Mel’s Mob…HEY!
Lately, I’ve been getting so many “Girl, your skin is GLOWING!” messages in my DM’s, so I thought, why not pop in and share a few of my best kept secrets?!
Now make no mistake–I have NOT had picture-perfect skin forever. Whether it’s acne, dark spots, ingrown hairs, blackheads–you name it, I’ve had it! I’d always wash with a cleanser, but didn’t start getting serious about my skin care routine until about three years ago. I was so over the hormonal breakouts, so I knew something had to be done. I’ve done everything from having meds prescribed from a dermatologist to hoarding items from the drugstore, but honestly, the biggest thing that’s help has been the amazing people and products at Urban Skin Solutions here in Charlotte. Not only do they help provide the perfect products and services to help my skin, but they EDUCATE their clients on their skin type and what’s needed to give them that amazing glow.
Photography by: Brandon Grate
Full disclosure: I’m an oily girl. I mean, an OILY girl. My skin is super sensitive, and me having to fly for work a few times a month doesn’t help, either. After a pretty rough travel schedule, I made me an appointment to Urban Skin and my girl Christina got me started on my journey to clear skin! Of course I’ve been getting better at drinking water, but I make sure to go in for monthly facials, too. I remember my first appointment; my pores were so clogged and I had so many blackheads. ICK! Now, I go into my facial appointments and my skin has done a complete 180.
So. What do I use?!
Outside of the SPF and eye cream, my morning and night routines don’t change much on a daily/weekly basis. I do always try to switch out products, because some weeks my skin needs something a little stronger, and other weeks I need something as gentle and mild as possible.
1. I start cleansing my face with a splash of water, then add in the Clean & Glow Cleanser and massage it in so that it saturates my skin nicely. After about a minute or so, I rinse with warm water. Major key: I don’t dry my face with a washcloth or towel; they can get harsh and create sensitivities. Air drying is my thing.
2. Next up, I exfoliate with my clarifying Gyl/Sal pads. This helps remove my dead skin and controls the extra oils that accumulate throughout the day. Now, I don’t use these every day or even every week since they’ve got such a powerful combination of Gylcolic acid, Lactic acid, and Salicylic acid. I really only use when I’m experiencing unusual levels of buildup.
3. If it’s a mask type of night, I LOVE my Pumpkin Pore Detox Mask & Scrub. This is a fave of mine especially after a week of travel. Since professional skincare can get pricey, I try to have weekly mask nights where I give myself a facial. This particular mask gets nice and warm and it smells delicious. Definitely my go-to!
4. Then, it’s time for my serum, and the Radiance Restore Oil is my top choice. I love how my skin looks and feels after I apply it. SKIN on FLEEK, Y’ALL. (Wait, do we still say that? LOL.)
5. I then follow up with either Urban Skin’s HydraBalance Instant Moisture Infusion, or go straight into my DermaShield SPF!
Ladies: No matter your skin tone, SPF is important! I noticed that my girlfriends and I have never really discussed the importance of SPF; we usually think our melanin is teflon. But nope, us brown girls need SPF, too! Make sure you add some to your routine and use it daily, even when you don’t see any sun!
OK! There you have it! I also try super hard to drink more water. Between that, my monthly facials at Urban Skin Solutions, and finding a skin care regimen and products that work great for me, my skin has been looking better than ever!
Last thing: Make sure you find out your skin type. I’m oily and my skin’s very sensitive, so some days or nights I don’t need all the products I’ve listed so I’ll give my skin a break from them. But always pay super close attention to how your skin’s responding to your regimen and always be open to adjusting accordingly.
I hope this was helpful! As always, share some of your favorite skincare products in the comments below! I love seeing how my girls (and guys!) are keeping their skin picture perfect.
Until next time!
XOXO
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