My Complete Skin Care Routine & Skin Care Products I love

I was asked on my Formspring page today if I had a skincare post and I realized that I do have a "how I got clear-er skin post" but I don't actually have a post outlining my daily and weekly skincare routine, so it's about time I do one!

I will divide this into sections to make it easier to follow:

Cleansers:

Morning and night, I use the La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel and Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Foam Wash mixed together. I have NO idea why I started mixing them or if it's better than not mixing them, but one day, I mixed them and convinced myself it was necessary.  So yeah, I'm odd like that.

The other La Roche Posay product is a scrub called Physiological Ultra-Fine Scrub for Sensitive Skin.  I only use this occasionally, maybe a couple of times a month as an exfoliator.  I like it---the beads are really teeny and it's not irritating to the skin but still gets the job done.

Treatments:

I use these Philosophy Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads about 5 nights a week.  After I cleanse my skin, I use half a pad (I cut them in half) on my forehead, cheeks and nose.  I tend to stay away from my chin with some products because my chin/jaw area was my problem area when I had really awful acne so I'm still very much in preventative mode for that area.

The Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel is my HG eye cream and I use it every night before bed. I ONLY use this at night because that's how it's meant to be used. It's too sticky for daytime.  I love how it keeps eyes smooth and the skin in that area firm.

I know God loves us because he created this amazing mask.  The Proactiv Refining Mask is truly God's gift to anyone with breakout-prone skin.  I use this EVERY night preventatively, and yes, my husband sees me with white dots all over my face.Very sexy.  Anything for clear skin though, right?  Basically, I put a dot of this mask anywhere I feel a pimple might pop up or sometimes I just dot it somewhere randomly, because I'm paranoid. Bless this mask.

And now, another product from the heavens. This La Roche Posay Targeted Breakout Corrector (which you can't get on LRP's U.S. website anymore but you can get it on Amazon--thank God!) is truly an HG product for me and has been for many many years. My dermatologist recommended it when I was in the depths of acne despair and I still use it to this day preventatively. Okay, so maybe I used that word a lot. I basically use a dot or two of this stuff every night, on my chin area, layered UNDER the Proactiv mask (this is key.) I kind of just put it on any vulnerable areas that have been know to have satanic-style breakouts in the past (can you tell I'm still emotionally scarred by it all?)

I still use my Kiehl's Avocado Eye Treatment on occasion and keep it on my nightstand.  I still love it and it's ultra-moisturizing.  I tend to use it on nights I forget to put my Ole Henriksen eye cream on or just when I feel like a change.

Masks:

The Origins Clear Improvement active charcoal mask is pretty awesome.  I like to use this once a month or so.  It just smooths out my skin, soaks up oil and overall is lovely. Sorry it's so dirty. Clearly, I use it.

The Boscia Luminizing Black Mask is a lovely mask as well. More than anything though, it's fun.  Is it worth it to pay $34.00 for fun? I don't know, but for me, I guess it was.  I use this about once or twice a month and you basically apply a very thick coat of it all over your face and then when it dries you get to peel it off and it's awesome (and maybe it sort of hurts like a tiny little bit...it's good pain, though.)

side note:  Okay...I'm coming to the conclusion that my husband has indeed seen my face in many, many forms of insanity.  My favorite thing is to put these dark masks on and "surprise" him when he walks into the bathroom. LOL.  He doesn't scary very easily. He just tells me I look like an alien. I made him try the Origins mask one day. Shhhh! Don't tell!

Moisturizer:

A kind reader pointed out that I had forgotten to include my moisturizer when I originally posted this, so here it is. I use Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Moisturizer. I've been using it for years and absolutely love it.  It's light, it absorbs well, doesn't clog pores or smell weird. I really recommend this product.

Miscellaneous:

I use Target brand eye makeup remover and love it. That is all. It had me at hello. 

"OMG Veronika, you weirdo, why are you posting your birth control pills on your blog?"  Yep, I'm asking myself that question too.  Here's the thing. Without these magical pink pills (YAZ, to be exact) I'm not sure what my skin would look like, and I'm incredibly afraid to find out. I do really think that for me, birth control makes a huge difference in how my skin looks.  There are a few FDA approve BCPs for acne treatment, and YAZ is one of em'.

Another La Roche favorite. This sunscreen not only has awesome SPF 60 protection (I only use this on my face) but it also has an incredible mattifying effect on the skin and actually makes makeup stay on LIKE WHOA!  I'm not sure how it does what it does, but I'm willing to shell out the $30 or so dollars for this greatness in sun protection. It's called Anthelios suncreen. It's a fluid sunscreen so you just need a tiny bit to spread on your entire face. So good. Can't rave enough about it!

Lastly, here's the stuff I keep in my nightstand drawer. For lips and hands. Nuff' said!

I hope this was helpful and sorry it took me so long to do this post! If you have any questions, please ask in the comments below or on formspring!

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- I totally forgot to throw my Calrisonic Face Brush into the equation.  I'd say I use it two times a week, MAX (I have the Calrisonic Mia, in pink, of course).  I use it when I have 1) dry patches, 2) unevenness or 3) before applying self tanner to the face. 

