Ok. It’s secret day. First secret: I buy the majority of my skin care products from the drug store. I don’t use big name, expensive brands. Second secret: I’m a little crazy with skin care. There is nothing I hate more than dry skin, and the older I get, the dryer my skin gets. It’s like the ‘be careful what you wish for’ thing- when I was younger my skin was a bit oily and I longed for it to dry out. Well, I got what I wished for.
I believe I have separate lotions for every part of me. I don’t go anywhere without hand cream. My life is a constant battle to not have my skin crack off. So I use a product on my face known as serum. It goes on before moisturizer, and adds an extra level of protection. I’ve been buying No. 7 for a few months now, so I recently went to replace it. Unfortunately, I did not remember which particular formula I had bought, so I began reading the packaging for the four different serums that they manufacture. While I was comparing and contrasting, a young (very) salesperson came over to me. She was asking me what problem I was trying to overcome. Here’s the third secret: I don’t like being helped in a store unless I ask. I am perfectly capable of figuring things out on my own. So I was a bit ornery when I responded “Well, you tell me. You see my skin. Which serum should I be using? Am I spots, wrinkles, fine lines or industrial strength?” She looked at my face and then she replied, “Well, actually, your skin looks great. Seriously, it’s in really good condition. Which one do you use now? How long have you been using it? You could be the commercial as to why you use it, because your skin looks great.”
So what’s the point? Was this just a big ploy to tell you how great my skin is? No. And yes.
Take care of yourself. This doesn’t mean spending a lot of money. It doesn’t mean being a slave to advertising. But it does mean washing yourself properly and using products that will keep your skin healthy. Just take what you have and be the best you that you can be.
Sorry, you can’t reverse time. You can’t become younger. You can’t make wrinkles go away, or reverse damage, or any of the things that skincare claims. No one is ever going to tell me I look 44 because I use a serum. But you can do your best to maintain what you do have.
Take care of your mind. Take care of your body. Take care of your skin. These are the things you have. Work with what you have and treat them kindly. There is no miracle cure once things go south. Maintain what you have. It is not vain to take care of yourself. You matter. Treat yourself like you do.
I have received absolutely no compensation for talking about No. 7. It was just a detail to my post.
Always nice to find a product that works well for you… clearly this one does 😉
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Anything that makes you feel better!!
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I use drugstore products to. My sil is trying to sell me some over the top experience brand she swears by and she sells as a consultant on the side but I’m not interested. Or, I can’t be bothered. My stuff works fine.
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I don’t understand some of these really expensive creams. I read about one that costs over 400. Can you imagine?
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Wonderful advice, thank you for sharing! 🙂
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😉
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I understand your frustration. I have been known to stand in front of the drugstore products reading the ingredients. If my little pug were nearby, he would be eyeing me with half closed eyes as if to say, “So what else is new?’ recognizing my obsession.
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Right?
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Great reminder LA because really, we forget sometimes about our own selves. We do matter. And now I’m off to get your number 7! 🙂
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We do forget about taking care of ourselves, and we need to stop doing that
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Exactly! Onward and upwards! xo
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😀😀😀
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Um, my skincare routine makes yours look obsessive. Seriously, I don’t even moisturize as much as you. I have always been pretty good about protecting it from the sun, but that’s about it. And I refuse to “fight” wrinkles because I hate losing battles. Besides, as a recovering addict, I’m lucky I’m still alive; so I’ve earned the signs of aging LOL
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There’s no such thing as fighting wrinkles. They win every time…
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That’s a nice tip. And it was a smart move to ask the salesgirl what she thought you should use. A little compliment is something we all enjoy, isn’t it.
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It certainly is!
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“My life is a constant battle to not have my skin crack off.” You crack me up! I’m a drug store beauty queen too.
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If I miss a day of moisturizer it seriously crackles….
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I am a devotee of a product line that I used to be able to find at Target and CVS but I know the whole line is at Whole Foods for the same price so I just go there. Serum, moisturizer, eye serum, eye cream, night cream and body lotion! You and I may be on the same lines, but with my fair Irish skin I need all the help I can get! Not vain just taking care of the largest organ in the body.
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Not vain at all!! We need to take care of ourselves!!
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Amen! I just started using No. 7 about a week ago. I’m not quite sure what I think of it yet. I expected my skin to feel more replenished by now.
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I’m using the lift and laminate serum and I use the aveeno leave on day mask lotion afterwards. So far so good
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Reblogged this on Now Have At It!.
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Absolutely love the message of this post! (and as an aside, it’s reminded me to go moisturise today!)
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Thanks !!
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So true!! Self caring really should be THE priority!!
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😀😀😁
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Thanks for the reminder to take care of ourselves! Because you’re right, this is the body that we’re stuck with, so why in the world wouldn’t we want to treat it properly?
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Exactly!
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I hate dry skin too! I always have hand cream with me. I’m still looking for the perfect moisturizing face cream.
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I know. Am having luck with L’Oréal night cream and aveeno day lotion. But I also use serum and a retinol type thing
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I buy whatever is cheap when I need it 🤣
You are right, we should look after ourselves, because if we don’t look after ourselves we won’t be in any fit state to look after the ones we love.
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Right!!
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I admire anyone who takes great care of her skin. I have tons of lotions, but detest the feeling of it on my body, so it’s been a rough winter in more ways than one.
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I moisturize a lot, and my hands are still always dry! Drives me crazy
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I’ve been reading a lot about self care lately. Thanks for making me think.
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😉❤️
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You do indeed. As do others. Helping others is what life is all about. Caring about them means you care about you. 🙂
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Thanks!
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