Face
Wash (wipes or cleanser) // Treat/Moisturize with Argan Oil // Shisedo Sun protection // Amore Pacific cc cream
Hair
Fredric Fekkai color shampoo & conditioner 2-3 days/week // B&B texture cream mixed with Argan Oil
Hands-Nails
Sally Hansen cuticle remover // Julep oxygen nail treatment // Gold Bond intensive hand cream
My 4-step minimal beauty routine:
1
Wash my face – either with Fresh soy cleanser or these simple wipes
2
Argan oil – I’ve used Josie Maran for years, but decided to try Acure (also 100% organic Argan Oil) instead because it’s $26 for more than 2 ounces to $48 for Josie Maran’s 1.7 ounces. I also use it in my hair, so it does double duty; totally worth it. The one thing I will say about Acure is that it smells not-so-good. I remember having to get used to the smell of argan oil in the beginning, but I don’t think it was ever THIS bad. All I can say is that it disappears rather quickly, so it’s not a big deal.*
3
If I’m going au natural that day, I’ll just put some Shiseido sunscreen on and call it a day.
4
If I’m doing anything with my husband, or interacting with other human beings, I’ll put on some Amore Pacific CC cream and (maybe) curl my eyelashes.
That’s it.
If I want a little more color or interest, I’ll either use a Bobbi Brown bronzer stick on various places on my face (I have no idea where you’re SUPPOSED to use it…), or this Givenchy cheek balm (I love how hydrating it is, and it leaves a nice natural glow), and maybe some mascara.
I do still have some Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer that I use sometimes, but the Amore Pacific cream is far superior. I also love the RMS un-coverup for coverage, and use it periodically if I want more coverage, but I’m trying to downsize, and products that multi-task (like the Amore Pacific cream with SPF already in it) win out over products that don’t. But if I can, I will keep some of the RMS beauty product around for extra concealing.
After everything that I was using, this is a drastic change. During the summer months, I am pretty lax about skincare, makeup, etc., anyway, but I don’t see a lot of reason to start using MORE products now that I’ve downsized. I do need to remember to use eye cream twice a day, but other than that, I’m not sure I need the serums and random other treatments I was using on my face. I certainly don’t need/want a lot of makeup; I’m happy with a VERY natural face!
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I’ve minimized my “beauty” routine for several reasons:
I just can’t care anymore.
I have always loved a more natural look, and think women look most beautiful with a healthy glow. I’m not saying that I LOOK most beautiful this way necessarily, but I do think that as my face gets a little color during the summer months, it’s easier to go without makeup, and it fits naturally into my very very casual lifestyle. Again, I treat my makeup as I do my clothes I think – I save it for a special occasion. If I’m traveling, or am going to be among friends, or people constantly, I’ll put a little more effort into my look. But for around the house and running errands? Forget about it…
Financial constraints.
I didn’t realize how much money I was spending on “personal care” items every month until my husband and I each gave ourselves an allowance. Now, I am loathe to spend $79 on the Caudalie serum I used before, or $48 on beauty elixir. $29 on lipstick I never wear?? NO way. I’d rather have a new book, or save all the puppies than spend money on skincare right now. Not that I think it’s not “worth” it, in general, but since I’ve stopped using all the things I used before I’ve not noticed a very big difference, so I can’t say that I NEED to spend so much. What’s essential at my age I think is sunscreen and hydration. And I think I’ve got that covered.
A general movement towards minimalism.
Every time I travel I complain about the skincare products/makeup I take along; this new routine should solve that problem!
Overall, I’m pleased, and hope that even when we have reached our financial goals and I can spend a bit more money on skincare, I will continue to be reasonable, and not buy a lot of product I don’t need. Or fingernail polish. That’s one thing I’ve cut down completely on; I used to buy a new polish color every week or so!!
What about you? What is your beauty routine? is it minimal? or product-heavy? Share your favorite products please!!
*I did want to try the L’oreal facial oil, but when I looked at the ingredients, I promptly put it down. I’m more concerned now with what’s in my skincare, so I’m trying very hard to use natural as much as possible. And the L’oreal oil wasn’t significantly cheaper than the “off-brand” argan oil, so I didn’t see the benefit of even trying it.
