First, I start with Olay Refreshing Toner. Any mild astringent is never a bad thing in moderation and when followed by a moisturizer. Toner is important because clears out the pores, prevents breakouts, and gets rid of dead, dull skin cells. At times, I have washed my face thoroughly only to get *more* makeup off with toner afterwards -- and it's really shocking how easily this step is overlooked. I've found that my skin looks a lot better when I make toner a regular part of my routine, morning and/or night.
After waiting for the toner to fully dry, I apply a light coat of Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Age-Defying Sheer Moisturizer with SPF 15 to even out my skin tone. I used to use the older version of this, Cover Girl Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Coverage, in the summer a lot and always enjoyed it, but I didn't consider using it year-round until they came out with this improved version with Olay moisturizers. The most important part about using this, and any other SPF tinted or untinted moisturizer, is to use a mild toner underneath, especially if you have acne-prone skin. It makes all the difference.
Since the tinted moisturizer is so sheer, I like to use a light coverup for any remaining visible blemishes. Neutrogena SkinClearing Concealer Oil-Free is one of my all-time favorite products on the market. I've been through numerous tubes over the years, and despite branching out to try newer products, have always come back to this one. The sponge applicator makes it really easy to apply just the right amount, and it helps clear up blemishes. I often have a tube of this in my purse and another at home, just in case. I use medium or light depending on the season and my tan.
And that's the routine! You can follow with a sweep of black mascara to complete the look, but that's a discussion for a different day! You can order most of the products discussed here on drugstore.com -- an amazing website. Enjoy!
