Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!
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The SECRET To Healthy Glowing Skin

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Get the SECRETS to healthy glowing skin with this PROVEN ROUTINE + which products and supplements are worth the money and where you can save!

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Let’s be very clear – I am no fashion blogger.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a well-tailored look and am a sucker for a pretty pair of stiletto heels, but I would rather spend an afternoon working with power tools than trying on clothes and the latest makeup trends.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

#nofilter

That being said there are two questions I get with regularity – one, what skin care products do I use, and two, are my eyelashes real and if so, what mascara do I use?

We will chat all about skincare in this post, but if you are wondering about the answer to question #2 – yes, my eyelashes are real, and I use this eyelash primer ($6) and this mascara ($6). I have tried the high-end mascaras, and I would still choose my $12 combo every time. (I am convinced The secret to the mascara is in the wand and the ability to layer the product.)

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Now, let’s chat about skin.

I have sooooo much to share with you, but I want to note that every picture of me in this post is without a beauty filter.

Some of you may not even know that’s a thing, but every smartphone and social media platform offers beauty filters that can range from smoothing out your skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles to a filter that digitally changes the shape, tone, and contours of your face.

These pics are me with good lighting and no filter.

Let’s start this conversation off with a quick pop quiz.

If your palms just started sweating and your heart has begun to race, take a deep breath. As long as you read the title of this post you will get the answer right.

Question #1: What is the largest organ in your body?

Go ahead and give it your best shot.

The answer, you may ask if you have not been paying attention up until now.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

Your skin.

Skin is, in fact, the largest organ in your body and should be treated with the same care and consideration as other organs.

When we talk about heart health we think about exercise and eating more vegetables to prevent hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and hypertension (elevated blood pressure).

When we talk about lung health we think “no smoking” and proactively protect ourselves from inhaling toxins to prevent a vast array of chronic and acute respiratory conditions.

But when we talk about skin health we think ………. ???

Well . . . we don’t. I would argue we don’t really talk about skin in terms of health and disease prevention.

This contributes to my next point.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

Let me share with you a couple of stats to drive home why giving our skin the same preventative care and concern as any other organ is vital to our overall health.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD):

  • Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
  • Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
  • Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of skin color.
  • Invasive melanoma is projected to be the fifth most common cancer for men (60,190 cases) and the sixth most common cancer for women (40,160 cases) in 2020.
  • Nearly 20 Americans die from melanoma every day. 
  • Men have a 33% higher rate of invasive melanoma.
  • Research indicates that men diagnosed with melanoma between the ages of 15 and 39 were 55% more likely to die from melanoma than females.
  • The majority of melanoma cases are attributable to UV exposure.
  • Research suggests that regular sunscreen use with an SPF of 15 or higher reduces melanoma risk.
Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

Here is the good news – maintaining a proper skincare routine will not only help prevent disease but will also promote younger, clearer skin.

Win. Win.

Another important thing to note is that this skincare routine should be followed by EVERYONE – man and woman.

Did you notice that men have a higher incidence of melanoma?

This is not surprising because who is primarily targeted with skin care products?

Women.

The media has brainwashed our society into believing that the appearance of youth is more beautiful and consequently, adds value to one’s worth resulting in a multi-billion dollar industry that has primarily targeted women. Neglecting to highlight that the importance of skincare is less about the superficial blemish of sunspots but more so about the fact that vulnerable, unprotected skin has a higher incidence of cancer.

Before we chat about my specific skincare routine and product recs, I want to be very transparent. Too many people push beauty products acting as though they have truly revolutionized their aesthetic experience when in reality they have simply been blessed by good genes.

Jennifer Aniston has promoted skin products for years. But the truth? The woman has naturally beautiful skin.

Jennifer Garner shows off her gorgeous, glowing locks after using her hair product line when again, in reality, Jennifer Garner had a beautiful head of hair before she put an ounce of anything on it.

No disrespect to either Jennifers (I happen to like both products they market).

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

Although I fully stand behind the products and the process I am about to share I need to point out that I have been genetically blessed with nice skin as has my mom and her mom before her.

As Brad Pitt once said, “I’m one of those people you hate because of genetics.” 

Please don’t hate me. I am very grateful for my clear, toned skin and I do not take it for granted.

That being said it also helps that I have never smoked, I eat well, and I have practiced the following 5 step routine for over a decade.

So let’s chat about this simple 5 step skincare routine including the products I recommend, what I do at bedtime, and a couple of supplements that may help give your skin a clearer, firmer appearance.

I will also share my thoughts on what is worth spending more money on and where you can save some pennies!

5 Step Routine For Healthy Glowing Skin

#1. Cleanse

Cleansing the skin involves the process of washing off superficial dirt, bacteria, or residue including makeup, face paint, sweat, eye black, etc.

It is important to keep the pores open and prevent clogging.

In my opinion, any cleanser works for this. Even soap and warm water on a washcloth will do the trick.

