7 Holy Grail Products for a Clean Face

Gone are the days of simply cleansing your face with a Dove bar and calling it a day. If you were really committed, Clinique had their quintessential 3 step system with the green plastic soap case, pink toner, and yellow moisturizer for an ultimate clean face- showing my age here!

Blogs and Youtube tutorials are chock-full of 13-step Korean skincare regimens and Kardashian’s gazillion dollar anti-aging regimen. It’s comedic to tell you that I’ve “simplified” how to wash your face with all the steps listed below, but trust me – it’s worth taking the extra 10 minutes to get rid of the bacteria and makeup that we slather on our precious faces.

{ CLEANSERS }

1. Banilo Clean it Zero PURITY

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When it comes to getting crap off your face, one cleanser isn’t cutting it, which makes it all the more dreadful to initiate a complex process of removing layers of makeup when you’re tired AF. Enter “double cleansing” that uses an oily product to melt off the makeup followed by an oil-free cleanser to remove the remaining dirt.

Banila Clean it Zero trumps any cleaning oil I’ve tried because I just don’t like messy oils. The balm has a silky “sorbet” texture that melts into your skin with just a dollop (did I just say dollop?) I used to use coconut oil on a cotton pad to remove eye makeup, but this product takes it all off in one fell swoop.

It comes in 3 different formulas:

• Classic – for most skin types; contains the most amount of potential triggers/irritants.

• Resveratrol – for oily skin; the resveratrol compound is quite low on the ingredients list.

• Purity – for sensitive skin, has the widest range of extracts/oils and is the only version without an added scent. **I’ve linked to this one since it’s my favorite!

2. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

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There’s a reason this cult classic is recommended by doctors!  Developed by dermatologists, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is fragrance-free, cleanses without stripping the skin, and has 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acids which are effective anti-aging ingredients. Sure it’s a drugstore brand that’s cheaper than high-end facial cleansers, but who cares when it’s just as effective? My rule of thumb is to save on cleansing products and splurge on the serums and moisturizers (but, that’s for another post).

3. Neutrogena Makeup Wipes

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These wipes aren’t technically in my double cleanse regimen because they just slide makeup around on my face resulting in a look similar to Health Ledger as the Joker. However, I keep them in my car for wiping my sweaty face after yoga 4-5 times a week. It’s uber important to get the bacteria OFF your face before the sweat absorbs and dries.

{ TONERS / EXFOLIATORS }

4. Skii Toner

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{ DEVICES }

6. LUNA^™ 2 Pro Facial Cleansing & Anti-Aging Device

Buy here at Nordstrom 

I officially traded in my Clarisonic for the Luna a year ago, and have never looked back.  There are SO many features and benefits, but the top ones for me are:

• I didn’t have to charge it for 6 months after daily use.
• It has one portable piece with no interchangeable heads and parts. This makes traveling SOO much easier.
• It’s much gentler for sensitive skin.
• It massages and penetrates serums and moisturizers to a deeper level into the skin.
• I noticed fewer blackheads and blemishes within a couple weeks.

7. Dermaflash 2.0

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“It can remove about two to three weeks’ worth of skin,” says Dr. Michelle Henry of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York

The company’s brilliant tagline is: “Men shave. Women FLASH.” The nifty little device is basically a home version of Dermaplaning. (If you haven’t heard of Dermaplaning, you’re probably living under a rock; or, more likely, you have better things to do rather than obsessing about skin care).

I’ve used it for a month and it really does remove peach fuzz, dead skin cells, and built-up debris and it instantly creates a flawless canvas. Basically, it’s a microderm wand on steroids without leaving your house. It is a little pricey at just under $200, but how do you put a price on flawless skin?

{ WHAT’S NEXT? }

Your face is squeaky clean and ready for the good stuff. Are you wanting more of my complete skin care regimen consisting of serums, moisturizers, and masks – OH MY! Leave a comment below and let me know what you want to know next!