August Skincare Ritual - Streamlining

I know my monthly beauty ritual posts have been, well, non-existent. But I can explain! Over the past few months, I have been experimenting with my routine. Rather than adding products to it, I have attempted to remove a few non-essential steps. Yes, that's right, this product junkie has attempted to streamline. It hasn't been easy, but I feel like it's done wonders for my skin overall. Here it is - 

Morning

I start by cleansing my face every morning with Wedderspoon Gold 100% Raw Organic Manuka Honey. I had previously nixed honey from my routine because I never saw the dramatic results everyone kept raving about, but May Lindstrom convinced me to give it a second chance. I decided not to mess around this time and went straight for manuka honey. Manuka honey has numerous, numerous benefits for the skin, but I was drawn to it specifically for its wound-healing capabilities. The very same antibacterial properties that make manuka wonderful for wounds also make it perfect for acne-prone skin. But what I've learned is that you have to be devoted to it. I didn't start seeing results until after about 3-4 weeks of regular use. It will calm and heal your skin though. Just give it time. 

After I cleanse and pat my skin dry, I apply La Bella Figura Modern Radiance Concentrate. I previously reviewed this miracle-worker here. It has done wonders for my skin's overall tone and radiance. After I let MRC dry for 3-5 minutes, I apply Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer. I know, I know, it's not the cleanest. But it's incredibly lightweight and my skin can't handle the heaviness of natural sunscreens in the summer. I promise I'll be switching back to a more natural option just as soon as the weather cools down. After I apply sunscreen, I pat a few drops of La Bella Figura Daily Elements Defense Oil onto the tops of my cheeks and my forehead (those areas tend to get a little drier throughout the day) and nowhere else. I found the number of breakouts on my chin rapidly decreased when I eliminated my usual all-over application during the day. I love oils so it's a little heartbreaking to cut back on one, but the results are worth it. Plus, I get to strategically place the glow exactly where I want it. 

That's it for the morning!

Evening

If I'm not wearing make up, I simply cleanse with my beloved honey again. If I am wearing make up, I cleanse with May Lindstrom's not-yet-launched Honey Mud (shhh... it's a secret!) This amazing cleanser is a combination of all of May's (and my) favorite things - honey, clay, and oil. May was kind enough to let me sample her new cleanser and I immediately ordered a full sized jar when my sample ran out. It's that good. Silky, creamy perfection really. But I'll stop gushing and save it for my full review coming later. I then spritz with my favorite toner, R. L. Linden & Co. Thousand Petal Beautifying Mist. I previously reviewed this magical mist here. I tend to go overboard because it smells amazing so I let the excess sink in while I'm brushing my teeth. Most nights, I follow the toner with a facial oil. I have been using two different ones over the past few months - Purelement Naturals Defend Argan Oil Moisturizer and de Mamiel Summer Facial Oil. They are both wildly different so it's been nice to alternate between the two. The Purelement Defend oil is a beautiful argan-based blend. Don't let the simplicity fool you though. It's spectacular. The essential oils, including lavender, frankincense, and myrrh, are wonderful for acne prone skin. On the other hand, the de Mamiel Summer oil is a complex, vibrant blend. It contains numerous different carrier oils, essential oils, and flower essences and the scent is wonderfully verdant and fresh. Given the nourishing carrier oils like borage, evening primrose, and baobab, I expected this oil to be heavy, but it's surprisingly light and silky. It absorbs instantly. Needless to say, you can't go wrong with either of these oils. On nights when my skin needs a little extra moisture, I apply La Bella Figura Rainforest Hydration Treatment in place of an oil. It provides just the right amount of hydration without leaving my skin a greasy mess. I previously described my full-fledged obsession with RHT here.  

Two nights a week, I indulge and apply a mask. I start the process by exfoliating with The Clean Dirt. (I will never get tired of this spicy powder!) Then if I'm feeling ambitious, I relax for 5-7 minutes with a facial steam. (I use a DIY custom blend of herbs.) If I'm running short on time, I skip straight to the mask. One night a week I apply the life-changing Problem Solver mask and on the other night, I opt for a simple manuka honey mask. Both masks soothe, heal, and eradicate acne. (Word of advice - don't apply a manuka honey mask every night. It can be very drying. Turns out, more is not better. Learned that the hard way.)  

And that's it! (If you are shaking your head because I consider this routine "streamlined," trust me, this is a vast improvement over some of my ridiculous past routines.)

Spoiler Alert - I have just started double cleansing with the Kari Gran Cleansing Oil followed by The Honey Mud. So far I'm obsessed. I will let you know my thoughts in next month's beauty ritual!