Skincare seems to have become quite the topic to poke fun at in the blogger/influencer space lately, but I have been really into it over the last few months. I have recently become one of those people that applies 7 or more products before going to sleep or applying makeup in the morning. So I thought I would share what they are. Plus, I thought it was good timing with the Sephora sale this week! Anyway, at age 25, I get the occasional breakout (more about how I have dealt with acne in my twenties, in this post from last year) and have started to see some fine lines. But before I break down all of the products below, I am still using two topical acne prescriptions, Clindacin wipes and Aczone gel. So I think those are a large factor in keeping my breakouts away. I used to have a very simple routine with a cleanser, my acne prescriptions, the occasional face mask, and a moisturizer. I have added a few more products into the mix over the last few months. My skin has never felt better since I started this more involved skincare routine. Although as I have been mentioning in my nutrition posts, eating healthier has also been a huge help. So here is everything else I have been using on my skin lately!

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser- I received this product in an Influenster box a few months ago and have been washing my face with it twice a day since then. It is an easy one step to both cleanse and remove all makeup, even tough mascaras! I used Cetaphil cleanser when I was younger and I think this feels like the product a few steps up. I probably would not have thought to buy it just from looking at the price, but I am so glad I got to test it for a review. I think it is definitely worth it, and my skin has felt great since I started using it. I like it so much, I actually bought the larger size for the 20th anniversary from the Sephora sale this week for when my current bottle runs out!

MudbuM Savassana Toner- Toner was a new type of product for me to use until a few months ago, and I am not sure how I went so long without it. I got this one from MudbuM, where I go for the occasional facial in Charlotte. I love their all natural products, and this one has made a difference in my skincare routine. However, there was a bit of an adjustment time where I had to figure out the right amount that worked best for my skin. Using 2 sprays from the bottle twice a day was a little drying, so I recently started only using it once a day.

Derma E Vitamin C Serum- I didn't really know much about serums until I recently learned (from Twitter, of all places) that Vitamin C can help with marks and acne scars.  I have been noticing over the last year or so that although I had gotten my acne mostly under control, when I do get the occasional breakout, the marks seem to take a lot more time to fade. I wish someone told me about this a year ago, because it has been a game changer for me! Most of the Vitamin C serums that first show up when you search for them have quite a steep price tag, so I wanted to test out a more affordable option to see if I even liked using it. At just $20, this one was the perfect one to try! I apply it in the morning on my face and neck before my moisturizer and makeup. After just a few days, I noticed an overall brightening of my skin, making both my acne marks and fine lines look lighter. I read a post from a beauty blogger comparing this serum to the much more expensive one from Drunk Elephant, saying this one was very comparable. So at the moment, I don't feel the need to upgrade from this one anytime soon!

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye cream- I received this eye cream in a PR package awhile ago and started using it twice a day for maybe 6 months now.  I don't think it has worked miracles on the light lines around my eyes, but I think it keeps that area nice and moisturized. I think it also brightens some dark circles before I apply my concealer. Although it has a larger price tag for a skincare product, you only need the tiniest amount each day, making it last a very long time!

Origins Original Skin moisturizer- I have to admit I only tried this moisturizer because my previous favorite was discontinued. I loved the moisturizer from Origins' Zero Oil line that I had used for a few years. So it was suggested that I try this one for a similar effect, and I think it works just as well! The only major distinction from this moisturizer to the Zero Oil one is that it has a mattifying effect. My skin tends to be oily, so I have really liked the matte effect on my skin before I apply my makeup in the morning.

Origins Modern Friction exfoliant- I use this 2 or 3 times per week to exfoliate after I have washed my face. I used to use face masks to exfoliate in the past, but was not using them as much as I should have, just because I don't always have the time to sit around with it on my face. So I like that this is just a quick step to keep my skin fresh!

IT Cosmetics Secret Sauce moisturizer- I also received this moisturizer in a PR package probably 2 years ago, and just recently started using it as my night time moisturizer. I have also been using it during the day on my neck after the Vitamin C serum. I know it is never too early to start using anti-aging products, but I was not thinking about that when I first received it.  After using it lately, I wish I did start using it earlier! It is a thick formula with collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. As much as I like it, I do have to say I don't think it is worth the almost $70 price tag. This could be a miracle product for someone else, but I will not be buying another one when this one runs out. However if I did not have this one to test, I would not have started to use an anti-aging moisturizer. If anyone knows of anything with similar anti-aging ingredients that costs maybe under $50, please let me know!

Coola Radical RecoveryAfter Sun lotion- I got badly sunburnt at the lake with my family last month (thanks to jumping on a float right after I applied my sunscreen...) and this lotion worked miracles. My shoulders, back, and thighs were lobster red and this helped the redness go down quickly. I also did not have any peeling skin after using this for a few days, and it is mostly organic!

St. Tropez Wet Skin self tanner- This pale girl like a slow gradual build of color, and this has been my go-to tanner this spring and summer. Although I use it a little differently than the directions of the bottle. The directions will tell you to apply it to wet skin, wait 2 minutes, and rinse the product off. I did not find that very effective, which is maybe why I've been buying it at Marshall's for $10 lately...so I consulted some reviews. A few reviewers across Sephora, Amazon, and Nordstrom said something along the lines of: applying it to dry skin, waiting 5 minutes, and rinsing it off. Sure enough, I think it works a lot better that way!



Thanks for reading!