My beauty routine-one month in

One month in and my take is…..I like everything!

I chose products based on their ingredients and thought it would be helpful to research “why” those ingredients are important and the role they play in keeping our skin healthy.

I am going to give a run down of all the products I use and their significant ingredients.

I truly love the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion. I ran out and accidently tried the regular cleanser by mistake and will be returning to the gentle version next time.

My antioxidant serum is Timeless 20% Vitamin C+E Ferulic Acid Serum. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which speeds up the production of collagen and elastin, both helping to keep our skin plump and firm. The form of topical Vitamin C found in “Timeless” is L-ascorbic Acid. The percentage of 20% insures you are getting enough to produce the desired effects but not too much to irratate your skin. Ferulic Acid is an antioxidant which helps to increase the effects of other antioxidants while also reducing the developement of fine lines and wrinkles.

Next I use Timeless CoEnzyme Q10 serum. This product has Matrixyl 3000-stimulates collagen, Ubinquinone or Coenzyme Q10-prompts cells to produce elastin and collagen, Hyaluronic Acid-helps skin hold water molecules and Vitamin E.

My name brand antiaging serum and moisturizer which I follow with, are Estee Lauder Perfectionist CP+R Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum and Resilience Multi Effect Tripeptide Moisturizer. I mentioned in my first post that I have been using these products for thirty years and I have to say I adore them.

The Perfectioinst CP+R(correct, prevent and repair) contains collagen-helps skin cells renew and repair themselves, caffeine-tightens and brightens skin, acetyl hexapeptide-8-an effective lifting peptide. It leaves my skin feeling silky soft and I actually use it as my primer.

My moisturizer is Estee Lauder Resilience Multi Effect. I truly love this product and after researching all the ingredients, I now know why. Each ingredient plays a significant role in preventing collagen loss and saggy skin. Here are a few I thought were especially important;

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 is a 3 aminoacid peptide which acts to inhibit the production of progerin, a cell aging protein.

Petrolatum-vaseline or petroleum jelly. I found this ingredient so interesting as I have used it for years under my eyes at night. Petrolatum sits on top of the skin and HINDERS water loss.

SPF 15-sunscreen. I love that my moisturizer comes equipped with a sunscreen.

My nighttime routine is a two step cleanse starting with the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm followed by the Neutragena Hydra Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion. I mentioned last time that I felt the balm was an unnecessary first step. While it is indeed an extra step, it is for me, very necessary. Neutrogena makes a Makeup Remover Balm to Oil with Vitamin E which is lovely. The product is soap free and contains Vitamin E. Vitamin E or tocopherol, is an antioxidant that protects our skin against free radicals. We are unable to avoid free radicals as they are everywhere…..pollution, cigarette smoke, the sun. We can protect against them however and that is exactly what Vitamin E helps us do.

I have started using a retinol product and so far have only tried No 7 Advanced Retinol Complex. Retinol boosts collagen in our body, resulting in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen also stimulates new skin cells while sloughing away dead skin cells.

Next I use my nighttime serum, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair which boasts the powerful antiaging ingredients of Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tripeptide-32 and Hyaluronic Acid.

Bifida Ferment Lysate protects against UV damage and helps with DNA repair.

Tripeptide-32 strengthens the skin ability to protect and repair itself.

Lastly comes my Estee Lauder Multi Effect moisturizer.

Sweet dreams.