My go-to products: Skin edition

I’m not a dermatologist. And I won’t pretend to be an expert on skincare. But there are a few products that, no matter what else I try, I always go back to. Some might say this is just a force of habit, but I have to disagree. I personally stand by all of the products listed below because they really work! So for those of you who have been emailing me requests for product recommendations (face lotions, etc.), this for you.

To wash my face – Proactive 3-Step System: Cliche or not, Proactive is a great system. It saved my life in high school when I first started getting some semblance of acne (I never jumped on the Accutaine bandwagon, like everyone else seemed to). And it still saves my life to this day. Yes, I’ve tried a lot of the competitors, but none have compared to Proactive. It’s still the best of the best, if you ask me.

To moisturize my face at night – Clean & Clear Oil-Free Dual-Action Moisturizer: It’s light and oil-free, so it doesn’t clog my pores. And it has leaves a nice tingly feeling that makes you feel like it’s doing something to fight breakouts too (perhaps that part is psychological? Ha.)

To moisturize my face during the day – Laura Mercier Oil-free Tinted Moisturizer: During the day, I rely on a moisturizer a little color to even my skin out, and also with SPF to protect it from the sun. This is a great tinted moisturizer because it feels nice and light but gives me the protection and coverage I need.

For in the shower after a workout – Neutrugena Body Clear Body Wash ‘Pink Grapefruit’: I like to use a body wash with salicylic acid (an acne-fighting ingredient that doesn’t bleach your clothes) after a workout, which is when a person is most scecptable to mild breakouts. Side note: Save your skin by showering as soon as you can after you work out – every time! Neutrugena Body Clear Body Wash keeps my skin clear, even when I’ve just come back from sweating it out at the gym. I always use this after a workout.

For any other time I shower – Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash: Everything with Dove’s label on it smells amazing, but I tend to stick with their lighter, more natural scents so that my body wash doesn’t try to compete with my perfume (which is Marc Jacobs ‘Lola’, in case you were wondering.) That’s one of the many reasons that I love Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash. Another is is because it keeps my skin soft and hydrated, while leaving me feeling super clean.

To moisturize my body – Johnson’s Baby Lotion: I try to keep a big bottle of lotion around so that I can apply liberally after getting out of the shower. (It makes a HUGE However, finding a lotion with a consistency you like (non-greasy, moisturizing, stays on, etc.) can be a challenge. Recently, I’ve started using Johnson’s Baby Lotion and I love it. It has a very faint scent, so it won’t compete with perfume, it’s totally cheap, and makes my skin baby soft! I like the original lotion and the Oatmeal lotion, which has a similar consistency to the original but also a light and appealing perfume scent.

So there you have it. These are the products I try to use every day (hence the name “product junkie”) and my recommendations for those of you who have similar skin as mine.