Where it might be worth investing a little more money is in a gentle makeup cleanser/remover if you routinely wear makeup or eye black for athletes. The skin around your eyes is delicate and a gentle makeup remover pays off over time.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

I use Colleen Rothschild’s Radiant Cleansing Balm on half of a makeup remover facial towelette (I buy these in bulk at Costco) while I’m in the shower.

I used to only use a makeup remover facial towelette, but when I started using the Radiant Cleansing Balm it was so much easier to remove my eye makeup without as much friction (which helps protect that fine skin around your eyes). It also pulls out significantly fewer eyelashes.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

I cannot speak highly enough of Colleen Rothschild’s Radiant Cleansing Balm and one container lasts a really long time!

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This was an accidental shot I took while setting up a video, and you can practically see my pores. Ha.

5 Step Routine For Healthy Glowing Skin

#2. Exfoliate

In my opinion, if you do not wear makeup, then you do not need a specific product for cleansing and can skip right to step 2.

Here is why.

Exfoliating is the essential step of removing dead skin cells and exposing the fresh ones which simply requires grit and friction.

Exfoliation is an easy, inexpensive, all-natural step that has been proven by research to result in clearer, healthier skin. How often and with what are the greater questions, but the bottom line is it depends on your skin.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

I am a huge fan of St. Ives scrub. I used the one above for years until they came out with the gentle scrub.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

I gently rub St. Ives Apricot Scrub over my face, neck, and chest every time I shower.

Zach has seen a significant difference in the clarity of his face and chest with exfoliating routinely.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

He uses the St Ives Acne Control Scrub. These can be gotten at any grocery store and are not expensive.

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5 Healthy Skin Care Routine Steps

For really sensitive skin, natural options like honey or facial peels may be a better option.

This is also a great article written by Proven Skincare on 5 Causes of Adult Acne and How to Treat It for those who struggle with adult acne.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

5 Step Routine For Healthy Glowing Skin

#3. Hydrate

After exposing the fresh skin cells you need to hydrate them. For some skin types moisturizing with a high-quality lotion (step #4) may be enough, but for others, this extra step may be beneficial for your skin health.

I do this mostly during the winter months when my skin tends to run dry.

5 Healthy Skin Care Routine Steps

After exfoliating apply a hydrating gel moisturizer or serum. For a budget, option consider using aloe vera which is what I typically use.

A great time to do this step and step #4 is after you wash your face before bed at night. A tip is to apply these products when your face is still slightly wet!

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5 Step Routine For Healthy Glowing Skin

#4. Moisturize

Moisturizer helps to plump the skin and make it more firm, preventing dryness and scaling.

This is the step that I personally feel is worth the extra money. Cleansers and exfoliators are temporary and remain in contact with your skin very briefly.

A moisturizer stays on your skin all day long. Products of higher quality will often have higher percentages in certain oils, proteins, and vitamins such as the ingredient hyaluronic acid.

5 Healthy Skin Care Routine Steps

For years I used Olay 7, and then for about a year I used Colleen Rothschild’s Sheer Renewal Cream, and I absolutely loved it. It is lightweight but incredibly creamy and hydrating.

5 Healthy Skin Care Routine Steps

The issue I had with the above moisturizer is that to my knowledge Colleen Rothschild has not created a moisturizer with SPF formulated ( step #5).

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with a healthy skincare routine (+ product & supplement recs)!

So when I kept seeing advertisements for PROVEN – a skin care company that formulates a system based on your personalized skin care needs including your age, gender, tone, concerns, lifestyle, and where you live (I never considered how this affects my skin) which takes into account the UV index, humidity, and air quality – I decided to give it a try.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

I have been using this system for nearly 8 months now ( I get a new supply every 2 months), and I don’t see myself going back. And the best part? Their daily moisturizer has SPF in it!

Interested in trying PROVEN for yourself? Click here to get $25 oFF your first order!

Leading brilliantly into step #5. Perhaps the most important step of all.

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Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

5 Step Routine For Healthy Glowing Skin

#5. Protect

As mentioned in the beginning one of the very best things you can do for your skin is to protect it against UV damage (sun rays!).

Ideally, the easiest way to maximize this skincare routine is to use a daily moisturizer that has SPF 15 or higher incorporated into it like the daytime moisturizer by PROVEN.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

Be sure to cover your face, neck, and chest. This routine this will protect your face EVERY DAY from the sun even when you forget to specifically lotion up with sunscreen.

A year or so ago I was suturing a patient in the emergency department who happened to be a dermatology PA, and of course, we got chatting (it makes digging around in someone’s skin with a needle a lot less awkward) and I asked her the number one recommended foundation cream by the experts.

5 Healthy Skin Care Routine Steps

She said IT CC+ Cream, and a year or so later now I could not agree more. Since then it has been confirmed by makeup artists, respected fashion bloggers, and skin care professionals alike that this is the best stuff!

