You'll notice I'm sticking to skin care products that I love. That's because these days my priority is more around keeping my skin clear and wrinkle-free.
It may be Spring but here in Georgia it is already starting to feel like the beginning of Summer. Which means shorts. Which then dredges up some old insecurities from my High School years when the boys called me 'Casper'.
Yep, I'm as fair-skinned as they come. So you can believe me when I say, I've tried just about every self tanner under the sun (pun intended).
// St. Tropez, hands down, is my #1. I'm not gonna even lie to you; it smells. Not nearly as bad as a lot of others, but E still refers to me as his 'biscuit' when he catches a whiff (biscuit as in the UK version...a cookie).
Hey, there are worse things to smell of than a biscuit right? And at least this biscuit is nice and golden.
Side note...I only use the St. Tropez when I'm going out somewhere nice or on holiday. My everyday self tanner is the lighter, more gradual, and much cheaper Jergens Natural Glow Mosturizer.
Why I like it :
- It doesn't streak.
- Easy to apply with their handy dandy 'oven mitt'.
- Less offensive odor than other brands.
- Golden biscuit color.
// Moving right along. To the toes! This might be TMI, but we're all friends here right? So something weird happened to my feet when I was pregnant and they were never the same again. They are just, well, dry. Really dry.
Aveda Foot Relief cream takes me from Hobbit-toes to Twinkle-toes. I like the hand cream too. It isn't cheap, but you get what you pay for here.
Why I like it :
- The pepperminty smell actual cools my feet too.
- It does what it says 'revitalizes and nourishes stressed feet'...my feet have a hard job ya know.
- It's not greasy and they both smell like a spa.
// Now for something that really does stink. Seriously, you can smell this stuff a mile away. The only thing worse than the smell of Tea Tree Oil is my sister's Patchouli oil. But for all that stink, it is a great line of defense against my Summertime nemesis; the mosquito.
In Georgia the mosquitos are of the abnormally large and angry variety. I was eaten alive during our first Summer here. Tea Tree Oil not only eases the itching and promotes healing, but it also repels the mosquitos...and your significant other. So maybe only use it when you're not feeling lovey dovey.
Why I like it :
- Unlike other bite creams it doesn't smear and crust off on everything.
- Triple duty : calm, heal and repel, I love a good multipurpose item.
- It's cheap and you can get it nearly anywhere.
// At the end of the day I'm pretty knackered from chasing Little Man around and all the other many tasks of the day. So tired, in fact, that I can't be bothered to do a proper face wash. Instead I whip out my little pack of Neutrogena face wipes before I nod off. Morning is when give my face a nice, big, proper scrub.
Why I like it :
- They get rid of all the crud, including mascara.
- Costco sells them in massively large packs.
// Last but certainly not least (and definitely not cheapest), is StriVectin SD Advanced Cream. One large (4.5 oz) bottle lasts me ages. I've yet to find anything better at making my skin look healthy. Not that my skin is 'unhealthy' but this stuff really does make the wrinkles seem to disappear (funny how they come back if I stop using it for a few months) and my complexion definitely appears smoother.
A great piece of skin care advice I heard long ago is that if you do nothing else, at least make sure you use the same skin care products on your neck and décolleté as you do on your face. StriVectin is great for all those areas. I use it on my hands as well.
Why I like it :
- It's the only anti-aging product I've known to live up to it's claims.
- Lightweight and good for everyday use.
- Lasts for quite a while.
I was given a sample of the StriVectin EV Brightening Serum as a 'gift' with purchase recently. I've only just started using it on my dark spots and the verdict is still out. I'll report back after the 2-8 weeks they recommend for results.
//
What are your favorite skin care products? Have you tried any of these?
PS - This is not a paid-for post. I just like this stuff!