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I can’t believe it’s almost 2024. This year went by in a flash, and while I’m ready to bring in a new year, I have found myself reflecting on this past year: What worked and what did not; where do I need to improve and where am I doing an awesome job. Self care is an area of my life that needs some focus, and so I started with skincare.
I made my skin a priority this year after my dermatologist informed me that the brown spots appearing on my face were here to stay. Just as exercising, drinking lots of water, eating right and sleeping well is important for our bodies to feel their best, our skin needs some tender loving care if we expect it to age gracefully. I generally follow the simple skincare routine written out below:
Morning: cleanser, vitamin c serum, niacinamide followed by hyaluronic acid (I am still searching for which brands I like best for these two products, so they are not listed in my favorites round up), moisturizer, sunscreen
Evening: cleanser, exfoliant, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer
Some favorite finds from 2023 include the following…
La Roche-Posay Moisturizer and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser. I noticed that my cleanser and moisturizer didn’t seem to be cleansing and moisturizing as well as I wanted them too. My face never felt truly clean and my skin barrier was damaged. Changing to La Roche-Posay moisturizer and cleanser was a total game changer in cleaner, less dry skin.
My makeup wipes weren’t getting the job done, and so I went searching for a great cleansing balm. The Juno Cleansing Balm topped many of the best cleansing balm lists and also has tons of great reviews online. I love the way this product feels, and it removes every bit of makeup on my face. I always follow up with my La Roche-Posay facial cleanser for an extra clean face.
I was nervous that starting a skin care routine would cause breakouts, but Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting Exfoliant has helped keep my skin blemish free. I use this once a day at night after cleansing my face.
A Vitamin C serum was a must (recall the aforementioned brown spots) and so I chose the Vichy LifeActiv Vitamin C Serum. I noticed my skin much brighter in a week or two. As with most Vitamin C serums, make sure you follow up with a good sunscreen (yes, you need to wear sunscreen 365 days a year!). I wear Elta MD every day to protect my skin and to heal some redness I have from postpartum hormones.
With so many products to choose from, I found starting a skin care regime daunting, and so I decided to keep it simple for both my skin’s sake and my sanity. I hope these favorites make it onto your skincare shelf, and let me know which skincare products you fell in love with in 2023.