4 Must-Use Products for Healthy, Beautiful Skin
They say good skin is the base of every good makeup routine, and it’s true: no matter how much foundation or powder you cake on, makeup will never completely disguise unhealthy skin. When your skin is healthy and glowing, any makeup you apply will automatically look 100% better.
Most of my posts have been about makeup, but this week I really want to emphasize the importance of using good skincare products. Contrary to what some believe, good skincare isn’t just about what you wash your face with—there are other incredibly important products that you need to use as well. In this post, I will list the top products I think every girl should have as part of her skincare regime.
1. Sunscreen
Aveeno’s Positively Ageless Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 – $20.49
I mention sunscreen first because I think regardless of her skin type, every girl MUST wear sunscreen daily. Why? Sun exposure is the number one cause of aging and damage to the skin. I’m sure many of you aren’t too worried about wrinkles yet, but it is absolutely crucial that you start wearing sunscreen now, while your skin is young, to prevent them. UV ways can do some mega damage to your skin.
Aveeno Positively Ageless Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 is one of my must-have products. It’s great because it acts as both a moisturizer and a sunscreen. It doesn’t feel oily after application and it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. Most importantly, it contains SPF 30, which I think should be the minimum SPF that you wear on a daily basis. I use this on my face and neck right after I cleanse every morning.
2. Makeup Remover
Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover – $7.99
Washing your face alone is not enough to remove eye makeup residue. That’s why I strongly urge you to use eye makeup remover to ensure that you get all of it off. For me, makeup remover is incredibly helpful after I’ve gone out to a party with my friends: a few quick swipes and I’m done. After all, leaving eye makeup on overnight can damage your eyes.
I am always amazed at how well Neutrogena’s Eye Makeup Remover works. When I use this product, my makeup, including waterproof mascara, just glides off my face. I also love how it doesn’t feel harsh on my skin, which is doubly important because the eye area is incredibly sensitive. In addition, it’s incredibly easy to use: just cover the top of the bottle with a tissue or cotton ball and flip it upside down to get the perfect amount of product.
3. Moisturizer
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel – $24.00
I’m sure you guys all know about this one: hydration is crucial to healthy, glowing skin. Whether you have dry or oily skin, facial moisturizer is a must-use product.
Clinique’s Dramatically Different moisturizers are some of the best around, and they make two formulas for both normal/oily and dry skin users. If you’re like me and have oily skin, I recommend using the gel rather than lotion formula.
Hands down, Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is the best moisturizer I have ever used. I was incredibly hesitant to buy this product because it cost $24, but it is definitely worth the splurge. During the winter time I always suffer from dry patches, but this product completely solved that problem. After applying this moisturizer, my skin always feels super soft. However, I only use this at night because during the day I need my SPF.
4. Exfoliator
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub in Gentle – $4.29
Exfoliating your skin helps remove dead skin cells that make your face look dull. I recommend exfoliating at least once a week to help brighten up your face.
I used to love St. Ives original Apricot Scrub, but I recently found that the “Gentle” version was a better option because it did not irritate my skin as much. You do want to be careful when choosing an exfoliating product because some of them can actually cause skin damage. This gentle formula has more of a creamy texture so it is not as harsh as their normal formula. I absolutely love the way my skin feels after using this product: it instantly looks brighter and healthier. Best of all, this product contains 100% natural extracts so you don’t feel like you’re smothering your face with harsh chemicals.
Your thoughts?
What are your must-have skin care products? Is there anything else you’d recommend every girl have as part of her routine? I’d love to know your recommendations!
Posted on on March 10, 2010 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: Aveeno, Clinique, exfoliator, makeup remover, Moisturizer, neutrogena, Skin, skin care, Skincare, St. Ives, Sunblock, sunscreen
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Allison
Have you tried using extra virgin olive oil as an eye makeup remover? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I swear by it! Most store brand makeup removers have left my eyes feeling dry or puffy, but olive oil conditions the skin & lashes as well as taking makeup off AMAZINGLY well. I definitely recommend it to anyone with sensitive skin like me!
Breanna
I love the St. Ives Apricot Scrub too! And I definitely need to try the Aveeno sunscreen – Boots Soltan used to be my favourite so far, because it absorbed quickly and with an almost matte finish and didn’t make me glow like a lantern after 3-4 hours, but the face anti-aging version is no longer being produced ;( I tried several other option, including the Juice Beauty Mineral Sunscreens, but they all are too thick and oily and since you need to put a lot of it on your face for it to work I usually either put the smaller amount than required or end up looking cakey and in need to use oil blotting sheets every hour (what probably rubs all of the sunscreen of my face anyway) .
katrina
Does anybody have any suggestions for a daily face wash?
