L'Essentials - Part Three

Good evening,

Tonight concludes the three-part series of my personal fashion/cosmetics/beauty essentials. As in my last blog, 90% of these are super inexpensive with the exception of the Clinique moisturizing gel. However, as previously mentioned, I wait to buy it when there's a free gift event, plus a bottle usually lasts me approx. 6-8 months if I moisturize every single day.

Beauty Products/My Shower Routine:

1.     Dove Exfoliating Soap

     2.     Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar. My dermatologist recommended this one. It has worked better at keeping breakouts away than any medicated face wash I have found. I think the medicated ones dry me out too much. They also make this in Antibacterial, if you are having a LOT of breakouts.

3.     Facial exfoliator (I use whatever is the least expensive for this.  I went to my Clinique rep for advice because I thought my foundation was caking and causing my nose to look peel-y but she suggested a better exfoliator and gave me a bottle of their exfoilator for free so it's what I've been using, but simple baking soda will do.)

4.     Tailor your shampoo to YOUR hair. I love the Clear Hair & Scalp Therapy Volumizing Root Boost, but I recently got highlights so I've been using Pantene Highlighting Expressions.

5.     Once I get out of the shower I use my facial toner. I alternate between an AHA toner (won a Merle Norman facial kit, once again, I use whatever is given to me) when I have more blemishes and garden-variety witchhazel on normal days.

6.     Moisturizer! (ALWAYS! Even if your skin is oily) My favorite is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. I opt for the gel because it is lighter and feels cleaner than the lotion formula.