My Skin Care Routine

I have only had one blogger meet-up within the almost-2 years I've been blogging.  It took place in Vegas this past May with the one and only Diana from My Marble Rye.  In her post about our meet-up, she gave me one of the best compliments.  She said I had "the best.skin.ever." and "it was flawless."  I think that may have been the first time a person has told me that!

Let me preface this by saying I had some pretty horrible skin problems throughout my teenage years.  I would scan in a photo for you but after flipping through my photo albums I realized I don't want to do a slide show of my awkward years on the blog.  Maybe someday.  :)

After years of drugstore acne products, harsh chemicals, medicated foundations and a few facials (where I discovered I am allergic to alpha-hydroxy), my mom finally ordered the product that changed my skin forever.

- Proactiv -

For most of high school and all of college I used Proactiv.  It is AMAZING.  Whenever my mom or I see someone with bad skin we just want to shout out to them, "BUY PROACTIV!"

It worked instantly and without any irritation.  Within a couple of weeks my skin was flawless.  The only complaint I have ever had with this product is that it WILL bleach your towels, pillowcases and washcloths.  (Just switch to white ones as I did years ago, and you won't have an issue.)

When I got a mean flare-up again after college I searched their website and bought the Extra Strength version (betcha didn't know THAT existed) which I have used every day since.  It retails anywhere from $19.95 to $39.95 depending on which system you order and each shipment lasts about 3-4 months.

I use the cleanser, toner and repairing lotion once a day, always in the morning.  The refining mask I don't have to use very often, but my OCD-ness forces me to break it out once a week.  Because I can't stand having any of it leftover when a new order comes in.  Just spread a thin layer on your face, let dry and rinse off .  Also, if I feel a zit coming on I dab a little bit of the mask on it, go to bed and it's gone the next day.

After using Proactiv each morning, I use Nicole Miller's Daytime Delivery lotion with SPF 15.  It's the only moisturizer I have used that doesn't cause breakouts or clogged pores.  I have been using it for years.  It also makes a great base for my foundation.  Which I still use a dab of to cover the dark acne scars from my teenage years.

The Daytime Delivery lotion can only be ordered through Melaleuca and retails for $37.50 (members pay $22.50).  Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse can be found at your local drugstore for around $7.99.

As some of my older readers may remember, I shower at night.  I don't know why I prefer nighttime showers, and most people find it strange, but it works for me.  In the shower I remove my mascara as much as I can with water and I wash my face with Clean & Clear's foaming facial cleanser.  Retails for about $4.00.

At the very end of my shower when my face is nice and clean, my pores are open, and the air is humid I use the best tool of all - my exfoliating gloves.  Ever heard of these?  I'm sure you have probably seen them. These are the one thing that I swear by.  If you take nothing else from this post that's fine, just remember the exfoliating gloves.  They remove all dead/dry skin cells from your face, eliminate blackheads and leave skin silky smooth...

...like a baby's bottom.

Since most breakouts are the result of too much oil and a collection of dead skin cells these will help cleanse your pores more effectively than a scrub.  They are just a tad rough so scrub with caution, but keep in mind that it shouldn't be painful.  Since I keep these in the shower, I throw them in the washer weekly to keep them clean and mildew-free.  I recommend replacing them every 4 months. You can find these at most drugstores as well, I bought mine from Rite Aid for $4.99.

Once out of the shower, I remove the rest of my makeup with Maybelline's Expert Eyes remover.  Just drop a couple drops onto a q-tip.  I used to use baby oil, which works the same way but the bottle kept making a mess when I traveled.  This stuff is remarkably similar.  Retails for about $3.99.

Last but not least, I also have an oily face.  I use powder to try to control it throughout the day but sometimes it's not enough, especially in summer.  So, in addition to powder, I also use Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets.  One pack lasts me months and costs about $4.49.

Clean eating also has an enormous effect on skin's appearance.  Which is another post in itself so I won't get into detail.  But I know if I even think about drinking a pop my skin will break out in anticipation.

(Ignore the sad look on my face...my kettle corn was gone.)

This is what works for me and while I realize it is a lot of steps to take for clear skin - it's well worth the effort.  Skincare is important to me so I want to share my personal preferences and/or recommendations.
So tell me - what are your healthy skin essentials?