My Skincare Routine

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Every so often I receive an amazing email that makes blogging completely worthwhile to me. I recently received this message that put a smile on face. And it was the compliment and question at the end that inspired this post.
"I am an avid frum follower of your blog and I'm blown away each time.

More impressive than your vast knowledge of all things beautiful, is your amazing simchas hachayim*!!!

Keep it up! you're touching people's lives in many ways, not just materialistically.

I'm not such a fashionista myself but I love all the beautiful things in this world, that which Hashem has created and all things man can do in this world.

Please share with us your skin care regimen. You appear to have such glowing skin."


*Simchas hachayim means joy in living

So here I will share with you my skin care routine. And just like everything else I post, it's so much more than just about the products!

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is thank Hashem (G-d)  for a new day, for being healthy and alive, and for the sleep I received.
I then jump in the shower and wash my face well. I am currently using the following two products (I've switched facial cleansers many times, but I'm really enjoying these now).  I choose one or the other depending on if I want to exfoliate and deep cleanse or if I just want a more gentle cleanse for my skin.

My beauty products must smell amazing, that's one of the most important purchasing factors for me. And so far I'm in love with the smell of this L'Oreal cleanser...it's one of my all time favorites. 
I don't have a problem with acne but I do have a thing for pink products, and the invigorating grapefruit scent of this wash inspired me to try it. I find it gives me a refreshingly deep exfoliating cleanse.
Then once I'm showered and dressed...I'm still not fully human until I have my first cup of coffee.
Now here's my own personal and most unique part of the beauty routine: After I finish my coffee, I refill my cup with steaming green tea. Once the tea has steeped I rub the tea bag all over my cleansed face. Then I bring my cup of tea back to my bedroom (sans tea bag!) and sip it while I put on my makeup (don't worry, I would never put the tea bag back in the cup...eww!). This way I get the benefits of the antioxidants of green tea inside and out.
First I start with my favorite moisturizer, Estee Lauder Time Zone, which...yup...smells amazing!
Then I apply a small amount of this miracle product: L'Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute. I've tired many expensive foundations, but girls, this affordable one is my winner. It gives me a natural glow and great coverage for the discoloration caused by years of irresponsible sun exposure (ahem.. I beg you to trust me when I say to use sunscreen, you can fake a tan but you can't fake young skin once you start aging). I love it! (Plus it includes a serum of retinol and vitamin C.)

Now here's another one of my beauty secrets: I'm constantly mixing products. If I want a deeper more bronzed glow I'll mix this product with a touch of liquid bronzer. Sometimes I mix it with a highlighting cream and sometimes I mix it with a yummy smelling lotion for lighter coverage and a great scent. I've been known to mix this with up to 4 other products depending on my mood! 
Then I sweep on my custom magic bronzer...here's the story: This past Sunday I decided my makeup drawer was a mess. I dumped everything out and found I had about 6-8 partially used bronzers, blushes and highlighters. I found a pretty glass bowl, and with the back of a plastic spoon I scraped all of them together into the bowl. I lightly pounded them together into this glowy bronzer powder and that's what  I sweep on over my foundation. It's a wonderful combination of high (think Nars Laguna bronzer and Guerlain Terra Cotta) and low (think Forever 21 blush and highlighting powder and Physicians Formula bronzer). It's fabulous!
I then apply my blackest black eyeliner, two coats of mascara, my favorite MAC bbq lipliner (discontinued!),  one of my many nude lipsticks (Myth by MAC is awesome) and a swipe of sheer gloss to finish it off.

And that's the morning routine...

But here's where things start to go south...at around 3:00 pm I start to feel and look like this.
And by 6pm I'm more like this...
So I'm pretty much a really bad girl when it comes to skincare at night. I'm just so wiped out and I really don't care anymore, so I rarely take off my makeup before I go to bed.  But I do sometimes pour myself a glass of red wine at this point, and hey, doesn't ingesting all those antioxidants count for skin care too? I'd like to pretend it does ;)
And if I'm a good girl? Then, I'll wash my face with that L'Oreal face wash again and apply this Neutrogena retinol night cream liberally before I go to bed.
But a good night's sleep is probably the most important part of great looking skin.
And then I wake up and start all over again :)

Please continue to send me your emails and questions and always feel free to comment here on my blog and share my posts. And if you're a company and want me try out and promote a product please feel free to email me at ask.fashionisha@gmail.com.

Wishing you the most glowing day!
xo
Sharon

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29 comments

  1. Thanks for this very refreshing & informative post Sharon....I swear by L'Oreal products both skin care & makeup. High quality yet affordable prices....you cant go wrong with that!!

    REBECCA
    www.redtagchiclosangeles.com

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  2. I'm a makeup artist and I use the same foundation on all my clients cuz I love the the formula of the product, I recommend it to everyone!! Oh and I also tried & enjoyed the grapefruit line but I never repurchased the line cuz I love trying new products!!

