a bit of beauty: how to get perfect, glow-y skin (part i)

Dear ABC/Kim,

Your face always looks flawless in pictures, and I was beside myself when you gave a quick rundown of your skincare favorites a few posts back. I was wondering if you could write a more in-depth article of what you do! That is, if you’re willing to share your secrets!

Madison

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This is my #nofilter, #shamelessselfie. iPhones do some magical thing where you tend to look better than you really do, but this is a pretty accurate depiction of my skin at the moment. The only makeup I’m wearing is mascara and a shimmer-y shadow in the inner corners of my eyes.

I love skin – it’s beautiful, sensual, alive. Winter skin. Tanned skin. Bare skin. Skin on skin. I adore the transparency of it all, by which I mean that skin is a direct reflection of everything you are: what you eat, what you do, how you feel, how you treat yourself on a daily basis. It’s quite the holistic (if not completely romantic) perspective fors something as simple as skin, but it is with this philosophy that I believe in the beauty of leaving in the nude as is.

Skincare is paramount.

I didn’t always think that way, though. Prior to landing a job at Mario Badescu Skin Care, skin was just something that was there. Only when the occasional blemish popped up did I suddenly devote attention to it, but even then, it was the wrong kind. I washed my face twice a day, skipped moisturizer, and didn’t exfoliate enough. I was young and naïve, but ignorance is no excuse for gross negligence!

Three years later, I still have the same laidback attitude towards skincare. The difference is that I approach it with a greater understanding of what skin needs, and when skin needs what. I’m a minimalist when it comes to beauty. Less will always be more. Simplicity in the number of products used (and number of ingredients present in products) is key.

The first step to developing a proper skincare regimen is simple: know your skin type. All the recommendations in the world won’t mean a thing if they aren’t tailored to your lifestyle and your skin’s needs. My skincare routine is designed to suit my combination/oily complexion. I’m not particularly prone to breakouts, nor am I excessively greasy (I’m never opposed to a bit of natural shine, though I do keep it in check); my main concern is maintaining balance and ensuring my skin looks – and is – healthy, and strive for a clear, radiant complexion year-round.

Finding what works for you takes time and a fair amount of dedication, but once you do, stick with what you know and follow it religiously. The end result is always worth it; you are, after all, your best investment! Even if I’m exhausted and stumbling through the door (out of exhaustion from dancing, loves, I always play Sober Sally!) at 2 a.m., I always wash my face, give it a quick scrub, and moisturize. Always. I’ll do the same even for spontaneous sleepovers. Dedication, ladies and gents! Good habits are hard to break once you work through the initial stages of forcing yourself to remember to go through all the steps.

If I wasn’t always on the go (or on a student budget), I’d schedule facials twice a year. I’ve only had one in my entire 21 years of existence and it was fantastic. At the risk of sounding like a plug for my employer, I highly recommend going to the Mario Badescu Skin Care Salon in Manhattan. It’s straightforward and relatively affordable – I had the best skin of my life for the next month.

Morning Routine

I start with good ol’ Cetaphil Facial Cleanser – it’s gentle, non-irritating, and does all it purports to do – and follow with Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion. After patting my face dry with a clean towel, I massage 3-4 drops of the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum into my skin, over which I apply an even layer of Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15. I always bring my serum and moisturizer down to my neck and décolletage; those are areas that are dead giveaways of your age. (Yes, I’m “only 21,” but prevention starts somewhere.) Then, using the ring fingers, I lightly dab Origins GinZing Eye Cream along the orbital bone. Any excess is used in the inner corner of the eyes and down the center of the nose for a brightening effect.

Evening Regimen

I’m not picky about what I remove my makeup with, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo always works well for me. Two to three times a week I’ll substitute my Cetaphil Cleanser with Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser: believe me when I say it’s a game-changer. I love Alpha Hydroxy Acids – especially Glycolic Acid – as they do wonders for the skin. (I’ll leave it at that; I won’t nerd out AHAs here.) At the moment I’m contemplating investing in a Clarisonic Mia to up my skincare game (I’d use it to enhance my nightly cleanse) but until that happens, I’m using a textured face cloth with my cleanser for a kick of exfoliation.

I use a serum under my moisturizer every other night. Depending on what I have on hand, it’s either the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum or Bio-Oil (both of which I looove!). Recently, however, I was able to get my paws on sample of Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil; I’ve only used it twice so far, but this could be another serum to add to my repertoire! I don’t have a preference for any one over the other; the Mario Badescu and Tarte are packed with Vitamin C for incredible antioxidant and brightening properties that leave the skin radiant, and the Bio-Oil is fantastic for nourishing the skin for a softer, more even-toned complexion.

My lifestyle doesn’t offer much time for masks, but on the off chance that I’m home and not always running out the door, I’ll try something new here and there. What I do try to do once a month, though, is give myself a good steam using a facial sauna, followed by a pore strip to get rid of blackheads. I don’t care what anyone says: they’re satisfying, and they work!

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Look out for Part 2 on my makeup routine for perfect, glow-y skin, coming toute-suite!

xx