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Ah, skincare. Something that once meant absolutely nothing to me except several memories of mom reminding me to put on sunscreen…and then to reapply a few hours later.
I bought my St. Ive’s Apricot Face Scrub in middle school because everyone else had it and I needed it too, right?
To be totally transparent, skincare still isn’t the most important thing to me, and although I do take it very seriously, I just can’t get behind putting on hundreds of products every day.
I like to keep it simple, to the point, and only use what I think is absolutely necessary and will benefit my skin and overall health. I’m serious about SPF because of my melanoma diagnosis in 2018. But besides that, I only use a handful of products that I’ll recommend below.
And remember! Everyone has different skin. I’ve never had acne (knock on wood), and instead I have a very dry face that loves oil, serums, and moisture, so I’m sharing what works for me!
I’m breaking it down by morning + night, understanding that I shower in the morning so all of the product that gets applied in the morning is mostly because my skin is fresh and thirsty for moisture.
Morning
Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash – I use this face wash every morning in the shower and often at night if a wipe doesn’t suffice. It is one of my favorite face cleansers ever because when I’m done washing my face with it, it feels clean, soft and refreshed. Made with clean, healthy ingredients too (all of Ursa Major products are natural). They say it’s best for normal, combination or oily skin but I think it works well on my dry skin too. I also LOVE the scent – minty but also fresh from the cedar.
Beauty Counter All Bright C Serum – I use a face serum every day right when I dry off my face from the shower or washing. This one has added vitamin C which helps brighten skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots. This serum really gives life to my dry skin and is also made with clean ingredients. I also have been using this Intense Moisture Serum and love them both equally.
EltaMD Facial Sunscreen SPF 46 – my favorite face sunscreen ever. I talked about it in my melanoma post, but I put on this sunscreen every day after getting a recommendation from my dermatologist. When I went on Amazon and saw the 5,000-five star reviews, I knew I was going to give it a try. I’ve been using it every day for the last two years. I use it like I would any moisturizer, it doesn’t make you break out (good for acne prone skin, too!). This is my #1 MUST for anyone looking to protect their face from the sun.
Beauty Counter Dew Skin – probably one of my favorite skin care products that ever existed. It is essentially a moisturizer with tint and SPF 20. The tint isn’t too strong (don’t think foundation, think glow) and it blends beautifully on skin. There are several different shades, I use ‘light’ and I love the coverage it provides without feeling like I’m adding a cake face of make-up. I highly recommend this product to everyone! Plus you get the sun protection with it.
Essence Lash Princess Mascara – my all time favorite mascara and people compliment me all the time on my lashes! It goes on super smooth, isn’t clumpy or chunky, and really brushes your lashes. I’ve been buying it for two years now and no other mascara can compare. It lasts all day and I never have to reapply and also doesn’t melt down your face like other mascaras can do.
Day
Supergoop! PLAY! Everyday SPF 50 – this is my go-to sunscreen in the summer or when I’m headed out of the house and need to cover up parts of my body with sunscreen (i.e. going on a run). It doesn’t leave white residue and blends in perfectly, is sweat proof, and smells good. I have this in the large container and a more portable one for on the go. Supergoop is also a brand that uses good, clean ingredients.
COOLA Liplux SPF 30 – exactly what it sounds like, an SPF based lip balm. I don’t go anywhere without lip balm and I don’t go anywhere without sunscreen on my face and I knew I needed to find a good lip balm that would be my go-to. This COOLA one is perfect. It’s so moisturizing but not sticky, and is made from better-for-you ingredients that you feel okay putting near your mouth.
Night
Ursa Major Essential Wipes – single use face wipes that are perfect for taking off make-up at the end of the long day or after a quick exercise sesh. I use these mini ones when traveling because they are the perfect size for taking on the go. They also are very hydrating and I find that they don’t leave my face dry or red like other wipes can do.
Beauty Counter Face Wipes – same as the Ursa Major wipes! These come in big sheets that I find I rip up or cut into smaller sizes. I’ll use these at the end of a day when I don’t have time to take off my make-up or just am feeling lazy. I feel safe rubbing these all over my face due to the nature of the clean ingredients.
Hat – not necessarily a product, but important to wear especially in the summer to protect that face!! I wear one at the beach, on runs, or anytime where I don’t really care how I look.
Other Skin Tips!
So while I am no expert when it comes to skincare, this is what I’ve been doing and using and it works for me! All of these products have loyal followings and are working for me currently, so I thought I would share them with you all in hopes that you may want to also try them out and see how they work for you!
Also, a few other things I do in order to keep my skin fresh also include not wearing make up too often. The only make up that I typically wear is eyeliner and mascara and that is only because I have very blonde eyelashes so they need a little something to bring out their color.
I suggest giving your skin a break from make up if you are constantly seeing blemishes or spots!
Also try to be careful with how many times you touch your face, we do this more than we think.
I also am a firm believer that when you eat good foods, your skin can react to that. While I don’t cut anything out of my diet, by eating a largely whole foods focused diet, I think that attributes to my clear skin.
Hope you enjoyed this little skincare blog post – as always, let me know if you have any questions!
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Pamela says
Hi Erin, I recently have had major abdominal surgery, bowel obstructions, and gastroparesis diagnosis! Yes ,HOT mess! But Im working with a RD and have been restricted from gluten,dairy, sugar,low fat and thank goodness shes allowing me more fiber so thats helpful! Came across your site and am very excited to try a whole new way of cooking/baking! Oh by the way I am a baker from home and do custom baked goods for my clients so im excited about learning a whole new way to bake for MYSELF and my Family !!! Any tips are helpful! THANKS!!!
Erin says
Hi Pamela, thank you so much! Sending so much love your way!!