Skin Care Matters with Forties

Hola BEAUTIFUL Readers!

Our topic for today takes my brain cells from zero to an exponential rate of stimulation! That, my friends, exhibit my deep connection to all things beauty, specifically on ways that we can take care of our skin!

Known fact: Skin being the largest organ in our body should be treated with utmost care. The first and most important step in skin care is properly identifying your skin type. I, for one, with dry skin type utterly remembers product that “moisturizes,” “nourishes,” and “hydrates” on my journey of skin care brand selection.

That said, here are my TOP 3 skin care brand choices:

EviDenS DE BEAUTÉ	ÉMINENCE ORGANIC SKIN CARE	GUERLAIN PARIS
Favorite brand for sensitive skin	Favorite triple-certified organic skin care brand	Favorite natural skin care “BEE” line
Boy, this is a very expensive brand that was directly purchased from France. It took me 3 years before I actually got to have it. Before purchasing, I did a very thorough research about how they were made. I’ve come to love the owners’ story and how they decided to create a skin care brand (to cut it short, you can read it here). The marriage of French and Japanese methods, techniques, and ingredients make their skin care products the best for very sensitive skin of different race and ethnicity. You can say that it was a risk for me to try EviDenS because I didn’t get to receive testers before purchasing full-size ones. Let me tell you, it was well worth every penny. My skin isn’t exactly sensitive, but it is very reactive. Whenever my skin is irritated or inflamed, EviDenS can positively calm my skin. I love it so much that I wish to visit their very own spa in France one day and get treated by their experts.	Éminence is being ran by Canadian-Hungarian brothers that I know personally. I’ve worked with them for 7 years and have been using their products since 2007 up to now. When you’re pregnant, you have to be very careful of every product that you use because it might affect your pregnancy. With Éminence, I never had to worry about that. Since they are a triple-certified organic skin care brand, their products are 100% organic that they’re actually edible. It’s true! That’s why all of my Éminence products are stored in the fridge to preserve their quality and prolong their shelf-life. The beauty of the brand, aside from the certification, is their principle of dilution which ensures the potency of their products. Because of the concentration of the product, you need a medium to mix it with (typically just water) to make the most out of the product application. Dab your hand with a bit of water before getting an ample amount of an Éminence product. That alone will be enough to cover the entire face and even a part of the body. That principle also helps with product-layering as the product gets totally absorbed by the skin. I’ve tested and proven for many years now that you’ll get your money’s worth with Éminence. And the icing on the cake? For every retail product that you purchase, Éminence plants a tree for you! On top of being worry-free in using their products, you’re able to help take care of nature as well.	Well, Guerlain is already an institution. They won’t be in the industry since 1828 up to present if they don’t know what they’re doing – am I right? What I love about Guerlain is really their BEE LINE. More than the effectiveness of the product, I love what they stand for: “In the Name of Beauty, we act by elevating Nature to an Art and commit to passing on its wonders to future generations, with Bee as sentinel.” (source here) Their commitment in educating their employees to the highest of standards to be able to live up to the principles of the brand’s founder, Monsieur Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain, is truly outstanding.

I sure can easily name 15 brands in 15 seconds; however, at 43, these top the chart alongside their mission where I take part of and will always be on the lookout for innovative brands with a purpose.

Did you know? Skin care brands release seasonal collections because the products that you use need to address the potential skin concerns relating to the change in climate. Anywaaaay, here’s my skin care routine:

1. Wash – The type of facial wash I use depends on the reason. I usually use a cream-based wash since I have dry skin. When I have makeup on, which is a very rare occurrence, I use an oil-based one so that I won’t have to use a different product to remove makeup.

2. Toner – It’s a common misconception for most people to skip on this step for a lot of reasons, but mainly, they feel like it’s pointless somehow due to the first step that is washing. No, do not skip on your toner because it brings back your skin’s natural PH level, helps close up your pores after washing, and removes the residual impurities that weren’t cleansed from washing your face. Continuous usage of toner will help improve the appearance of the skin and tightness of the pores. Most importantly, it prepares the skin to receive the benefits of the next product/s that you’ll apply. I prefer mist over a toner applied on cotton pads. After spraying, I quickly dab my fingers on my face in a piano-like gesture to help my skin further absorb the product.

3. Treatment – I use different products depending on what my skin needs at the moment. If I need more moisture, I use hyaluronic acid. If I want to focus on anti-aging, I use a lifting serum. In any case, my “treatment” products come in different forms: ampoule, essence, and oil. Again, I choose which one to use depending on the need.

4. Moisturizer – Moisturizers have different types: gel, lotion, and cream like butter. Choose which one depending on your skin type. Generally, gel-type is for oily and combination skin, lotion-type is for normal to dry skin, and cream-type is for severely dry skin. For me, I alternately use lotion and cream. I may use gel-type during the summer, but I would still have to apply a cream-type on top of it. Moisturizers is very important for all skin types as it locks in whatever treatment you apply beforehand, and of course it gives your skin the proper moisture it needs.

5. Eye and Lip Care – The reason that I carefully choose the brands that I use is because I want to maximize their usage. I want to be able to extend the application of the products to my eye area and lips. The eyes are an extremely sensitive matter because the skin in that area is very thin. The product that you’ll apply on the eyes should address all concerns such as puffiness, darkness, tiredness, and wrinkles. So when I choose my eye product, I make sure that it addresses all these concerns.

6. Sunscreen – Of all the different types and variations of sunscreens available in the market, I prefer mineral-based, coral and reef-friendly with blue light protection in sheer-finish. Never skip on your sunscreen! UVA/UVB exposure is one of the top causes of premature skin aging and discoloration. For a more handy reapplication of SPF, you can bring with you a powder-type of sunscreen.

Bonus tip: For overall wellness and to maximize the benefits of your skin care products, try to use high-grade at-home skincare devices. I mentioned “high-grade” since a lot of tools are coming out, but some do more harm than good. Make sure to only use devices from trusted brands. What I use are the following:

1. Microneedling from Beauty Bio – for lifting

2. Microcurrent from Nu Skin– for contouring

3. Light Therapy from Bioptron – for brightening and anti-aging

I did warn you, did I? I’m deeply passionate about skin care. I could still go and on, but I don’t want to take more of your precious time. If you have any questions or feedback, you can drop me a message on the comments section. Until next time, my beautiful readers. Please do take care of yourself and your skin! 💛

Love,