I’m starting a blog series called Be Happy Be Healthy. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do mainly because I knew it would motivate me. I hope it does the same for you.
As a busy mother of three, time is of the essence in everything I do so I knew I wanted to avoid complicated/expensive/time-consuming methods. I want the simple and effective route.
Starting a blog series is a huge commitment but so is my decision to embark on a journey to a healthier lifestyle however little or big the steps may be. The series will include a range of topics all based on the tweaks and changes I am making in my life and any I have already implemented in order to become a healthier and happier version of myself. I hope to inspire you to do the same, to take some tips and advice I have collected along the way and turn them into healthy habits. So I’m starting with the major changes I have made in my skincare routine.
After talking with two gorgeous mothers on their makeup routines and how they manage to hide those bags under their eyes and make their skin glow, I decided to start from the beginning: my skin. Because I know that makeup and eating healthy can only do so much for my skin. There are still steps I need to take to feel good when I look in the mirror sans makeup.
I want my skin to look and be healthy so I researched the basic and simple ways to achieve just this.
Every evening, after the kids have gone to bed, I dedicate 10 to 20 minutes on my face depending on its needs.
This is my skin-cleansing time of the day.
The first thing I use is Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 makeup removing water. This is my favourite skincare product and one I have been using nonstop for over five years. I have stopped washing my face with regular water. Instead I use this which IS water, only 1000 times better for your skin especially if you have sensitive or intolerant skin. It has a huge cult following and for good reason. It’s also unavailable in Cyprus so I make sure to stock up whenever I’m abroad. You can also order from Amazon.
After removing my makeup – I use it even if I haven’t been wearing any- I move onto exfoliating my skin. During my recent stay in Madrid I came across a Lush shop. And I went it. I absolutely love Lush shops and was gutted when it closed down in Nicosia so you can imagine my excitement. I immediately went for the charcoal range. I’ve read so much about dry powered charcoal and its calming effect on the skin. I purchased a pot of Dark Angels, a thick black scrub mask. I started using it straight away, every two to three days. Two months later I can definitely notice a shift in my skin’s texture. It looks radiant and clean and even my large pores are noticeably smaller.
Once I’ve rinsed my face with warm water and patted it dry, I move to the next major daily shift I have made in my skincare routine: The toner. I’ve been using toner on and off for a decade. I know I should use it all the time especially as I have an oily complexion but I just never bothered. Until now. I did some more research and landed on Belif. In Sephora in Madrid I picked up the Bergamot Herbal Extract Toner and I think I have hit the jackpot. It’s much thicker consistency is unlike any other toner I have tried. It has a soothing effect on my skin which I need, especially after the scrub, and it smells divine.
Protecting my skin from the sun has become very important to me since I was pregnant with James. My skin suffered discoloration and as a result I have several dark patches on my skin and more noticeably on my upper lip, which means that I look like I have a mustache. It has made me totally self-conscious and I now have more concealers than I have ever had in my entire life! But the good thing is that they are hormonal-related and can be removed. I consulted with a dermatologist. I’ve tried homemade remedies but I think I may have angered them so I’ll be taking the laser method at some point.
In the meantime I have been using Kiehl’s Facial Sunscreen. For two years I used this one but I always seemed to have problems with the pump so I went for Kiehl’s Super Fluid Daily UV Defense which works really well with my skin type. It doesn’t clog my pores and my dark patches haven’t gotten worse since I started using it so I guess it’s effective too.
Last but not least is the perfect moisturiser, which I sadly haven’t found yet. I am still on the lookout but the truth is moisturisers scare me a little bit. I’ve had bad experiences with thick perfume-scented moisturisers in the past so I’m a bit cautious when it comes to the type of creams I put on my face. I always fear a breakout. For now, and the last decade, I have been using coconut oil on my face. I have no idea if that is a good thing or a very bad thing but it works for me, it agrees with my skin and I can’t think of a more perfect moisturiser.
I have been following this daily skin routine for the last two months and there is a definite change in the way my skin looks and feels. By simply setting aside ten minutes before my shower or before I go to bed to tend to my skin I have successfully managed to make a positive change in my life and create a healthy habit that makes me happy.
PS I also picked up a few sheet face masks while I was in Sephora. I love love their masks. I got this one and this one but I am so happy I got two of these because they are so good for dehydrated skin. That means it’s suitable for all skin types.
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Read my post on the right order to use your skin products because otherwise it’s money down the drain.
You can find out more about Bioderma’s Sensibio makeup removing water from this post I wrote.
One of my first skincare blog posts I wrote in 2014. Products mentioned are still so relevant.
