If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, it’s no secret that I am obsessed with all things skincare! As I get older, I’ve made taking care of & protecting my skin a top priority. I’ve seen my grandma go through tons of procedures and surgeries to remove skin cancer from her face & body — and after seeing all that she’s gone through…taking care, protecting & investing in my skin is a true no-brainer for me, and it should be for you, too!

You may already know – but for about two years now, I have been in partnership with Revision Skincare – a top, dermatologist-recommended skincare brand that has completely transformed my skin. I actually found out about Revision from my dermatologist at an appointment, so I knew it was a reputable, trusted brand. Slowly but surely over the years, I built up my collection and tried different Revision products and ultimately found the ones that work best for my skin. I say “years” – because high quality, safe and effective skincare ain’t cheap, ladies! But like I mentioned, to me, its an investment that is more than worth it. 

Aside from products, there are a lot of things that I do daily, weekly and occasionally to take care of my skin. I call these my “skincare rules” – which is what we are covering today! These are the skincare rules, tips and tricks that I live by for healthy, clear & beautiful skin! If you’d like a full look into my AM & PM skincare routines, head to the skincare tab of my website to learn more!

Quick side note: Currently (until June 12) – I have a promo going on with Revision Skincare – exclusive for you girls! If you spend $100 & use the code SBSKIN at checkout, you will get a free YouthFull Lip Replenisher…which is my favorite plumping, hydrating lip treatment! Take advantage of it while you can! xo

Rule #1: Start & End Your Day With Cleansing

I start and end my day the same way – by cleansing my face! There’s no better feeling than a good, cold cleanse in the morning…I feel like it helps wake me up! I love to use the Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse first thing in morning. It’s an alcohol-free toner that is super cooling, gentle and refreshing first thing in the morning.  At night, usually in the shower – I wash my face with Revision Skincare’s Papaya Enzyme Cleanser. It’s my absolute favorite cleanser of theirs – it’s gentle, it smells good, and leaves my pores squeaky clean without drying me out.

Rule #2: Take Your Time While Cleansing

Sometimes after a long day, or if you’re rushing around in the morning…it’s easy to speed through washing your face – I’ve been there! But I have noticed that when I really take the time to cleanse my skin, I have way less breakouts or blemishes. Apply enough cleanser so it really suds up, and take your time cleansing every inch of your face throughly in small, circular motions. That’s how you get those pores really squeaky clean!

Rule #3: Double Cleanse At Night

I don’t know about you – but by the end of the day, I have a lot going on on my face, haha! I have makeup left over from the day, I most likely worked out, had been touching my face all day, and in pandemic-times have sometimes spent a lot of the day in a mask. A lot of those things are a recipe for a breakout, which is why at night – I double cleanse my skin. All that means, is that I simply wash my face, rinse, and do it all over again. I’ve had way less congestion and breakouts once I started the double-cleansing method. 

Rule #4: If I Workout in Makeup, Remove it ASAP afterwards!

Yep – you read that right. I would say about 50% of the time during the week, I workout in the late afternoon once I wrap up work for the day. So that usually means I have makeup on from the day. I’d love to tell you that I always take off my makeup before working out…but that’d be a lie! Who has time for that?! Or the energy? Ha! So yes – a lot of the time, I do find myself working out in makeup. If I workout first thing in the morning, I obviously am makeup free – but for the days I’m not, I always make sure to wash my face as soon as I can after sweating, in effort to prevent breakouts & clogged pores! I always keep a pack of Neutrogena Makeup wipes in my gym bag to use if I’m on the go – but if I’m at home I like to use my Papaya Enzyme cleanser with the Erase Your Face towels – they are sooo gentle & take off your makeup easily!

