Fall Skincare || My Organic, Affordable Skincare Routine
I used to have horribly dry skin. Growing up in Colorado, I remember being embarrassed to go to school because of how dry my face would get after my morning skincare routine. Of course, my skin has mellowed out since my teenage years, but every year when the weather cools I notice a predictable change in my skin that always brings me back to those memories and anxiety around my skin. The tightness after washing, the tendency to peel if I don’t moisturize enough.
Although I’m not prone to break outs or imbalanced skin like I used to be, I’ve had to do a lot of experimenting to find a routine that works for me.
Here are a few “musts” for me as I hunted down products that would be effective but fit realistically into my day to day routine:
— It had to be affordable. Spending a ton of money on skincare has never been a priority for me. As much as I love trying new products, they have to be within my limited budget.
— I had to be able to finish my entire “routine” (makeup and all) in 5-ish minutes. I’m a minimalist at heart, especially when it comes to makeup and skincare. When it comes to washing/moisturizing/prepping my face, I only wanted 2-3 products at most.
— The products had to multitask.
— They had to be ethically sourced and made with real ingredients. It goes without saying that what I put in and on my body is important to me. I care more now than ever about where the products I use are made and how they’re going to affect my hormones/cycle/health overall.
Steep qualifications? Not once you know where to look!
I’m excited to share a few products I’ve used for months if not years and would heartily recommend to anyone looking for a very easily accessible, ethical, natural skincare routine (especially for dry skin!).
Morning:
Wash: I wash my face every morning with my Zambeezi Lemongrass Soap Bar. It’s made with fair trade certified ingredients and packed with nutrients for my skin like sunflower oil, turmeric, and beeswax. When my skin was at it’s worst, never in 100 years did I imagine that washing my face with a bar of soap would suffice, but this bar is incredibly hydrating and feels so good on my skin. Not to mention it’s only $6.
Face Oil: From there, I use a face oil to both remove make up that may be left over from the day before (oops) and to add a quick layer of moisture before anything else goes on. I don’t have one particular oil that I love (I’ve tried lots), but I really like using Primally Pure, anything with jasmine oil, or making my own face oil with avocado oil, lavender, ylang ylang, and whatever other oils I have on hand.
Cream: This is the only real “skincare-y” product that I use on a consistent basis and I swear by it. Babor’s Moisture Glow Cream leaves your skin with an incredible glow that I sometimes use in place of foundation or concealer on a good skin day. It feels like a spa treatment every time I put it on. You can get 20% off with the code SIMPLYLIV-20.
Lips: My lips, more than anything else on my face, are prone to extra-dryness. I’ve been using Zambeezi’s Beeswax Lipbalm for six months and my lips have never been happier. I have a set at the coffee shop and at home and it’s always the first thing I reach for when I need a quick “boost” regardless of if I’m wearing makeup or not and I love how genuinely hydrating and healthy their products are. Again, like their soap bar, my favorite scent is the Lemongrass.
Night:
You guessed it - I do exactly the same thing (remember that bit about multitasking? No “night only” products here). I few times a week I use a face-mask to keep my skin extra glowy and happy (my current favorite is also from Babor). None of these products are too heavy to leave on overnight and I love going to bed feeling like my skin is soaking up all of the incredible nutrients while I sleep.
As silly as it might sound, finding a skin care routine that works for you is one of those rite of passage moments into adulthood. It’s a ritual you can do in minutes, a quick form of rest that you can look forward to each day. I truly savor each and every one of these products and look forward to using them every time.
Have you found a “cold weather” routine that fits your lifestyle? Tell me about it below!
*This post is part of a longterm collaboration with Zambeezi. All opinions, creative direction, and images are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this world a better place.*
