My skincare routine (plus tips + 2 DIY masks)

Happy Sunday!

Since I’ve had quite a few people reach out to me asking what I do to keep my skin looking fresh and clear, I figured now was the best time to write a little guide on it, especially with Spring basically here!
……
Jk, it’s still winter in Calgary #springwhereyaat?

As many of you may know, I LOVE skin health and everything about it. I love learning about it and helping people with their skin issues. I mostly cover skin problems like eczema and acne, but that’s for another blog post. This post is solely focused on skincare routine and helpful products that are actually beneficial for your body’s biggest organ: your gorgeous skin. Before I get into it, please know that nothing in this post is sponsored. Although, that would be nice (haha!). Let’s get started…

I see so many women using 12+ products for their skincare routine, and that’s usually just for their face! With skincare, honestly less is more. It’s insane to me how many products people use for basic skincare. You don’t need all of these crazy, complicated products to nourish your skin. You just need a few basics and maybe some ‘extra lovin’ products (these can include masks, oils, bath salts, ect).

Below you will see my general routine. Honestly, it’s very, very simple. I use only a few products. I include my ‘extras’ at the end too.

MY MORNING ROUTINE

1. After I wake up, I rinse my face thoroughly with cold water. I don’t like to over cleanse my face in the morning if I had cleansed it the night before because I find my skin dries out too much from this.
2. If my skin is feeling extra sensitive, I like to use alcohol free witch hazel. I do this a few times each month, nothing crazy.
2. Once I am done that, I put on some type of nourishment. I will either use a few drops of oil and massage it into my skin (sweet almond, jojoba, or a combo), a serum like Andalou Argan oil + C glow serum, or a light moisturizer like Acure Brightening day cream. I am very picky about my face moisturizer for daytime use. With a lot of brands, my skin tends to get super sweaty minutes after applying it. Anyone else?

MY NIGHTLY ROUTINE

1. I cleanse my face every night (or try too!) and remove my makeup using a good cleanser. My favorite current cleansers are from Andalou. I am currently using the citrus kombucha kind. I also love the Acure brightening cleansing gel.
2. After that, I moisturize using either a cream like Desert Essence revitalizing oils moisturizer (which I am currently using) but I also really love the Acure brightening night cream. During the colder months, I will use something a bit thicker like shea butter. Or I will mix shea butter with my moisturizer for that extra nourishment.
3. Also, every 3-4 days, I will use a simple homemade scrub to exfoliate my face. See my simple sugar scrub recipe below!

My favorite skincare brands (so far):

Andalou Naturals. If you’re local to Calgary, you can find this brand at Winners and most health stores
Acure. They have SPF moisturizers #win
Harlow. I am obsessed with their face elixir!
Cocokind. Their turmeric blemish stick is amazing. All of their products are amazing.
Everyone. Their coconut lemon moisturizer is BOMB)
Green Beaver. They have an amazing shea butter lip balm
Rocky mountain soap co.
Kismet. I started using their bath salts a few years ago and I have been low-key obsessed since.

A few of my favorite face mask brands:

Acure – brightening face mask
Cocokind – chlorophyll mask
Andalou Naturals – skin food mask
Aztec Secret Indian clay mask

Keep in mind – these are just the brands I use and love. There are MANY more clean brands out there that are probably amazing but these are the ones I’ve stuck with for the past few years and am still loving them. If you have any brands that you personally LOVE and would recommend, let a girl know 🙂

GLOWING TIP: Look for products that use essential oils to achieve an amazing smell vs fragrance, parfum, perfume. Basically, these can be an umbrella term which means that it can actually be a TON of chemicals but they only have to list them as one of those words. These can be very hormone-disrupting and not to mention, they are bad for the environment. You are basically inhaling this and putting it directly onto your skin, so it’s better to avoid it when you can. You can always add 1-2 drops of your favorite essential oil to your lotion to give them an amazing smell. My favorite ones are orange and cocoa (not mixed together though! ha-ha).

GLOWING TIP: If you are travelling and have a few long flights ahead of you, try under eye gel pads. Acure has some good ones. You can also find different kinds at Winners. You just peel and stick under your eyes for some extra hydration and to help with puffiness. I used these on my short flight to LA and honestly, I will be doing it again. Acure also has a gold mask… if you’re feeling boujee.

BEAUTY FOOD TIPS
Food can be very healing for skin health. I plan on doing a separate, more in-depth, blog post on this but i’ll go over some basics here..

> Include lots of healthy fats in your diet like nuts & seeds (brazil nuts and walnuts are a favorite in our home!), avocado, fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), grass-fed butter, ghee, coconut oil, and EVOO.
> Go for a wide range of fruits & veggies like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, oranges, grapefruits, papaya, bell peppers, lemons, cabbage, watermelon, pumpkin, beets, berries, broccoli, carrots, and many more. Eat the rainbow!
> Eat plenty of organic leafy greens! Next time you make a salad, try to include at least 4 different leafy greens. Some good ones include: collard greens, turnip greens, spinach, massaged kale, micro-greens, beet greens, swiss chard, and arugula. I like to do a mix of greens and then add 4-5 different veggies on top.
> Other ‘random’ foods that can benefit skin: oatmeal, grass-fed beef, oysters, eggs, and beans/ lentils.
> Superfoods are always great. Spirulina, matcha (I drink DoMatcha), chlorella, maca, hemp hearts, and cacao powder.

EXTRA INFO
1. I take fish oils every day. Not only do they help my concentration, mood, energy, and inflammation, but they also help my eczema and contribute to my overall skin glow. Mine have a higher EPA vs DHA. I love the brand NutraSea and have been taking that brand for years.
2. If you are using a regular cream on your face but want to make it extra nourishing, try adding a few drops of face oils to it. Try sweet almond oil.
3. Gut health is SO important when it comes to skin. Again, this will need to be a separate blog post, but nourishing it is crucial for skin health. You can do this through drinking bone broth, taking collagen and supplementing with probiotics.

SIMPLE SUGAR SCRUB
In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup cane sugar. Slowly add in liquid honey until you get the consistency you want. Personally, I like a thicker scrub. Optional: you can add a few drops of olive oil or sweet almond oil if you’d like. Scrub into face and then rinse with water. Moisturize after. Put remaining amount in the fridge (with a lid).

MATCHA HONEY MASK
In a small bowl, add 1 tsp matcha powder and liquid honey. Add honey until you get the consistency you want. I usually add 1 tbsp or more. You can add more if you’d like.

I hope this mini ‘skin-health guide’ is helpful and gives you a bit more insight on how to nourish your skin. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to me at marcy@glowingholistichealth.com.

I also want you to remember, confidence is one of the best things you can have for your skin. Don’t pay attention to what others think of you or your skin. Be confident in yourself and also remember, you are beautiful, no matter what problems your skin is going through 🙂

Marcy xx