My Nightly Skin Routine (using more natural products)

A few months ago, I did whatever any wise millennial mother would do: I asked Instagram to tell me which skin products would help my suddenly aging skin. (What I was seeing was the postpartum usual, but it wasn’t going away: dark under eyes, hyper pigmentation, sagging, grayish skin tone, large pores, and of course additional wrinkles.)

While I know that wrinkles are going to stay around unless I want to do more drastic measures (I don’t), I at least wanted better skin tone, evenness, and brightening.

I received SO many helpful suggestions.  I can’t try many of them due to ingredients that are not safe until after nursing (but I did purchase a kit from my Rodan and Fields buddy that I will be trying one my baby is weaned in a few months–I’ll share my honest reviews when it’s time!).  However, I did find several products I can use now, including one product line in particular that IS safe to use while pregnant and nursing.  

It’s Beautycounter! They are a company devoted to having safer products in makeup and skincare.  While the U.S.’s FDA only prohibits 30 ingredients from beauty products, the Europeon Union prohibits 1,400; but Beautycounter has 1,500 on their “Never List,” AND a commitment to 100% transparency about their ingredients.

This post isn’t a sales pitch for Beautycounter, although after using them for 4+ months I’ve signed on as an affiliate BECAUSE of how happy I am with my results.  

This really is a post that people requested to share what I discovered was helpful after the many suggestions I received. Below, I’ll share all the products I love, whether they’re Beautycounter or not.

Here, I’ve included a video that shows HOW I use these products, then a list of the products I use in order, and WHY I love them.  All Amazon and Beautycounter links are affiliate (I believe in transparency, too:), but again–this isn’t a sales pitch.  You can buy them through my links if you want to or not!  I stand behind them, regardless.

1. Nature Republic Natural Cleansing Oil: I credit this product for ridding my skin of adult acne.  As a naturally oily individual, I had been taught growing up to avoid putting it on my skin.  But washing with this oil has changed my skin!  It acts as a makeup remover and a cleanser, although I do a “double wash” of also using a water soluble face wash afterward.
2. ELUME Makeup Remover Microfiber Cloths: they are so soft (although the latest shipments haven’t been as thick).  I bought several packs of these and use one side the first night, the other side the second, then wash them. I used to HATE washing my face at night, and now I mostly love it because it feels like a spa treatment.  Get them piping hot and lay them against your face to wipe off the makeup and dirt.
3. Purity Face Wash: This gets the job done.  Use whatever water-soluble facial cleanser you like!  I got this huge bottle on sale via a Nordstrom yearly and it’s lasted me a 1.5 years already.
4. Thayer’s Toner: Alcohol-free, witch hazel–what else could a gal ask for?  This is the toner I bring to my favorite things parties.  I’ve used both the unscented and rose petal scented.  Love them both.  I have VERY sensitive skin (psoriasis sufferer, right here) and this cleases, tones, clarifies, etc. WITHOUT stripping my skin.
5. BC Overnight Resurfacing Peel: If this product had a mouth, I’d kiss is. Imagine a gentler chemical peel that you know is safer for you?  This is it.  You only use it every other night and leave it on for ~5 minutes before you apply your other nightly moisturizers and serums. My face has NEVER been softer, my tone overall is much improved (see pics below), and my pores are not so huge.  I do think it’s helped with my hyper pigmentation.  I think only the super harsh stuff will really fix that for me, but in the meantime and for the long-term, this peel is the real deal especially because I know it’s safer for me.
6. Organic Castor Oil to grow lashes (and brows): This stuff REALLY works, without killing your eyes. I use it every other night!  Just a TINY bit put on the provided brush and applied as they instruct. Get ready for super long lashes without changing your eye color or killing your sensitive eyes.  I still use eye drops before using these (I use them nightly and morning, regardless) because my eyes are naturally dryer the older I get.
7. Peptide Complex Serum by Eva Naturals: This is a hyaluronic acid + that boosts collagens and helps wrinkles. In all the research I’ve done on wrinkles, hydration (+ vitamin C, which will follow) is key.  This serum helps so all the moisture you add that follows really sink into the skin.  I let it air dry before applying the rest of my moisturizers and serums.
8. BC’s Rejuvenating Radiance Serum: I use one pump of this at night and in the morning before my main moisturizers.  The site says it best: “This smoothing serum helps even the look of skin tone, improve hydration, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, thanks to a combination of jambu extract, vitamin C, mixed fruit acid complex, and algae and marine extracts.” Bam!  I see a difference, for sure.  Again, short of getting botox, fillers, and harsh chemical peels, this is a product I can use to help with those issues AND use it forever.  So even if I end up using harsher stuff eventually (like the Rodan and Fields kit I have waiting for me), I can follow up with this to help keep my results.
9. Rejuvenique Oil by Monat: This is my favorite Monat product.  It’s lightweight, full of all sorts of anti-again goodies, and non-toxic.  I use it on my scalp, hair, dry patches, psoriasis flares, baby cradle cap, burns, and more.  For my nightly routine, I use TWO DROP for around my eyes, on my darker spots, and dry patches. (If your scalp is plagued by psoriasis, this will work miracles for you.)
10. BC’s Rejuvenating Eye Cream: Similar to the Rejuvenating serum, but for the undereyes!  It’s thick and creamy, not greasy.
11. BC’s No. Brightening + Vitamin C Facial OIl: I’m in LOOOOOOVE with this oil.  Only 2-3 drops a night and you gently pat and roll it into the skin.  I’ve used it alongside the overnight peel for 4 months and I believe I have it to thank for my improvements.
12. Belif Aqua Bomb: This has more of a gel texture. I love it because it’s light enough to layer on top of my oils.  I’ve used it for about a 1.5 years (had 2-3 tubs of it), but once it runs out, I’m going to try this gel-like product from BC OR this thicker night cream.
13. Jade Scraping Stone: I know…. this is totally hippy.  But when Sherry from Young Youse Love posted that she uses a jade roller int he morning (this kit includes both a roller and a scraper), she shared a DM she got from a plastic surgeon’s daughter, who said her dad commented that if ladies used those his business would go down drastically. SOLD!  Honestly, it just feels good to use it, too!  
14. OTHER skin care products I use regularly: this charcoal mask from BC (I’ve tried other charcoal masks, and this one TAKES THE CAKE–TRULY!), followed by this cleansing balm used as a mask (it has multi-uses!), Aztec Clay Mask, sheet masks, homemade microneedling instrument (done once a week!), and zit patches.

Here’s my before-and-after pictures of using Beautycounter’s products as part of my nightly routine.  (I also ADORE their makeup!) Whenever I invest in something like this, I take pictures to see how the progress goes to ensure it’s worth it.  I’ll be sure to update you all on how Rodan and Fields goes (with 100% honesty) and take pictures along the way as well.

Lastly, I just want to mention that if you add alllll of these products up, I’m well aware that it comes at a hefty price.  

Almost all of these were purchased one-by-one for me and gradually added in to my routine.  I did start a few of the Beautycounter things at the same time, but even there I didn’t do all of the BC products above at once.

My advice: just start with getting products that serves what is of primary importance to you and add in products as your budget allows.

I know it’s a privledge to even have the option of worrying about my skin, but I will say that doing this (gradually) for myself has been something I’ve learned to regard as a form of self-care and personally worth spending my money on as I do my best to save in other areas.  

Thanks for being here–I hope this was helpful for you!