My Skincare Routine

Throughout my entire post-puberty life, I’ve battled with my skin. I had tons of acne in high school that continued through college and then into my twenties. After my pregnancy with Ada, somehow I’ve noticed fewer breakouts. When I do get some zits, they’re usually those huge ones on my jawline. Come to think of it, though, I haven’t had any of those in quite some time.

Regardless, I thought I’d write a quick ditty on my skincare routine because I received some serious compliments yesterday. The kind that made me blush and nervous giggle. Mind you, these comments weren’t from guys looking to flirt or anything like that. The first was the 30-something woman at the hospital lab desk and the second was the checkout lady in her fifties at Wegmans.

After seeing my license, they each said something like:

“You’re almost 32? I thought you were in your early twenties!”

Wow. I mean, just . . . wow.

CLEANSING, ETC.

OK. So, bragging over (but -- c’mon -- I’m struggled with my skin for SO LONG, it’s nice to hear something flattering!), I have made some changes in my skincare routine this year. I’m wondering if it has had any positive impact on my overall complexion. (FYI: My skin is generally combination with more oil on my forehead and nose.)

Here are the products I use on a daily basis. I usually wash my face with the cleanser before bed, followed by the toner and moisturizer.

• Avalon Organics Vit. C Gel Cleanser
• Avalon Organics Vit. C Balancing Toner
• Avalon Organics Vit. C Oil-Free Moisturizer

The line consists of a number of other products, including this Avalon Face Serum I’m thinking of ordering to try out. I noticed a change in the softness and clarity of my skin almost immediately after using all the things in combination. What I like best about these cleaners and lotions besides the results is that they’re 100 percent vegetarian and 70 percent organic. No animal testing either!

EXFOLIATION

After working out in the morning, I usually use St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Now, I’m kind of angry after doing a little research for this post. I’ve been using this scrub since I was a teenager. I’m talking half my life, and it wasn’t tested on animals back then. I haven’t thought to look at the package in ages, but I just uncovered that somewhere along the way, they started testing on animals! I guess after I use up my last bit I’ll try to find a new (sans-microbeads) exfoliator. Grr.

Anyone have a good recommendation?

MAKEUP

Most days, I don’t wear foundation or anything besides moisturizer or sunscreen on my face. (And mascara. Always mascara.) If I’m going to go do something nice or just feel like putting on makeup, I use Too Faced Beauty Balm in vanilla glow.


They don’t test on animals according to this PETA database, so that’s always a bonus. But that’s pretty much it. I’d say I put on BB cream about three or four times a week.

SUNCARE

As far as the sun goes, I try to seek shade as often as possible. I run before 10AM or after 6PM on most days. When we go to the beach, I’m under the umbrella 90 percent of the time. I wear hats otherwise. If I can’t avoid the sun, I usually just slap on some of Ada’s Babyganics Sunscreen SPF 50. It goes on pretty thick and white, but if I rub in in well, it’s not terribly noticeable.


I may check out Lavanila’s Healthy Sunscreen SPF 40. Like Babyganics, it’s mineral-based -- but has less white residue. The only problem is that it’s really expensive and I’ve read it doesn’t handle well with sweat.

I’d love recommendations for a good sport sunblock that is natural, handles loads of sweat, and is cruelty-free.

OTHER STUFF

Otherwise, I just drink lots of water, try to eat loads of fruits + veggies, and get good sleep most nights. I don’t drink any caffeine, I exercise, and -- as I already mentioned -- I do try to stay out of the sun when I can avoid it. I also use the Freeman Dead Sea Minerals Mask (that’s why my face is blue in that first photo) every week or two just for fun. I like how it smells. That’s good enough reason, right?

What’s your skincare routine?

* Links to products above are Amazon Affiliates. Thanks for supporting (never)homemaker. And I genuinely hope you found this post helpful. These are all products I have purchased and tested myself and have used everyday . . . in some cases for over a decade. 

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How to Protect Yourself from the Sun

We got thinking about the whole skin protection program after we discovered that during our marathon training, we were spending at least 7 hours outdoors each week. And that doesn't include non-running time. It's easy to soak in all those rays without thinking about the consequences. After all, it feels good. And some exposure is important to absorbing vitamin D (thanks to Erin from Domestic Adventure for reminding us of that). However, too much unprotected fun can also lead to premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer.

What to do? Well, we've all read the tips in magazines and heard them on the news. We also likely all say we're doing enough to protect ourselves. But, people, it's high time we all start putting the SPF 30 chapstick where our mouth is. Here are some tips and tricks submitted to us by readers, as well as a few of our own.


