My Cosmetic History Begins With Moisturizing

First, I'll let you know a brief background regarding my skincare and beauty knowledge.

 I started using moisturizer at age 15, applying every morning and night.  I owe that to my mom, who promised that if I used Oil of Olay twice daily for a year, she would let me wear color cosmetics at the end of that year (my 16th birthday).  She kept that promise and taught me how to use cosmetics properly which turned into a love for makeup.

In my mid 20s I started using Lancome cosmetics (almost exclusively) and their anti-aging skincare.  I even worked for Lancome for a few years, becoming one of their Beauty Advisors and Makeup Artists.  Their training was invaluable! Because of what I learned in "Lancome School",  I can actually understand the commercials on television that talk about hyaluronic acid and injectable grade collagen, etc.

Recently, I started dabbling in Avon Cosmetics and began to like them so much, I decided to become an Avon Rep.  Their line has developed over the years and they're employing some very advanced technology in their anti-aging solutions, makeup, skincare and body care.

So, over the next couple weeks, I'll post blogs that will cover my daily routine.  Most of my products have migrated to the Avon line.  Everything that has migrated, I have been extremely happy with.  If it hasn't migrated, it's because I haven't tried it or Avon doesn't carry it.  There hasn't yet been anything I don't like in the Avon line.

So, let's talk about moisturizer.
This, I believe, is the most important step in your skincare regimen.  Whether you're 20 or 60.  Male or female. Wear makeup or not.  Moisturizer is what will save your skin from the sun, the elements and aging.

My moisturizing regimen consists of:

Avon's ANEW REJUVENATE Flash Facial Revitalizing Concentrate.  This is a serum for normal skin that is loaded with antioxidants and  a "cell bonding" technology which helps improve the texture of your skin.  You want to put your serum (2-3 pumps is enough) on clean, dry skin.  Serum should be the FIRST thing on your face.

My daytime moisturizer is Avon ANEW REJUVENATE Day Revitalizing Cream with SPF 25.  I find both of these products on par with Lancome's Cell Defense line.  I get a smooth soft texture immediately with no "rolling" (many Lancome products "roll" on my skin, which isn't harmful, it's just a bummer)



For nighttime, I use a completely different serum.
And many people ask me if a serum is necessary.  Click here for my answer:

You can become a fan of Mintie is My Avon Representative in Chicago on Facebook.

To purchase any of the Avon products shown here, please go to: http://jscanland.avonrepresentative.com/
Shipping is FREE on any order over $30.00

Your Skin Type and How to Moisturize it

"Do you want to do everything you can to keep your skin in top top shape? Or do you only want to do 50%?"  If you're ok with only doing 50% (or can only afford 50%), then you can skip the serum.  I, on the other hand, use one serum in the day and one at night... I want to do everything I can to put my best face forward!

You should also know that two serums at once will not work.  Only the first one on your skin is going to be absorbed.  Additionally, most serums come in a pump bottle because they cannot take long exposure to air.  Once air hits them, they begin to lose their effectiveness.  So, when you get to the end of your bottle, opening it up and digging out the remains isn't going to work.

My night time serum is Avon's latest anti-aging breakthrough ANEW REVERSALIST serum.


Wrinkles are actually a result of micro-injuries to the skin. So, Avon scientists studied how a cut heals. When you get a cut, it triggers the production of a key repair molecule, Activin.  Anew's Activinol technology is designed to boost Activin, helping skin's repair process to recreate fresh new skin and help reverse the appearance of wrinkles.



I find that my skin immediately feels softer and smoother.  And I finish my nighttime moisturizing regimen with ANEW REVERSALIST night renewal cream.


I'm often asked how night cream is different from day cream.  Your night cream is going to be much more "repairative" than your day cream as well as more emollient.  As you sleep, your skin (your whole body, actually) is rejuvenating itself.  Recharging like a battery.  Nighttime products are developed to feed on this recharge and help rejuvenate skin's moisture, etc.  So, much like using a serum because I want to do all I can to put my best face forward, I also use a separate night cream.

Moisture is the key.
Apart from any advanced technology, the main thing your skin needs is moisture.  Every thing that you do tries to rob your skin of moisture and in turn, creates wrinkles down the road.  The three major causes of moisture loss are:

#1  Air.  Cold weather, warm weather, dry weather, damp weather.  Everyone's skin reacts differently to weather fluctuations.  And the result, generally, is drying the skin out.


#2 Sun.  This should actually be number 1.  I'm an old goth kid, so I never really went in the sun (still don't)... plus I burn if I'm exposed for more than 15 minutes.  Because of this, I started on SPF very early in life.  And the minute they figured out how to put it in face moisturizer, I grabbed some.  Even in winter, sun exposure can wreak havoc on your face.  Be sure to protect it with an SPF moisturizer.  If you want a sunkissed glow to your face, get a bronzer (we'll cover this later).


#3 What you consume.  Smoking, alcohol, caffeine... all of these things dry out your skin as well.  AND... if you're not getting your 64 oz of water every day that's also taking a toll.


Although there are more things that can affect your skin these are the three unavoidable ones.


Which moisturizer to choose?
First, you need to determine your skin type.  There are three.


Oily
Is your skin oily all over all day?  If so, you have Oily skin.  Oily skin needs moisturizer too.
Did you hear that?  Oily skin needs moisturizer too!
Moisturizer is not oil.  It is water. 
You will want to find a moisturizer that is oil free.  Most moisturizers formulated for oily skin also have salicylic acid.  Salicylic acid helps to unclog your pores and tighten them up a bit so that they produce less oil making them less prone to breakout.  Additionally, most oily skin is younger skin, so oil-free "anti-aging" moisturizers will be hard to find.  Most of these will be general moisturizers.


Normal/Combination

Is your skin neither oily nor dry?  Is it just a little bit oily or just oily in the T-Zone?  (T-Zone is if you made the shape of a "T" on your entire face: Forehead, Nose, Chin)  This is Normal or Combination skin.  Again, this generally is tied to age.  So this is where your anti-aging products will start.   These products will be targeted to people in their 20s (although, at 40, I am still in this category), which is a good time to start on anti-aging products.  I say everyone should give themselves a birthday present on their 23rd Birthday.  An entire anti-aging skincare regimen, consisting of Cleanser, Toner, Serum Moisturizer and Eye Cream.



Dry
Is your skin, in a word, dry?  Then, yes, you have dry skin.  Some people experience tightness, flakiness and sometimes burning after washing.  The first thing you need to do is STOP using hot water on your face.  Second is to find a good deep moisture moisturizer.  I've even known women with extremely dry skin to use their more emollient night cream on their face during the day.  Be sure to use a foundation with SPF to keep protected if you do this, because your night cream has no SPF.  Additioanly, your foundation should also be geared towards dry skin users.  Many lines will carry emollient rich foundations containing additional moisturizer.  You will want to avoid mousse, powder or mineral foundations because they will settle into your lines and/or make your skin look and feel even more dry.


Click here for the begining of this blog:  My Cosmetic History Begins with Moisturizing. (this includes my day moisturizing regimen)

To purchase any of the Avon products shown here, please go to: http://jscanland.avonrepresentative.com/
Shipping is FREE on any order over $30.00

Next week:  Eye Creams and serums

Please feel free to leave any questions I can answer regarding this post or suggestions for upcoming posts.

Become a fan of Mintie is my Avon Representative in Chicago on Facebook.