In the winter I wear “fair light”, and in the summer I wear “light”.

5 Healthy Skin Care Routine Steps

I apply the IT CC Cream with this amazing IT Foundation Brush, and it goes on really smoothly.

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5 Step Routine For Healthy Glowing Skin

Night Routine

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

What I do at night is really minimal. I wash my face with the PROVEN cleanser and a baby wipe and then I apply the PROVEN night cream. Once in a while, when I think of it, I add Colleen Rothschild’s Retinol Supreme Eye Serum because the areas of skin around the eyes are easily broken down due to years of wearing and removing eye makeup.

A quick note on all-natural skincare products.

Although I am a huge advocate of eating whole food nutrition and eliminating processed artificial ingredients from your pantry topical absorption or skin absorption, is different than systemic absorption into the bloodstream.

Meaning topical ingredients can certainly be absorbed by the skin into the body, but this does not necessarily mean those ingredients will then become systemically absorbed into the bloodstream.

In fact, most of them will not.

There are many factors required in order for topical ingredients to be absorbed systemically into the bloodstream whereas the bio-availability of food is significantly and consistently higher.

If using all-natural topical products to live well is something you are passionate about that’s great (make sure you are prioritizing whole food nutrition and exercise as well), but I am explaining the reason this is not an area that I am as concerned about at this time from a health standpoint.

Ok, we have chatted about the 5 step skincare routine everyone should be doing as a foundation for healthy skin, but I want to share a couple of supplements I take that are also likely contributing to the clarity and health of my skin.

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Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with this healthy skincare routine (+ product recs & supplements)!

Supplements For Healthy Glowing Skin

Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and is the main element in connective tissues that make up tendons, ligaments, and muscles, and plays a lead role in skin elasticity and hydration.

As we age, however, we produce less collagen, leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles.

A comprehensive review of 11 different studies found that women who took 3–10 grams of collagen daily for an average of 69 days led to noticeable improvements in skin elasticity and hydration.

This is a nice side benefit, but not why I primarily take it. Collagen is also a star player in the role of cartilage integrity which in turn protects the joints.

This 5-study review of over 500 people with osteoarthritis discovered that participants who consumed 10 grams of collagen supplementation daily for an average of 24 weeks led to significant improvements in self-reported joint stiffness and pain.

Since Zach and I value our active lifestyle we are doing everything we can in our 30s to protect our joints for our 60s.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with these 5 healthy skin care routine steps.

I mix Orgain’s Superfood Collagen powder and Vital Proteins collagen powder together in a 2 gallon bag (I prefer Orgain’s superfood collagen, but it has a strong flavor if not “watered down.”)

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with these 5 healthy skin care routine steps.

I put one scoop of collagen (10g) in my coffee every morning.

Rinse and repeat everything I just said for another supplement that I take daily – hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic Acid

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with these 5 healthy skin care routine steps.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body that functions primarily as a lubricant for the eyes, skin, and joints.

Again, I initially started taking this supplement for joint protection as hyaluronic acid has been shown to reduce joint pain (along with many other benefits)!

However, hyaluronic acid also hydrates the skin which consequently plumps and tones creating a smoother appearance and fewer wrinkles.

Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with these 5 healthy skin care routine steps.

I take two capsules (200mg) of Hyaluronic acid daily.

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Now I would love to hear your skin care product suggestions.

What is your FAVORITE skincare product?!

Ahna Fulmer Signature

Shop this post, and pin any of the images below for later!

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Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with these 5 healthy skin care routine steps.
Prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging, and maintain a clearer complexion with these 5 healthy skin care routine steps.
Transcript

