Basics for your skin

I am extremely excited to begin my first post on skin care.  I decided that it would be a good start to address what basic products you can use to achieve great skin.  First, it is extremely important to have a good daily cleanser.  I was recently as the Bliss Spa at the W Hotel in Los Angeles and one of the skincare experts told me it is good to have two cleansers to switch on and off with because your skin can get used to a product to where the product won't work as effectively with getting rid of bacteria, makeup, and cleansing the skin. 

Two cleansers that I am currently using as of now is a line called SkinCeuticals and it is the Foaming Cleanser.  What I enjoy about this cleanser is that it is very gentle to the skin, doesn't give you that "squeeky clean feeling" to where you feel your skin is dried out, and effectively gets rid of makeup, dirt, and excess sebum.  It is great for sensitive skin as well (I have extremely sensitive skin with a bit of roscea and it works very well with calming my skin).  Second cleanser I like to switch with is the Bliss Spa's Fabulous Foaming Face Wash ($28.00).  It is extremely calming to my sensitive skin even though it has tiny exfoliating components in the product and has very good ingredients such as rose hips, chamomile (very calming), and passion flower.  What I also like about this cleanser is that Bliss Spa sells a travel sized container of it for 10 dollars so if you need a good cleanser on the go, this is your product! 

Something that can be optional for you ladies but I believe is a must have is a good repairing serum.  Serums are wonderful because they really penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and can help with reversing sun damage to adding more vitamins and nutrients into the skin to get more of a glow.  I am currently using a serum from Jurlique called "Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel" which I love because it helps to put back certain nutrients that people with sensitive skin need.  Extremely light weight, soaks right into the skin, a nice light scent, and is botanical (groomwell and sichuan peppercorn--main ingredients).  The product is roughly $65.00 but very worth it.  They also have a Recovery Gel for normal skin as well. 

The next important item to have is a good moisturizer.  This is where I become extremely picky because a lot of moisturizers can be greasy, too heavy, or too drying and the ones with SPF can make the skin look white in pictures (which has happened to me numerous times).  So I decided to get the Peter Thomas Roth SPF 45 powder stick to place all over my face with my moisturizer (it is extremely important to have SPF on during the day, especially in sunny California!).  I am currently using a moisturizer by The Bliss Spa called The "Steep Clean Mattifying Moisturizer" (roughly $46.00).  I have combination/oily skin so for me I need something mattifying but not to where it completely dries my skin out.  What I like about this product is that its very lightweight, works well with my sensitive skin, and doesn't dry me out at all.  I still feel moisturized after using this product but no oil or grease. 

Lastly, it is extremely important to have a good eye serum or eye cream.  The eye area is the most delicate area on the face and needs to be hydrated to prevent crows feet or wrinkles.  An eye serum which I very much enjoyed was a line called Arcona (can be found in Nordstroms) and they have a product called Peptide Eye Serum for around $54.00.  What I liked about it was the consistency was very lightweight and the product soaked right into the eye area to where I could apply my foundation on right away.  I am now using SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex ($85.00) and it is amazing!  It is from the SkinCeuticals "aging" line and helps to diminish dark circles, puffiness, and effects of glycation.  It is a bit heavier than the Arcona eye serum, but I noticed the SkinCeuticals eye complex gives my eyes a nice brightening effect.  It is expensive, but it has amazing reviews and is a good product to keep!

**Pictures of products here:

Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (Bliss Spa) $28.00



SkinCeuticals Foaming Face Wash $35.00 (Bliss Spa carries this product)



Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF powder 45 (Sephora carries this product) $30.00



Bliss Steep Clean Mattifying Moisturizer (Bliss Spa or Sephora) $46.00

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel $60.00 (Sephora)

Arcona Peptide Eye Serum $54.00 (Nordstroms)

SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex $85.00 (Bliss Spa/Various Spas)

Well ladies, I have so much more good tips and advice to share on skin care so I will be posting more but I hope that this gave you a bit of knowledge on what basic products you might need for your bathroom shelves!  XOXO Lara