Rys
I have used all the products and I agree, they are some of the best. I now use Mary Kay Velocity scrub + lotion daily (still love, Clinique, too). It makes my skin so soft and it helps with some blemishes and pimples that I still get at 21. I also have found that it’s not just about what you put on your skin but what you put in your body. I drink tons of liquids with vitamin c (Vitamin Water, Emergen-C, etc) and eat dark green veggies on a regular basis. I’ve noticed that changing my diet has greatly improved the tone of my skin. Every morning I have a class of Odwalla Superfood. It looks like nasty, green baby food but tastes great and it’s a full serving of vegetables + antioxidant.
Christina
St.Ives is possibly the worst scrub for your face ever. It contains harsh exfoliants like ground up walnut shells which do not have an even surface like microbead exfoliants. They can actually cause micro-tears in your skin and could do more damage long-term than good. I recommend using just a washcloth to scrub your face a little as you wash your face or to use a microbead-based exfoliant. For those with really sensitive skin like me, this stuff made my skin irritated and tender. Ask any dermatologist, they’ll tell you the same thing.
Ayanna
@katrina… i would say Dove soap or any of the soaps from Nubian Heritage. They’re organic and it’s really done wonders for my face! (coconut papaya is the best for the face if you ask me)
Is it me or does the St. Ives seem less abrasive now? Now that they have a “new formula” it isn’t as gritty as it used to be. Kinda liked it that way :/
Monica
I love the moisturizing gel by Clinique. It really moisturizes my skin and it doesn’t make me feel greasy. I like to use it after I wash my face with a gentle cleanser like Purpose or Cetaphil because the ones made for oily/combination skin are too harsh and dry out my skin, which makes my face very shiny.
The makeup remover by Neutrogena is my favorite for a couple years now. I use it everyday.
I’ve tried the scrub by st Ives, but I heard some of the exfoliants used tear up your skin. So I’m on the search for another exfoliant. I got a sample from Clinique but haven’t tried yet.
I’m also looking for a sunscreen that doesn’t make me feel like I’m wearing a mask.
Suzi
I usually prefer to mix up my own homemade exfoliate with turbinado sugar, much cheaper and I can make sure there aren’t any nasty fillers. My friend also whips up wonderful homemade moisterizer.
I used to love using Cetaphil as both a face wash and a makeup remover since it was highly recommended by my dermatologist, but I can’t seem to find it in the drugstore anymore. I use spectro-derm as a substitute, but I don’t like it as much since it smells slightly like alcohol.
Sunscreen is probably the one skincare product I don’t mind splurging on.
Alex
I second St. Ives sucking sucking sucking! It is really bad for your skin, you need perfectly spherical microbeads to actually exfoliate and not damage your skin.
I have combination skin and it never bothered me, but last semester I was never without a couple of pimples and it drove me CRAZY! I finally went to Sephora and saw a skin specialist (who knew what she was talking about, hence the St. Ives warning) and although I dropped about $100 on three skincare products, I have not had a pimple that’s lasted more than a day since. I highly recommend spending money on skincare products over any other makeup — it’s the only thing that really matters.
Anyway, I bought:
Peter Thomas Roth buffing beads
Dermadoctor Picture porefect acne treatment
Bliss clog dissolving cleansing milk – so gentle and it actually works
I swear by these now, honestly.
Selinnium
I was just going to say how bad the St. Ives scrub is until I saw that others agree with me too (: And yes, harsh, ingredients like walnut powder has jagged edges and does way more than get rid of dead skin cells; it gets rid of skin cells in general. In other words, it gives you tiny cuts on your face. My face does feel smooth though, I can’t disagree with that but I’d rather use something else. For an exfoliator, try using something that obviously has beads in them because they won’t cut skin.
This may sound stupid because I’m still young and kicking, but I am using anti-aging products, on top of SPF50 sunscreen. I guess I am just incredibly paranoid of getting wrinkles. It doesn’t do any harm to the skin but it is a good precaution.
Happy skin caring!
Brittany
I truly believe you should go to a dermatologist for this if you are having skin issues.
Otherwise use gentle cleansers like cetaphil and purpose.
Moisturizer-wise my derma said that any versions that use a pump are too thin to be effective.
and exfoliators are like masks……to be used sparingly
Amy
Suzi–I don’t know where you’re from, but I’ve bought/ seen Cetaphil from both Target and Walmart recently. I love that stuff!
I agree with the products in the general sense (sunscreen, moisturizer, makeup remover, exfoliater) but I don’t use the exact ones.
