Hi Friends! I get asked about skincare often, so I thought a blog post would be a great landing place for everything I am using. I’ll update it as things change, but for the most part, I operate under the principle “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

That being said, I have been using Beautycounter for around six years. I started using is because was safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding and I didn’t want to be starting and stopping products during my childbearing years. Now, I would say 95% of what I use is Beautycounter.

I’m going to take you through what and use, link things, and say why I love them. (All the links below are affiliate links).

Morning Skincare Routine

1. Water: Every morning I start by splashing my face with water. Something I learned for my acne prone skin is not use face wash in the morning. Washing my face in the morning would dry out my skin, and subsequently cause my face to produce more oil, and then I would break out more! A miserable cycle. So, no face wash it is.
2. Toner: I then cleanse with Thayers Toner on a cotton round. It’s the best toner because it doesn’t dry your skin out at all since it’s alcohol free. You can get Thayers at most stores. Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc. I personally love the rose scent. 1-2x a week I have been using the Beautycounter AHA Toner. It is intense! In a good way. It helps refine pores and get your skin glowing. Not a necessity, but I do like it. If you have sensitive skin, I would definitely say use the Thayers over the Beautycounter toner.
3. Vitamin C Serum: I apply Beautycounter All Bright C Serum to my face and allow it to dry. This helps brighten my skin and reduces dark spots. I usually brush my teeth to give it time to soak in and dry.
4. Face Oil: I swear by face oils! These have proven to be so much more effective than a regular moisturizer or lotion for me. I love the Beautycounter #1 Brightening Facial Oil but also used this Acure one for years before using the Beautycounter because it’s a lot cheaper. If you want to try face oils, give the Acure one a go! I know it sounds counterintuitive, but face oils actually help your skin to be LESS oily. By putting high quality oils on your skin that penetrate deeply into your pores, your skin feels nourished which signals your skin not to produce as much oil. When the face feels dry, the sebaceous glands make too much sebum. Sebum is a good thing that protects and hydrates the skin, but too much of a good thing (you know how the saying goes…) leads to clogged pores and acne. So many people try and cure acne with drying products that dry the skin so much all it does is cause your skin produce more oil! At some point, you have to add in a moisturizer. For me, I do this in the form of face oils.
5. Cryoball: the cryoball is new to me and I was convinced by my friend Anna to get it. I haven’t been using it long, but I am so in love. I use it after my serum/oil and I love how firm my skin feels afterward. It is surprisingly refreshing. 
6. Sunscreen: Supergoop! Glowscreen. This sunscreen is so light, and the tiniest bit tinted. And it has a primer in it! I use this daily and often stop at this step and not use any makeup. I also use the Beautycounter Dew Skin (also has SPF); it is a little thicker so I use it more in the winter since it is so humid in Charleston in the summer. 

Makeup

1. Foundation: I use Supergoop! Glowscreen as the first step always, or Beautycounter Dew Skin in shade light and swear by it! I also use Beautycounter Tint Skin in shade 320 for times where I want higher coverage. I find that the Tint Skin gives more coverage but it doesn’t have SPF.
2. Concealer: I use the Beautycounter concealer for under eyes, pimples, and dark spots in shades LIGHT 3 and FAIR 3 (fair is for under eyes).
3. Blush: I started using Beautycounter Cheeky Clean Cream Blush over the summer and fell in love! I didn’t think I would like it and was pleasantly surprised. I use shades Chai and Cider. I also use the Satin Powder Blush in melon.
4. Bronzer: I don’t use bronzer super often but when I do I use the Beautycounter Radiant All Over Bronzer in dune.
5. Brow Gel: Lastly I use brow gel. I like the drugstore brand NYX Tinted Eyebrow Mascara in brunette.
6. Mascara: I really only wear mascara about four times a year, but when I do, I will be trying the Thrive Causmetics Mascara. It was the clear winner in my mascara poll I did on Istagram. I have also been using this one I got as a gift and really like it! A cheaper alternative to the Thrive. 

