{Skincare} Friday Favorites by Cara

Makeup and skincare in Memphis in the summer is so, so hard, y’all. My face has been super dry – like painful dry – and the pool, the sun, and the heat don’t help.

I haven’t always been the best caregiver for my skin. I’m one of those people who waited until her mid-40s to start really putting a lot of effort behind it. And, let me tell you, even a month can make a HUGE difference in how your skin looks and feels.

So, in honor of my super-dry face – and my desire to have decent enough skin to wear little to no makeup all summer – here are six of my new skincare faves for my face!

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Moisturizer. It is the first moisturizer I’ve tried that is thick enough to make a difference, but not heavy on your face. It soaks in quickly and isn’t greasy at all. There’s no annoying fragrance, and it feels clean and gentle. You can use it all over your body, but I put it on my face under my sunscreen in the morning and then again right before I go to bed. I’m telling you – one week of this skincare product alone will make a difference. And the best part? It’s not crazy expensive. I bought a big tub on Amazon for $17.

PCA Skin Hydrator Plus Sunscreen

I’ve worn tinted moisturizer with sunscreen in it for years, but I realize now that that wasn’t enough. This PCA Skin Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen has become part of my morning routine, and I finally feel like I’m really taking care of my skin. It’s light, goes on smoothly, and it doesn’t feel like it immediately clogs my pores like other sunscreens. A huge shout out to the best esthetician in the world, Cora at Massage Envy, for recommending this and the CeraVe. Oh, and apparently, this sunscreen also helps with breakouts! Bonus! But, one more pro tip before we go…don’t get this near your eyes. I speak from experience. You can buy these products at any Massage Envy or online. At $44, it’s a little on the pricey side, but one tube will last you a good long while.

Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque

This is one of those refreshing pick-me-ups that’s so nice for summer skin. I use it as skincare about once or twice a week and leave it on for about 15 minutes. It’s just a huge shot of Vitamin C, and it brightens and tightens up your face. After I use it, my skin feels clean and smooth. And I know this sounds crazy, but I immediately feel more confident in the appearance of my face right after I use it. I know I’m a weirdo … but you should still try it. You can buy it at several spas around town or online. It’s $38.

European Wax Center Groom Brow Building Serum

If you’re like me, you tweezed your eyebrows down to pencil-thin marks in the 90s. Well, girl, it’s time to grow them back, and there’s still hope! My bomb of a wax specialist at European Wax Center, Taylor, recommended this product to help grow back some of that hair that I had been ripping out for decades. I was skeptical, but it was inexpensive, $26, so I gave it a shot. And my only regret is that I didn’t take “before” pictures. OMG! This stuff works…and fast! I highly recommend you grab some and keep it on your vanity for daily use – that’s really the only way it’s going to make a difference. And the bonus is that when you brush it on your brows, it sculpts them, conditions them, and makes them look groomed – with no pencil, no makeup. So, it’s great for that summer low-makeup or no-makeup look. Buy it at any European Wax Center or online.

Jones Road Beauty Miracle Balm

Yes, I fell victim to all the reels on this one, but I’m glad I did. The Jones Road Beauty Miracle Balm feels so good on my dry skin, and is just about all the “makeup” I wear in the summer. The color I chose was Dusty Rose, and I use it on my cheeks, lips, eyelids, and then I brush across my nose for a sun-kissed look. I’ve also used it lightly on my entire face before too. It can leave a little bit of a residue, so don’t use too much. One balm costs $38, but it lasts a long time.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

This was a gamble when I was shopping on Sephora’s site one day, and it paid off. I love this stuff. I use this mask – which is really just thick lip gloss – right before bed every night, and it makes my lips so smooth. And it’s not just for bedtime; you can wear it all day if you want to! I personally am addicted to Carmex, so the day is reserved for that fix, but this repairs my lips overnight. The one I chose is Sweet Candy, and it smells so good. Looks pretty too! I got mine at Sephora for $24. You can also buy online at Amazon, Laneige, and many other places.