This time of year seems to wreak havoc on my skin. The cold, dry air outside coupled with the warm heat inside makes my skin so dry and and my skin texture rougher than normal. The key to taking care of my skin in winter is through a combination of gently exfoliation and thin, hydrating layers. Below is my winter skincare routine!

Wash face with cleansing balm

I love starting my evening skincare routine with an oil based cleansing balm. Currently I am using the Banila Clean It Zero balm – an old favorite. It takes off all of my makeup and leaves my skin so soft.

Double cleanse

After the cleansing balm I will do a low pH cleanser. My favorite of all time is Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. It feels so soft and hydrating and cleans my skin without leaving my face feeling stripped.

Toner

I like to use an acid toner after every cleanse. I just started using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid toner. It contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid to gently exfoliate and prep my skin for the actives in my routine.

BHA

My pores tend to get congested with dry skin in the winter. Beta Hydroxy Acid is a gentle acid based exfoliant that clears out the pores. I’ve been using the Paula’s Choice BHA liquid for years.

Retinol

I wait about 20 minutes and then apply a Retinol serum for anti-aging. I’ve worked up to using it every night and am currently using Ultraceuticals Mild Vitamin A. I also use a Retinol eye stick to help with the lines around my eyes.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Hyaluronic Acid holds 100X it’s weight in water. I especially make sure to do this step in the winter!

Eye Cream

I top my Retinol eye balm with a hydrating eye cream to keep my eye area from getting dry overnight. I find that the lines around my eyes stand out more when my skin is dry so this is an important step!

Moisturizer

I like a thick, hydrating moisturizer in the winter – the more I look like a glazed doughnut the better. I’ve been using the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream and loving the results.

Facial Oil

To keep my products from evaporating into the dry air overnight I top everything off with a few drops of facial oil. I love the BeautyBio Rose Hip Seed Oil. It smells so good!

Hand cream and lip balm

Finally, I slather on hand cream and lip balm. I love this La Roche Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream for repairing dry hands and cuticles. And the BEST lip balm of all time – Sara Happ. I’ll never be without it.

I hope that helps! Check out my other beauty posts for more skincare. Let me know what you think about my winter skincare routine!

I get asked a lot about my skincare routine and how to put one together. I like to take my time and use my evening skincare routine to unwind and get ready for bed. My goals with my evening routine are to treat any skin troubles I am having and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I love waking up with clear, glowing skin! Today I’m sharing the correct order for your nighttime skincare routine.

STEP 1: OIL OR BALM CLEANSER

This is the first step of my double cleanse. The purpose of this step is to remove makeup and sunscreen before cleansing my face. My favorite cleanser for this step is the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm. It has clean ingredients, it’s affordable, and it’s readily available at Target.

STEP 2: GENTLE, LOW PH CLEANSER

A cleanser with a PH over 6 can strip your moisture barrier and invite breakouts so I always go for a gentle, low PH cleanser. My favorite of the moment is Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. It feels so soft and gentle on my face and leaves my skin feeling supple!

STEP 3: ACID TONER

After rinsing I use an acid toner applied with a cotton round. This helps to prep my face for acids and PH dependent products. I am currently using COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner.

STEP 4: ACIDS AND PH DEPENDENT PRODUCTS

I use a BHA serum nightly, which performs best at a PH under 3.5, so this is when I apply it. This smooths away the top layer of dead skin cells and clears out my pores for soft, glowing skin. I’ve been using the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA for almost a decade. Even when I’ve tried other BHA products I always come back to this one! I wait 20 minutes after I apply so it doesn’t interfere with other products.

STEP 7: GloPro

Before I move onto my next step, I use the BeautyBio GloPro microneedling device. This step helps your skin absorb your products better, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and reduces the look of pores. I swear by it!

STEP 6: RETINOL

Retinol or a Retinoid is the number one product you need for anti aging. Retinol helps firm the skin, reduce the look of pores and fine lines, and keep breakouts at bay. Twice a year I use the BeautyBio R45 boost and in between I use the BeautyBio Nightly Serum to maintain. I wait 20 minutes after using before applying my next step so I get the full benefits.

STEP 7: SERUM

This is where I add in a nightly serum. I like to use a more concentrated anti-aging product at night. Recently I’ve been using The Ordinary Agireline Serum to help further reduce the fine lines around my eyes, mouth, and forehead. It’s been described as “baby botox!”

