It’s truly an amazing time to be a woman! There are girl bosses everywhere, young women breaking molds, and moms creating flexible schedules to make the most of work and family time. Even during COVID-19, women have been rising to the occasion rather than being held back by new challenges. For modern women, beauty shortcuts can be a mental-health-boosting lifesaver.
Here are my five favorite mixed use beauty products that double as beauty shortcuts and will keep you in tip-top shape without slowing you down. (And don’t forget — you can even take care of your skin when you’re eating and drinking!)
Cleansing oil or balm
Cleansing oils and balms are amaze! They remove makeup and cleanse skin in one step! I recommend oils vs. balms because they are almost always rinsable. Balms must be wiped off with a washcloth or facial sponge, an extra step you don’t have time for!
Either way, both of these are great options for all skin types. If you have oily skin, don’t let the oil fool you. It’s a proven scientific fact that oil cuts oil. Ever wonder WHY you’re so oily? It could be that you’re depleting your skin’s natural moisturizing factor by using stringent cleansers. STOP that! Using a cleansing oil is counteractive, thus oil will dissipate. Trust me!
Shower sheets
On occasion, the time for a shower just isn’t in the cards. When this is the case I love to refresh with shower sheets! These are made specifically for the body and not the face, therefore they’re much larger in size to cover larger areas of the body. Body odor is caused by the bacteria purged through our sweat, so pay attention to the back of the neck and the under arm area. Shower sheets are also great for gym bags, diaper bags (make sure they’re baby safe if you plan on using them on children) and purses.
Powder Exfoliators
When you need all your skincare steps in one, turn to the powder exfoliator. You can mix them with your foam or oil cleanser to create a cleanser and exfoliator in one! When you have more ME TIME, mix the powder with greek yogurt for a purifying mask or with honey to hydrate. Mix with both for a double dose of skin perfecting!
BB or CC creams
Truly one of the most important steps of my beauty routine is my beloved CC Cream. Moisturizer, sunblock and foundation in one fell swoop! Does it get any better? There’s a myriad of choices when it comes to BB and CC Creams, so you’ll have to decide which is the best for you. Some moisturize for a dewy look, some mattify for a dry finish. It’s really up to you. I highly recommend sampling products first when you can. Sometimes the smart technology in these uber intelligent beauty products aren’t smart enough to match your complexion exactly. Beware: nobody likes the face mask look.
Face oils
All skin types can benefit from a face oil. These little miracle products can function as a serum, moisturizer, eye cream or more depending on which one you’ve purchased. Major tip here-mixing them in your mineral makeup gives you that gorgeous glow! Face oils are a girl’s best friend when it comes to a skincare one stop shop. Prices can range anywhere from approximately $20-200 plus. Higher prices don’t always mean better for your individual skin, but they almost always mean a higher quality, grade and purity of oil is used making them most effective.
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2017 print issue of Sass Magazine.
Rebecca Carrera
Rebecca Carrera is a wife, mother, brow guru, green beauty obsessed, clean eater, and design lover. She has worked with some of the world's top retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, where she was able to hone her merchandising and styling skills. In 2010 Rebecca launched Maven Beauty Bar, a brow bar and clean beauty shop in downtown Frederick, MD. She currently offers home services to her clients as a realtor and interior stylist.
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