I’ll forgo a rendezvous with the treadmill for a binge-fest on occasion. Bad hair day? Throw it in a ponytail. But a bad skin day, sweet Lord forbid. My skin care regiment is crucial to maintaining, my skin, my life.
It’s 7:30 a.m. I shower and wash with a gentle cleaner. I’ve discovered that there’s really no reason to spend over, say $12 on a cleanser. It’s on your face for all of a minute. That scruffy hipster guy at the bar was all over your face for longer than that. Cetaphil or Olay will work just fine. Wash once or twice a day depending on how oily you get.
7:31 a.m. I moisturize with an SPF lotion, oil-free and non-comedogenic of course. Even if you’re Pimply McPimpleson, you should still moisturize. The SPF is crucial as well. As a teenager, I was a sun-worshiper, now I praise SPF.
7:45 a.m. I grab a banana before busing it to work. This is what I call eating for the epidermis. I try to eat a variety of fruits, veggies, and nuts every day. Even if you slather on a $400 skin crème like it’s your new religion, it’s not going to do much for you if you eat potato chips (not a vegetable) and cream puffs all day.
3:21 p.m. Gulp. I make my way to the bathroom again. I think my co-workers think I have a “going” problem. But it’s really that last cup of water. You may not need eight glasses a day, but I make it my business to stay hydrated. My skin appreciates it.
5:35 p.m. I use a gentle makeup remover to take it all off. I never forget to take it off. Sleeping in makeup is a sin in my book of skin care rules.
5:45 p.m. Elliptical. It’s just you and me. A healthy appearance reflects a healthy lifestyle. I always notice that my skin looks fantastic when I work out.
6:35 p.m. I shower right after working out since my backne is back with a vengeance. I use a cleanser with Benzaclyn on my back.
6:50 p.m. I put on my once-weekly glycolic acid peel for 10 minutes while I cook dinner. I like REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask.
10:37 p.m. As my head hits the pillow, I can rest easy knowing that I’m sleeping on fresh linens. Oils can accumulate on the pillow, so I change the sheets once a week.
Tomorrow’s another day and my skin needs its beauty sleep.
