Mom’s Skincare Routine
Mom tries to keep her skincare routine as simple as possible. She is always researching and trying new things to help improve her skin color, texture and fine lines. The easier the skincare the more likely you will be consistent. As always Chic for Cheap tries to find ways to have the best products at an affordable price. Take a look at the different choices we have, some are very affordable and others are a little more pricey.
Mom’s Morning Skincare Routine:
Step 1 Wash: Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser
A theme that you will see throughout our journey besides always looking for ways to budget and still look Chic is how sensitive Mom’s skin is. So products and clothes that she picks not only have to be budget-friendly but also skin sensitive. The products she uses are usually fragrance-free and for the most part for sensitive skin. She starts off the morning using something very gentle Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser. Just a little something to wet your face and make it feel nice and fresh but not drying.
Step 2 Vitamin C: Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster
Vitamin C Timeless Skincare 20% Vitamin C Ferulic Acid Vitamin E
SkinCeutical CE Ferulic
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF
Vitamin C serums are an important step to skincare and have several benefits. It helps with hydrating, brightening, the texture of your skin, collagen production, and helps to protect against sun damage.
SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid and Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid is the leader in this product category and will run you $166 and has all the research behind them. If you can afford to splurge this is a place to spend your money. Mom personally chooses the budget route and purchases something very similar at a fraction of the cost. She is a long-time user of Timeless Skin Care – 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum $17.95 for .5 oz. They ship to Hawaii and their service has been fabulous. First-time orders can get 20% off and free shipping with a $50 order.
Second (but not necessarily second to Timeless) is Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster. Paula’s Choice is a little pricer at $49 for .67 oz, but this is still a better price point than SkinCeuticals. Both formulas come very fresh and you can determine this by the color of the liquid. It should start clear and as it ages turns yellow. The darker yellow that it turns the less effective it becomes. Because the price point is so good Mom doesn’t feel she has to skimp on usage and puts it on the back of her hands. Some people use it on their chest.
Step 3 Serum (Extra hydrate optional): L’Oréal Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Timeless Skincare Coenzyme Q10
If you want to add a little extra bang (hydrate) Mom has been using Coenzyme Q10 Serum or L’oreal Revitalift 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid is supposed to help maintain water and keep your face moist which reduces the appearance of fine lines.
Step 4 Moisturize: Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Mom’s next step is to moisturize with CeraVe PM. CeraVe facial moisturizing lotion PM is a very budget-friendly product that packs a big punch with Ceramides, Niacinamide, and Hyaluronic acid. All three of these ingredients are key for younger-looking skin. Hyaluronic Acid helps to bind water to collagen to make your skin look more hydrated and fuller. Niacinamide has many great benefits as well including retaining moisture, reduce inflammation, reduce pore size, protects against sun damage, and lightening dark spots. Lastly, ceramides help to retain moisture as well which can lead to smoother skin.
Step 5 Eye Cream (Optional): Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Probably one of THE most important skincare products is sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your face against damaging UV rays. Sunscreen could and should have its own separate post. In short, if you do all the work of putting on the creams and washing your face but don’t wear sunscreen, you’re basically working against all your hard work. So, if nothing else at least wear sunscreen. Mom prefers mineral sunscreen due to her sensitive skin and it’s more environmentally safe. Although chemical sunscreens go on easy and don’t leave a white cast if your skin can tolerate it.
Final AM Step Sunscreen: eltaMD UV Elements
Mom has been using eltaMD UV Elements tinted for several years. The formula is not too heavy and because it’s tinted you can wear it without make-up. It is definitely not full coverage but it smoothes your skin’s coloration out.