I use ecco bella. I trust the natural ingredients and love the recyclable glass packaging. Very minimal…cleanse with ecco bella and my mia, exfoliate, tone, spf moisturize all ecco bella. EB bronzing powder and coral rose blush.
While I love their mascara I prefer Blinc tube mascara in the. Summertime! And I can highly recommend EB lipstick and gloss but I didn’t order in time to have it ship before melting season so right now I am using chanel coco shine #70.
like you if I go out I add a touch more…particularly eyeliner.
Cheers to keeping it pure and simple!
LOVE the blinc mascara. haven’t used it in a while, i don’t know why. but i loved how easy it is to remove!!
where do you get your ecco bella? anywhere around here sell it? or do you order it online?
I am so with you! I usually just use facial wipes too. It used to be that I would go to fun events in NY and needed to glam up. Now I work at home with my little one all day. I do have my few splurges in skincare (Clarins Beauty Flash Balm), but that’s because they’re multi-purpose. I like the idea of skincare as makeup, and sticking my favorite lipstick and mascara when needed, which is rarely.
Wholefoods used to carry it but now I either order directly from ECCO Bella if they are having a special or I use Amazon of course. I found good pricing at Vitacost,Com but encountered some product issues that I thought might be related to shelf life? So now I just stick with the manufacturer directly. I like the milky cleanser in the winter and the clear gel 1 for summer.
Are you talking about this L’Oreal oil?
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod5540037
What should I be scared of in there? Mineral oil?
Then again… I like it pretty well. Maybe I don’t want to know! (tell me anyways please)
i think that’s the one i looked at. now that i look again, there’s nothing very offensive in there. i guess i’m sort of like i am with food, i look for as few ingredients as possible, and got overwhelmed 😉 argan oil is just argan oil, so it seemed better…
I strive to use only natural products, but then I fail because I fall for marketing. I’ve been using Jurlique Skin Balancing oil for 6 or 7 months and I really like it. I bought it on a whim because it smells so good. It’s expensive, but it lasts forever. My skincare routine lately has been in the morning I splash water on my face, put on a couple drops of the oil if my skin feels dry, then follow with an SPF 30 sunscreen. Then I apply concealer where I need it, put on brown Korres eyeliner, black mascara and go. Sometimes I add lipstick, but I never reapply during the day, so I don’t know why I bother. At night I wash my face with either Burt’s Bees Soap Bark cleanser (also first purchased because it smells so good) or an exfoliant– I just got Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel. Then more of the oil.
My big struggle these days is my hair. I can not seem to get the frizz under control, so I’ve recently switched back to bad drugstore brands to help (bad due to silicone, laureth sulphates, etc). They don’t seem to be helping, and now I feel guilty about adding more chemicals to the water supply. Anyone reading with curly hair and good advice?
I have also been trying to save on skin care costs. I have become desperate in the last few years because my perfect adolescent skin turned into reactive acne-prone adult skin in my mid 30’s. I didn’t want to go on medication, so for a while used the money I would have spent on prescriptions on expensive skin care. I feel like I am a walking review of so many brands, all the way from Proactiv to La Mer to Burt’s Bees. (I love Caudalie, also).
In the spirit of supporting local and being as sustainable as possible, My goal has been to switch out to natural products and local (american) brands as much as I can. I’ve tried Ecco Bella and Acure. I haven’t had any luck with either of those, though I will say that Acure’s eye cream is the best moisturizing eye cream I have used that is natural or mid-range. I have crazy laugh lines, and wish I could still afford La Mer to fill up all my creases with silicone.
Right now I still indulge in three of Somme Institute’s products because they are the only thing (in 10 years) that have made a dent in my problem skin, but the ingredients are far from natural and I would love to wean myself off. In all other areas my best transition has been to John Masters Organics. His Linden Blossom Face Creme Cleanser has been so healing for my skin. It is designed for dry skin, but I am trying the ayurvedic trick of giving the skin oil and moisture to help calm it. People have been trying to suck the moisture out of my face for years. In the summer I alternate with the Bearberry face wash, and love the herbal smell. I’d like to try his facial oil (I’ve always used Darphin). I have also switched to one of his shampoos and conditioners. Most people love his hair stuff but it has been a harder transition for me. His ‘shine on’ is finally a win for me as a styling aid, and I wonder, S@sha, if that might be a good choice for you. I will say about 50% of what I have tried with John Masters hasn’t worked well for me, which is a costly trial and error system. Their online shop will send samples, and they have a great sale for Black Friday.
