My name is Michelle Zunich and I am a recovering drugstore skincare junkie with a pile a mile high of the entire high end makeup graveyard under my bathroom sink.
My Mid 20’s started kicking in, and my sweet little misguided soul had a *LIGHT BULB* moment. I was investing in every damn dream potion, ALLLL the heavy coverage foundation, primers, highlighters, bronzers, don’t get me started on contouring… and, I was totally CHEAPING OUT on actual SKINCARE!
In my late teens and early 20’s, I was more concerned with masking my imperfections with expensive ‘quick fixes’, that it never occurred to me to actually invest in the skin UNDERNEATH. Let’s face it – patience is acquired over time, and my 20 year old self didn’t have the knowledge, patience, or discipline to bother with a skincare routine that (at the time), I saw as much too complicated & complex. (YET, had NO problem spending hours on many contouring fails and a fair share of ‘cat eye winged eyeliner’ attempts gone real wrong real quick.) *cringe*.
Don’t get me wrong – I love makeup. I’m at a point where I feel naked without at least slapping on some lip gloss. Makeup can transform, makeup can boost confidence, and makeup can highlight some of our best features – because makeup is supposed to act as a tool in enhancing your features, not masking them. After all, no amount of makeup can cover up wrinkles.
With all of that said and my early 20’s behind me, I’ve been getting a lot more invested in the power of skincare than the power of makeup. AND, have also come to realize that make up looks SO MUCH BETTER when you’re starting with a healthy & clean canvas! Makes sense, right?
FIRST OF ALL, A FEW REASONS TO INVEST IN SKINCARE OVER MAKEUP….
SAVES YOU TIME & MONEY IN THE LONG HAUL
PREVENTS LONG TERM DAMAGE
*QUALITY INGREDIENTS*
Investment-worthy skincare products are usually pricier than their drugstore counterparts because they contain more potent ingredients. The ingredients that you should splurge on are retinols, peptides, antioxidants (which are tricky and unstable), and scrubs/exfoliants. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve had my fair share of drugstore products that weren’t terrible, but by no means did they give me those dramatic results that their airbrushed commercials & advertisements promised me, but they don’t hold a candle to the time-tested ingredients and research-backed formulas that have been put through rigorous clinical testing and are scientifically proven to WORK.
Still with me?
SO,
HOW TO REPLACE YOUR MAKEUP JUNKYARD WITH QUALITY SKINCARE 101: ya ready?!
Concealer: Replace with a regimen to target main skin concerns. Add a mask to target any others.
Foundation: Replace with Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid. Looks like makeup + acts like skincare.
Face Powder: Replace with mineral peptide powders. An easy & efficient way to reapply SPF & doesn’t clog your pores.
Highlighter: Replace with Active Hydration Serum (the holy grail of anti-aging products) Oil free & keeps your skin hydrated & dewy for that youthful glow!
Under Eye Concealer: Replace with Bright Eye Complex to brighten tired eyes & Lash Boost for the appearance of longer, fuller, and darker lashes (and brows!).
MY PICKS:
- Kick the concealer, invest in a skincare routine.
Start with a core regimen to target your MAIN skin concerns. No one’s skin is the same. Get to know yours. Consult with an expert to ensure you’re using the correct products for optimal results for YOUR skin. Use it consistently, religiously, morning & evening! Honestly, I’ve come to love it. It’s my ‘me time’, and after seeing visible results, it’s become somewhat of an addiction! Consistency is KEY, my friends! Consistency leads to visible results. You have to be patient. Dramatic improvements don’t happen overnight. With a tailored routine you will start to notice small changes quickly, but it’s your commitment to your skincare regime that will really pay off.
2. Lose the cakey foundation, switch to a derma cosmetic.
Rodan + Fields Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid is a GAME CHANGER. SO, What the heck is a DERMA COSMETIC anyway?! A Derma Cosmetic is NOT makeup. (Whaaaat?!) Makeup alters your appearance, but it clogs your pores, and can cause breakouts, skin allergies, and premature aging. This Perfecting Liquid acts like skincare + looks like makeup. It’s simply the last step of my skincare routine and out the door I go! It improves & protects your skin, blurs imperfections & gives you that natural, dewy coverage like the makeup you’ve always wanted and comes in six flexible shades for ALL skin tones.
So… go throw out that foundation, the BB/CC creams, tinted moisturizers, or whatever else you’ve been slathering on & get ready to fall in L O V E !
3. Replace the face powder with mineral peptide powders. Again, doesn’t clog pores and also an easy & efficient way to reapply SPF.
4. Instead of highlighter, give this liquid gold a try! Active Hydration Serum.
My GO TO can’t live without anti-aging product. It’s an oil-free, light weight serum that increases your skin’s hydration by 200% with just your first use to give you that youthful, dewy glow without the greasy & ‘shiny’ look! ALL skin can benefit from hydration… yes, even the oily ones!
5. Throw away that under eye concealer, girl, and let me introduce you to this Active Hydration Brightening Eye Complex.
This little tube of magic goodness brightens and revitalizes eyes to counter the effects of an active, modern lifestyle. It visibly improves the appearance of dark circles, puffiness and overall dullness surrounding your eyes. It has literally erased my dark circles & puffiness after a long night with a fussy toddler! Price seems steep on the initial purchase, but for the results I experienced and the length of time/use I got from one tube it was WELL worth the money. This item is in my regular lineup and isn’t moving any time soon.
6. LAST, BUT MOST DEFINITELY NOT LEAST… L A S H B O O S T .
NEXT time you find yourself booking your Lash Extension upkeep appointment. STOP. Stop what you’re doing. Put down the phone. Pocket the $200-$300, and I will hook a girl up! ONE thing I constantly get questions about is ‘where do I get my lashes done?’ The answer: no where. 100% natural, 100% mine! It’s ALL in this little tube of goodness! Lash Boost is a nightly conditioning serum that gives you the appearance of longer, thicker, darker, & NATURAL lashes in 4-6 weeks… in 8-12 weeks WOWZAAA results. As if it doesn’t already sell itself, it works magic on brows as well! Also, a plus – one tube lasts me a good solid 3 months! When compared to the cost & maintenance of lash extensions, not to mention how they destroy your natural lashes, it’s a no brainer for me!
WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT, ladies!
… If you made it this far, it might be safe to go out on a limb and assume you might just be ready to start investing in your skin. It is never too late, and never too early to START! With the new year right around the corner, what better time?! All products are backed by a 60 day money back guarantee. What do you have to lose except maybe half of that pile of the makeup graveyard?!
Let’s chat!
Michelle
Organic Radiance 