Hello sweet friends!

It’s been a loooong time since I’ve posted, but I re-vamped my website and decided to post a quick little post. So… here are 4 products that you need in your life, no matter your skin type.

SPF SPF SPF SPF

If there’s one product that you always need to have in your skincare cabinet, it’s sunscreen. I don’t care if it’s not “sunny” where you live, you still need to wear it. Your skin will age so much more gracefully and trust me you will thank yourself!! My favorite sunscreen is the Elta MD UV Clear for acneic skin and UV Elements for normal to dry skin. Skincare prevents sun damage and in turn prevents fine lines and wrinkles and pigmentation. Use it every morning as your last step in your routine - it’s an absolute must.

ANTIOXIDANTS

The second product you need in your life is an antioxidant. Vitamin C is a common antioxidant and it’s a personal favorite, you can find it anywhere. There are a couple of products that I’ll link that I’ve personally tried and love. Antioxidants are essential for maintaining a healthy complexion - if you want an even skin tone, you need an antioxidant. They act as lightening and brightening agents so if you have pigmentation or dark spots, this will be a lifesaver! Antioxidants will also protect your skin from pollution and the other harsh environmental factors we experience. I love Skinceuticals Phloretin CF and C E Ferulic. They are a little pricey, so a cheaper option would be the Paula’s Choice Super Booster serum and the Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Serum. Use your antioxidant product in the morning after you cleanse!

HYDROXY ACIDS & ENZYMES

Hydroxy acids are the next product that you need in your life. If you have acneic skin, aging skin, sensitive skin, dry skin, a chemical exfoliant can help you. There are different types of AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) and Salicylic Acid which is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid). Some examples of AHA are glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acid. Those three acids will be beneficial for your dry and aging skin types, and for anyone that wants a more clear and even complexion. Salicylic Acid is for acne- and it works WONDERS. My favorite BHA serum/solution of all time is the Paula’s Choice BHA 2% Solution. It works wonders for acneinc and congested skin, but also for aging skin as well. It evens your complexion, reduces breakouts, and dislodges the gunk that’s in your pores. You need this in your regimen! Use it at night after you cleanse as a toner or serum.

RETINOL

Retinol is the last product I want to talk about and it’s one of the most important. If you start using retinol at a young age, you will be so happy with your skin when you are older. The ingredient in retinol vitamin a- a power vitamin that helps with acne, anti-aging, pigmentation, and overall complexion health. I recommend retinol to pretty much all of my clients because the results are so amazing and it’s such a versatile product. How retinol works is it speeds up your cell turnover rate, which essentially means it speeds up how fast your dead skin cells shed. Retinol sheds your skin (not in a crazy way) and reveals that fresh, new skin we want to see rather than the dead, pigmented, wrinkled skin we currently have. It’s truly an amazing product and I recommend it to everyone. Start young and you will be SO happy. Here are a couple I would recommend: SkinCeuticals 0.5 Retinol and SkinMedica 0.5 Retinol. There are different strengths to retinol, so start low and work your way up. We don’t want to irritate your skin and make things worse. And if you have sensitive skin, consider either a very low dose of retinol or trying an enzyme to exfoliate instead. You want to use your retinol at night after all your serums!

Okay y’all - that’s it. The four products everyone should have in their lives. I hope this was helpful in some way and makes you motivated to take good care of your skin! I know skincare is expensive, but trust me the investment is WORTH IT. Who doesn’t want beautiful, healthy skin?

Thanks so much for reading and let me know what else you want to read about from me!

xx, Sav

I don't know about you, but my skin FREAKS out when I'm transitioning from warmer to cooler weather. Especially living in Utah where the air is dry, my skin doesn't know what to do. I've tried and tested so many products, routines, etc. and I want to share with you just three tips that you can use to transition your skin into the fall weather. Say bye-bye to sunshine!

1. USE A THICKER MOISTURIZER

My skin is on the drier side, so naturally, I'm drawn to moisture. Even if you have oily skin, however, you should still hydrate during colder months. My recommendation would be to find a thick, ultra-moisturizing cream to use before you go to bed - one that won't clog pores (if you're acne-prone) and that has Hyaluronic Acid in it. We already have hyaluronic acid in our bodies, and when applied to the skin, it sucks in all the moisture and locks it in without aggravating your skin.

I recommend this moisturizer - I use it every night and I always feel like my skin is hydrated when I wake up. It's also non-comedogenic, which means it's proven to not clog pores.

This is another option for an even MORE moisturizing cream. It is recommended by many dermatologists and should do the trick if you have dry to very dry skin!

2. CUT BACK ON EXFOLIATING SCRUBS

I notice that when I exfoliate my skin too much during the colder months, my skin gets WAY too dry. The little beads in the face wash aggravate my skin and leave it feeling tight and stiff. I suggest exfoliating using a serum or a nighttime product that includes AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid). These two ingredients are exfoliants without the harsh beads in a scrub. They work to remove the dead skin cells while you sleep and give you the same results, if not better, than a facial scrub.

I enjoy this serum - it's pricey but it's very effective and has over 2,000 reviews! It contains both AHA and BHA exfoliants so you don't have to scrub your face as much as you might during the summer.

3. USE A SUNSCREEN

But... Didn't you say bye-bye to sunshine? Yes, but UV rays are still there when the sun isn't directly out and they're still damaging your skin. Even if it feels dumb or you don't think you need it, I encourage you to think again. Having sunscreen a part of your daily routine is a game changer! Your skin will be protected and, if you buy the right one, it can add moisture.

I use this facial sunscreen. It also has hyaluronic acid in it which adds extra moisture! I apply this before my moisturizer and let it soak in. It may seem like a silly step, but trust me. Your 50-year-old self will thank you.

If you found any of these tips helpful, please let me know! And if you have any questions at all, I would be happy to answer them. We're in this together, friends.