After I get out of the shower before bed, you can either apply a hydrating gel moisturizer serum, or what I do a budget option is I use Alovera just straight, pure, a hundred percent aloe Vera. Welcome to the M perfectly empowered podcast with leading DIY lifestyle blogger on. Where women are inspired with authentic stories and practical strategies to reclaim their hearts and homes by empowering transformation.
One imperfect day at a time. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the imperfectly empowered podcast. I am your host on a Fullmer today. We are chatting skincare, how to prevent skin cancer, promote anti-aging and maintain a clear complexion with the. To clear, healthy skin. We’re going to talk about product recommendations, supplement recommendations.
These are based on my own personal experience, as well as throwing in some important medical information as well. But let’s be really clear. I am no fashion blogger. Don’t get me wrong. I love a well-tailored look. I’m a sucker for a pretty pair of stiletto heels. But I would every time rather spend an afternoon working with power tools than trying on clothes and the latest makeup trends, anyone that’s hung around here and knows no fashion blogger.
All right. However, that being said, since I started this blogging journey and I’ve been in front of a camera, I do get to questions with. Regularity over the last three years. One are my eyelashes real. And if so, what mascara do I use? And two, what skincare products do I use? We will chat about skincare in this post, but if you are wondering the answer to question number one, I use.
A $6 eyelash primer. I want to say it’s by L’Oreal, I’ll include the links below or in the show notes. And I use a $6 mascara from, I think, Maybelline again, I will include the links below. I don’t even know the names, but the point is this, I’ve tried a lot of different miscarriages over the years, and I am telling you the price tag of the high-end ones are not worth it.
Six bucks for each of these. Anyway, that we’ll include those links below, but let’s chat about skin. Clearly. This is not a makeup post, and I will not cause you that type of pain and suffering to do a makeup post, not my expertise, but let’s chat about. I have so much to share with you, but I want to start this conversation off with a quick pop quiz.
Listen, if your palms just started sweating and your heart rate has gone up, take a deep breath. As long as you read the title of this post and you have been paying attention so far, you will get the answer right here is the question. What is the largest organ in your body? Go ahead. Give it your best shot.
What is the largest organ in your body? You may ask if you’ve not been paying attention, it is no shocker. Your skin, your skin is in fact an organ and it is the largest organ in your body. And it needs to be treated with the same care and consideration as other organs. When we talk about heart health, we think exercise, eating more vegetables to prevent hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol or hypertension, which is elevated blood pressure.
When we talk about lung health, we think don’t smell. We proactively protect ourselves from inhaling toxins to prevent a vast array of chronic and acute respiratory conditions. When we talk about women’s health, we talk about, you know, mammograms and we talk about organs and preventative health all of the time.
But when we talk about skin, we think what is the narrative in our culture around skin health or skin? I would argue we don’t. We really don’t talk about skin in terms of health and disease prevention. We do not talk about skin. Like it is an organ. This contributes to my next point. I am going to throw out a couple statistics here to drive home.
Why giving our skin the same preventative care and concern as any other organ in our body is vital to our overall health. These stats are from the American academy of dermatology association. The link to this is in the show notes, by the way, if you’re interested in reading more skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. One in five skin cancer can affect anyone regardless of skin color. Invasive melanoma is projected to be the fifth most common cancer for men and the six most common cancer for women. This was in 2020. Nearly 20 Americans die from melanoma every day.
Men have a 33% higher rate of invasive melanoma research indicates that men diagnosed with melanoma between the ages of 15 and 39 were 55% more likely to die from melanoma than. The majority of melanoma cases are attributable to UV exposure. That is sunlight sunrays research suggests that regular sunscreen use with an SPF of 15 or higher reduces the risk for melanoma.
Here’s the good news. Maintaining a proper skincare routine will not only help prevent disease, but will also promote. Clearer appearing skin. This is a win-win. So when I share the skincare routine, understand that my priority is always to help you learn how to live. Well. We want to prevent disease and live well, and I want to help change the narrative around those conversations, including skincare.
However, I also understand the expectation that our society has. Established. And here’s the good news following this skincare routine. This secret to clear healthy skin will not only help prevent disease, but will also promote anti-aging and clearer appearing skin. So it is a win-win, but here’s something that I want to point out do not miss this.
This routine is for everyone. Skincare is not just for women. Let me say it again for the people in the back. Men, skin care is not just for women. Did you notice that men have a higher incidents of melanoma? Invasive melanoma. Men are also more likely to die. This is not surprising. Why? Because who is primarily targeted with skincare products, women media has brainwashed our society into believing that the appearance of youth is more beautiful and consequently adds value to one’s work resulting in this multi-billion dollar industry that primarily targets women.
Neglecting the highlight that the importance of skincare is frankly less about the superficial blemish of sunspots, but more so about the fact that those sunspots or vulnerable unprotected skin has a higher incidence of cancer. So before we chat about. A specific skincare routine, product recommendations, et cetera.