Cover up from Head to Toe. The sun can't get you if you're wearing clothes. So, if it's not incredibly hot, try wearing longer sleeve items. Slip into some warm weather running tights versus short-shorts. Stick on a hat (I always wear a hat while running because I used to get horribly sunburned on my scalp. It is not fun at all). But if you choose to follow this step, also choose your attire wisely. Of course, some fabric is better than none, but if your singlet is basically see-through, it certainly defeats the purpose.

You may have also heard about the new UV protective clothing. I'm no expert in this area, but I found a site with some active wear (Solartex). If anyone has tried this kind of fabric, we'd love to hear what you think about it!

Tess writes: I always wear a baseball hat or a visor when I run. I have a bunch from work but I've been thinking about getting a proper Nike Running Hat because I think it will be easier to wash. Unfortunately the hat doesn't always cover my whole face (depending the the time of day and position of the sun), but overall I think it's much better than sunscreen.


Image from Amazon

Wear Sunscreen. Yeah. It makes sense. And we all KNOW to wear sunscreen. But I will be honest. I rarely ever slather the stuff on my body (I wear some in my face moisturizer) unless I'm at the beach. Make sure you choose a kind that blocks both UVA and UVB rays (to guard against skin cancer).

Bre from The Red Bungalow writes: I HATE thick sunscreen . . . no matter how little you put on you can still...FEEL it. I started using Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry Touch and I think it does a really good job of not feeling like sunscreen. I also just got some of the spray kind from Costco that I'm going to try out too (I would think this would feel less icky and is really quick to apply).

Iris writes: For over-the-counter I would suggest Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with Helioplex. This one is super dry and soft to the touch. While it protects, it also works to reverse existing damage. A definite plus! It runs around $12. Good deal for the money.

Iris also suggests the following for those of you (like me) who are concerned with breaking out: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Products are great! They range from $20-$60 depending on the SPF level and body specific product. I personally use the 60SPF on a daily basis in the summer. For running purposes I would suggest the 60 Melt in Sunscreen Milk as it's not face-specific but can be used all over your body.

Meg agrees: That Neutrogena Dry Touch stuff is amazing! I have been using it for 2 years. It comes in a small blue and white tube/bottle and it really does feel dry and my skin never gets oily. I wear sunscreen on my face every day, and even most days in the winter. For the rest of me I use Ocean Potion for sensitive skin (pink bottle). It is non-scented! And not thick and greasy either.

And Tess suggests the following brands, if you're especially concerned with staying natural: Loving Natural, Heiko Kids, and Badger.


Protect your Peepers. You don't need to spend a mint to be protected. But during the summer, I often wear both a baseball cap AND sunglasses. Make sure whatever pair you choose -- just like with sunscreen -- blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Protecting your eyes will ensure you can continue your outdoor activities for years to come. Plus, it's much more comfortable than squinting at the sun for 20 miles!


Choose your Workout Time Wisely. Truth is, we know when it's the worst time to head outside for a long run or walk. UV rays are most intense between 10AM and 4PM. And with all that summer heat, it's usually more comfortable to be outdoors earlier or later than these times. If the sun is high in the sky, consider waiting until later in the day to get your sweat on.

Bre (The Red Bungalow) writes: Because I'm so easy to burn, my hubby always makes a point of having us try to do our outdoor activities when the sun isn't at the highest point in the day (when we go to the pool or go for a bike ride we usually go before 11am or after 2:30 or so).

Do What's Right for You (But Consider the Consequences). If you don't find a method that works, you likely won't do anything at all. Becca from FashionFlirt told us the following story that has us shaking in our running flats!

A friend of mine who is an elite marathon runner never wears sunscreen on his long runs because he finds that when he DOES wear sunscreen his ability to sweat normally is compromised. According to him, he finds that when he wears sunscreen, he struggles through his summer runs quite a bit more than he does if he doesn't bother putting on sunscreen at all.

That being said, his skin looks like leather already, and he is my age (28).

We got so many fantastic suggestions, we simply couldn't include them all this morning. So, we're planning another sun care-related post for the near future. If you would like to read all the comments shared with us, head over to the Here Comes the Sun post. And if you have some of your own tips and tricks to share -- please do! Just leave us a comment or email us at neverhomemaker@gmail.com.


And if you haven't already -- be sure to enter our giveaway, which ends this evening at 9PM EST.

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