My Skin Care Routine!

   Hi everybody! I've been seeing a lot on the internet about how people get clear skin and believe me, I've tried pretty much everything out there! I know that a lot of people out there (including me!) that have seemingly tried EVERYTHING to get their skin good but nothing seems to work :( So I'm going to tell you what I do to keep my skin clear and how I take care of it on a day-to-day basis!
   I've got pretty bad eczema, which means my skin is really sensitive and super prone to redness. I also have slightly acne prone skin, and I used to get monthly, sometimes weekly, cystic acne breakouts. I also had a lot of smaller blackheads and little bumps in my T-zone that I just couldn't seem to get rid of. Eventually, though, I wandered into a LUSH store because I simply couldn't resist. I started trying out their face washes, then their moisturizers, and then everything else! This isn't going to be just a post about LUSH, though, but it'll show you how I got my skin clear and how I keep it clear.

IN THE MORNING:

   In the morning, I start out with washing my face. For face wash in the morning, I use LUSH's Angels on Bare Skin. It's a wonderful, gentle cleanser and exfoliate that I love and is great on my skin. It doesn't make my skin react, and although it's a bit pricey I would definitely recommend it for those with sensitive skin.
   I follow the cleanse-tone-moisturizer routine every morning. For a toner, I also use LUSH products. Depending on how my skin is (if I've got any breakouts), I'll use either Tea Tree Water or Breath of Fresh Air. Both of these are great products and make your skin feel really fresh and clean. I definitely recommend finding a toner that works for you, as it makes taking care of your skin so much easier!
   Now that summer's here, I've started using a sunscreen underneath my moisturizer. I use Aveeno sunscreen made specifically for the face in an SPF 60. A little bit too much? I feel like I can never get too much SPF. My skin has two settings- vampire and tomato! I'm trying to avoid that, though, so I'm using sunscreen on a daily basis. For me, this is an absolute must! Also, make sure to let your sunscreen soak in thoroughly  If you need to, use an oil blotting sheet before using your moisturizer (I use Olay's Daily Moisturizer for Normal Skin) to tone down the shininess and oily feeling that you might get.

   Throughout the day, I carry makeup remover wipes and oil blotting sheets for little touch ups if I need them. I also have a cute little bag where I keep my touch up makeup, which has come in really handy at times!

IN THE EVENING:

   I use a makeup remover first. I'm always switching eye makeup removers, lol. I guess that's the one thing I can't decide on. After I've taken off my mascara, and eyeshadow/liner if I was wearing it that day, I use either LUSH's 9 to 5 or Cetaphil cleanser for normal skin. 9 to 5 does a great job of taking off makeup and is really gentle and moisturizing. Not to mention, it smells absolutely delicious. I also really like Cetaphil in the summer to make my skin feel nice and lovely and fresh, and it works really well at keeping breakouts away and is very gentle. Once a week, I do an exfoliating day where I use Dermalogica's Clean Start Ready, Set, Scrub mask. This is a great mask to make your skin feel soft and smooth, and although it recommends using it three to five times a week I never seem to have the time! To tackle my nose, I use Biore's pore strips after I've taken a shower and my pores are open. You won't believe all the gunk that's in your pores!
   I use the same toner I used in the morning, and then I use a moisturizer. If I need to, I'll use an acne treatment. Dermalogica Clean Start Hit the Spot is a great spot treatment that I use in the morning, too, if I need to. If I've got a pretty bad breakout, though, I'll put a minty toothpaste over it! It dries the skin around the area out, letting your breakout heal faster. It might sound silly, but it really works!
   For a moisturizer, I use either LUSH's Celestial or Imperialis moisturizer. These both smell amazing, make my skin very smooth and soft, and they don't make my skin react. Celestial, the heavier moisturizer, is the one that I use in the winter. I use Imperialis in the summer, when my skin is naturally oilier.

   I hope that this has helped anybody out that may be having trouble with their skin or needs a bit of guidance on what to do to help their skin out! But don't just take my word for it- do your research and see what works best for you! Trust me, taking care of your skin will really benefit you in the long run!