I also want to be very transparent because we are going to talk some product recommendations. These are the ones that I use. I’m not a dermatologist again, also not a fashion blogger, but I want to also point out that too many times products or beauty products are pushed by people who are acting as these products have truly revolutionized their aesthetic experience.
When in reality, they have simply been blessed by good genes. I’m clearly a terrible sales woman, but I won’t give you a couple examples. Jennifer Aniston has promoted skin products for years, but the truth is the woman has naturally beautiful skin. Jennifer Garner shows off gorgeous, glowing locks after using her hair products align.
When, again, in reality, she had a beautiful head of hair before she put an ounce of anything on it. Now, no disrespect to either Jennifer’s. I happen to like both products that they market, both of these products that I’m addressing. I happen to like both of them, but the problem is in order to push products, there’s often this idea that it is like revolutionize their experience.
When again, in reality, a lot of it’s probably genetics. So although I fully stand behind the products and the process I’m about to share, I do want to point out that I have been genetically blessed with nice. Brad Pitt. It’s funny. I’ve quoted him so many times who would have ever thought I’d be quoting Brad Pitt so much in my life, but Brad Pitt, once that I’m one of those people you hate because of genetics, please don’t hate me.
I’m very grateful for my clear tone skin. And I don’t take it for granted. That being said, it also helps. I’ve never smoked. I eat well, and I have practiced this five-step routine for over a decade. Initially it was unintentional. I didn’t even realize I was doing. Good things I didn’t realize the secret to my routine probably has helped maintain such healthy skin that I do have.
So let’s chat about the skincare routine. Again, I can’t say these products have revolutionized my experience, but they’ve absolutely contributed to the health of my skin. And I’m also going to mention what I do at bedtime and a couple of supplements that I also take. And initially I didn’t even realize they had the skin care benefits that they do have, but I will share those with you as well, because it is possible.
They are also contributing to my nice skin that many of you have asked me about. So I’m sharing again, not a dermatologist. This is not my area of expertise, but I am happy to share if it helps you, but this routine, not necessarily the products, there’s a lot of other products out there, but this routine everybody should be doing.
And I’ll tell you why. All right. Number one, cleanse seems pretty simple, but cleansing the skin involves the process of washing off superficial dirt, bacteria, or residue. This includes makeup face, paint, sweat. I black for athletes. The idea is we want to keep the pores open and prevent. It’s a very, very simple concept.
I personally think any cleanser works for this. You have to know your skin type, you know, do you tend to lean dry? Do you tend to lean more oily? Certain cleansers may work better than others, but the truth is even soap and water on a washcloth will do the trick. You need to be routinely washing your face and don’t use your hands.
By the way I do not recommend using your hands. You want a little bit of extra friction. And I think a washcloth, especially one that you’re switching out with some regularity, don’t leave a washcloth in your shower for weeks on end, make sure that you are switching it every time you do laundry. As what we do at least I would definitely think that would be a wise thing to do.
Where it may be worth investing a little bit more money. Women is in a gentle makeup cleanser remover. If you routinely wear makeup or men, I black for athletes, or if you are. On the stage a lot. If you’re in performance and you’re wearing stage makeup, the skin around your eyes are very delicate. It’s very delicate and a gentle makeup remover pays off over time.
So here’s what I use. I’m going to share. This is still a little wet. It just came out of my shower. I get these in bulk at Costco. These are Neutrogena. Facial tablets removers. I use these in the shower with the Colleen Ross child, radiant cleansing, Bob. This was introduced to me by a fashion blogger several years ago, and I love.
It is really, really good at helping remove the eye makeup, especially around my eyes is really where I focus in with this product. It’s a massive, it lasts forever. I think I’ve had this for two years. It lasts a really long time. I cannot speak highly of it enough. Not only does it help soften the removal process, the skin around your eyes.
I have actually noticed that I pull out less eyelashes as well by this combination. So a. Makeup towelette and this radiant cleansing bomb to take off my makeup, which I do in the shower. All of these links are on the notes, all the links to these products. If you’re interested, step number two, this is without a doubt.
I would say one of the top two secrets to maintaining a clearer, healthier complexion is exfoliating. Exfoliate, in my opinion, if you don’t wear makeup, you probably don’t need a specific product for cleansing. You still need to wash your face. Absolutely. But especially men, you could probably just skip to this step.
Exfoliating is different than cleaning. I would argue, especially if you wear makeup, you need to remove the superficial stuff first, but exfoliating is the essential step of removing dead skin cells and exposing the fresh one. Underneath. And this requires some grit and friction. This is why a cleanser alone is not going to do the trick.
Exfoliation is an easy, inexpensive on natural step that has been proven by research. There’s good research to suggest that exfoliating with regularity results in clearer, healthier skin. There’s a link on the blog post or the show notes to be able to check that out how often and with. Are the more specific questions.
And I think it really just depends on your skin. I am a huge fan of St. Ives. We have been using this product for years and years, and originally we were just using the fresh, it was called fresh skin, apricot, scrub. We have transitioned and I do this in the shower. Every time that I shower, I use it’s called gentle smoothing.
It’s a little less gritty. It’s a little bit more gentle, but it is a scrub. I’m showing it to you here for those of you watching via YouTube. But again, if you’re listening to this, all of these links are in the notes. I use this gentle smoothing one. It’s just a little. Friction. I love the gentle scrub.
