I of all people know what it’s like to constantly struggle with finding the right products that are safe for my skin and effective. Growing up I suffered from acne and it took a toll on my self confidence. Once I started experimenting with different skincare and makeup products, however, I found that not all lotions, foundations, cleansers, etc. are created equal. This knowledge that I acquired over years and years of trial and error has helped me avoid some skin disasters and I’ve learned what my skin loves and very much hates. So here’s my list of my confident go to’s; the products that not only do not clog my pores and cause major breakouts but actually make my skin the best it can be. This list solely contains products that work for me, everyone’s skin is different and may have different reactions. In addition, I am not getting any money or free products for making these recommendations, I just want to help others in their search for the right skincare and beauty products!

Cleansers

I love, love, love the Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash. It’s a two in one cleanser and exfoliator but it’s super gentle on my sensitive skin. It’s made with rose hips, chamomile and passion flower and has a very soft scent. I seriously ran out of this stuff for a few weeks and during that time I used a small cleanser sample which made me break out a lot out my forehead and along my jaws and neck. I bought another Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash and after just a few days of using it again my face started clearing back up! This cleanser was originally recommended to me by a Sephora salesperson a couple of years ago and I’ve never looked back! I actually stock up now several at a time so I never run out again 🙂

BB Cream
I use Dr. Jart+ BB Beauty Balm. This stuff is great used separately when I just want some really light coverage or sometimes I use it under my foundation to reduce the appearance of my pores and redness. The only problem I ever face with it is that it comes in one shade and it’s a little too light for my skin (I have light to medium skin with warm undertones.) So if I decide to use it by itself I like to apply some bronzer and blush so I don’t look completely washed out.

Foundation
I adjust my foundation according to the season. I think this is really important especially if you live in a volatile climate like I do in Ohio. Our summers here can get extremely humid and our winters brutally cold. Therefore, I always have to adapt my skincare and makeup routine to the weather because my skin can be very oily or very dry or just a hot mess! During the summer when my skin tends to be a little more oily, especially in the t-zone area, I love using Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Foundation. It provides medium coverage with a nice matte finish. The clay helps keep my oily skin at bay without drying it out during the summer and lasts almost all day even after swimming, in the ocean, and horseback riding (believe me I put it to the test last summer!).

Even though I love this foundation in the spring and summer, I need something a little more moisturizing for our harsh Ohio winter’s as my skin can get really dry. I’ve been on the hunt for a good lightweight foundation and I think I found it in the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15.

Now I’ve only used a sample size of it thus far so I can’t say exactly how my skin will react to it after several weeks use but I plan on buying a full size very soon and will provide my honest feedback. However, just the week that I milked the sample size the foundation looked incredible, very flawless finish and felt very light,smooth, and moisturized.

Update: So it’s been a few months since I originally posted this so I wanted to give an update on what I think of the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation! I actually really love it! I have been using this foundation religiously and haven’t really used the Tarte foundation this winter. I think the Bobbi Brown foundation is exactly what I needed for my winter skin, which is much drier and flakier (especially after the brutal winter that we had!). I expect to be moving back to using Tarte again during the summer months when I need something to keep the oil at bay. But in the meantime this foundation works wonders in providing good coverage, not too light and definitely not too heavy on my face, and does not cause me to breakout! I would definitely recommend this foundation for those looking to get a lighter foundation that has more of a dewy finish.

Body Lotion
I’ve tried so many body lotions but honestly my life changed when I started using virgin coconut oil. It takes a little bit getting used to using an oil vs. a lotion but it is so incredibly moisturizing and natural that my skin just drinks it up. Not only does it smell great but it gives a nice glow to my body that’s hard to achieve with a lotion. But the most beneficial part of using coconut oil is its healing properties. You can read more about the beauty benefits of using coconut oil for your skin here: www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/oils/coconut-oil-for-skin.html. Coconut oil not only hydrates my skin but it also has helped improve the appearance of my skin. It helped clear up the little annoying bumps on the back of my arms (Keratosis Pilaris) and helps prevent and heal up any razor burns or bumps on my bikini line and legs.