Graciela: My Current Skincare Routine

Skincare is something that I've always tried to incorporate into my daily routine ever since my tween years. But It hasn't been till recently that I've come to fully understand the importance of creating a clean canvas (skincare) before you can create your masterpiece (makeup).

I tend to have oily skin combined with hormonal breakouts. My skin went through a freakout phase during my time in college which was not fun. Between the new time zone, new environment, stress, all that college stuff combined, my skin wasn't happy and it actually took my entire freshman year for my skin to adjust. My skin is finally it's normal self now that I am back to the weather, food and environment that my skin is accustomed to. During this last year I've been working to get my skin healthy, even healthier than what it was before college, and get it to the point where I don't feel like I always have to wear makeup. It's been a journey to find the products that balances my skin chemistry, but I have finally found my holy grail products!!! I have discovered the makeup and skincare brand that has been used on the runway at NY Fashion Week + The Miss America Pageant.

"Artistry™ brand is a skincare and cosmetics brand that was started in the 1950s by a woman, for women. Today, the Artistry™ brand offers specialized skincare and on-trend makeup designed to meet the diverse needs of women of all ages around the world. In fact, Artistry™ products are used and loved by almost 5 million women, with an Artistry™ product purchased every second of every day. The Artistry™ brand takes beauty forward, beyond boundaries. As one of the world's top 5 largest selling premium skincare brands, our success is guided by three pillars: Discovery, Imagination and Invention."

Every morning I wake my skin up with these Artistry™ products. The mornings I don't do this skincare regimen, my skin is completely different. The Artistry Ideal Radiance™ Collection is seriously a God send. It is a collection for women in their twenties with every skin type and ethnicity. My skin has never been so firm, even toned, and luminous. This has contributed to me being able to have a lot of makeup-less days this summer, because my skin is no longer splotchy. The Artistry Ideal Radiance™ Collection uses brightening technology that diminishes dullness, dark spots, and discolorations. It's a brightening skincare that targets early visible aging like uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. After only a week of using this collection, the health of my skin increased dramatically.

At night, the goal is to repair damage from the day’s pollution, sun and stress, as well as to hydrate since you lose more water from your skin as you sleep. New skin cells grow faster while you sleep, so having a good facial routine should be a high priority.
Before I cleanse my skin with my Olay Pro X brush, I take off any eye and lip product with the Artistry™ Lip and Eye Remover. Then I cleanse and tone like I do in my morning routine. The only difference is my night routine aims to address skin issues and treat the damage from the day. I do this through serum + eye cream. Both the serum and eye cream is a step that most people over look, but actually are the most important steps in a night routine, because they both are highly concentrated targeted treating products.Your face is up against a lot during the day: city fumes, your dirty phone screen, you touching your face with hands that have touched handrails and door knobs, etc. Serums have a big job between keeping your skin wrinkle and germ free.

I occasionally get some dark spots as well as some acne scaring on my face, so in my night routine I like to use the spot corrector. The spot corrector is a highly concentrated, targeted treatment that reduces the appearance of dark spots and discolorations, and like the other Artistry Ideal Radiance™ products, it leaves the skin even toned. Although I have never had incredible acne scaring, I do have discoloration here and there. Of course I never would want to go to the extreme to get them medically removed or use insane treatments on them, so this little tube of magic is perfect! It has a slight floral fragrance incorporated with a 100% luxurious pearl protein that helps even skin tone and reduce the appearance of visible dark spots and discolorations.

Those nights that I want or need to give my skin some extra TLC, I'll use the Artistry Deep Cleansing Mask™. The deep cleansing mask features Amazonian White Clay and Kaolin Clay, that works deep within the skin’s surface to draw out impurities such as dirt and oil as well as reducing the look of pores. I love the cool refreshing sensation when applying the mask AND it has a light spa fresh green and floral fragrance which makes it feel like an at home spa treatment.