Saie Sunvisor Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 35
- Sephora: Here
Another tinted sunscreen is Saie Sunvisor Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 35. This formula is much lighter than the Elta MD and more dewy. If you like the dewy lighter look this is perfect.
eltaMD UV Glow
eltaMD UV Sheer
Two new sunscreens that Mom has been trying are the eltaMD UV Glow and UV Sheer. UV Glow comes in both tinted and clear formulas but she has only tried the clear. The Glow is very thick and when applying is very white. The formula is super hydrating and the white cast fades some overtime. This is great if you need hydration and don’t mind the thick formula. UV Sheer is much lighter, and thinner, stronger SPF, and water-resistant. Mom loves eltaMD products so depending on what you’re looking for light, heavy, tinted, or clear you have a huge variety to choose from.
eltaMD UV Restore Tinted
eltaMD UV Restore Tinted is very similar to UV Elements. Both are lightweight and go on smoothly. Here is a comparison chart to help you decide which would work better for you. The restore comes in a trial size if you aren’t sure.
Body Sunscreen: Clinique Broad Spectrum 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Body
EltaMD UV Pure
The second most important skincare product would be sunscreen for your body. Using a mineral sunscreen for your body you might have to resign to having white chalky looking skin. Due to Mom’s sensitive skin, many of the products she’s tried has given her rash. So far Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Body has been a hit. There is a white cast and it is pretty thick, but no skin reaction. Another recent find, and probably a better option is the eltaMD UV Pure. This has a lighter consistency and has less of a white cast than the Clinique, and the price point for this is lower.
Mom’s Skincare Routine PM:
Mom is a strong believer in the Korean method of double cleansing. The first step is to cleanse with an oil-based product. This is to get rid of oil-based products or for Mom sunscreen. There are two types of oil-based cleanser, liquid, and balm.
Step 1 Cleansing Oil: One love organics: Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil
Mom likes the liquid form from One Love Organics Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil. The smell is different but it’s easy to use, use one pump and spread it all over, and rinse. Removes the tough sunscreens and leaves your face feeling hydrated.
Below are the balm options. Mom has a few favorites!
Cleansing Balm (clean products): Farmacy Green Clean
Wishful Clean Genie
For a “clean” product Farmacy Green Clean or Wishful Clean Genie.
Clinique take the day off cleansing balm make up remover
Bye Bye make up cleansing balm
- Ulta Beauty: Here
Two more balms that are great are Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm Make-up Remover or Bye Bye Make-up Cleansing Balm. All four are in the same price range.
Step 2 Face Wash: Neutrogena
Step two cleansing you go in with a water based cleanser. Mom keeps it simple with Neutrogena hydro boost hydrating cleansing gel.
Retinoid/BR
Step 3 Treatment:
Retinoid seems to be the miracle ingredient for every type of skin issue. Mom has tried different types of retinoids but has never stayed consistent long enough to see results. In preparation for this blog, Mom has made it her mission to start a retinoid routine and be consistent and see what type of results she can achieve. Because she had an order from Curology she decided to start her Retinoid regime with this product. She is using it Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to help her skin adjust. Her skin has started to peel but no itching. To see results due to aging it is recommended to stay on a retinoid for 3-6 months, so stay tuned for an update in a few months.
Serum (Extra hydrate optional): Timeless Skincare Matrixyl Synthe’6 Serum
L’Oréal Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Just like in the morning, if you want to add a little extra bang (hydrate) Mom uses either the L’oreal Revitalift 1.5% Pur Hyaluronic Acid Serum or Timeless Skincare Matrixyl Synthe’ 6 Serum. This serum is what Timeless calls “The Restorer” and contains peptides that could help with collagen production.
Step 4 Moisturize: Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting cream Fragrance free
- Ulta Beauty: Here
Naturium plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream
Moisturizing is an important step regardless of your skin type. Mom has combination skin, dry in some areas but large pores and oily in the t-zone. Due to her age and the products she uses to help with wrinkles and pigmentation it dries out her skin and so it is important to moisturize. Mom has been using Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Fragrance-Free for years. Another comparable product that is “Clean” is Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream. is It’s thick and very moisturizing and great for sensitive skin.
Step 5 Eye Cream: Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Mom is on the hunt for a new eye cream. She has been using Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado for years. As mentioned earlier she doesn’t always use it in the morning because of the consistency but it is a nighttime ritual. These are the items Mom is currently looking into trying Kate Somerville’s Retinol Firming Eye Cream, or more budget-friendly Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller (Kaylin currently uses).