Should've Said No: La Roche Posay Acne Cream Review- My Skin is Peeling and Burning Off

This morning my email inbox greeted me with this:

Umm...what a coincidence since this was the exact product I was going to post about. I mentioned in a previous post that I had accidentally purchased the above product instead of my beloved La Roche Posay Targeted Breakout Corrector acne treatment (that I use preventatively if I feel a pimple coming on.) Note the differences:

The one on the left is my beloved "Targeted Breakout Corrector" and the one on the right is the enemy!

I purchased the new acne treatment last Friday. I decided to try it out on an area on my chin where I thought I might have a pimple thinking it was similar to the other formula. I was wrong. So very very wrong.

I knew something wasn't right when my skin was unusually red and splotchy the next morning, but I brushed it off. I didn't ever imagine it would get as bad as it is.

I continued to use the product and by Monday I had a large pimple develop. I squeezed it (I know, I know) and put this cream over it. Worst idea ever. Now my entire chin area (both left and right sides) is peeling so badly that even my makeup just peels right off throughout the day. I have slept with Eucerin Calming Cream slathered onto my skin and it's not getting better. (HELP!)

Here's what it looks like with makeup on: (gross, peeling)

This is after using my Clarisonic brush to try and slough off the dry, peeling skin (my skin hasn't looked this horrible in years! why oh why did I switch my routine?)

...and here's what my skin is like now, slathered with Eucerin (I am also peeling anywhere else the cream touched my skin:)

Sooo attractive, I know. My husband loves this look!  

I'm not really sure what else I can do to stop this peeling. I am using the richest cream I own but it just seems to continue to peel and be super dry every day. If anyone has any tips, please for the love of God tell me! (I might try Aquaphor next- let me know if you think that might help!)

Before I go on, I want to say I LOVE LA ROCHE POSAY PRODUCTS! Their face wash, sunscreen and the other acne treatment I use are my HOLY GRAIL products, but this one is just too strong for my sensitive skin and didn't work for me.  Like completely destroyed my skin (thank God I only used in in my chin area.)  I do love everything else from their line that I've tried, so this is NOT a product-bashing post, just a warning.
 

I wanted to warn you ladies because I talked about the product when I bought it and I don't want anyone else with sensitive skin to go out and get it and hurt their skin like I have (and yes, it actually hurts from being so dry, peeling and cracking.)  

In other news, I had an event last night and I wore my tried and true Club Monaco Dress:

and here's some shots of Candice and I at the actual event (thank goodness the lighting in these pics is hiding the peeling!)

funny how in the darker photo our hair looks completely different (darker):

Thank you so much for reading!  Have you ever used a product that messed up your skin or hair? Let me know in the comments below...

and, as always, ask me anything- on formspring!

xoxo,

Veronika.

27, Sunscreen Rave & Birthday Wrap-Up

It's 12:02 a.m. right now, which means my 27th birthday is officially over, and it was such a great one!

I started my day today with a Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte and a spinach egg wrap.  Perfection. If only every day could start that way.

Then my husband some friends and I headed to the Four Seasons for some pool time (because really, you can't ever really have enough pool time.)  There were a lot of people there so we didn't stay long, but it was fun and relaxing nevertheless.

After the pool we had mexican food as a late lunch and called it a day.  I spent the rest of the afternoon watching TV and taking naps.

As I woke from one of my naps, I realized I needed to kick it into high gear because um, our bed is coming in tomorrow.  We ordered the West Elm Diamond Tufted Headboard and a new bed frame and it has arrived so we are going to pick it up tomorrow.

I have spent the last 4 hours or so cleaning my entire house. Sometimes I go on these cleaning rampages and I just don't stop until everything is spotless.  I think the cleaning fumes have gotten to me, lol.

Our new bed is my birthday present from my husband and I can't wait to show it to you guys!  Our bedroom is very neglected decor-wise, because I wanted to focus my decor efforts (and budget) on rooms we hang out in all of the time (ie: our living room area.) I can't wait to give our bedroom some much-deserved TLC!  I'm going to get new bed sheets too...and throw pillows...but don't tell my husband... I have a pillow addiction so I have to nonchalantly just buy them at the register acting like nothing's goin' on! (I hope he doesn't read this hehe!)

(this is our headboard, but in the color "otter" which is a darkish gray)

Now onto a review. I mentioned a few posts ago that I had purchased La Roche Posay's new fluid sunscreen (called Anthelios SPF 60).  This is a product I feel is going to be a HG product for me, for so many reasons:

1.  It's a fluid, so you don't have to use a lot and it spreads so easily

2. No harsh scent

3. Leaves skin matte

4. Doesn't look or feel like you are wearing sunscreen

5. Looks incredible under makeup

6. Makeup still looks great hours later, even after being in the sun

 

I believe I paid $29.00 for a bottle of this sunscreen, but since I only use it when I'll be outside for long periods of time (like pool days) the cost feels justified to me.  I really love it.  I know Kiehl's has come out with a similar product called Super Fluid UV Defense but I haven't tried that one.  It is a bit pricier than the LRP sunscreen.

I will definitely post pictures tomorrow. Thank you again to everyone who left lovely comments and birthday wishes. I appreciate you all <3

xoxo,

Veronika.

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