and I hope you find them helpful too :) 

I'll start with the cleansers. As a teen I developed Peri-oral dermatitis (yes, I've had quite a unique skin history), and hated it. I mean who really enjoys having difficult skin but can you imagine being 13/14 years old, starting high school, and having dry patchy skin specifically by your mouth?! It looked horrible and was so uncomfortable. My dermatologist at the time recommended Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (on sale!). It's a gentle face cleanser, sold at drugstores, that was a thicker liquid that cleansed without water. It's been a Holy Grail product for me ever since, and we're talking 10 years now. It helped my skin so very much, and over time I discovered my peri-oral dermatitis was an allergic reaction I was having and has since gone away, but the Cetaphil cleanser stayed in my skincare routine. It's gentle and keeps the face very moistureized. I like to use it in the morning as a way of prepping my face and moisturing my face before I put makeup on. 

My second favorite cleanser is the Simple Foaming Cleanser and I use this like I'd use the Cetaphil cleanser but I like to use the Simple Cleanser to help me remove my makeup. I do use makeup remover wipes but the foaming cleanser is so gentle (it doesn't hurt if you accidentally get some in your eyes) and takes my makeup right off! I usually use this at the end of the day. 

Lush Dream Cream was sent from heaven. I truly believe it was. After a long day and a warm shower I lather myself up in this cream and it leaves my skin, so soft! I discovered it one day about 3 years ago on my first time to Lush. Of course, the employees convince you that everything in their store is fabulous and most of their stuff is but I instantly fell in love with this cream. It's a thicker consistency, and if you have dry skin this is for you! I use it more in the winter because it is so thick but it's so great. I  use it daily during the winter months and it's saved my skin!

Aztec Secret Bentonite Indian Healing Clay was a recently discovery, and I found it as I wandered around Whole Foods looking for organic skin and beauty products. I had also been recommended this mask by a friend who said she loved it. After my first time using it, I loved it. It removed my stubborn chin acne after one use. I don't have severe acne so I don't know how it would work in those cases but I did enjoy the tingling sensation and loved how my skin looked afterwards. I mixed equal parts clay and water, and left it on for about 15 minutes. I washed it off and by the end of the day, my skin looked clearer. This and a little bit of Lush's dream cream, and you're good to go. 

When I'm feeling fancy I use the
Sephora Pomegrante Face Mask and it has really brightening up my face. I don't know how it does it but it does! Sephora has many face masks but this by far is my favorite. So after a long wintry day, I'll put this on and pretend I'm at a spa in the Caribbean :)

Christian Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm is also for when I'm feeling fancy and feel like splurging. It's definitely the most expensive lip balm I've ever purchased but I'm a sucker for the Rose scent. It smells so good! It says it's a plumping lip balm but I haven't seen that affect on my lips. It's very moisturizing and very smooth. As much as I recommend face and body moisturizers, your lips should be just as important! :)

What are some of your skincare favorites? Share them below. 

Stay Warm,

Maia