I actually like the Boots Experts line at Target for most of my skincare products, my skin responds well to both their sensitive skin and their acne line. Very inexpensive but it works so well for me. Most of their products are under $10 and a few are under $5.
jem
clinque products are amazing and last a long time too! i use sunscreen all the time but i am still on the hunt for one which isn’t oily and doesnt smell like sunscreen! any good suggestions? thanks
sara
no offense to those that use it but i absolutely hate that eye makeup remover. it is sooo oily, i just cannot use it. i use target brand instead. dont waste your money if you hate an oily feeling remover!
emily
The neutrogena eye makeup remover is bad. BAD. VERYBAD. It’s greasy (yes, even when you shake it) and when I sleep it leaves a residue on my pillow which in turn rubs off on my face and gives me acne all over (BLEHHHH).
Weird as it is (since it is just SOSOSOSO greasy), it makes my eyes all dry and the skin on my eyelids peel. To avoid this, stick to cream makeup removers, they don’t slip and slide all over your face when you try to rinse it off, since it’s creamy and not oily/runny.
Also, St.Ives is just the WORST :)
but I couldn’t agree more with the importance of sunscreen and moisturizers.
Kath
I love the Neutogena remover, strange to see that others have problems with it. It is oily, but as long as take off your makeup before washing your face it’s fine.
chili
I may have a really rare skin type or something, but i’ll just say this: clinique, which is a brand that prides itself on its hypoallergenic-ness, REALLY did not work for me. The moisturizer gave me a crazy allergic reaction: my skin got puffy, red, bumpy and itchy almost instantly after using it. no other moisturizer i have ever used did this to me, and they were all half the price of clinique’s! i really DO NOT recommend this one if you have sensitive skin.
Jess
@Selinnium You are not the only one using anti aging products at a young age, so am I :)..I rather use it now and have beautiful skin when I reach my 30s 40s and so on. I think its very smart lol
I love love love Clinque. It is the best.
Deanne
I definitely agree with the sunscreen; my FAVOURITE is Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock! Get it if you have oily or acne-prone skin! :D And EVOO works wonderfully to remove the eye makeup (no morning flakies!). :)
Also, I thought St. Ives was good for my skin, but it doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything, and it irritates my skin when I use it. Anyone know a good scrub for sensitive skin??
Luinae
I agree with Allison- EVOO is a great makeup remover! I also use it to make my own daily scrub. I just mix with a bit of white sugar and voila!
lalalina
Deanne, I completely agree with you sunscreen choice, I love the Neutrogena sunblock. I am also a big fan of moisturizers with sunscreen in them. They are great for daily facial use! Using sunscreen is so crucial all year round and I am glad I have finally developed that habit!
Expedia.co
Great article very helpful. I hope most of this stuff are read this informative article but its nice to have it all laid out in one place for reference.
Maria
i absolutely agree on all of these! sunscreen, moisturizer, make-up remover and exfoliator… well, from the article above, the only brand that’s available in my country is clinique and i’ve never even tried that. i myself use the body shop moisturizer, enummi sunscreen (which feels sooo light), and shu uemura make-up remover. i’m still looking for a good exfoliator, though, the ones i’ve tried still don’t feel right. :/
oh, and i’ll add one on the important list: eye cream. eye area is incredibly sensitive and the usual moisturizer you use on the rest of your face area doesn’t do it justice. eye cream is like a… pre-anti-aging for the eyes. :)
i’m also contemplating to try SK-II essence, it is said to be very good, protect your skin against wrinkles any everything, but the price is around $50, so what do you guys think of that product? any of you tried it? thx!
Alana
I can’t beleive how many people hate St. Ives, I love it! But i think it just isn’t good as a daily scrub. I use it every couple weeks when my skin starts to get dry and flakey and it clears my skin right up. So maybe it’s just too harsh to use everyday, but I’ve never had any problems.
Alana
Also–I got so into the St. Ives I forgot my actual comment–I think it’s worth noting that while the eye makeup remover is great and “oil free” it does have a greasiness to it that I really hate. However it does work great I just wish it really was oil free.
beccap
as for a general moisturizer, my skin is really sensitive so i use vaseline basic cocoa butter. it works really well for all-over- i use it on my face, dry patches, and even feet (tmi? lol)
anyway, i use johnson & johnsons baby wash to remove my eye makeup. its really gentle because its made for infant skin and it takes all of my mascara, eyeliner, and shadow off. its great & super inexpensive.
Hannah Jade
One thing that you didn’t really mention are the chemicals in the recommended products.
I mean, I know basically everything you touch is out to kill you but on this aspect these are avoidable.
In the UK over 1100 chemicals have been legally banned from being put in products unlike here in the US only 9 have… We are so behind…
If you go to the site below you can check specific beauty products and what the chemicals in them are and how dangerous they can be. I mean I though neutrogena was perfectly fine, they go for that simple straight to the point packaging but it turns out their shampoo is ridiculously hazardous.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Check it out, go through your products and maybe try alternatives that don’t put unnecessary chemicals into daily items that could harm you in the long run.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/brand/St._Ives/
St. Ives doesn’t seem to have a very healthy range of products