Thursday, June 8, 2017

[Updated] Simone's Summer Skin Care Favorites (w/video)

Ismail oubarka | 6:43 AM

I'm back with another Instagram Beauty Routine reveal. This one's special because it's more of an update. You may remember when I once featured Simone a.ka. @cocoaflowerr's favorite skin products.

I'm pretty sure the girl is inundated with comments and requests to share the items responsible for her amazing skin. Luckily for us, she's pretty accommodating. Just recently, she posted a few snaps with her current line up. The first thing I noticed is that a lot has changed since her last reveal. Perhaps she's switched up her routine to stay flawless for summer?

Let's check out these quick vids as Simone pays homage to the products her skin loves.

I wasn't at all surprised to learn that her favorite cleanser contains activated charcoal. It makes perfect sense because, as we all know, charcoal has phenomenal deep cleansing properties. I already have a cleanser that I love so instead of picking up a new one, I laced it with a sprinkling of activated charcoal. I noticed a difference. You can read about my entire process here. But if you want a more convenient option, you can try out Milk's Charcoal Cleanser or Biore's budget friendly option.

Next up she rehydrates using Mario Badescu's rose water toner. I've been meaning to grab a bottle of this rose-scented facial mist but since I've been on a DIY kick lately, I've been experimenting with making my own rose water at home. More on that in a follow-up post.

Next up is her favorite serum. This is a oil based serum loaded with a bunch of natural extracts and vitamin E. The product description encourages us to "Glow up and Slay" with the help of the contents of this little black bottle. Slay is fortified with MSM and DMAE which claims to help promote smooth, balanced skin with a youthful glow. Simone seems to be happy with it. Just look at her glow.

No facial routine is complete without the help of a moisturizer (preferably one with SPF). Simone's current go-to is Olay's Complete. As we know, sun protection is a little-known ally in the war against skin discoloration. If you strive to achieve perfect skin, sunscreen is your very best friend.

Lastly, once all of her products are applied, Simone wraps up by applying a light makeup to finish her routine. She keeps her makeup routine fairly simple. Just a little highlighter from BECCA followed by Tarte's Light's Camera, Lashes, and she's done. She has no need for foundation because her skin is #goals.

A couple things I took away from Simone's regimen is that I need to start adding charcoal back to my daily routine again. Also, I don't really use a hard-working serum that perfects my skin with each application. I need to get working on that ASAP. I want to include a disclaimer that Simone also eats pretty healthy. If you recall, she starts her day with a cup of antioxidant-rich green tea and she tries to eat pretty clean, for the most part. Like all of us, she indulges, but it's obvious that Simone enjoys eating naturally healthy foods.

In the first video, she mentions the reveal would include her favorite skin & hair products. I captured pics of her current hair care routine. I'll share that in part 2.