My makeup is pretty simple. Maybelline Great Lash mascara! (If I splurge on healthier, I go bareMinerals). BITE beauty lip gloss (Sephora). Ole Henrikson BB cream (I wish I had used sunscreen in my 20’s). Jane Iredale powder blush if I go out … because I’m pasty as h*ll. I am a big fan of sesame oil as moisturizer. I try to buff my nails, but if I buy polish, it’s Priti, which is fantastic.
jurlique is better than some brands i think, no? at least i thought so…i think i tried some jurlique once and was sort of indifferent, but that was a long time ago.
i have no input for your hair – mine is stick straight and boring 😉
i would love to try some of the john masters organics, but i don’t know what. i don’t need to really, but i do like to try new things. when i have money to spend, that is!
and thank you for mentioning sesame oil! i’d seen it recommended somewhere and then forgot about it, but i’d like to try it on my face (it’s very dry), especially since the argan oil i got smells so bad! maybe i’ll just stick with using that in my hair and sesame oil on my face.
i love priti polish also, i had some once upon a time. but like i said, i’m over buying nail polish. i have enough to last me forever anyway, but lately, i’m just loving the julep treatment. and it feels like I’m doing something good for my nails. whether that’s true or not i have no idea…but i like the look too!
I’m going to need to remember the julep treatment when the weather turns cold and my nails need extra help.
Sesame oil is heavy and it makes you smell like stirfy, but my skin really likes it. I can’t use coconut oil (common ingredient in organics) as it clogs my pores, but some people gravitate towards that. In traditional ayurvedic beauty, you would massage the sesame oil on, let it sit, then have a shower. I sometimes put it on as lotion, but my dogs come lick my legs. I have never tried it on my face, apart from my lips. I have trouble with the tips of my hair getting dry, so every couple weeks I’ll squish some sesame oil in my ends, put it in a braid, takes my dogs for a walk and then wash it out. Works wonders!
lol at the dogs licking your legs. ozzie used to do that whenever i put lotion on, and now when dagny’s in bed with me in the morning she nuzzles up against me and licks under my arms! ick! i don’t use antiperspirant (i use powder deodorant from lush), so i’m not worried about her ingesting anything, but it’s a little discerning…
and question: how do you tell when something clogs your pores? sounds stupid probably, but what happens? i’ve been very lucky to have pretty normal, healthy skin that seems to tolerate nearly everything i put on it. i did have a reaction to something by kiehl’s once though. and i do have some redness, but overall, my skin is just DRY as the desert, so i’ve used coconut oil, whatever, to try and keep it from feeling pulled.
I think breaking out is the classic example of pores clogging. Redness/itching would just indicate sensitivity?
I’ve finally determined I need a BB or CC cream. I really hate the idea of “foundation” but (despite using sunscreen since my 20s! and not tanning) at 41 I have brown spots & skin that is….less than perfect in tone. So my goal over the next month is to find something very very light that gives me a little color smoothing.
kelly – try the amore pacific cc cream if you can. if you have a NM nearby they carry it, and would maybe have samples? or get it at sephora if yours carries it and take it back if it doesn’t work. it’s amazing how much coverage you get out of it, and it does better than anything else i’ve tried. for me anyway. and it comes with a refill, it lasts a lot longer than you think it will if you use the sponge applicator it comes with. sounds like we have very similar skin tones…also, recommend RMS for cover up and/or more coverage. it’s completely natural and very hydrating. but doesn’t have SPF, which is why i’m not using it all the time lately. but it’s great.
Thanks for the recommendation! No NM here but Sephora so I’ll stop in! (I’d hoped this would be an area where I could get away with a drugstore option as with many other things, but reading reviews on makeupalley have not been encouraging for me….)