STEP 8: EYE CREAM

I started using the LaRoche Posay Toleriane eye cream a few months ago when I received the product in a PR box. I love that the texture isn’t too thick so it sinks in well, but is still super hydrating. My skin even showed no dehydration on a skin camera from using this product! (Get 25% off at Skinstore with code LAURENH25.)

STEP 10: MOISTURIZING CREAM

Lastly I seal it all in with a moisturizing cream. I’ve been using the Strivectin SD Advanced Intensive Moisturizer for Wrinkles and Stretch Marks. It’s a thick and hydrating moisturizer and does a great job of fighting physical signs of aging. My skin feels plump and moisturized when I wake up!

And now it’s time fore bed! I hope this post helps you put together the correct order for your nighttime skincare routine. Let me know if you have any questions or try any of these products. I’d love to hear!

You can always find links to my products here!

In the past we’ve covered using a low pH cleanser and double cleansing. Today we’re going to talk about how often you should wash your face.

Even on days when you don’t wear makeup, washing your face is important for removing sunscreen, dirt, and oil. If you skip it you may see a rise breakouts and oil.

On the other hand, over washing is also detrimental. You need to wash your face every evening to remove makeup, sunscreen, dirt and oil. But whether to wash your face again in the morning depends on your skin type.

For most skin types, as long as you are doing your evening skincare routine, there is no need to wash again in the morning. In fact, you could be stripping your skin. Which leads to an over production of oil. It’s also important to make sure you are sleeping on a clean pillow case if you decide to forego a morning wash.

If your skin feels dry and tight over washing may be part of the problem. It’s also important to stick to a low pH cleanser. Foamy cleansers with a high pH can dry out your skin and make and produce even more oil. Surprisingly, oily skin can be dry and dehydrated!

If you think you might be over washing, give your skin a break. Try only rinsing your face with water in the morning. And in the evening use an oil cleanser followed by a low pH facial cleanser.

How many times a day are you washing your face? Let me know if you’re going to forego your morning cleanse in the comments!

Every season I make changes to my skin care routine to make sure it is meeting my skin’s needs. The cold temps outside coupled with the warm heat inside has zapped the moisture out of the air and my skin. We also try to get outside when we can, so it’s even more important that I protect my skin from the cold wind. Today I’m sharing some of my winter skin care tips!

First, I don’t over wash my face, which can leave it feeling stripped. I start each morning with a splash of water and then layer on hydrating products. I love adding a hydrating essence to my damp skin before applying serums and moisturizers. I’ve also been really into facial oils this winter. I add a drop or two on top of my moisturizer to seal it in. The last step in my morning routine is sunscreen. It not only protects your skin from sun damage, but also environmental elements and pollution.

In the evening I take off my makeup with an oil cleanser. This also helps to soften my skin. Next I use a hydrating gel cleanser to clean my skin. A hyaluronic acid serum before my moisturizer helps to lock in moisture. Again, I use a facial oil on top of my moisturizer. And finish it all off with a sleeping mask.

A few other items I always keep on my bedside table are lip balm, hand cream, and cuticle oil. These are the last things I use before I go to sleep to keep my lips and hands from drying out overnight.

I hope this helps you with your winter skin care routine. Let me know in the comments if you try any of these winter skin care tips!

Find more great beauty tips here!

Now that we’ve covered using a low pH cleanser in your routine, I wanted to talk about double cleansing. Specifically, oil cleansing before you use your low pH cleanser. I always start my night routine with an oil cleanse to remove every speck of makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and pollution. I love how luxurious cleansing oils feel and how they emulsify with water and rinse away clean. I tend to prefer cleansing balms for the fact that they are easier to work with. There are some great cleansing oils out there but I don’t love how messy they can be, therefore I stick with balms.

Using an oil cleanser to remove your makeup before washing your face can have some amazing effects. I put the oil straight into my face, no water added, and massage it around. Not only does it totally melt off my makeup, I can actually feel it drawing dirt out of my pores. In fact, cleansing oils even help dislodge stubborn blackheads. Additionally, they provide moisturizing benefits.

My all time favorite oil cleansing balm is Banila Clean It Zero. It’s great for even sensitive skin, well priced, and the texture is perfect. I love the way it melts my makeup off. It also has a very light, non-irritating scent. The only thing I’m not sure about is how clean it is. I couldn’t find it ranked on any of the sites that compile that type of information.

