A Beautiful Canvass

Good skin is the best base for makeup application. Your foundation and concealer will go on smoothly and evenly, plus you will use less product. Having good skin does not mean spending hours having expensive procedures done and having a whole cabinet of beauty potions. You can save a ton by choosing a few products that will effectively address your specific skin needs and by religiously sticking to a routine that will give you your desired results.

I have been following my skin care regimen for 3 years and most of the products I use are very inexpensive. I have oily skin with few areas of discoloration and the products I use are meant to address oily skin and pigmentation.  Just a quick note: I am not a dermatologist, have no medical background, nor am I being paid to promote the brands mentioned. This regimen is just a suggestion of what other gals (and boys, too) with the same skin problem can incorporate into their own routine.

My arsenal of skin care stuff (L-R):
NeoStrata Face Cream Plus & Eye Cream; skin-etc.com
Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser; PCX or Rustan's Supermakret
J&J Baby Oil; any supermarket or drugstore :)
T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Astringent; Health Options
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, Rustan's
Ocean Potion Clear Zinc Oxide SPF 45; drugstore.com
Kiehl's Sodium PCA Oil-Free Misturizer; Kiehl's Greenbelt 5
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm SPF 15; drugstore.com

1. Cleanse

I have been using Neutorgena Deep Clean for over a year and this stuff really removes oil without drying the skin. On days I wear makeup, I massage my face with some Baby Oil to loosen grime and then wipe it off with a moist tissue or cotton pad. Baby Oil is espeacially great for removing mascarra and eyeliner down to the last trace. Plus, it's so cheap and multi-purpose!

2. Tone

Toner is optional, in my opinion. It can make skin dry and blotchy when overused due to its alcohol content. I tend to apply toner on days when my skin feels extra greasy or dull. I use witch hazel astringent since it is natural, non-drying and has anti-oxidant properties. Did I mention, very inexpensive, too?

3. Moisturize

My dermatologist introduced Neostrata to me years ago to reduce breakouts and oily skin. I have been hooked since then! I currently use Neostrata Face Cream Plus and it really improves the skin's texture and tone, plus I have never had a painful, red bump since I started using this stuff. I use this every other night only since the formulation is quite strong. It is packed with 15% glycolic acid which gently exfoliates dead cells from skin and has the potential to reduce hyperpigmentation, acne scars and fine lines. This is the most expensive thing I use for my skin regimen, but a full tube will last me over a year. I would also recommend Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle from drugstore.com. It contains 12% glycolic acid and costs half the price of Neostrata.

On the neck, I use my Kiehl's moisturizer every night. I also moisturize the entire face with Kiehl's on the nights I do not apply Face Cream Plus. 

For the eyes, I apply a tiny dot of Neostrata Eye Cream on my ring finger and GENTLY pat (do not rub!) the cream underneath the eyes, starting from the outer corner, moving my way towards the inner corner. An alternative to eyecream is petroleum jelly, it protects and moisturizes the sensitive area around the eyes. Make sure to use a really teensy bit since petroleum jelly is greasy and can weigh down the thin skin around the eyes.

4. Protect

Sunscreen is probably the best preventive to wrinkles and dark spots. My current favorites are Ocean Potion Zinc Oxide and Laura Mericier Tinted Moisturizer. And of course, the lips! The lips need some sun protection too. I love using Blistex because it's cheap, hence, I can apply this very generously.

5. Last, but not least, SMILE! :) Smiling relaxes tense facial muscles, hence preventing droopy lips and eyes and keeps premature wrinkles at bay.

Having good skin does not have to cost an arm and a leg. You can customize your own skin care to fit your own needs and budget. Now, that's another reason to smile. :)

Toodle-loo, for now! :)

Ria