Evening Skincare Routine

1. Face Wash: Counter+ Cleansing Balm. I use this to clean my face every single night and SWEAR BY IT! Allow me to get on more soapbox (pun intended) for a moment: This is my favorite product of all time. So much so that if Beautycounter said they were discontinuing it, I would order as many as I possibly could. It’s the best face wash I have ever used. Really! Nothing has cleaned my skin so well without drying it out. And the jar lasts like 6 months! 
   How to use: I take an almond size amount and rub it into my face as if I am trying to have my face absorb it. I then grab a wet washcloth and wipe it off. It removes allllll of the makeup from my face and all of the junk that was on my face is left on the washcloth. I change washcloths every other day and simply throw them in with our laundry to clean. I don’t think I ever realized how much more effective they are at removing dirt than simply rinsing with water. Y’all…wash cloths are so cheap; get yourself a 5 pack! (I love these ). BONUS: the balm can also be used as an overnight mask when your skin is feeling especially dry/needs some love. Just apply it after you’ve done your whole routine, on top of any oils or serums, to lock in moisture. 
2. Toner: I then tone with the Thayers Toner and a cotton round. My favorite part about the cleansing balm is it get all of the makeup and dirt so that there is nothing left on the cotton pad when I use the toner (I used to still see makeup on the cotton pad when I used regular face washes). 
3. Serum: I use one of 2-3 different serums in rotation:
   1. Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum: This is part of the Beautycounter age-reversal line, which uses their plant-derived Retinatural Complex to firm and brighten the skin. Basically, think Retin-A, but pregnancy/breastfeeding safe. So many products are not, and when you are in those early motherhood years you need quality products that are actually safe to use. UPDATE: I still love the Countertime, but now that I am no longer pregnant or nursing, I use a prescription retinol from my dermatologist.  
   2. Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel: This is the product that sold me on Beautycounter. It helped so much with my melasma and I love that you sleep with it on and it does its magic overnight. I wake up and my skin is baby’s bottom smooth. 
   3. Countercontrol All Over Acne Treatment: I don’t usually use this one but I did when I was pregnant because my acne was so bad. When I notice my face breaking out more than normal, I add this baby to the mix and it helps.
4. Face Oil: I prefer the Beautycounter #3 Balancing Facial Oil at night (it’s really good for acne prone skin). Sadly, I have heard they are discontinuing it. I am so bummed! I will use the brightening oil instead. 
5. Eye Cream: Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream because I’m over 30 and eye cream seems like something I should be doing.
6. Face Cream: When the climate gets dry here in the winter, I add in the Beautycounter Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream. I am prone to dry skin and this locks everything in and keeps me from drying out.

Okay! Whew. As I typed it all out it really felt like a lot. And honestly, it would be a lot of money to purchase all at one time. If you are looking for a place to begin, my top two favorite products are: 

Beautycounter Counter+ Cleansing Balm

Beautycounter Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel

If you wanted to get a basic gist of what I do for skincare and not spend a ton, I would get these 4 things. It’ll run you a little under $150:

1. Thayers Toner
2. Acure Brightening Glowing Serum
3. Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel
4. Counter+ Cleansing Balm

To close: I really do love the products I use. Yes, I still get breakouts (usually around my chin area, which points to hormones), but all in all I am so pleased with the state of my skin. It’s calm and bright and I am treating it like an old friend, with lots of care and grace, and less anger and picking. Remembering it’s just skin, and it’s been through a lot. I will do my very best to treat it well, but even the skin I live in isn’t ultimate. I’ll try and prevent the wrinkles, while at the same time welcoming them as they come. Aging is really just the sign of a life well lived. 

Alrighty everyone! There’s my daily skincare and makeup routine. If you have any questions please feel free to email me (hello@naptimekitchen.com)! I try and check it daily and would love to help in any ways I can.

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