Hello from someone who is not a skincare influencer! I am, however, someone who has been choosing to put pictures of themselves online for public scrutiny for the last decade, and with that has come some desperate toying with my skincare to try and look and feel my best.

At the start of this year I decided to give a few new products a try and have noticed a huge improvement in my skin’s evenness and complexion and I’m ready to share what I’ve been using!

Before I go into products you can buy: the not-as-fun part…. lifestyle choices.

I won’t lie that I could probably further improve what I put in my body in addition to what goes on it, my biggest vices being coffee & alcohol. While I do keep alcohol in moderation, I drink a boat load of coffee every day. Always room for improvement!

Keeping that in mind, my top tips for good skin are free, and I do try to stick to them all:

1.) Stay hydrated, especially as we enter summer heat. The difference in my skin on days when I’ve had plenty of water vs when I have skimped is wild.

2.) Limit alcohol consumption, and on days that you do drink, stay hydrated! I have been a long-time 2-glasses of wine at night girly and I do love it, but over the past year I’ve started monitoring my drinking and will now have about 4-5 servings of alcohol a week, usually just with friends. It makes it more special and helps with my overall health, including my skin.

3.) Sweat daily, or as close to daily as possible. And wash your face not long after! Breaking a sweat is very cleansing for me, personally, and my skin never looks better than when I’m breaking a sweat every single day. Ideally you’d wash your face as soon as possible when you’re done sweating for the day so it’s not caked up on your skin. If I’m at the gym I will just wash my face before leaving.

4.) Limit refined foods, or avoid all together. I have a less-than-fun track record when it comes to my relationship with food, so I’ll be the first to tell you ignore this tip if it’s triggering. For me, though, over the past five years I’ve been able to closely monitor what I’m eating with care regarding whole body health, including my skin, and have found it to be not damaging to my mental health. I’ve paid attention to notice how I feel, and have noticed a huge improvement in skin complexion and evenness and a huge reduction in breakouts when I’m not consuming much refined sugar, refined carbs, or, in general, foods with a ton of ingredients. Everyone will be different here, but I think just paying attention and being mindful, if you can do so in a health and non-obsessive manner, goes very far!

With all of that being said, lifestyle changes are only the start, and that’s where product comes in!

I really feel like a skincare routine that goes much beyond a cleanser, a moisturizer, and an SPF is really doing too much—and you’ll find my picks for those below. That being said I do use a daily eye cream that has done wonders for my under-eye circles, and a once-a-week exfoliator which has become my secret trick to bright and smooth skin.

Finally, I take collagen peptides pretty much daily and love it for the additional protein alone, but also for how it has given my hair, nails, and skin extra love.

Check out everything I use below and let me know if you try anything!

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser | $14 | This gets used twice daily, morning and night.
Affordable and gentle, Cetaphil is my go-to for a non-drying first step in my skincare routine.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream | $14 | This gets used after my cleanser twice daily.
Fragrance free and non-irritating, Cetaphil’s moisturizing cream keeps my skin hydrated all day long.
Kiehl's Powerful-Strength 10% Vitamin C Eye Serum | $23 | After my moisturizer, this goes on, twice daily. I noticed results (less puffy under-eyes, lightened under-eye circles) after a few weeks.
I banish dark under-eye circles and puffiness with this Kiehl’s eye serum made with lightening vitamin C, plumping hyaluronic acid and nourishing peptides.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer with Sunscreen | $23 | Pretty sporadic with this but in general whenever I leave the house.
For added hydration and sun protection, I never leave the house without a few healthy pumps of this sunscreen from First Aid Beauty.
Pacha Soap French Lavender Whipped Soap Scrub | $12 | This is my secret weapon that I use 1-2 times a week and it has made a huge difference.
Once or twice a week I’ll use a small amount to exfoliate my face and have been loving it. It’s too harsh to use daily, and when I do use it I’m pretty gentle with it. On days I use it I follow up it up with the cleanser linked above and then the moisturizing cream. The same company also makes a CBD version we love!
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides | $40 | I use this daily in my morning smoothies. I noticed results (glowy skin, smooth skin) after about a month.
I’ve used this product on and off for years to boost my skin’s resilience from the inside, and I’ve found that when I stick to it on a daily basis there is a noticeable difference in my skin’s evenness and glow.

Probably This Picks: A Simple Routine for Glowing Skin

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