Skin Care 101

Skin Care 101 - having a skin care regime - what does that mean to you?

If we listen to the cosmetic companies we would have very elaborate routines daily (and in some cases, weekly too). We would only use products from the same brand together because they worked best that way. The daily steps/products include:

Daily Routine
Cleanser (sometimes one in the morning, and a different one at night)
Exfoliant (chemical or physical)
Toner
Disinfectant/acne treatment
Serum
Moisturizer (again, one for the morning and a different one at night)
Sunscreen
Primer
Eye cream (sometimes a different one for AM and for PM)

There can also be additional products to be used weekly, such as masks, deep cleaning products and intensive moisturizers.

How many of us really buy entire systems? And if we do, how many of us actually follow all the recommended steps with all the suggested products?

Speaking for myself, this is something I believed when I was much younger. I would buy an entire skin care regime and use it as recommended for a few weeks. After that, I would start skipping steps, and eventually revert to using just a few products. As I was influenced by the advertising and hype surrounding skin care and cosmetics, the advertising that lured me into one brand would all too quickly take my attention to another brand. And then another, and then another, and then another - each time hoping for the miracles in my head to be realized.

I believe that one reason for the lack of loyalty to a skin care and cosmetic brand is that the claims that these companies could make were not always realistic. When those purchasing their products did not see those results, they move on to other brands - and other promises.

Luckily these companies are no longer allowed to make outrageous claims. However, they still take great care to represent their products as making dramatic changes. Add to that that they often use models who are airbrushed, or very young and clearly not in need of any products to preserve or enhance their youth, as they are often teenagers!

It is still necessary to do due diligence in selecting your skin care products and your makeup. But there are so many places for you to get information not only on the chemical makeup and performance of various products, but also lots of reviews by individuals who use the products.

So, what is your routine? Based on time and cost and what you believe is best for you, what is your daily skin care routine? The list of products above demonstrates the most complicated possibility.

What would the most simple skin care routine entail? I would say that is a cleaner and a protectant. Cleaning with a soap or liquid cleanser or oil. A protectant could be a moisturizer or sunscreen. That's all.

Here is my routine:

AM
Cleansing (in the shower) - a cleanser containing a physical exfoliant (scrub)
Moisturizer (sometimes with sunscreen) - one that works well under makeup
Eye cream

PM
Cleansing - because I wear makeup every day, I double cleanse at night. First to remove makeup with an oil or lotion cleanser, then a second time with a liquid cleanser or soap and a Clarisonic brush.
Moisturizer - I vary this depending on my skin's needs - a rich moisturizer when my skin is feeling dry, one with specific ingredients if my skin is oily or congested. And some nights no moisturizer at all. I don't know if doing so "let's my skin breathe", but sometimes it feels like my skin needs a break from everything I put on it.
Eye cream

Do I sometimes add additional products? Yes. It depends on my needs or maybe on finding a new product I feel could be useful. And after all, I am a product junkie. :)

So, where do you fit in? What is your real routine?

Welcome to the Blog of the Merry Lemon!

Here I go - blogging about what interests me. If you care to visit my pages you can look forward to regular postings about all the things I like.

-I love to read and look forward to sharing my latest finds.

-I love stationary and organizational tools and Filofaxes! I have a dream that one day I will have all areas of my life functioning and in order. One day...........

-I have an overwhelming obsession with living in France - I talk about it, scheme to make it happen, and read lots of books by people who are living there.

-I have a freakish fear of any number of things - heights, lack of privacy, blue kitchenware, medical care - the list goes on and on. I'm sure my neurosis are bound to show up here and there.

-I believe in a very low-carb lifestyle. I am always looking for books and recipes to inspire me stick with this way of eating. Sadly, it's easy to stray. I love to cook! Putting limits on what I will eat really dampens my creativity in this area.

-But most of all, you will read my ramblings about appearance, skin care, cosmetics and anything related to health and beauty aids. What started as terribly low self-esteem and a poor self image has blossomed into my unnatural interest in this area.

Please note that I am not a scientist, I do not sell any products, nor am I affiliated with any of the items I talk about. I read a lot and have a number of go to places to check out the buzz on what's new, or tried and true favorites. And I look forward to hearing your comments about anything on this Blog.

Welcome to my world!

The Merry Lemon