For the average traveler, the word “routine” tends to churn up uneasy feelings. We prefer to fly by the seat of our pants; to always be ready for the next spontaneous adventure; to feel free and unrestricted.
But if I’ve come to learn anything from many years of constant travel, it’s that a little bit of routine can go a LONG way in keeping me sane, happy and healthy (not to mention ready for anything).
You see, by having even a few simple routines in place, I free up more of my mental faculties for the important work of mindfully taking in each and every new travel experience.
Routines can also save us a hefty amount of time, which can then be spent expanding our horizons even further.
So before you hop on your next flight this summer, I want to share with you the new skincare routine that’s simplifying my life and changing the way I travel.
But first, a few important messages…
The Responsibility of the Consumer
My long-time readers know by now that I’m rather discerning when it comes to my purchasing decisions, whether I’m buying groceries, clothing, cosmetics, or anything in between.
I believe we, as consumers, have the power to change the world by choosing more carefully where our hard-earned dollars go. When we support the people, the companies, and the industries that share our core values, we are sending the message, “Yes! I want more of this!”
And the universe responds in kind.
Though I wasn’t always so careful with my cash in the past, these days I refuse to settle for brands with no social conscience. And thanks to honest people like Paula Begoun, creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare, I don’t have to.
Introducing Paula’s Choice
Paula’s Choice Skincare was created with a vision of helping women shop for skincare products confidently; customer advocacy and education is at the forefront of all that they do.
As a young woman, Paula struggled with her own skin issues including eczema and acne and grew tired of finding only products that contained a laundry list of harmful ingredients like acetone.
Acetone…on your face?? That’s the active ingredient in nail polish remover…yikes!
So Paula set out to change the skincare game, creating revolutionary products ranging from exfoliants to anti-aging solutions to cleansers and toners–all based on peer-reviewed and published skincare research and free from harmful and irritating ingredients.
Rest assured knowing Paula’s Choice products:
- Are manufactured in the USA
- Because fair labor practices matter.
- Are NEVER tested on animals
- As a participant in the Leaping Bunny Program, Paula’s Choice has eliminated animal testing from their own company as well as their ingredient suppliers.
- Are non-irritating
- Paula’s Choice products are free from added dyes, fragrances, or other ingredients that can harm the health and function of your skin.
- Come with a 100% money-back guarantee
- Don’t love your results? Get a full refund or credit toward other products for items returned within 60 days.
When we vote for responsible companies with our dollars, we are telling others that they must rise to the occasion or be left behind.
Will you join me in the fight for elevated consumer awareness and personal responsibility?
A Summer Skincare Routine I Can Stick To
My primary goals when it comes to a summer skincare routine include:
- Less time and less fuss
- I want to be out the door and on my way to the next adventure, stat! We’re burning daylight, people.
- The ability to go makeup-free
- Smooth skin with an even tone means I won’t have to pile on the makeup, which will only melt off in the summer heat anyway. In the summer, makeup-free is the way to be!
- Traveling is a breeze
- I don’t need to travel with an entire vanity’s worth of products; I’ll take a few I know I can trust and leave the rest at home. If they can travel in my carry-on bag (30 ml/1 fl oz), even better!
- Sun protection is a must
- I never leave the house without wearing some form of sun protection, especially on the delicate skin of my face and neck. Future me will be grateful for that.
So, imagine how excited I was to find out that the RESIST Travel Kit for Normal to Dry Skin met each and every one of my needs. This easy-to-follow routine rehydrated my skin (which can dry out all too easily in the intense summer sun) and left it looking smooth, supple, and dare I say…younger?
This kit includes a hydrating cleanser, an exfoliant, a daytime moisturizer with SPF 50, and a nighttime moisturizer with retinol.
It might not sound like much, but the beauty is in its simplicity.
Here’s how I put the RESIST Travel Kit to use:
As I begin winding down from a long summer day, my skincare routine begins with the hydrating, lotion-based cleanser. This felt a bit strange for me at first, since it did not create a lather like most cleansers I’d used previously.
