Throwback Thursday: Winter Face Routine & Products Used

Hello, hello my pretties. :) It is one b-e-a-utiful day here in the AZ... Well, in my area at least. Nice cloudy weather with the sun snuggled away in said clouds, MY kinda day, for sure.

I bring you another throwback post, this was actually my first ever entry... How my blog started out. It was of my Winter Skincare routine and the products I used. Even though it has been a whole year, or more, the products have not changed much. But I will definitely to an update entry in the near future... I should get going on that considering how Spring is um, fast creeping up on us, March to be exact but y'all know how fast time seems to fly by.

Anyways, when I do get around to the updated routine, I will post it for y'all asap. Waaaaaaait for it guys! :P

Hi guys! So winter hasn't officially started yet, it will on December 21st, but it sure already feels like it. Here in Arizona, we have been in the 55°F as the high and 35°F as the low with an average humidity of about 25%. Arizona has relatively dry weather year round where temperature can reach a startling high 115°F. However, no matter how hot, cold, dry or humid the weather can get, one thing that stays the same year round is my oily skin. The T-Zone is my problem area, if not only area. I've been into make-up for quite a while now, and have been watching Youtube beauty gurus for years; I have tried all of their tips and a whole lot of products to try to control the oily situation, but nothing helps.

After switching and mixing up products, I think I have finally found what works for my skin during the winter, control the oil but also keep my skin moisturized. Below I will list the products I currently use.

1. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner
2. Olay Complete Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Oily Skin
3. Pixi Concealer in Brightening Peach
4. Sonia Kashuk Concealer Quad in Hidden Agenda
5. Cover Girl & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation
6. Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

Dickinson's Witch Hazel has a very unique scent; I gagged the first couple of times I used it, but I got used to it over time. I don't remember where or from whom I first heard of this product, but I know for a fact that it was Judy from Itsjudytime that convinced me I should give it a try. I was super amazed the first time I used it. I could not believe what came off from my face and my face was baby soft after using it. When I first started using it, I only used it once a day, but I progressed to using it twice now, once in the morning and once in the evening. To me, it does not matter whether I use the Witch Hazel then rinse my face or vice versa. Using it before I apply make up is essential, and after removing my make up as well. After using Witch Hazel, I find that I don't break out as much anymore. Needless to say, an amazing product.

I used to use Aveeno Radiant Daily Moisturizer; it was a great moisturizer but it made my face become a grease ball midday. Blotting paper was my best friend and it got very tiring. One day, I stumbled upon a video from emilynoel83, she raved about the Olay Moisturizer and how it had many types (i.e. Sensitive, Oil/Combo and Oily). She said she uses them herself so I thought why not. I went out to Target and purchased the one for Oily Skin. Let's just say, I've been through many bottles and I have recommended this to many, many people.

The Pixi line can only be found at Target but with their prices, they're the high end of the drug store. It was about $14 or $15 at my Target (91st Ave and Northern Rd.). If you have severe dark circles, you will not need much of this to brighten you up. If any of you are familiar with Benefit's Erase Paste, Pixi is kind of like that but less gooey. The salmon-y color instantly neutralizes your dark circles with just one or two dips of the finger. It is for sure build-able too if you need to use more. I also like how it does not look or feel dry or cakey; it definitely does not settle in the fine lines either. It also blends out beautifully.

The Sonia Kashuk line could also be found at Target. I use many of her products like the eye make-up remover and brush cleaner but in terms of concealer, hers is by far one of the best ones I've tried. The quad includes two concealer, one neutralizer and one translucent powder. Compared to Pixi, this concealer's consistency is a bit more gooey and less dense, but it also does not take much to get what you need. When I used this in the dry Arizona Summer, even on my oily skin, this concealer stayed put. Now that the weather has changed, this concealer still does the job without drying the areas I used it on.

Now for the foundation. I find that I can use any of my foundations in the Winter, even those I tend to shy away from during the the Summer. But while those might make me super oily during the Summer, it can also dry me out during the Winter. That's where the powder comes in. But a sure-fire foundation that never failed me is my Cover Girl & Olay 2-in-1 foundation. I usually put on my Olay moisturizer along with this too, I find that it works well together. Though it is not necessary because when I am in a hurry, I go without my moisturizer and use only the foundation and it holds up well. The blend-abilty is amazing; I can use my fingers, my stippling brush or a foundation brush, it all blends out the product evenly and doesn't streak. I would say this provides medium to full coverage. I have redness and uneven skin tones and this gives me a medium coverage with just one pump, definitely build-able too. This foundation does have a scent, stronger than most foundations. I don't mind it personally, I actually kind of like it.

Moving on to the powder, probably the second if not most important role for the Winter routine. I haven't exactly found the IT product, but from switching and mixing, I have cast aside what not to wear during the Winter. What I have been using lately is my Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder. Like the name insists, it's barely there, very light weight however provides just the right amount of coverage. It does not make my face cakey and it keeps my face shine free for most of the day.

Like I said before, regardless the weather, my skin is still oily. Cold weather is especially a pain because I need good coverage all while trying not to dry out my skin and trying to keep shine free. These products might work for me but not for you because every skin type varies and everyone is different. These are great products, give it a try even if you're not using them for the same reasons I am.

Thank you for joining me for my first blog post. Please join me for future posts. Have a beautiful almost-Winter day!

I cannot believe it has been more than a year since this post... It is almost a dream-like, to look back and basically see what started everything. Reading though it, I realized I have come quite a way, but I definitely have another, very long way to travel. With that said, thank you for sticking by me all this time. I truly, really appreciate it. Hope y'all enjoyed this lacking, throwback post.

Thank you for visiting and thanks for reading. You all go on and enjoy the rest of your night now. Come back soon! :)