Yes, clogged pores = break outs. I actually got tiny pimples on my legs when I tried using coconut oil on them. I am embarrassed to even write that as it seems really weird. I was reminded by a nutritionist that coconut oil is a saturated fat, so technically clogs things. Not everyone is susceptible to this. Lots of products still have mineral oil, and not everyone breaks out. It turns out I have the kind of personality that makes everyone think that I am calm and healthy and collected, and I have the kind of skin that calls my bluff.
Hi Sarge! There’s no mineral oil but there’s a laundry list of ingredients, and some of which are potential irritants. I think Grechen is right that sometimes simpler is better, and even natural products can cause reactions.
Typically, clogged pores are blackheads, which can turn into pimples/whiteheads.
If you like very sheer coverage, Kelly, IT Cosmetics makes a CC cream compact foundation that mimics the Amore Pacific one that Grechen recommended. I can’t say that it’s enough coverage for me at age 54, but I like the feel of it (SUPER light weight!), and it’s cheaper than Amore Pacific, and available at Ulta.
Grechen, I’m not your shrink or trying to be, and I’m going out on a limb here, but there were several things you said that made me wonder if part of this “move to minimalism” with your self-care is due to grieving over Ozzie and all of the life changes you’ve gone through recently. It’s exhausting to move and try to make new friends…I know this after 13 moves in 9 different communities and 4 states. Sometimes, we just give up. Even tho changes can be good, they are still stressful!
Plus, loss can hit us very hard. I lost my niece just before we moved here and it was a crushing blow, leading to a recurrence of my depression.
You said, “I just can’t care anymore,” and I’m wondering, “Why?” It’s OK to be minimalist and budget conscious, but this is quite a different attitude regarding makeup and skincare than I’ve ever read from you before. I mean, you’ve never been one to “trowel” the makeup on, (thankfully!) but as you said, “this is a drastic change”!
But I think your skincare routine sounds fine, although, I’d probably add a retinol product (ROC gets good reviews!), based on dermatologist’s recommendations. You’re using a gentle cleanser, good; an antioxidant with the Argan oil, good; Sunscreen, VERY GOOD; Do you exfoliate? Clarisonic a few times per week? That would be good.
Consider that maybe your skin is so good, albeit dry, BECAUSE you took such good care of it. Believe me, as a MUA, I could tell who had or hadn’t taken care of their skin!
Just food for thought. You’re taking such good care of your body, and you are such a beautiful woman, I love to see you enhance what you have so you can FEEL fantastic, as well. And maybe you do without it…
you’d be a great shrink 🙂
when i said i just can’t care anymore, i was really referring more to worrying so much about what OTHER people might think if i go out without makeup or mascara. i used to think that if i was leaving the house, i needed to have my “face done” – which means much less to me than other women, i’m sure, but i still applied foundation, blush, powder, probably eyeliner, etc. now, i just don’t think i NEED all that stuff, and am fine without it. if i go out with my husband, or to somewhere other than costco or target, i’ll use a tinted moisturizer or cc cream, some color on my cheeks, curl my eyelashes, and i’m good.
with regard to skincare, i just can’t afford the stuff i was using before, so i’ve sort of given up on it. not the best attitude i guess, but since i only have a very limited amount of money now to spend on all my “personal” care (hair, wine, etc.), i’m so careful about where i’m spending it. i guess if i REALLY thought i needed a serum, etc., then maybe i’d try harder to make it a priority, but i’m not sure i do. or at least maybe i can do without it until we reach our financial goals? i don’t know…
i have thought about a clarisonic, but again, it’s a big investment up front that i’m not sure i’m willing to make (or even can for a while). i do use a gentle exfoliating cleanser in the shower every once in a while, and i have a konjac sponge thingie i use with cleanser at night sometimes. is that okay for now? i do notice that i have blackheads on my nose/chin a lot lately, is that because i don’t exfoliate ENOUGH? help!! 🙂
“It’s a 10” miracle leave in treatment. It’s expensive (I just got it 20% off when Ulta has there premier products included in the 20% off sale) and it has some of the bad ingredients you don’t want but it has made a difference in my frizz! I don’t understand how this stuff works–you don’t have to spray that much on (should last awhile), then you comb through and it’s kind of a miracle:) I’ve also used Frederick Fakai brilliant glossing (olive oil) creme before blow dry and that works okay. I have fine, wavy/curly/frizzy hair. Good luck!