In fact, in the past, I was convinced my skin was too oily because it would always appear shiny by the end of the day. I now know that my skin was actually SO DRY (because of the harsh drying ingredients in the skincare products I swore by at the time) that it was crying out for help, creating an excess of oil only because I’d stripped it of its natural, healthy oils.
So now I make a point of keeping my skin as hydrated as possible, both with products like this one and with proper diet and water intake. For the best results, I always use cleansers in conjunction with a facial brush for deeper extraction of dirt from my pores.
Next, I use the Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). This product is designed to smooth wrinkles and reveal youthful, radiant skin.
I’m normally a bit skeptical when it comes to such claims, but I’ll admit that I was SHOCKED at how my skin glowed the morning after I first used this product. For me, it’s probably the most potent product in this kit–the one that really allows me to skip the makeup the next morning because everything is so even and smooth.
However, because the active ingredient in this exfoliant can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and sunburn, I do not use this one during the day, but only at night.
Finally, I end my evening routine with the Barrier Repair Moisturizer which is meant to soften and smooth the skin of the face and neck. Because it contains retinol, I only use this one at night before bed (it’s not recommended to use retinol during the day either, as it degrades rapidly in sunlight and can actually have damaging effects).
When used properly, however (at night), retinol–a vitamin A derivative known for reversing sun damage and signs of aging–is a powerful ingredient to have in your skincare arsenal.
The next morning, I start my routine again with the Hydrating Cleanser.
After cleansing, the next step in this super-simple morning routine is a layer of sun protection from the skin restoring moisturizer with SPF 50.
It protects my skin beautifully without the greasy appearance for which sunscreens are often notorious.
At this point, I can choose to add a light layer of makeup or go without–and in the summer, I almost always prefer the latter. If my skin is glowing with natural beauty, why cover it up?
So, to recap the steps in this stupid-easy summer skincare routine:
Evening:
- Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
- Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA
- Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol
Morning:
- Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
- Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50
And repeat!
The RESIST Travel Kit for Normal to Dry Skin will save you time and stress so you can maximize your fun. After all, isn’t that what summer is all about?
A Sampling of Other Paula’s Choice Products
In addition to the RESIST Travel Kit I got to test drive, Paula’s Choice sent me a few other products that will no doubt serve to enhance my already amazing skincare routine: the RESIST Brightening Essence and the Radiance Renewal Mask.
Products in the RESIST collection are designed for anti-aging, so the Brightening Essence, a silky, lightweight fluid used after cleansing, aids in this process through the use of antioxidants which help to restore a healthy complexion.
Just a few drops are enough to smooth over the whole face; this product can be used morning and night for optimal results. It’s also small enough to fly with you in your carry-on bag at just 30 ml volume (1 fl oz).
The Radiance Renewal Mask is not the kind of mask that turns you into 1990s Jim Carrey for 10-15 minutes, but rather another lightweight formulation that is meant to be applied as the very last step in your nighttime routine once a week, no rinsing required.
This is the only product I sampled which would have to go in your checked baggage due to its slightly larger size, but for trips shorter than one week, you wouldn’t need to tote it along anyway.
Overall, I have been extremely pleased with Paula’s Choice products and the results I have seen in such a short time.
My skin feels smooth and well-hydrated, and because I can forego makeup with this routine, I’m avoiding the breakouts and blackheads that tend to result from blocked pores mingling with sweat (ahh, summer).
If you’re in the market for an anti-aging skincare routine that actually works, from a company that actually cares, I can’t recommend Paula’s Choice highly enough.
Pack the RESIST Travel Kit on your next adventure and make the most of your summer, all while looking fabulous.
What do you typically look for in a summer skincare routine?
Thank you to Paula’s Choice Skincare for sponsoring this post and creating products we can feel good about using; all opinions expressed in this article are those of The Sweetest Way.
