Nighttime Skincare Routine

You know you're getting older when you actually have a skincare regime. I remember back then when people used to ask what I did I would literally answer, "Soap and water!" My skin has always been sensitive and dry so I didn't mess with what didn't need fixing.

The past year or so I've really changed up my skincare regime. It's probably also due to the fact that since I'm working I tend to wear more makeup. I just don't feel put together or professional without some foundation. I can usually leave out the wipes if it's just a regular day since I try to avoid wearing a product all over my face (except lotion/sunscreen) if I don't have to.

At the end of the day I'm usually itching to clean my face, but I'm also exhausted and hungry. So I'll quickly take the majority of my makeup off with whatever makeup remover wipes I have on hand. The Simple Radiance Wipes are what I'm currently using, though I do like to try different brands every time I run out. (I haven't found one that I absolutely love yet).

After I've gotten some dinner and feel a bit more human I'll finish up with the rest of my routine before I head to bed. That consists of using Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover to get that waterproof eye makeup that I use off. (I've been using this for years and it's definitely a HG product). Then I'll go in with my Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser to actually wash my face. This is a great cleanser for my skin type since it doesn't strip it of its moisture. Before I put on any lotion or creams I'll wipe my face with a few drops of the The Body Shop's Seaweed Clarifying Toner, mainly concentrating on T-zone. And two new products I've been loving to finish off my routine are from the Vitamin E line, also from The Body Shop. I'll moisturize with the Nourishing Night Cream and add the Eye Cream as well.

Overall still pretty simple compared to some other people's skincare routines, but it works for me. And I can go to bed in peace knowing I'm not leaving any residue from the day on my face.

After Holidays Haul

 

This is a bit late, but I did a little bit of shopping after the holidays. You would think after all the shopping I had to do for Christmas presents I wouldn't even want to think about it. I did have a couple coupons that were going to expire so I decided to stop by the mall.

I still had a few "Christmas" gifts that I had to give to friends (that I just waited to do at the end since I wasn't going to see them till the new year), so I managed to pick up some great 50% holiday-themed gift bags and wrapping essentials. I tried to pick the least Christmas-y ones so I could potentially use them during the year as well. 

I've been wanting to try a few things from The Body Shop so I stopped in. I only wanted to get the Vitamin E Eye Cream and the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream, but they had a buy-three-get-one-free deal so I ended up with the Tea Tree Pore Minimiser and the Seaweed Clarifying Toner. The last two were recommended by one of the girls working there. She definitely steered me in the right direction after asking me questions about my skin type. I've used all four of the products at least once, but I'd probably need to try it more to get a solid opinion on each. So far I am really liking the eye and night cream from the Vitamin E line.

I also stopped by Bath and Body Works since they were also having a 50% off sale on certain items. My mom is always wanting candles so I mainly stopped by to pick up a couple for her. I picked Party Dress for myself (which I'm actually burning right now) and I might get another one as soon as it's all gone. While I do like BBW's candles they can be quite strong, so as nice as the scent can be in the store it can be overwhelming once you start burning it. This one is lighter and I haven't gotten sick of it. For my mom I purchased Tuscan Herbs (pretty unique and light as well), Lily Ponds, and Villa Bergamot. The last two were strong though and the last one especially smelled like a cologne so might steer clear of those.

Since this "haul" I haven't gotten shopping since, which is probably a good thing since I bank account needs to recover after the holidays. That and I shouldn't be distracting myself when this is supposed to be a hardcore study month for my OATs in February. And like I mentioned in my last post, this month is pretty hectic surgery-wise. The chief optometrist just e-mailed us the other day with a break down of the schedule for tomorrow. I need to be in there a little before 8am meaning that I'll have to be on the train by 6am...This is why I can't get any studying in after I get home from work. After dinner I am passed. out. She did mention that we're having really nice/awesome patients tomorrow though so we'll see how that turns out. Crossing my fingers for no complications and that everything will go according to the schedule.