Zach uses. Zach has more issues with like pimples and acne. He still has nice skin, but he’s definitely had more issues than me. He uses this acne control scrub, but here’s the really interesting thing because I haven’t really ever struggled with pimples in my life. I can’t tell you a before and after, right?
Like, meaning I had pimples, I had acne. I started exfoliating and I saw a difference. I cannot truthfully say that. I think I definitely feel like I have clear healthier skin because I do this regularly, but it’s not like I had bad skin to begin with Zack. On the other hand, without a doubt has seen significant difference, a significant improvement in the clarity of his face and chest with exfoliating regularly.
Significant difference. Another tip for those of you who do struggle with clear skin is you may need to just get in the habit of rinsing off more frequently. So anytime that you are sweaty, you want to get that rinsed off real quick and you probably need to expose, create a little bit more. That being said, this is a good question to ask a dermatologist or somebody who’s an expert, depending on if you have oily or dry skin exfoliating.
Could potentially make something worse, but I would just ask about that, but you need to exfoliate to some degree, to some degree, cause you need to remove those dead skin cells and encourage the fresh ones to see the light of day. And then we go on to step number three. Oh, I also want to make a point before I say that honey or facial pills, maybe a better option.
If you have really sensitive skin, I also included in the blog post, there’s a good article written by proven skincare. I’m going to talk about them later. Five causes of adult acne and how to treat it for those who struggle with that. There’s a good link to that article, but you’ve exposed, created, you’ve removed the dead skin cells.
You’ve exposed the fresh ones. Step number three is high. This depends on the time of year and where you live, how extreme you may go to hydrating these skin cells, but in the winter months, when it’s especially dry, the heat’s on, you can just feel it. Your skin is so dry. I actually use this as a hack. I don’t know where I learned this.
I’ve been doing this for a long time after I get out of the shower before bed, or whenever it is, I’ve washed my face before bed. After exfoliating, you can either apply a hydrating gel moisturizer serum, or what I do a budget option is I use Alovera just straight, pure, a hundred percent allover. Before I go on to step number four.
If you have really dry skin, you can even do this while your face is still slightly wet. Put on the Alovera. You have tried it all worried. You will never lose the extra weight or reclaim the energy you once. Enjoy. Want to achieve that loss without spending hours in a gym or eliminating entire food groups from your diet.
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Step number four though. Moisturized notice they’re two different steps, again, depending on your skin type, especially if you’re prone to dry skin and in the winter, or you live in an area that is especially dry, step three is different than step four. Give your skin that extra hydration, especially the skin that is routinely exposed to the elements.
Oliveres a great, great budget option. A lot of these really expensive gel moisturizers. You know, what it pretty much is, is allover just use out of the. Moisturizing though helps to plump the skin and make it more firm. Again, you guys, skin is an organ. Treat it as such, give it some love. Moisturizing will help make it more firm it’ll plump the skin.
It prevents dryness scaling. Don’t forget that extra hydration step. If you need it. This is where I personally feel. It makes sense to me that this step might be worth the extra money. My reasoning is this the first two steps cleaning or removing that superficial dirt and grime makeup, whatever. And then exposure, creating those products.
Stay on your skin are in contact with your skin for seconds, maybe right. Maybe 10 seconds. Maybe a little longer, I don’t know. It just depends on how fast. I guess you wash your face, but the product stays on your skin free very, very brief period of time, a moisturizer, however, stays on your skin all day long or all night long.
It follows to me that this would be worth spending a little bit more money on products of higher quality will often have higher percentages in certain oils, proteins, and vitamins that your skin really likes. Especially as you age and you end up producing less of these things, which we’ll talk about in a little bit, you know, I’m waster, riser is going to a higher quality.
One will have more of these oils, proteins and vitamins. So this is the step I would recommend a higher quality product. I personally think a cleanser and an exfoliator. You do not need to be spending a lot of money on. For years, I used Olay seven. I don’t have it here with me. You can buy them in bulk. It, you can buy only seven at Costco.
It has like SPF 30, I think. And I use that for years and years. I think I’ve used it since college, which is probably one of the reasons that I maintained such nice skin. I didn’t even realize I. Protecting it, which we’ll talk about step number five. And then for about a year I used Colleen Roth, sheer renewal cream.
I don’t have a picture of this cause I don’t use it anymore. I did like it, but my issue with it is that it had no SPF in it. It was a really nice product. It had no SPF in it. And this leads us to step number five, which is protect. So we’ve got cleanse exfoliate, hydrate, moisturize. Number five is protect.
This is without a doubt. The secret in combination with exfoliating, plus maybe a couple of product recommendations or supplements, I should say that I have for you, but this is huge. This is key is the protection piece. So I ended up seeing these ads over and over again. I was constantly on the lookout for a high quality moisturizer that had SPF on it.
So I wasn’t relying on. Like facial cream, that tinted facial cream that I was using for makeup. I kept seeing these advertisements for a product called proven. You may be familiar with this. If you’re on Instagram, they’re all over the place. This company was on shark tank. They were shark tank winners. It is a skincare company that is extremely unique in that it formulates a system based on your personalized skincare needs.