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  3. great every day beauty routine. I love that Loreal Cleanser too and it's part of my daily routine as well. what a great idea- the tea bag & putting the powder bronzers together! have heard such great things about that loreal foundation must try. have a great day! xo gigi.

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  4. Wow, u do so much........I just take off my eye makeup&wash my face w reg soap &sometimes put on clinique skin cream, ite &day. You make the products soundcso good, maybe I will try the loreal wash

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  5. Wow, u do so much........I just take off my eye makeup&wash my face w reg soap &sometimes put on clinique skin cream, ite &day. You make the products soundcso good, maybe I will try the loreal wash

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  6. Sharon you have given me some great product tips. I love the mixing of the bronzers. Right now I am using creme blushes; I just like the glow it seems to give me!

    I am definitely going to try some of the products you suggested!

    Xoxo
    Karena
    2012 Artists Series

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  7. It is the readers that make blogging worth while, for sure :)


    XX,
    Miranda

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  8. Great post! Thanks so much for the tips.
    Your blog is part of my morning routine:)
    Simy

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  9. Hi dear, thanks for sharing these great beauty tips and products with us, I need to try them out. Already following you :)

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  10. Wow.. im' a big fan of drinking tee! never thught it would work for my skin too! great tip

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  11. I loved this! Especially the bit about using the green tea bag on your face, great idea. I found with blogging I began to stray with my skin care, so over the past few months I've made more concentrated attempts to get back to it. I use the Chanel Skin care line and Aseop when I travel. I did a video about what I have and what I need to go back to here http://vanishaslife.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/the-beauty-edition.html I think the main thing for me was not using and having as much make up :)

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  12. thank you for sharing!

    i love the green tea idea!! and thanks for your quick response!!

    your "frum" blogger friend,

    estie from.....!

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  13. thank you for sharing!

    i love the green tea idea!! and thanks for your quick response!!

    your "frum" blogger friend,

    estie from.....!

    ReplyDelete
  14. thank you for sharing!

    i love the green tea idea!! and thanks for your quick response!!

    your "frum" blogger friend,

    estie from.....!

    ReplyDelete
  15. thank you for sharing!

    i love the green tea idea!! and thanks for your quick response!!

    your "frum" blogger friend,

    estie from.....!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Cute pics of you at 3 pm! :D I'm sure you look a little bit better than that...I love how you put so many engaging pics throughout your post. It really keeps one interested.
    I like the tea bag idea!

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  17. Cute pics of you at 3 pm! :D I'm sure you look a little bit better than that...I love how you put so many engaging pics throughout your post. It really keeps one interested.
    I like the tea bag idea!

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  18. Just a tip in case you were interested-moisturizers in jars are bad news- here is a link to my favorite skin care guru that explains it better than I can:
    https://www.facebook.com/notes/paulas-choice-inc/the-truth-about-jar-packaging-avoid-at-all-costs/10150706866634004

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  19. don't do any skin care products that are in jars!
    https://www.facebook.com/notes/paulas-choice-inc/the-truth-about-jar-packaging-avoid-at-all-costs/10150706866634004

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  20. amazing routine, i love tea bags on the face
    Xo Megan

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  21. thank you -- i love the tea-bagging part~ I'll have to try it sometimes!

    -liv
    http://chocolivlovelaugh.blogspot.kr/

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  22. Thanks for sharing your routine Sharon! It sounds basic but effective and that's what's most important.

    Happy weekend!
    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  23. Great post Sharon...and love the images too ;-)
    I'm a fan of L'Oreal products too although I haven't tried the L'Oreal wash yet...it's on my list!
    Have a fabulous weekend..I'm a great believer in red wine too and green tea ;-)
    Catherine
    xx

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  24. Hi Sharon, so good to hear from you again, thanks for your your lovely comment!

    I like your philosophy of mixing products and not just going for the most expensive on the market. The L'Oreal range sounds good, might have to try it. A good night sleep and a glass of red wine are always a great idea ;-) Have a lovely weekend xo

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  25. Hi, really like the appearance of ones website. Can you mind saying what theme youre making use of? I’m not used to this and i am hoping to have mine looking anywhere close to cool as yours. Many thanks.

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  26. Wow! such great tips and product recommendations. A note has been made of each and every one ;-)
    I do love the 3pm and 6pm pics but I don't believe them for a minute; I'm sure you are glowing even as you jump into bed xx

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  27. Hi Sharon! WOW, you make me want to get several of those products to try them and then empty all my shiny powders together to make a magic potion like you! I love to see a face that glows ... that looks healthy without looking like it has glitter on it to make it shine or greasy to get that glow ... sounds as if you've tried some great things! Thanks for stopping by to see me ... I've been so busy illustrating I'm just now getting back to everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, lovely! xoSandy

    SANDY M Illustration
    http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com

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  28. The tea bag secret sounds pretty cool - I should definitely try that! Greetings from Atlanta. ;-)

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