Back-to-Basics Skin Care Tips.

press sample, bought by me, affiliate links

I have been putting my skin through the ringer lately — peels, new skin care products, lasers and just about everything in between. All of a sudden it has become overly sensitive, dry and looks older than normal. Does that ever happen to you? Whether you overdo it out in the elements or get a bit too abrasive with a beauty product, sometimes it's best to go back-to-basics and dial it back. That is exactly what I am doing. I am going back-to-basics with my skin care regimen for the next month to get my skin back in prime condition.

When going back-to-basics with your skin care routine, it is best to keep it as simple as possible. You still want to cleanse, treat and hydrate, but you want to cut out extra exfoliation and extra treatment products. For me, that means cutting way back as far as serums, peels and exfoliating beyond using my Clarisonic. I am also going to keep it basic as far as my hydrating products go and strictly use the products that I know work for me. 

Here are the products that I am going to be using for the next month to get my skin back to normal.

AM Skin Care Routine

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser with my Clarisonic and the Revitalizing Cleanser Brush Head - I've used this cleanser for years. I recently started using a few different cleansers and one of them was an exfoliating cleanser that I really loved, but I think it was too abrasive for every day. Knowing that Purity Made Simple gets the job done and is gentle, makes it a perfect choice for everyday cleansing. 

Murad Hydrating Toner - I like that this toner is hydrating; it replaces lost moisture back into the skin after cleansing. I've also used this for years and it is gentle enough without being irritating. 

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum - Okay. This is a serum. BUT, I have used it for years. This serum has never aggravated my skin and I believe that it does so much good that I'm not going to stop using it. It is a strong antioxidant (with 15% Vitamin C) that I feel my skin depends on it for daytime protection.

IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream - This is new and not so basic, but I (a) cannot ignore my eye area and (b) my eye area is not irritated so I am going to continue to treat it. As I have used IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream and seriously love it, I did not think this would bother me. It hasn't whatsoever. I have only used it for a few days as of this writing and I will be posting a full review very soon. Quickly, though, this anti-aging eye cream brightens, repairs and transforms the eye area with a cocktail of ingredients developed with plastic surgeons and dermatologists. I am loving it already.

Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15 - The moisturizers that I usually use are chock full of anti-aging ingredients. Because I am staying away from any potential irritants at the moment, I chose this moisturizer that is free of harsh chemicals or irritants that can upset the skin. It does contain multi-vitamins and a good amount of hydration to leave my skin soft and smooth. It also has SPF 15 which is essential. 

PM Skin Care Routine

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes - I am not giving up my double-cleanse; what I am giving up are the irritating cleanser(s). I start my nighttime facial cleansing routine with facial wipes. The simple cleansing facial wipes are gentle and effective; they do a great job at removing makeup and getting my skin clean. If need be, I take a q-tip and a bit of Simple Micellar Cleansing Water to remove eyeliner from my lash liner. I wear eyelash extensions and need to stay away from oil based removers, so micellar water is the best choice. 

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser with my Clarisonic and the Revitalizing Cleanser Brush Head - I repeat my morning routine again in the evening to finish my double cleanser routine. The only difference is that I follow my cleanse with the Clarisonic Firming Massage Head of the Smart Profile Uplift. See my review of this innovative new beauty tool here. 

IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream - I just cannot go without eye cream; see above for my explanation.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream - Now you are probably thinking that this sounds like an anti-aging cream and it just might be irritating. Well, it is a powerful anti-aging cream and it is made with accelerated retinol SA which can be irritating. Even though I am dialing it back, I am not going to let my skin continue to get older as time goes on; I do what I can to halt the clock. What is different about this Rapid Wrinkle Repair product is that not only contains the scientifically proven form of Vitamin A to continuously renew the look of skin (in just one week), this formula contains hyaluronic acid too. Hyaluronic acid helps to not only immediately plump up lines, but it also helps lock in and retains moisture in the skin. Overall this new cream, it is much less irritating than other products in the lineup. 

What skin care products do you use in your basic skin care routine?

Please note, that you will still see skin care features and reviews coming up over the next month. I have been hard at work testing a lot of skin care products over the last few months (probably too many at once) and have posts sitting in draft waiting to be finished and posted. 

A press sample of the products featured have been provided for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links have been used in the post. Please see disclosure policy for complete information.