The assessment includes age, gender tone, specific skincare concerns that you’re wanting to target your lifestyle and where you live. I personally never considered how, where I live. Significantly affected my skin, where you live, takes into account the UV index, which is the sun, rays humidity and air quality.
I thought that was really fascinating. Anyway, I kept seeing all these really, really good things about proven I appreciated the research based approach to what they were doing. So I gave them a try probably eight months ago. Now I get a new supply every two months. I don’t see myself going. I really, really loved their products.
I do have a link by the way. I’m not an affiliate of theirs, but I do have a link. If you want to try their products, you can get $25 off your first order. The link is blower in the show notes. This is, let me show it to you. The moisturizer. I now use every day. I love it. It has SPF 40 included in it and all of their moisturizers, their daytime moisturizers include SPF.
The system includes a cleanser and night cream, and I’m so bad at showing the products here. There we go done and they’re blurry, but you get the point. So you get a personalized night cream. Cleanser and daytime moisturizer with the SPF in it. This of course leads brilliantly into step number five, which I kind of talked about already, which is protect.
This is where men get into trouble because men, for the most part are not routinely putting on facial lotion. Most men are not putting on makeup. They don’t have a routine. This is essential. It is essential men and women. You need to exfoliate clean your face and you need to protect your skin. Zag is getting there.
I’ve been on him for, he’s not here right now to defend himself, but for probably a couple of years now he’s a football coach for three months out of the year. He. In the sun for hours and he has sun spots. And again, in my mind, it’s less about the appearance of it and more about the fact that that increases the chance for cancer.
You must pretend perfect your skin get into routine force yourself. We personally know a young man that died of melanoma. It’s real. And this is how you. Protect I did include, I don’t have it here. I did include the lotion that Zach uses. I buy it in bulk at Costco. It’s Olay, unscented as manly as possible unscented, but it comes in bulk and it’s got SPF, I think 15 or 30 and at 15 should be the middle.
That you were using. So again, the easiest way to maximize this is to have a moisturizer that already has SPF in it. That way you’re not having some you women are it’s impressive. I had no idea the actual, like makeup and skincare routines that many of you maintain. Oh my gosh. It’s like a full-time job. I try to keep it really, really simple.
So this is my recommendation. Get a moisturizer that has SPF in it. So you’re not having. Add another several products, makeup, skincare. Didn’t used to be quick and effective. When you put on your daytime moisturizer, be sure to cover your face, neck and chest when it comes to your chest. Think v-neck, that sounds really weird.
But when you put on your lotion, think face neck, and then as though you are wearing a v-neck shirt, which I’m actually currently doing, and you can even see, I got a little sun here from my daughter’s field day. But you want a lotion, those three things with your SPF moisturizer now, women often has SPF in it is a foundation or like the cream that you wear before putting on all of your makeup.
Do you hear that? Uninformed. I am about makeup. You know what I’m talking about? So I was on a search for like the best foundation. That was a cream that had SPF in it. This was several years ago now, and I was suturing a patient in the emergency department. You wouldn’t believe the conversations I’ve had while suturing people.
I think it helps them relax. It distracts them. And it’s a lot less often. To dig around in somebody’s body with a needle. When you have a conversation, she happened to be a dermatology physician’s assistant and did a lot of aesthetic stuff as well. And I was curious, I asked her, what is her number one, recommendation.
What is the number one recommended foundation cream by the experts. She said, write this down. There’s links below it’s in the show notes. It. Cream, buy it cosmetics. It’s a color correcting full coverage cream, buy it cosmetics. And I’ve been wearing it for probably a year and a half now. And I could not agree more.
I for, oh, a decade have only used like a cream that’s tinted with SPF in it for like the foundation of my makeup. So that was my. I keep my makeup routine is so simple. Guys. It’s embarrassing. You would think I would know more about makeup, but I’ve gotten better. I’ve gotten better. Thanks to many of your recommendations, those of you listening.
But this cream is truly amazing. And I will say since then it has been confirmed. I have a friend who’s a celebrity makeup artist over in Britain. She said the exact same thing. This is what they actually use on celebrities, respect and fashion bloggers, skincare professionals alike. This is the best stuff.
Let me see if I have it here. Okay. I don’t have it right in front of me, but again, The picture of it is in the blog post. The link is in the show notes. I wear fair light in the winter, and then I wear light in the summer. They have pretty much all across the color spectrum. Absolutely love it. It goes on really smoothly with the it foundation brush.
Again, links included highly highly recommend it can’t recommend enough. Also has SPF in it for that added protection. I am wearing it. I do have it. I do have it on. Okay. Let’s talk really quick. About night routine. Mine is so, so simple. I know there are really, really complicated routines out there. Mine is so simple.
I pretty much just stick to, at the end of the day, I use a baby wipe and proven cleanser, and then I use the baby wipe to just wash my face a side note. I usually let my mascara on for. More than a day. I don’t take my mascara off every night. I think it helps reduce like removing eyelashes or eyelashes falling out.
And again, it’s not really harming your skin. It’s your eyelashes. So just as a side note, I don’t always take my mascara off, which is why some of you I’ve been asked before when I do my morning video. That are like super early in the morning. They’re like you put makeup on before, you know, I don’t, it’s just, I don’t take all of my mascara off at night, so it does look like I have makeup on, but it’s old, maybe even two days old, don’t tell anyone.
