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Lauren is YBC's Marketing and Events Director and you probably know her from this amazing tablescpae and this gorgeous but simple wall hanging. Today’s she’s doing something a little different - sharing her before and after skincare routine. I hope you enjoy and let her know if you’d like to see more in the comments below! xo Candace
61 days ago I was the LAST person to talk about my skincare routine mainly because I didn’t even have one. I’ve never been good about washing my face, removing my make-up at night or even using moisturizers/oils etc. I just assumed I was stuck in the skin I was “given” and there was nothing I was going to be able to do to fix or improve it. My skincare routine consisted of rinsing my face with my hands in the shower - no soap, no exfoliant, no masks, no oils, no moisturizer...literally nothing. I would apply my make-up each morning and go to bed with it basically still on my face. Horrific, I know.
I’m probably not the only one, but I’d spend hours on Instagram fawning over women with filter-worthy skin that was radiant, even and supple; nothing my skin ever was. I thought throwing a filter (or seven) on any close-ups was my answer to flawless looking skin. I mean, for me it was the easiest solution.
Before I started this skincare journey I never went out in public without tinted moisturizer at the VERY least. My skin has always been dull and blotchy; with deeper red patches around my nose and on the balls of my cheeks. I’ve had deeper horizontal lines in my forehead for as long as I can remember. Luckily, I’ve never battled with acne but that doesn’t mean I was always happy with my skin, either.
Two months ago I received my first ever facial at Color Up Therapeutics by Emily at Stratum Aesthetics - at the ripe age of 31 - believe it or not. The esthetician said that while I was gifted genetically in terms of my skin, I had damaged the outer layers of my epidermis due to the lack of care I was giving my skin... especially over the years. This was a major wake up call to start doing what I needed to do to keep my skin looking and feeling healthy. After Emily’s treatment I looked in the mirror and almost cried; I couldn’t believe the clarity I was seeing in my skin. I knew right at that moment that I could change how my skin looked and I was determined to get that filter-worthy skin on my own accord.
I read some amazing things about Agent Nateur’s line and decided to start out the Holi (oil) Youth Serum which I used each morning and evening.
I saw some really minor changes in the first week:
Day 1: No difference.
Day 2: Skin slightly rough feeling.
Day 3: Skin feeling bumpy/rough but starting to appear more hydrated.
Day 4: What a turn! My skin is no longer rough/bumpy and is the softest I’ve ever felt.
Day 5-7: Super smooth, soft feeling skin. I can’t stop touching my face.
Weeks 2-3:
The redness around my nose is starting to fade. I’m noticing the wrinkles in my forehead are also less noticeable.
Weeks 4-6:
I’m noticing almost no redness around my nose and on the balls of my cheeks. The horizontal wrinkles in my forehead are fading more each week. Skin is still extremely soft to the touch - the softest i’ve ever felt - and I’m noticing a nice glow without the use of foundation.
Weeks 7-9:
I feel like when I wake up in the morning I have no idea who is looking back at me. I no longer notice darker skin around my eyes. I use much less foundation and I no longer use concealer - which is HUGE. I rarely use highlighter anymore as my skin seems to have a glow of its own. I don’t think twice about running to the grocery store without make up; something i’ve never really felt comfortable doing.
Other contributors:
Annemarie - Kaolin Micro Exfoliant (2 times a week.)
Color-Up Therapeutics - Hydrating Foaming Cleanser (about once a week.)
I also made a point to remove my make-up each night.
So here it is, my raw unedited after photo right after the shower:
At first, it was a major chore to do all of this skincare routine “stuff” but now it almost comes as second nature. When I think back a few months ago, I can’t believe I didn’t have a skincare routine before this; I’m SO happy I made the decision to care for my skin the way to do today. Of course, I’m going to continue to add to my routine. I’ve been wanting to make the investment into Agent Nateur’s Vitamin C powder so maybe I’ll gift that to myself this Christmas. If I love it as much as I anticipate, I’ll pop back in for another before/after!
A little disclaimer about the photos below. The photo was taken same time of day in the same room (*but I didn’t account for daylight savings) Also, it’s apparent I wasn’t as confident in the first photo, as well. But for now, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. I’d love to hear your skincare routine tips and tricks; sound off in the comments section below!
