At one point in my life I thought my skin was what it was and I couldn't necessarily change it but just make it not as bad. I had a very dry t zone, very flaky on my nose and brow. One day while walking through The Bay a lady at the Estee Lader counter stopped me for one of those mini make overs. She showed my some skin care and a basic look. I was super impressed with how much moisture she added to my skin and I was sold.
That didn't solve my problem but it was a huge improvement. I was hooked, maybe for a couple years I used the two products I deemed most important as I couldn't realistically afford the whole skin care line.
I later discovered Mary Kay skin care. I was a loyal user for a year or so before starting my own business. Mary Kay skincare changed my skin, none of the severe dryness, the colour was more balanced, it was amazing. I've been quite devout in caring for my skin for the past 10 or 12 years.
The difficult thing about writing about skincare is that all of our needs are different. Majority of us have sensitive skin and we all have different preferences with what textures and smells, or lack there of, we prefer in our skincare products.
No matter what your skin type there are some basic skin care chores we can all do that our skin will thank us for. I can't offer you any science about this, only the testimony of my youthful skin.
my skin care chores
Skin chore number one is a daily chore, I cleanse my skin. Wash the world away and give your face a fresh start with a quick cleanse. With my cleanser I only need the amount of a pea. I use my fingertips to lightly work into my skin in a circular upward motion. The only exception is on your nose, when cleansing your nose move in a downward motion.
Skin chore number 2 is a weekly microdermabrasion scrub. I love the Mary Kay microdermabrasion because the scrubby bits are perfectly fine and only requires a tiny bit. If using a fine scrub for the first time use very little to begin with. My tip for using microdermabrasion is to move your fingers in the same upward circles as your cleanser. After a moment of this, rinse your hands, and with them quite wet go and repeat the cleansing motion. Be very gentle and kind to your skin when applying any scrub.
Skin chore number 3 is hydrate! I do this a couple of ways and is not to be mixed up with moisturizing. I hydrate my skin 1-2 times a week depending on time of year with a hydrating gel. I apply this gel before I apply moisturizer (after cleansing my face). I love the MK hydrating gel because it is so lightweight. This gel is also a god send for minor burns. The other hydrating option is a gel mask. I use this mask perhaps once a month in the fall and winter months. I find this gel mask hydrates deeply and leaves my skin feeling fresh and strong.
There is one more skin chore - always remove your eye make up! The skin around your eyes is much thinner and more delicate than the skin on the rest of your face. Wash off your eye make up at night so that it does not dry out your eyes and your skin overnight.
I love to take care of my skin, this year it has been tougher and I definitely got quite lazy with my habits. When I saw my mum at Christmas and admitted that to her she looked at me like I was nuts and she wouldn't be having any more of that behaviour from me. She taught me better than that.
Not wearing eye make up as often anymore but I am caring for my skin daily. If you listen to the pink bubble episode I talk with Sonya and Shirley about some of the great things we got out of our Mary Kay businesses, one of them was definitely confidence with skin care and using make up.
What are my goals? To just keep at it really, keep the good habits, keep trying new products although I'll likely still prefer Mary Kay.