Skin of the angels.

If you’re like me, you’re always ready to try new products to give your skin that delicious ‘I was just shagged silly in between photo shoots because I’m a supermodel’ look.  I have tried pretty much every product known to man; everything from cheapies at the drugstore to really expensive, high-end products from Sephora, Nordstrom, etc.  My skin type is normal/oily, I don’t have any lines or wrinkles and I still get occasional breakouts, especially right before my period.  And I’ll be thirty-four in 11 days.  So, there’s the basic information.

After literally 20+ years of trying various regimens and cleansers, creams, moisturizers, this is what I’ve found keeps my skin looking amazing.

1.  This is kind of a ‘mystery product’ as it is still in the testing stages.  I was lucky enough to be selected to be a participant in this study and I’ve been using the product several times a day for the past week and a half.  I can’t give you a whole lot of information, but what I can tell you is that it’s made entirely of herbs and plants and is 100% natural (you can even eat it).  And, since our skin literally does eat whatever we put on it, this is great news!  It has the consistency that is a little bit thicker than a toner, smells very strong of herbs (think fancy spa) and tingles intensely when you rub it onto your skin.  It is supposed to delay the skin’s aging process, keeping it supple and plumping it to reduce lines.  Like I said, I don’t have lines (knock on wood), but it definitely can’t hurt to work towards preventing them in the future.  What I’ve noticed most about this product is that when I use it, I don’t need a moisturizer.  You massage it into your skin, it absorbs quickly and it leaves your face feeling silky smooth and soft but not oily at all.  It’s pretty much a wonder product.  If you’d like to be alerted when this product will be available to the public, you should ‘like’ the creator’s page on Facebook, J. Michael Zenn.    I also strongly recommend reading his book.

2.  The second thing is going to sound kind of ridiculous because it’s not expensive (note that the link here is $18 for a pack of six bars) and has been around forever.  This soap.  It’s gentle, smells wonderful, controls oil, is antibacterial and leaves your skin extremely soft, unlike how drying most facial soaps can be.  I use it twice a day (especially immediately after I work out).

3.  Instead of foundation which can make your skin sticky, smother it and make you look fake, I’ve discovered a process of layering three products together that give me flawless coverage without having to scrape off my face at night with a butter knife:

Step one: Rub a dime size amount into your skin.  This evens out your skin tone, brightens and softens.  It is truly one of the best drugstore products I’ve ever used.

Step two:  This was voted the #1 selling tinted moisturizer.  It is, in a word, AMAZEBALLS.  A little goes a very long way.  Use a dime size again or even a bit smaller.  (let step one dry completely first).  I realize this one is very pricey.  However, it lasts a really long time, especially if you’re me and don’t bother with makeup every day.  And I have to say that it’s worth every dime, it is that good.

Step three:  This just kind of sets the other stuff and takes care of any shiny spots you may have.  It’s extremely lightweight and natural and feels wonderful on your face.  Use a kabuki brush.

That’s it!  The other things that are mostly obvious are eating right (mostly fruits and vegetables, with some grains), drinking a ton of water, avoiding sugar and processed foods, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly (multi-vitamins are good, too).  All of these things help your skin in addition to your overall well-being.