When it comes to my skincare, I don’t mess around. Do I have lazy days? Absolutely. I’m a mom, I don’t always have time to do my full routine or the energy. But I always make an effort to at least wash my face and apply moisturizer and SPF. The last year I’ve stepped up my skincare game and invested in products that my skin loves. This is a part of my self-care journey.

Cleanser

I know a lot of people swear by doing a two-step cleanse, but I found one that works so well for me and never causes irritation. (Sensitive skin girly over here.) Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée is *chef’s kiss* and I will die on this hill. It has hyaluronic acid and vitamin c and is so gentle. My face is left feeling super clean without being stripped down and dry. But if my face needs extra exfoliation I’ll use Philosophy’s Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash.

Toner

Toner is the step I don’t feel guilty for skipping on my rushed days. There are times when I question whether it really makes a difference. I’m sure it does, it’s probably just me justifying skipping the extra step. The benefits of toner are: balancing the skin’s pH, as well as getting rid of any excess dirt, makeup, oil, etc. I love Thayer’s Witch Hazel Facial Toner, specifically the cucumber. Instead of dabbing with a cotton pad, I put it in a small spritz bottle and mist my face with it. Whether that’s right or wrong, I don’t know, but that’s what I prefer. And I love the fresh scent of the cucumber.

Serums

I could go on and on about serums. I’ve tried so many I enjoy. If I used all of my serums at once, I would probably have a 15 step routine. My current mindset is to keep it simple. Otherwise I’d be spending a ton of money when it’s completely unnecessary. So, I rotate through my serums, usually depending on what my plan is for makeup.

For my “glass skin” days when I’m wearing little to no makeup, I always go for The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine Solution and Summer Fridays CC Me Serum. When I say my skin is glowing and plump after these three, I’m not kidding. It’s my current favorite serum combo. The vitamin c serum alone makes such a huge difference with brightening my face up. It makes a beautiful canvas for a full face of makeup as well.

When I don’t want to take the time to use multiple serums, I reach for the Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum. This serum is so lightweight but packs a punch of hydration. It does really amazing on its own, but there have been times when I’ve noticed pilling when using this serum before a full face foundation day. That would be my only complaint.

Lip Prep

This girl has big lips, not gonna lie. And they get so so dry. I’m constantly applying chapstick. Every year my Christmas stocking is stuffed with my favorite chapstick – Carmex. I carry it with me everywhere. But when my lips are needing extra care, I’ll use a lip mask as I apply my skincare products. My current go-to is Awake by tarte. It can get kind of sticky, so I apply it towards the beginning of my routine so it has time to settle before I go about my day.

Throughout the day or when I don’t feel like applying the lip mask, I’m always reaching for the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. Vanilla Beige has a beautiful tint to it so my lips don’t look completely naked.

Moisturizer

Naturium’s Multi-Peptide Moisturizer will be a forever staple. It’s lightweight but gives my skin so much hydration without feeling greasy. I would apply it ten times a day if I could. I love using this underneath makeup, whether it’s a “no makeup” makeup day or a full face. For my “glass skin” days I opt for the Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream. It is very jelly in texture and my skin drinks it right up, but I don’t prefer it underneath makeup. It can feel a bit heavy and tacky.

During the summer I get insecure about my pale skin. I wish I could tan easily when outside. As many soccer games as I attend, you’d think I’d have that soccer mom glow, yet here we are. Lately I’ve been mixing in the Jergens Natural Glow with my moisturizer to try to achieve a summery sparkle.

Sunscreen

The hold this SPF has on me is ridiculous. I love the Naturium brand so much. Susan Yara is the queen of skincare in my world. When it was announced they were finally coming out with a SPF moisturizer, I was so excited to try it. And it didn’t disappoint. This may not be the SPF for everyone, like oily-skinned friends, because it is very glowy. But as a dry-faced gal, it is perfect.

My second favorite sunscreen, for when I’ve already got plenty of moisturizer on, is the Kinship Probiotic Mineral Sunscreen. It’s also moisturizing as the Naturium but not nearly as much. It also has a little bit more of a white cast.

Obviously, these products won’t work for everyone. No one has the same skin and we all need to find products that are best for us. But I highly recommend trying out these products, as long as your budget permits it, because you may find your new go-to!

This website may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.