Next I decided to try the Elemis Pro Collagen cleansing balm. This cleansing balm has a cult following so of course I had to get a mini to try out. This balm has a stronger scent, kind of spa like. It works well but maybe not as well as the Banila Clean It Zero. It’s also not clean so I probably won’t repurchase.

Next up is the Beautycounter cleansing balm. This balm is definitely clean, and it works as far as taking off makeup. But, I didn’t like the texture. It got kind of gritty and chunky after a while. It’s also pretty pricey.

Lastly, I tried the Versed cleansing balm available at Target. It’s clean, and the price is right! The travel size is only $7. But it has a very strong eucalyptus scent. I got used to it after a while but I feel like it could be irritating for some.

For now, I think I’ll stick with the Banila Clean It Zero. Although it is mineral oil based, it ranks very well on COSDNA as far as having low irritants. What do you think? Will you try oil cleansing?

One of the skincare topics I get asked about the most is what to do for acne and breakouts. Truthfully – I have a diligent skincare routine that keeps my skin acidic at a low pH to prevent acne and breakouts. But, there is the odd occasion that I will get a breakout and these are the steps I follow.

STEP 1: REMOVE MAKEUP

Because I have lash extensions I need to use something oil free to remove any eye makeup I wore during the day. I like these Clean and Clear Oil Free cloths to remove eye makeup while being careful around my extensions.

STEP 2: OIL OR BALM CLEANSER

This is the first step of my double cleanse. The purpose of this step is to remove makeup and sunscreen before cleansing my face. I put the oil directly onto my dry face and massage for about a minute to loosen up pore-clogging debris. Sometimes you can actually feel debris coming to the surface and falling out of your pores! For breakouts I like using the Banila Clean It Zero Purity oil balm.

STEP 3: GENTLE, LOW PH CLEANSER

A cleanser with a pH over 6 can strip your moisture barrier and invite breakouts so I always go for a gentle, low pH cleanser. My holy grail cleanser is Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. It feels so soft and gentle on my face and leaves my skin feeling supple!

STEP 4: ACID TONER

After rinsing I use an acid toner applied with a cotton round. This helps to prep my face for acids and pH dependent products. This also helps to keep my skin acidic and prevent breakouts. Currently using Pixi Glow Tonic – it’s a glycolic acid toner which makes it an AHA. Safe for pregnancy!

STEP 5: ALPHA HYDROXY ACID

An AHA serum is perfect for getting rid of anything happening on the surface of the skin (i.e. blemishes and closed comedones). This smooths away the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal even, glowing skin. I’ve been using Mizon 8% AHA peeling serum for years and it’s also pregnancy safe. Wait 20 minutes after you apply so it doesn’t interfere with other products.

STEP 6: EYE CREAM

Eye cream definitely isn’t necessary for preventing or solving breakouts, but I use on every night and this is the step I would apply it. Lately I’ve been using this Drunk Elephant Firming Eye Serum to keep my eye area hydrated. It really helps to soften any lines!

STEP 7: MOISTURIZING CREAM

I seal it all in with a moisturizing cream. For acne and breakouts, and any time really, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Cream. It has a bit of AHA in it for a little extra exfoliation over night. I wake up with smooth, hydrated, glowing skin!

STEP 8: BENZOYL PEROXIDE CREAM

I would do all of the steps above for one night and see how your skin is looking in the morning. If you still have a blemish that is not going away, the next night I would apply a Benzoyl Peroxide cream to the blemish. (BP is not safe for pregnancy since it is a Beta Hydroxy Acid.) My tried and true BP cream is the Clearasil Rapid Rescue Spot Treatment. It shrinks blemishes within four hours!

STEP 9: LANCE BLEMISH AND COVER WITH HYDROCOLLOID

If you STILL wake up the next morning with a painful blemish, this would be my last resort step. This is for those times you have a deep, painful cyst that will not go away. First, get a blemish kit like this one. You want to use the tool with a pointy end and disinfect it really good with alcohol. Lance the blemish by gently poking a hole in the top of the pore. Be careful not to damage any more of the skin than you have to! Slap on a hydrocolloid bandage over it and it will suck the pus and bacteria out overnight, Gross, I know. But you will have relief in the morning and then you can start to heal.

Hopefully these steps will help you overcome your breakouts and keep you from picking at them at the very least! If you are still struggling with acne and breakouts there may be a hormonal or bacterial reason underlying. In that case I recommend trying out Curology. I know so many people who have had amazing results using Curology’s services!