Rule #5: Exfoliate 3x a Week

I’ve been lucky enough to have never battled intense acne, but the problem area I always have dealt with, was my forehead. I had these stubborn, tiny, under-the-skin bumps that never went away. It turns out, they were just clogged pores! My dermatologist recommended using a beaded exfoliator a few times a week to gently exfoliate my skin, helping it remove dead skin cells, build-up from makeup, oil and sweat that was leaving my pores clogged and congested. I started incorporating Revision Skincare’s Finishing Touch exfoliating scrub into my skincare regimen 3x a week after cleansing…and I slowly saw those tiny clogged pores dissolve! Such an easy fix for a problem I couldn’t find a solution to for years.

Rule #6: Wear SPF Every Single Day, No Matter What!

I mentioned earlier that skin cancer runs in my family – so we definitely don’t mess around when it comes to SPF & protecting our skin! Growing up, I always had the mindset that you only needed to apply a SPF or sunscreen when you were laying out by a pool or at the beach – and some of you still may have that mindset, too. But that’s not the case at all! We should be wearing SPF on our faces every single day, whether you are spending a substantial amount of time outside or not. The first step in my makeup routine everyday is applying Revision Skincare’s Intellishade – which is their anti-aging, tinted moisturizer that has SPF 45. They have different types of Intellishade – Original, Matte, Clear and TruPhysical. I like to use Original on a day-to-day basis because of the light coverage from the tint, and I love to use Clear at the beach for my face sunscreen throughout the day. We are exposed to the sun more than we think – in our cars, walking our dogs, spending 10 minutes outside watering the plants – and you always need to be protected! If, you want to age safely + graciously….that is! 😉

Rule #7: Sleep On a Silk Pillowcase

If you don’t sleep on a silk pillowcase, you are missing out! Not only does it feel amazing on your skin – there are so many benefits when it comes to your skin and hair. It’s much more gentle on your face & skin than a traditional cotton pillowcase. They are great for people with acne or sensitive skin! The friction from cotton pillowcases on sensitive skin can create more inflammation, making acne worse. Cotton also soaks in the natural oil and bacteria from our faces and hair, and all of that accumulates on your pillowcase night after night, which leaves a cotton pillowcase a pretty gross place. Silk pillowcases absorb less of the moisture & dirt, and create a cleaner environment for your face to be on for 6-8 hours, or however much sleep you get per night! Another added benefit from a silk pillowcase: I’ve noticed it’s gentler on my hair & holds my curl longer! I love this pillowcase by SLIP.

Rule #8: Wash Your Pillowcase Once a Week

Whether you are on the silk pillowcase train or not, always wash your pillowcase once a week! I wash our sheets every Sunday, and that includes our pillowcases. Even if you don’t wash your sheets once a week – just throw in your pillowcases once a week with a load of laundry to keep them fresh and free from any bacteria, dirt or oil. This was a game changer for keeping my skin clear!

Rule #9: Always Incorporate a Retinol in Your PM Routine

Retinol is the number one anti-aging ingredient that you should be incorporating into your skincare routine! It brightens, plumps & smooth’s your skin’s texture, and drastically can improve the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. At first, I had a difficult time introducing a retinol into my skincare routine – it was leaving my skin red, irritated, angry and dry. Come to find out, it was because I wasn’t using a good formula. Revision Skincare offers two strengths of Retinol – .5 & 1.0. I recommend starting with .5 to get your skin acclimated if you have never used a retinol. Once I switched to Revision’s formula – I saw zero irritation and actual results! Revision’s formula has ingredients that help boost your skin’s hydration levels, so you shouldn’t see any dryness or irritation! I use my retinol every night now, but at first, start off using it 3-4 times a week in the evening.

Rule #10: Once You Find What Works For Your Skin, Stick With It!

The skincare industry is always growing, changing and coming out with new products that are super tempting – trust me I get it! But I have found over the years, once I found the brand and products that worked best for my skin DNA – to just stick with it and not stray away from my routine. I don’t jump brands or try many new products these days, because I have found what works! Don’t fix what’s not broken, right?! The more consistent you stay with your routine, the more consistent and clear your skin will be!