Sharing is (Skin) Caring.

Clean face, fresh start. Happy Eleven everyone! Hope you all survived the holidays and are currently detoxing from sweets and other fatty foods by drinking lots of tea and eating fresh veggies.

My new year's resolution is to bring you some of my favorite things from time to time, with a focus on fabulous beauty products. This week I'm featuring my face washing routine which is thorough and well worth it. You all know what a stickler I am about my skincare!

As cousin Om came to discover while staying over at my apartment, there are new things the skin needs when the weather changes. Om was visiting from San Diego and his skin did not like our frosty weather. Here is the routine I showcased to him:1) Start with a cleanser that is oil based. I've been enthusiastically obsessed with Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse ($55) and have been recommending it to everyone. Apply to dry face with dry hands and voila! It removes makeup and the day's grime all in one step. Plus, it warms up when activated!2) Next, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($38) is used with my trusty Clarisonic (about $120) to get the skin clean and refreshed.
3) I follow up with a a thin veil of Fresh Umbrian Clay Face Treatment ($48), let it dry and reactivate it with Fresh Rose Face Mask ($55). The combination balances out my oils but never lets me feel stripped or dry. The scent of roses reminds me of spa and it's the step I look forward to the most.3) I spritz on a bit of Kiehl's Acai Damage Protecting Toning Mist ($26) to prep the skin for moisture. Delicious, fresh pomegranate scent. And alcohol free so as not to dry out the skin.4) Next, a serum will help to repair any surface damage. I prefer Bobbi's Intensive Skin Supplement ($65). I started using it about three years ago and it got rid of all of my acne scars. All of them. Serum=magic.5) Bobbi's Extra Eye Repair ($65) around the eyelids. I noticed my lashes getting longer since implementing this into my routine. Tap, tap, tap away those crows feet!6) Shu Uemura red:juvenus Vitalizing Retexturizing Emulsion ($85) has a fresh juicy scent. Call me crazy but it reminds me of the way a Sanrio store smells, you know, with the candy, gum and erasers? Whatever it smells like, it keeps me firm and refreshed.

Though Om was shocked at how many steps I did, he took a modified route and woke up with his face as soft as a baby's you-know-what. You can see what my favorite brands are. I simply chose these over years of understanding what would and would not make me break out. Skincare is an investment, but a very important one so that in time, your makeup will look more flawless and you'll need even less and less coverage. Figure out a routine for yourself by sampling products you are interested in and you'll be on your way to a squeaky clean 2011 too!