Beauty & Banter: 7 Must Have Beauty Products

I have always been a big stickler for keeping my skin healthy. I occasionally get breakouts, but those are usually due to not following my skin regiment properly, and when that happens my face looks tired, worn, and dry.

One of the best things my mother taught me about taking care of myself was to always moisturize my skin, and I have continued to do that since I started wearing makeup as a teen. There is an even greater reason to keep skin protected from the Florida sun. It can cause some major damage to the skin on the face and body, however there are ways to keep it hydrated, healthy, and fresh, and protected.

The Face

Everyday I use a cleanser on my face at night and a light foaming wash in the morning to refresh my skin and open my pores. When the makeup is left on the face overnight it clogs pores and that can lead to breakouts. Besides who likes to wakeup with mascara cake to their eyelashes. One of my favorites is Olay 2 in 1 daily facial cleansing cloths. On nights when I am exhausted and I just feel like I can’t make it to the sink…I use a moist makeup removing towelettes from Neutrogena. 

One of the biggest recommendations I can vouch for is the use of an exfoliator once or twice a week. I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub and it leaves my face feeling fresh and smooth. I notice a big difference in how my makeup goes on after I use the scrub. The appearance of my pores appears to be smaller and it soothes my skin because it’s so gentle. 

The Moisturizer

This in is a key essential in a beauty regiment. I use it after I use a light formula from Olay for just after a shower and a separate formula with SPF for under my makeup when I will be leaving the house. I can not stress the use of an SPF during the day under your makeup. It is so important to the prevention of aging and skin cancer. At night I use an eye cream and a night cream to give my skin a boost in cell growth. All of these products are from Olay and I have not found products that I found comparable. 

As a gift my best friend who works at a dermatology office gave me a sample of one of their products that is used in prevention. Skinceuticals uses powerful antioxitants and UV protectants to prevent skin damage. It is an amazing product that has changed the way my skin looks and feels. It is a potent blend and should be used with the help of a dermatologist to decide which mixture is right for your skintone. I hightly recommend this!

The Body

The same rules apply for the body as they do for the face. Cleanse, Refresh, Renew, and Protect. I have one product that I have to tell you about and it is Trader Joes Lavender Salt Scrub. This product is made of essential oils like lavender and avocado with sugar that leaves skin feeling new and nourished. It is made from natural and organic elements that are safe for the environment as well as your body.  It is one of the best scrubs that I have ever tried and it changes the way your skin feels.