Do you have a daily skincare routine? Genetics are your biggest asset in fantastic skin, however, keeping up with the daily wear and tear is essential! Quality products are a must, although you don’t have to break the bank. Being familiar with your skin is important so you can best decide what works and what doesn’t. Below are a few key elements to my skincare regimen.

DRY BRUSH!

The first thing I recommend is a dry brush. If you’ve never heard of this, its a natural bristle brush that’s used to gently exfoliate your whole body and rid the skin of dead cells. Yes, you literally brush your skin. The proper method for this is to use long strokes on your limbs up towards the heart. For instance, if dry brushing your legs, start at your feet and softly brush up towards your torso. Initially it might feel rough. You may begin to feel the areas that you covered becoming flushed. This is a normal response. Increased blood flow occurs which is helpful in circulation. The removal of dead skin also alleviates any ingrown hairs that might be forming. Dry brushing is a technique that should be done before taking a shower.

Wash your face!

Regardless of skin type, abrasive facial scrubs are things I stay away from. St. Ive’s apricot scrub is flashing on my mind in particular! The microbeads can get stuck in pores and sometimes irritate the skin instead of helping it. For facial exfoliation, I either use a face cloth or a konjac facial sponge that I apply in small, gentle, circular motions starting from my chin up and out. I use Seaweed Bath Co.’s charcoal facial bar for a cleanser. It’s mild but may be a little drying since it’s charcoal so it’s important to moisturize well afterwards.

Hydration Station

This is my favorite part. I am partial to Herbivore Botanicals products. I started using their stuff within the last year starting off with trial sizes before spending money on something I potentially didn’t love. Rose Hibiscus facial spray is nice in place of a toner and I let that set for a few minutes before applying a facial oil. I use Emerald CBD oil. A few drops of this go a long way. I have naturally irritable skin, and after a month or so of using this oil I began to notice my skin was less excitable. I have completely shied away from using water/alcohol based lotions on my face and my skin has been happier and brighter!

For body moisturizer, I rely heavily on coconut oil. Although I have used solid coconut oil in the past, fractionated coconut oil is much more user friendly. This is also a great substance if you have essential oils you like to add instead of heavily fragrant lotions. I add a drop or two of tea tree oil because it has good antibacterial and antifungal properties which combats the seasonal flare ups of tinea versicolor. Sometimes in the summer I’m so spotted I look like a leopard. Merp…merp.

Gua Sha, Bitch

This tool might look completely foreign to you, but it’s incredible. There are many tutorials online on different ways to utilize a gua sha. For the most part, you are massaging your facial muscles free of any tension that’s been built up. I start on my neck with the concave side on my skin and softly press in a downward swipe. With the ridged side I massage out from my chin along my jaw line and so forth up my face working the tension out. I do this 2-3x after I’ve applied all my hydrating products to help spread and even them out. The tool tends to run cold in room air so I like to place it under my eyes for a minute or so to help combat any type of swelling. Placing it in a fridge/freezer for a few minutes before use gives a little extra zing!

Maintenance

Who doesn’t love a post-facial glow? When I can, I try to book a facial a few times a year. Flesh by Cassandra Lee has officially moved to a new location in Warwick and the last time I went to Cass my skin was rejoicing!

Acupuncture is a new found love of mine. I suffer from tension headaches since I clench my jaw A LOT. Acupuncture releases the tension in your face and gives the illusion of a mini lift after a few sessions by inserting micro needles into certain points of your face. After just one session, I didn’t get a tension headache for almost two weeks! That was enough relief for me to keep giving it a try.

Face masks are always fun and I love trying new ones. I typically will try to do a face mask at least twice a month. Aztec clay is my go to. Mix with a little apple cider vinegar and let sit for about 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat skin dry. Apply serum immediately after!

Obviously everyone’s skin type is different. Keeping an open mind when trying new products was what helped me find what works best for me. I stuck to companies that created products that aligned with my beliefs (as natural as possible) and didn’t stop or settle until I found them!