Skincare

Having bright skin has never been an issue for me until I reached my mid 40’s. Once perimenopause crept in, I noticed marked changes in my skin – one of them being an overall dullness that wasn’t there before. Bright skin is often associated with a healthy, even-toned complexion, but a number of factors can leave your skin looking dull and tired. Dull skin can affect how your skin looks, how makeup sits, and even how confident you feel. Improving your skin’s brightness is not about quick fixes, but about using the right combination of skincare and daily habits. Once I switched up my skincare and added in the right products, that healthy glow came back to my skin. 

Out of all the skincare categories that I review, eye creams are the most requested. Often the eye area is the first to show signs of aging so investing in the right eye cream can really help to slow down this process. I rarely review or feature eye creams because so few actually impress me enough to recommend. So many provide the same or similar results which can make it hard to decide which one is best for you. After testing dozens of eye creams over the past few years, I have a select few that I stick with and regularly repurchase.

Facial puffiness and swelling is very common and most people will deal with it at some point.  It can make your skin look swollen, tired, and less defined, especially in the morning. Thankfully there are plenty of ways to reduce puffiness quickly and prevent it from coming back. Today’s post is all about practical techniques on how to depuff your face right away.

There are so many beauty brands that go viral on social media and garner tons of attention and hype. Sometimes the hype is warranted and sometimes it’s not. This is one of those times that the praise and buzz surrounding a brand is 100% on point. Cyklar is a relatively new body care brand that has really stood out amongst the competition. From the textures of their products, to their performance and intoxicating scents, Cyklar has become one of my favorite body care brands.

The struggle is real when it comes to dealing with puffy eyes in the morning. Especially as I get older, I have to watch every little thing I eat or do because it will show on my face the next morning. Ha! But puffy eyes are a common issue and rarely a cause of concern. It’s more of a nuisance and bother than a true health concern because  they can make you look more tired that you actually feel. If you struggle with this (honestly, who doesn’t?!!), I’m sharing a guide on how to effectively depuff eyes in the morning and make them look more refreshed and awake without extra effort.

Dark circles and bags under the eyes are some of the biggest complaints that people have when it comes to their skin concerns, especially as we age. Covering dark circles on mature skin can be more challenging than on younger skin. Common concealer techniques on younger skin can actually emphasize wrinkles or create a cakey looking appearance if not applied correctly on mature skin. To help navigate this, I am sharing a guide on how to properly cover dark circles on mature skin.

As I have gotten older, my skin went from being combination and slightly oily to very dry. I’ve had to rethink my entire skincare routine and change up what I use in order to help keep my skin balanced and nourished. Dry skin is one of the most common skincare concerns causing tightness, flaking, irritation, and dullness. Many people can accidentally worsen their dry skin by using harsh cleansers, over exfoliating, or skipping moisturizing steps. In today’s post, I am sharing a skincare routine that you can use as a guide in order to help keep your dry skin balanced and healthy.

There are a handful of skincare ingredients that I always have in my routine because they provide so many great benefits to the skin. Vitamin C is one of those key ingredients I always have in my skincare lineup. There are so many great benefits to using vitamin c daily on the skin but it’s important to find a formula that works for your skin. Vitamin C can be quite strong so there are tons of different percentages and formulations out there to suit almost any skin type. I have tested quite a few vitamin c serums and currently have a handful of them that I love and would recommend.

I first fell in love with Then I Met You after trying their top selling cleansing balm which has now become one of my all time favorite cleansers. I was curious to try out more from the brand Then I Met You and thought I would give me thoughts on all the products I’ve tested. Their founder, Charlotte Cho, is a pioneer in the beauty world after creating the website Soko Glam which brought popular Korean skincare products to the US. She finally started her own skincare line and has grown it slowly and intentionally with thoughtfully formulated products rooted in the techniques and ingredients found in Korean beauty culture. If you have not yet tried the brand, I highly recommend reading my reviews on these products to find something that would work for your skincare routine. Also, if you buy directly from the Then I Met You site, you can use my discount code: MAREE10 for 10% off!

I have an extensive nightly facial skincare routine but I realized that I have failed to share the other half of my nighttime self care process. Besides my facial skincare, I always have an entire process for my body, hair, feet and hands. I never really prioritized anything else besides my face but I’ve noticed a definite need now that I’m in my late 40’s and also in perimenopause. Everything is so dry on my body – head to toe, so I had to begin a regular routine of treating all parts of my body in order to help manage my dry skin and hair. I do rotate and test out different products so I will update this post in the future with any new additions or removals from my routine. For now, here is my current nightly hair, feet, nail and body care routine.