And then I use the personalized night cream here. It is personalized night cream. This is really nice stuff. It’s lightweight. It’s creamy there. You can see inside say. Once in a while. If I remember it, I do not do this every night. Y’all this what I’m about to share? This is a aesthetic only, you’re not preventing any type of skin, cancer disease, et cetera, by doing this.
But Coleen Rosschild has this retinal Supreme ice serum. If I remember, which is maybe once a week, I put this around that skin, the skin around my eyes. Here. And it’s kind of nice. It has almost like a chapstick or a lipstick, kind of a application. You can see it there, which makes it really easy to actually like put it around your eyes.
When I remember I do this, try to help protect that sensitive area. That’s easy to break down over the years, especially if you wear and remove makeup a quick note on all natural skincare from. Although I’m a huge advocate of eating whole food nutrition, eliminating processed artificial ingredients from your pantry, topical absorption or skin absorption is different than systemic absorption into the blood.
Meaning this topical ingredients can certainly be absorbed by the skin, into the body and they can hit the bloodstream that is possible. There’s topical medications, for example, transdermal medications. But the key is this to understand just because they are absorbed by the skin does not mean they will automatically then be absorbed systemically into the blood.
They may just be more localized absorption. And in reality, most of what comes in contact with our skin will not be systemically absorbed. There’s a lot of factors that play to actually like create a topical or transdermal application that will truly be systemically absorbed food. On the other hand has a much higher bioavailability and is significantly more.
Transformative when it comes to systemic absorption. So if using all natural topical products to live well, as something you’re passionate about, that’s great. I won’t stand in your way, especially if you’ve had certain experiences or relatives that have experienced certain things and you’re concerned. I totally understand that.
Make sure you’re prioritizing whole food nutrition. What you’re eating has a significantly greater effect on your overall wellness and exercise, but I’m explaining the reason this is not an area that I am as concerned about from a health standpoint. I do not use all natural products. I think proven might be all natural products.
I’m actually not positive about that, but generally speaking like makeup, I’m not as concerned about all natural products. So we’ve chatted about the five step skincare routine everyone should be doing. But I would also share a couple of supplements that may be having an effect on the quality of my skin.
I did not originally take these two supplements for my skin, but they do have the side benefit supplement. Number one, I put one scoop of collagen, 10 grams in my coffee every time. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body. It’s the main element and connective tissues that make up tendons, ligaments, and muscles, and plays a lead role in skin elasticity and hydration.
As we age, however, we produce less of it leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles. And I’ve included this link if you’re interested, but there was a comprehensive review of 11 different studies found that women who took three to 10 grams of collagen daily for an average of 69 days. Led to noticeable improvements in skin elasticity and hydration.
Okay. This is a nice side benefit. It’s actually not why I started taking college. And primarily college in is also a star player in the role of cartilage integrity, which in turn protects the joints, this college in. So there was a five study review of over 500 people with osteoarthritis and the review suggested that participants who.
10 grams of college in daily for an average of 24 weeks led to significant improvements in self reported, joint stiffness and pain, Zach, and I really value our active lifestyles. Anyone who follows me on Instagram sees we’re on the move all the time. We love, love sports, and we are doing everything we can in our thirties to protect our joints for our sixties, seventies and beyond.
So this is actually rinse and repeat everything I just said for the second supplement that I take, which is hyleronic acid, hyaluronic acid. I take 200 milligrams daily, and it’s a naturally occurring substance in the body that functions primarily as a lubricant for the eyes, skin joints. Again, I initially started taking this for joint protection.
It’s been shown to reduce joint pain as well, along with a lot of other benefits. It also hydrates the skin, which consequently plumps and tones creating a smoother appearance and fewer wrinkles. And I did include a link to some of the research as well around hyleronic acid. Again, those two, interestingly, I initially took for joint protection and trying to put off joint degeneration if you will, but they do also have some research suggesting that they would also help in skin.
Again. I can’t give you like a real honest before and after, like it’s made all the difference, but it probably is when you guys reach out and you’re like, Hey, you have such nice skin. What do you do? I’d love to know the products that you use. I’m sharing. What I do that is probably contributing to the health of my skin.
I hope that you took something away from this. If nothing else. Men. I am looking at you, women too. A lot of you are not routinely daily, putting SPF to protect your skin. It’s the largest organ in your body. Treat it with the same care and consideration that you would. Any other organ. I would love to hear your favorite skincare products or any other recommendations you have dropped them in the comments.
I always love hearing from you guys. Thanks for listening to this episode of the imperfectly empowered podcast. I would love to hear your thoughts from today. Head to your preferred podcasting platform and give the show an honest review and let me know what you think. Remember, you cannot be redefined only redeveloped one imperfect day at a time.
Your story matters and you are loved.

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