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I recently switched up my daily routine when it comes to the skincare products I use, so I figured I’d share what I am using in a dedicated post!

But first! A little backstory…

I had an epiphany last month when we weren’t getting paid due to the government shutdown. Over the years, as we have naturally increased our income, I had slowly started buying better products. Which is perfectly fine, except I felt like I wasn’t being as responsible as I could be with regards to how we spend our money. I mean, I can have nice things but I don’t need ALL the nice things lol. The saying, “you spend more as you make more,” is true in our instance. I’ve never bought anything that compromised our long term money goals and all of that, but why spend more if you don’t need to, right? Long story short, I reevaluated what products were worth it to me, as well as what I could save money on. I believe this is what I was meant to learn during this time, and it was a good lesson! 

Also, since a lot of my previous buys were running out, I had the opportunity to switch to lower priced brands when I could. I’ll outline my routine below, as well as let you know what I had been using and what I switched to!

1. I am a big proponent of washing makeup off before bed, I never skip this step! I personally like to double wash, as I feel like I am really getting my makeup off this way. I had been using Purity (bought in bulk), which I love, but switched to CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser and feel like it works just as well. I buy two, one for my shower and one for my bathroom counter, and the price point is awesome. As for my splurge, I really love Colleeen Rothschild’s Cleansing Balm! It makes me happy to use it nightly, it lasts a long time, and is a product I don’t mind splurging on. I just used up the last of mine, so I need to order more.
2. This time of year when everything is so dry, I need an oil under my moisturizer. Two that I love that are very inexpensive are this Rosehip oil from Amazon , and right now I am using CeraVe’s Gel Oil. I love it so much! This step is crucial for me this time of year, I have to use an oil as the first step under my moisturizer or I get dry patches. In the morning before the gym I splash my face with cold water, apply the CeraVe gel oil, and then use sunscreen on top.
3. Moisturizer is another product I don’t mind spending money on, but I do have a couple of budget friendly options that I’ll share. I am currently using Colleen Rothschild’s Extreme Recovery Cream and it is DECADENT. It’s pricey, though, and I think it gets used fast. I probably won’t rebuy it. I layer it over my gel oil after the gym and at night after I wash my face for bed. In the warmer months I love her Sheer Renewal Cream…it lasts forever and is a bit more cost-effective than the Extreme Recovery Cream. I will say, I have used CeraVe’s AM and PM lotions in the past and really, really like them. I am considering trying them again when my CR cream runs out to see if I can save some $$ here again!
4. Lastly, sunscreen! I wear this daily, year round. There are two that I like, Missha Sunmilk from Amazon and CeraVe (surprise, I love this drugstore brand!) Both are light, have a neutral smell, and work well under makeup.

Bonus: this time of year is when my skin gets Vampire pale. I love using this self tanner on my face for a nice little glow! It last FOREVER and doesn’t make me break out. I use this on my body and always apply it with a tanning mitt. Self tanners are an area where spending more is worth it, in my opinion.

That’s it! I find that this time of year I have to stick to simple products that really moisturize and heal my dryer skin. I am not consistent enough with masks or exfoliation, so I don’t have anything to share with regards to those products!

Tell me, what are your RIDE or DIE skin care products?