Interlude: What I Do & Use

I was just asked about my facial skin care routine. So here it is -- and I realized that it is pretty complex and totally dependent on how my skin feels to me that day or night. At the end of this entry, I have listed the full brand and product names.

Before I go into my routine, you should know that I have fine pore, lightly dry to normal skin that is sometimes sensitive (usually to fragrance) and not prone to breakouts. However, the weather and what I eat can turn my skin either dry or slightly oily in the T-zone. So I have an adjustable routine that includes a variety of products. Plus, I do not always use them in the recommended way. So here is what I do.

When my skin is "normal" my regular morning and evening care is to clean with Kiehl's Washable Cleansing Milk. For the eyes, I then apply Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions (DS) Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate around the orb, then for my face and neck I apply Kiehl's DS Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate with 10.5% Vitamin C. I wait a few minutes before I follow up with Kiehl's Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment and I use my fingerpads to gently pat in the eye cream around the bottom half orb (for me that a radius of half an inch -- I also smile and pat in the eye cream around all smile lines sometimes 1-1.5 inches away from my eye). I then apply (by patting unto my face after rubbing the product in my hands to distribute equally over my hands) Cryste Marine Ultra Riche Lifting & Firming Cream to my face. I wet my hands and then use Panthenol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream for my neck and upper chest area. If I need to spot treat, I do so immediately after cleansing my face and before any other product application. In the morning only, I apply eye color corrector and concealer and then gently tap in Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado; then I finish my makeup application.

If my skin is oily I cleanse with Kiehl's Rare Earth Oatmeal Milk Facial Cleanser #1 or even Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub. Then I follow the rest of the above routine. In the evening, I apply Rare Earth Facial Cleansing Masque. Then I will apply spot treatment to the T-zone and will not use face cream at all but do moisturize my neck and chest areas.

If my skin is dry (usually due to the weather), I follow my routine but change face creams and use the Kiehl's Antioxidant Skin Preserver. This is greasy stuff so I wet my hands and apply a small bit of this cream and blend the water and cream in my hands before patting unto my face. This works especially well in the evenings. Also, if I have no makeup on, in the evening I will "clean" my face by using water only then applying everything else.

Twice or three times a week I will apply Kiehl's DS Over Night Biological Peel (actually I will apply this on nights I am home and leave on for 5-6 hours) then I follow with Kiehl's DS Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion. Then back to the routine.

I hope this answers the question fully!

FULL PRODUCT LIST OF WHAT I USE
Face cleansing
Kiehl's Washable Cleansing Milk for dry, normal to dry or sensitive skin types
Kiehl's Rare Earth Oatmeal Milk Facial Cleanser #1 for normal to oily skin types
Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub made with real fruit

Masques & Peels
Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Over Night Biological Peel
Kiehl's Rare Earth Facial Cleansing Masque

Eye Care
Kiehl's Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate

Prep before Moisturizing
Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion
Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate

Moisturizers
Panthenol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream enriched with Vit E and beta carotene for dry skin
Antioxidant Skin Preserver for very dry skin types
Cryste Marine Ultra Riche Lifting & Firming Cream

Spot Control
Aveda Outer Peace Acne Spot Relief